Kristen Sellan is unfamiliar with the term selfish, an extraordinary feat for being only 16 years old. While most high schoolers spend their free time playing video games and watching TV, Kristen spends hers making blankets to give to those staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, Ohio.
Kristen got her start making blankets when she was 13 years old. Her grandmother had been suffering from bone cancer and was constantly in the hospital, always mentioning how cold her room was. Out of nothing but kindness and love, Kristen decided to make a blanket to keep her grandmother warm. This gesture was greatly appreciated by her grandmother who bragged to the nurses how fantastic Kristen was.
After Kristen’s grandmother passed away, Kristen was determined to continue making blankets for those who were in and out of hospitals. She began by making five per month and has recently raised her quota to 10 per month. To date, Kristen has made over 300 blankets and has no plans of quitting anytime soon.
To cover the costs associated with making the blankets, Kristen uses a portion of the money that she earns from babysitting to purchase supplies. Kristen has also sold entertainment books, raffle tickets and has received financial support through donations. Using her own money to help others doesn’t faze Kristen. When she was touring the Ronald McDonald House for the first time, Kristen saw a young girl about her own age who looked as if she was going through chemotherapy. It was at that point that Kristen realized how blessed she was to be healthy and made her truly thankful to be able to help others.
Fortunately for Kristen, she has had a lot of help along the way. From time to time she’ll throw blanket parties where her friends will come by her house and help her make blankets. To Kristen’s surprise, at her last party she was greeted by not only her friends, but people she had never met before wanting to help. When making blankets on her own, it will take Kristen about 45 minutes to complete one, but with help she’s able to cut the time in half.
Kristen admits that her greatest inspiration in life has been her mom. Her mother is always there to encourage her and comfort her when the stresses of high school and Kristen’s extracurricular work become too much to bear. Among Kristen’s many great qualities, she is also a very humble person. If it weren’t for her mother, Kristen wouldn’t receive any of the recognition that she truly deserves for her generosity and selflessness.
It is Kristen’s hope, that through her work and willingness to give, that more teenagers her age will begin donating their time. The work that she has done to help others has opened up a new perspective for her and helped to change her attitude toward life. Kristen feels, that if others were to volunteer, they too would be enlightened in the same way Kristen has.