When I started this project, my goal was clear: raise money to help kids with cancer. I didn’t know exactly how it would go or how people would respond, but I knew I wanted to try. I came up with the idea to sell cards — some homemade, some store-bought — and give the money to support children and their families facing cancer.

How It Started
The idea came from my mom. She works at UNC Nash, where part of her job connects to helping people with cancer. Because she was around that environment, I started learning more about the struggles people with cancer face — especially kids. That made me want to help. I figured selling cards would be a good way to raise money, since cards are something everyone can use and they’re easy to share.

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I made two kinds of cards: homemade ones that had a personal touch, and store-bought ones for people who preferred something more traditional. My mom helped me make the cards and organize everything — she honestly helped with everything, and I’m super thankful for her.

How I Sold the Cards
Most of my sales came from going door-to-door, which was definitely the most fun part. I didn’t do it alone — my friends came with me, and we made a whole experience out of it. 

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We’d walk around together, knock on doors, and explain why we were selling the cards. Some people would smile and buy a pack right away. Others wanted to hear more about the cause before deciding. Having my friends there made it way less scary and way more exciting.

I also sold some at DOCNC meetings, where a lot of people already knew me and were willing to support what I was doing. On top of that, my mom helped sell some at her workplace, UNC Nash. Between all those places, the sales really started to add up.

How This Project Impacted Me
Doing this project changed how I see myself. Before, I wasn’t sure I could talk to strangers like that, but after going door-to-door so many times, I got better at it. At first, I was nervous — asking people to buy something is not easy. But each time someone said yes, I felt more confident.

It also made me realize that helping others doesn’t have to be complicated. You don’t need a giant event or a big organization to start making an impact. Sometimes, all it takes is an idea, a product, and the courage to get out there and try.

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Impact on the Community
I think my project impacted the community by making more people aware of kids with cancer and the need for support. Every time I explained why I was selling the cards, people learned a little more about what these kids are going through.

Some people bought cards just to help the cause, even if they didn’t really need them. Others said my project inspired them to think about how they could help in their own way. That’s something I didn’t expect — that selling cards could inspire other people to take action.

Lessons I Learned
One of the biggest lessons I learned is that starting is the hardest part. Once you get past the fear of talking to people, it gets easier. I also learned that working with others makes a big difference. Having my friends with me going door-to-door made it way more fun and way less scary.

I learned how to keep track of sales, manage money, and plan my time better. These are skills I know I’ll use again in the future.

Teamwork
Even though this project had my name on it, I definitely didn’t do it alone. My mom was my biggest supporter. She helped make cards, took them to her workplace to sell, encouraged me when I got nervous, and made sure everything ran smoothly. My friends helped by going door-to-door with me, talking to people, and keeping the energy up. And the DOCNC community gave me a place to sell and people who believed in what I was doing.

Challenges and Struggles
The hardest part of this project was building up the courage to ask people to buy the cards. The first few houses I went to, I felt awkward and nervous. What if they said no? What if they didn’t like the idea?

But I realized that most people appreciate when someone is trying to do something good, even if they can’t buy anything. Once I understood that, it got a lot easier to knock on doors and start talking.

Another challenge was keeping track of everything — the cards, the money, and making sure I didn’t mix things up. That’s something I had to stay on top of the whole time.

The Future of the Project
Right now, I’m not sure exactly what’s next, but I know I want to keep going. I’d like to sell more than just cards, maybe switch to something else, maybe at more community events or even online. I think it would be cool to get more people involved in making the cards, so it becomes more of a group effort.

In the future, I’d love for this project to grow into something that happens every year.

Closing Thoughts
When I started selling cards, I didn’t know if it would work. I didn’t know if people would say yes, or if I’d even make much money. But in the end, I raised $1,000, learned a lot about myself, and got to see how generous people can be.

This project showed me that you don’t have to be an adult or have a huge plan to make a difference. You just have to start — even if it’s with something as simple as a card.