Winning essay written by Lauren Juliana Litz,
Grade 5, Hillside Elementary
School
"As a fifth grader, I often wish I could find a
way to make a difference. I watch the news of
people losing their homes to fires, burglars, or
people who just look like they need help. Then I
look around my own house and see how much stuff
we have, but really don’t need. One trip to my
mother’s “craft” room would explain everything.
I thought, I could open my own business to help
other people.
Using my computer and my own website, I could
solve both problems and make everyone happy. Let
me explain how I think this could work.
Let us take Sue for example. Sue has just lost
her home in a terrible fire, and she needs
everything. So she goes on my website (she heard
about it from a friend) and she e-mails me with
her problem. I read her e-mail and post it on my
website and wait for someone to read it and
respond with help.
A response comes. It is someone like my mom who
goes into their “craft” room or dark places
where items end up when they have done their job
(or not at all). They have found everything from
unopened packages of underwear (known to be
lurking in the “craft” room), to indestructible
Little Tykes toys.
Information is exchanged through me on the
website and both sides triumph. With nothing
going to the landfill, it is a win-win situation
for everyone.
I haven’t quite figured out how I could make
this profitable without charging someone, but I
am sure I can work something out. It shouldn’t
be all about the money, since it comes from the
love of helping people. That’s why I would name
my business PHOPSE, which would stand for People
Helping Other People Save the Environment."
