Cavanaugh Bell

The coronavirus has elicited fear and worry among many Americans across the country. But in some, it has inspired something else: Kindness. In a deluge of negative stories about the outbreak, there are some demonstrating that many are still displaying what it means to be an American.

Cavanaugh Bell, a 7-year-old resident of Gaithersburg, Maryland, took it upon himself to provide care packages and hot meals for senior citizens in his community. After Gov. Larry Hogan issued an order shutting down restaurants, Bell spent $600 of the money he saved from birthdays and Christmases to purchase the items needed to create the care packages and buy the meals from Buca Di Beppo.

The 7-year-old filmed a video at the local Target, where he went to purchase the supplies needed to provide the care packages. “What’s up, guys! I’m at Target, “ Bell said in the video. “Thank you for your donations, and look at all the stuff we got.”

Bell filled up multiple shopping carts with food and other items that seniors would need. In another video, the youngster said, “Don’t forget our senior citizens. They need to eat, too.”

But this not Bell’s first act of philanthropy. On March 19, he helped to feed 90 disadvantaged students through his nonprofit, which is called “Cool and Dope.” The organization’s mission is to “eradicate all bullying and youth suicide through political and social action by his 18^th birthday.

Bell, who calls himself the “Chief Positivity Creator,” started the organization at 5-years-old when he was bullied to the point that he was contemplating suicide. His mother encouraged him to start the movement to deal with his angst at being bullied.

The youngster also gave a TEDx Youth Talk and persuaded the city to dedicate February 21 as Bullying Awareness Day to honor Gabriel Taye, an 8-year-old who committed suicide in 2017 because of bullying. He is hoping to lead the Anti-Bullying Rally in Washington, D.C.

Hopefully, people like Bell will inspire others to display the same type of altruism during this epidemic. As we already know, the government can only do so much. It is up to Americans to help one another.

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