BISMARCK, ND ( KXNET ) — “I would love to have every kid know what love is,” Carrie Cappellino, founder, Carrie’s Kids said.

It seems so simple, but Carrie Cappellino knows all too well, that isn’t always the case.

For years, she saw many kids taking on adult issues and experiencing stressors in life that no child should have to endure.

In 2006, Carrie and a group of people from Trinity Lutheran Church decided to do something about that, and Carrie’s Kids was born, becoming its own non-profit in 2012.

Since then, Carrie and her many volunteers have served hundreds of kids, helping each one find their purpose.

“Building relationships is hard,” Carrie said. “I have a lot of kids that are experiencing loneliness. They don’t know how to do group efforts. A lot of them are afraid to interact. And I you know, yeah, you may go to school and it might be regimented, but what are you doing after school? Not everybody’s going to play sports. And so, we see a lot of kids having a great sense of loneliness, despair, not knowing what to do. So, it’s just trying to figure out new ways on how do we build community?”

Carrie’s Kids does just that through a variety of programs and events.

Art Club is a big hit, allowing kids to connect with volunteers and mentors, and also giving them a creative outlet.

They host a teen talk night, self-discipline challenges through private podcasts, and much more.

Carrie’s Kids also offers prom dresses for girls who would otherwise not be able to attend, as well as clothing for kids heading back to school.

But even more importantly, Carrie says it’s about helping kids find out who they are.

“I feel as a society, you feel like your niche is becoming a six-figure human, but in all honesty, it’s what your character is. What is your character? How do you participate in life, and how do you show up,” Carrie questioned. “It’s such an honor to meet some of the kids and families that I work with, when you hear their stories and you still see that they’re alive and they’re vibrant and they want to participate in life that brings you hope.”

Despite the many obstacles each of her kids face, she is amazed by the energy, compassion, and empathy each one brings day in and day out.

“I’m a damsel in distress most days, so I can snap out what my needs are,” Carried shared. “And I have kids that just say, ‘I’ll be there, Mama,’ or, ‘I can come from two to six,’ or, ‘Can I come all day?’ You know! Then you’re kind of like, ‘wow.’”

And she says it wouldn’t be possible without the help of others.

“I have these two incredible volunteers that I call my minions,” Carrie shared. “They manage all of it. They pick up the donations, they sort the donations, they organize them, they put them out. They do all of that.”

Carrie’s work is far from done, as she’s always thinking of what she can do for these kids next.

“How can I do better? What did I learn today? Where did I fail today? What can I do better tonight?  What can I do better tomorrow,” Carrie asked. “And you know, there are so many things in our world that don’t make sense to me, and sometimes I have to let that go and just do what makes sense. And I think we can all get lost.”

Carrie Cappellino, founder of Carrie’s Kids, is Someone You Should Know.

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