Many times when we open the newspaper, turn on the radio or watch a newscast, we hear about young people who have vandalized property, been involved in drunk driving accidents or gone on a shooting spree in the schools.

This creates a bleak picture of our society and its youngest members, who will be our future leaders. So it’s very uplifting to hear a heartwarming story about a young girl who performs an unselfish act to benefit someone she has not even met.

Recently, Karen Robbins, a second-grade student at St. Paul’s Catholic School, New Alsace, was diagnosed with leukemia. Morgan Springmeyer, a sixth-grade student at St. Mary’s Catholic School, Greensburg, heard about the family’s struggle and decided to do something to help them.

The 12-year-old organized a fundraiser, made flyers and posted information in the school’s newsletter asking St. Mary’s School families for donations. Through her efforts, over $700 was raised for the Robbins family.

“It warms my heart to see that there are junior high students in the world that think of other people and care about perfect strangers enough that they are willing to go out on a limb for them,” noted St. Paul’s teacher Jamie Ball.

We, as adults, can learn a lot from this sixth-grader. Maybe we need to ask ourselves what we can do to lend a helping hand to those in need. If more people followed this example, our world would be a better place.