By Dawn Krebs
dkrebs@hometownnewsol.com
MARTIN COUNTY -- Sometimes, all it takes is one person to make a difference.
In Martin County, that person is Cailyn Hoertz, an eighth grader at Community Christian Academy in Stuart.
She was recently listening to a presentation about how to help more in the community, when she had an idea to help students being bullied.
So she came up with the idea of creating a "bully box," a box placed in a school's bathroom stall, where students would be able to report anonymously about bullying issues. The boxes will have locks on them to ensure privacy.
"The school guidance counselor or another administrator would check the boxes regularly and alert teachers to watch for bullying issues," she said.
As a Girl Scout in Troop 30420, she believed so much in the idea she made it her Silver Award project. When completed, she will receive one of the highest awards in Girl Scouting, second only to the Gold Award.
While her project is currently underway, Cailyn is still in need for sponsors to help her fund the project. The funding will allow her to purchase the boxes and pay for the installation and decoration of the boxes, as well as fund the printing of an informative brochure about the project.
"I have been working on this for about two months," she said. "Most of my friends are excited about it."
The first school to be using the boxes is Community Christian Academy, who is installing approximately 48 boxes shortly.
"When I spoke to the principal about it, she was very supportive," Cailyn said.
But Cailyn isn't stopping there, and said she is willing to share the idea with other Martin County schools to see if it's a project they will consider implementing in their own bathrooms.
"This is something I feel is important to better the people around me," she said.
For more information about the Bully Boxes, or to help sponsor the project, call Cailyn at (772) 285-6419.