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School has only been out about two weeks, but many moms home with the kids are ready to send out an S.O.S. Three moms from Holladay had an idea to get the kids outside and help some people at the same time.
Youngsters of all ages in one Holladay neighborhood are chipping in to wash some cars. Some of the cars are so dirty, it's a lot of hard work. Car washer Eliza Nielson told us, "It's fun to help other people and some service projects for them."
The army of very young car washers, more than 100 in all, are having a great time on a summer day, and are giving their moms a break. For the moms, it is not so much about getting the kids out of the house for a day; it's really meant to be a summer of service.
Brodi Ashton, an S.O.S. mom, told us: "We thought, instead of having one of those lazy summers, we are actually going to put them to work and get them away from the video games and get them out of there, showing them there are other people in need, and they need to do their part."
So the moms came up with the idea of S.O.S, a summer of service. They've planned out service projects every week during summer vacation.
Another mom, Michele Chisholm, said, "Last week we wrote soldiers and sent some candy over to Iraqi children, and this week is a fundraiser. We are doing a book drive and a canned food drive. We're serving some of the elderly in our neighborhood next week, so we are just trying to do a bunch of different service activities."
While the children get a chance to give service, the real goal is for them to understand helping others is important.
Diane Adair another mom, told us, "They are involved in a lot of camps for themselves, and we wanted them to learn how to do things for other people, and that's what we're all about. We want our kids to be helpers of others and learn how wonderful that can be."
The moms hope that by the time school starts in the fall, memories of this summer of service will last a lifetime.
All of the money the children raise from their summer of service will benefit local children's charities.
E-mail: spenrod@ksl.com
