Charlotte's faith and creativity inspire others to help

In Matthew 18:1-4, scripture reads, "At that time the disciples came to Jesus, saying, 'Who is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven?' And calling to Him a child, He put him in the midst of them and said, 'Truly, I say to you, unless you turn and become like children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven.'" Just as Jesus reminded His disciples long ago, adults today are still learning from the faith, humility, and service of children.

At only nine years old, Charlotte Ziegelhofer is one such example. Her bold faith, creative spirit, and heart for others remind us that greatness in God's kingdom often begins with the faith and generosity of a child.

This past summer, Charlotte set out to make a difference in the lives of boys and girls at Baptist Children's Homes (BCH). Her inspiration came after visiting Mills Home and sharing a time of fellowship at one of the boys' cottages. The experience left a deep impression on her. Combined with knowing family friends who adopted through BCH, Charlotte felt called to help.

Her idea came from the pages of a magazine—she had read about a girl who started a popsicle stand to raise money for a cause. Charlotte thought, "Why not me?" With encouragement from her parents, she decided to start a hotdog stand. Her father, Joseph, offered his workplace, Horizon Forest Products, as the perfect location. Charlotte designed a flyer to invite employees and customers, and she got to work decorating the stand with her artistic flair.

When the big day arrived, it became a family affair. Charlotte's Nana made homemade chili, a kind customer contributed slaw, and her younger brother Eli proudly bought the very first hotdog with his own money. Employees, customers, family, and friends all came together to support Charlotte's mission. One generous customer even purchased twenty meals to treat his entire crew.

By the end of the day, Charlotte had raised an incredible $880 for BCH—all through hotdogs, hard work, and a heart full of love.

Her mother, Katie, reflected on the day with gratitude: "We are really proud of Charlotte. She has such a pure and kind heart, and she's always looking for ways to love and help others. We always want to encourage generosity. It has been very humbling. We wanted to do this with her to help create confidence. We want her to always have the courage to act on her ideas."

For Charlotte, the best part wasn't just raising money—it was meeting people. She joyfully shared, "My favorite part was getting to meet all my customers, especially all the sweet ones." Through the experience, she embraced lessons far bigger than the hotdog stand itself. "I learned to be a better person and how to interact with people," she explained. But perhaps her most important takeaway was simple and profound: "People are really generous."

In Charlotte's story, we see a beautiful reflection of Matthew 18—the greatness of a humble, faith-filled child who points us all back to the heart of God. Her hotdog stand wasn't just about food—it was about love, service, and showing others the joy of giving. And in that way, Charlotte reminds us that sometimes the greatest teachers in our lives are children.

To learn more about how you can find your spot to serve at Baptist Children's Homes, contact me at kbutts@bchfamily.org.

Written By Kristyn Butts, Director of Volunteer Engagement