Five-year-old Will is fabled fund-raiser

Will Manware, son of Dart Center Ochberg Fellow Melissa Manware, baked goodies to help raise money for the recovery effort in New Orleans.

It's the talk of Target: New Orleans -- Charlotte Observer reporter Melissa Manware and her 5-year-old son Will raised a chunk of money for the Muckrakers with a bake sale at the paper. Their fund-raising drive has done more than melt the hearts of Muckrakers, it's spurred donations from others, including Ochberg Fellow Michelle Trudeau, who's donating two wheelbarrows ...

I wanted to make sure my 5-year-old understood why his mommy -- who already works too many hours -- would leave him and his daddy for five days. I wanted to make sure he knew I wasn't going on vacation without him, but instead going to work helping people who really need it.

We'd talked before about Hurricane Katrina and how it ruined people's homes. So I told him that I was going to New Orleans to help rebuild some of those houses. He seemed impressed and asked lots of questions. How many houses are broken? How many will I fix? And, can he help, too?

I explained to Will that only adults could rebuild the houses. The work is too difficult for little boys.

But then I thought of a way he could help.

We spent an entire Sunday afternoon baking chocolate chip cookies, brownies, Rice Krispie treats, and cream-cheese cookies. I measured each ingredient and then called him over. He poured the sugar, butter and flour into the bowl, he cracked the eggs, and mixed until his little hand hurt. He helped pour the batter -- and he licked the spoon! Then he drew a picture of a house with green grass in front and the sun shining brightly over the rooftop.

I attached the picture to a shoebox and wrote on the front, "Help Build New Orleans."

My colleagues have decided that Will has a future as a baker. They also contributed $355 to the cause. I gave the money to the Muckrakers, so they can buy more wheelbarrows, shovels and gloves.

Will is quite proud of himself. And I think he should be.

--Melissa Manware