By Fallan Patterson
Staff Writer

Most children, when they find a creative outlet, use it for their own personal expression and gain, whether it’s to further themselves in dance class or make editor-in-chief for the school paper.

Jessica Henkel, 10, a fourth grader at Lakeview Elementary School in St. Cloud, chose to help others with her talent.

After learning to make colorful flower pens through her mother Dawn Henkel’s co-worker at the Osceola County Sheriff’s Office, Jessica began getting requests for the pens from classmates and family friends. Teachers at the school began ordering pink pens for breast cancer awareness month in October.

“I started out just making them and then I thought of selling them and adopting a child (and family) for Christmas,” she said.

The idea to use the money earned for needy children came after a discussion with her mom and stepmom Stacy Wagner about what she wanted for Christmas.

“We were talking about how some kids don’t get stuff and I don’t want to get so much and they get so little,” Jessica said. “I felt sad.”

Henkel helped her daughter find a local group, Little Elves for Little Angels, an Osceola County-based organization that partners needy families with those willing to help provide holiday gifts.

Jessica adopted a family that has six-month-old quadruplets and hopes to raise enough to buy gifts for all four babies.

“I have a baby brother so I might get some ideas off of him on what to get them,” she said. “Maybe stuffed animals or clothes.”

Jessica and her moms will personally deliver the gifts to the family by Dec. 15.

“I thought it was very special (of Jessica) because usually kids want to buy something for themselves,” Henkel said of her daughter. “She wants to adopt a baby; that’s how into this she is.”

Using her feelings about other children not having holiday gifts as inspiration, Jessica purchased brightly colored and patterned duct tape found at craft stores and packages of pens.

“People usually say they like them, that they’re nice and cute,” Jessica said. “I try not to make them too big so when you’re writing, it’s not too heavy.”

After constructing a couple dozen, Jessica, along with Wagner, who frequents crafts shows herself selling her own creations, began selling the pens for $5 each to friends and family and at crafts fairs, garage sales and at school.

She even has some on consignment at Serendipity, a St. Cloud boutique.

Since she began her cause in September, Jessica has raised $180.

A Girl Scout for five years, Jessica is used to selling cookies, candy and other goods for the service organization. She’s used those skills to help her endeavor.

Recently, she completed all the special orders she had and is looking to raise more funds to help the family she adopted.

To order a pen or find out additional information on where Jessica will be selling them, call Dawn Henkel at 816-308-9039.