On this Thanksgiving, our Someone 2 Know is a Reno teen who devotes this time of year to giving back. We first brought you his story during the holidays last year and now he's more than doubled his efforts to get blankets into the hands of those who need them most.
Here now a look at how Ian Brockelsby got his start...
In late 2018...
13-year old Ian impressed his family by turning a childhood passion - into a mission to help others this Christmas...and now his classmates are inspired, too.
Ever since he was a little boy, there's one thing Ian has loved above all else; "I've had three blankets which I've had since the day I was born and I still sleep with those,” he explains with a shy smile
Ian adds to his blanket collection every year, but decided this Christmas he would give instead of receive; "and I thought about - what could I do? What do I love? What could I give back to other people?”
Robin Brockelsby, Ian's mom, says she’s so proud; "He suggested the idea of taking his Christmas money and buying blankets to give to people who are cold outside - we had to run with that."
That got him about ten blankets, but Ian decided he could do more - and launched a spur of the moment blanket drive at his school; "I talked to the principal about it to try and get a donations box at the school and help - and then Miss Hayes helped me."
Lauren Hayes is one of Ian’s teachers at Doral Academy; "and I thought it's a tight turn around, but let’s challenge ourselves and make it happen.”
The leadership class at Doral Academy was all in and the idea caught fire.
"We put a little donation page up,” explains Robin “and within a couple hours, he had $500 in donations, we're gonna take that and buy more blankets with it."
Miss Hayes says Ian has her leadership class feeling extra motivated; "He's got a twinkle in his eye and his energy is amp'ed up and we're all feeding off of that."
And in case you're wondering if this good deed has Ian’s parents re-thinking the Christmas-gift idea..."We did not buy any present for Ian,” says mom “He may get a couple of things from grandma and grandpa."
But Ian says, he already got way more than he expected; "And I just thought it was amazing to get everyone in our community to help.”
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Fast forward to this year - and Ian now has a goal of collecting 500 blankets - which he will distribute on Christmas day. Ian is also working with Project 150 to help homeless teens,too.
To help with the cause (blankets and money are always appreciated)
Ian’s Grateful Give Projects - https://www.facebook.com/thegratefulgiveproject/
Project 150 - https://project150.org/
