How One Woman is Using Her Talents to Give Back
When Kidsave was founded in 1999, our work brought orphans from Russia and Kazakhstan to the U.S. for adoption. One of the children adopted during these early days of Kidsave was a little girl named Nina. In 2001, Nina was adopted by Phil and Nancy Teed in Silver Spring, Maryland. The family lived in Silver Spring for a few years together before embarking on their next great adventure—an adventure that would be the envy of most children. In 2006, the Teeds moved to Vermont and bought a toy store called Once Upon a Time Toys.
While most kids would see their family owning a toy store as an opportunity to get things for themselves, Nina saw it as an opportunity to help others. To Nina, Kidsave not only gave her a family but also saved her life, and she has made it her mission to give back and help other children like herself. To do this, Nina makes beautiful creations like crocheted blankets and hats and handmade jewelry like necklaces, bracelets, and earrings. She then sells her creations in her parents’ toy store and donates all of the proceeds to kids who don’t have families: half to Kidsave’s global efforts, and half to Lund, a local organization that works with children and families.
In addition to making and selling her own creations, Nina also offers a gift-wrapping service. “We have always wrapped toys purchased at the toy store for free,” says Nina’s mother, Nancy. “However, several years ago, customers began to bring in gifts they purchased elsewhere and ask Nina to wrap them because she does such a great job and loves to wrap presents. Thus, It’s a Wrap! was born. She wraps these other items for a small fee and donates that money to Kidsave. The toy store donates the paper. The tagline on the It’s a Wrap! banner is: Help us change the world one orpha at a time.”
When asked about her decision to raise money for Kidsave, Nina says, “I was inspired by Terry Baugh (Kidsave co-founder) who I view as the one person who fought for my chance to have a family. She and Kidsave gave me a second chance at life, and I want to do something meaningful to give back for the opportunity that was given to me. I started It’s a Wrap! with the goal in mind of making it an official non-profit, that can make a difference in the lives of children like me.”
Nina wants to be an art/play therapist and is working on her master’s degree. She also works with adults with disabilities as an independent contractor. Before that, she was a behavioral interventionist and service coordinator for a local health agency.
You can help kids like Nina get a second chance at a family by supporting Kidsave! Visit www.kidsave.org/donate to give today.
