Serve Together Kidside Initiative

Serve Together Kidside Initiative

Five Dollar Challenge

How $5 Turned Into $10,000 and Changed the World

What happens when you hand every elementary-aged child a five-dollar bill and challenge them to make a difference?

At Eastside, we decided to find out.

Eastside’s Global Compassion Team recently partnered with Kidside — our dynamic kids’ ministry — for a powerful hands-on experience in generosity and impact.

Each elementary student was given $5 and a bold challenge:
See a need. Meet a need.

We didn’t know exactly what would happen next, but we hoped to spark something powerful: a movement of compassion and generosity that could ripple far beyond our church walls.

And wow… did these kids rise to the challenge.

Teach Your Child Compassion

With their $5 in hand, our kids got to work. There were lemonade stands on street corners. Fresh-baked cookies served with a smile. Handmade crafts, creative fundraisers, and even good old-fashioned chores.

Some scrubbed bathrooms. Others walked dogs. A few even cleaned up after their siblings (which may be the biggest miracle of all!). What united them was a sense of mission. These weren’t just kids being cute — they were kids stepping into purpose, empowered to become World Changers.

In total, Kidside raised over $10,000. That’s right. From five-dollar bills to five-figure impact. But they didn’t spend it on themselves — no toys, no snacks, no video games.

Instead, they shopped through the Global Compassion Kidside Catalog, filled with tangible, life-changing gifts for children and families in need across the world.

GLOBAL OUTREACH

So where did the money go?

These kids got to choose how to give, and their choices were deeply thoughtful, generous, and practical. Here’s what they gave:

These aren’t just numbers. These are stories. Families who will now have clean water to drink. Children who will eat nutritious meals. Homes that will be safer and more stable. These kids didn’t just raise money — they raised hope.

They raised compassion.
They raised their hands and said, “God, use me.”

Why This Matters

In a world that often underestimates kids, this initiative did the opposite: it invited them to lead.

And they did. Not with lectures or guilt trips. Not because someone told them to. But because they saw a need and were given the tools and trust to do something about it.

We believe in raising up the next generation of Jesus followers — not just rule-followers, not just Sunday attenders, but bold, faith-filled difference-makers. And this project was a picture of that mission in motion.

It reminded us that kids don’t have to wait until they’re older to make a difference.
They don’t need a full bank account or a long résumé.
All they need is a heart that says yes — and maybe five bucks.

Eastside Generosity

Of course, this kind of impact doesn’t happen in isolation.

It’s only possible because of the outrageous, consistent generosity of the entire Eastside community. You give faithfully so that we can take bold steps — like handing every child $5 and encouraging them to change the world.

You make room for creativity, compassion, and even a little craziness — and the result is a church that’s raising not just funds, but future leaders.

So thank you. Thank you for trusting the next generation.
Thank you for giving them a chance to lead, to love, and to live on mission.
Thank you for believing that small seeds — even $5 ones — can grow into something beautiful.

What our kids are learning

We heard stories that melted our hearts and strengthened our faith:

  • One child said, “I wanted to buy a toy, but then I thought about kids who don’t even have food.”

  • Another explained, “I know what it’s like to feel lonely, so I wanted someone to feel loved.”

  • One sibling team raised over $200 with a weekend cookie stand and proudly shared, “We sold out every day!”

This was more than a project — it was a transformation. It wasn’t just about generosity. It was about empathy. Ownership. Action. These are the building blocks of a faith that lasts.

Unleashing compassion

At Eastside, our mission is to pursue God, build community, and unleash compassion — and that includes the youngest among us. This project is a snapshot of how we’re trying to live that out. By partnering with global organizations we’re not only sending support — we’re building relationships, restoring dignity, and empowering kids on both sides of the giving.

The kids in our church learned that they can be a force for good. And the kids on the receiving end? They’ll feel seen, valued, and provided for — often by people just their age.

It’s a beautiful full-circle moment. And it’s just the beginning.

What can five dollars do?

The world tells kids to wait their turn.
Jesus says, “Let the little children come to me.”

At Eastside, we believe kids can lead in compassion, generosity, and faith.

So when someone asks, “What can $5 really do?”

Just tell them: it can plant trees. Feed families. Give clean water. Provide shelter. And most of all…
It can raise a generation that changes the world.

Serve Together

If you’re a parent or grandparent, this is a great opportunity to keep the conversation going at home:

  • Talk about generosity: What do we do when we see a need?

  • Invite your kids to brainstorm small ways to make a big impact.

  • Pick a cause together as a family and take one small action.

And if you want to be part of initiatives like this moving forward, we’d love to invite you to give, serve, or explore ways to get involved.

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