Kaylee Brunton believes making a difference in her community does not always require a grand gesture. Sometimes, helping others with basic needs can have a lasting impact.
Brunton, a Maize South student-athlete, has volunteered with Simply Hygiene, an organization focused on providing hygiene products to people in need. Her involvement reflects her desire to support her community while setting an example for younger people who look up to her.
“I chose to volunteer at Simply Hygiene because I truly just want to help people in my community and Simply Hygiene is a fun and easy way to do that,” Brunton said. “They make it easy to get involved and actually make an impact. Their mission is straightforward and needed.”
For Brunton, volunteering is about recognizing that people sometimes need help even when they do not ask for it. She believes small acts of kindness can have a significant effect on someone’s life.
“Volunteering matters because people need help even if they don’t ask,” Brunton said. “It lets you support your community. It shows kindness in simple ways and it can make a big difference. It reminds me to stay grateful.”
Brunton’s desire to serve others also comes from the influence she has on younger people. As a former Maize South basketball player, she understands that younger athletes often look up to high school players and see them as role models.
“I am inspired by younger people who look up to me,” Brunton said. “It makes me want to set a good example. I want them to see how hard I work and how that’s paid off.”
Her time representing Maize South also reinforced the importance of being an example for others. Brunton said playing for the school was about more than competing on the basketball court.
“Playing for Maize South felt bigger than just basketball,” Brunton said. “I loved when younger girls would come and watch us. Every time we walked on the court we knew we were playing for each other and representing our school.”
That same mindset has carried into her community involvement. Brunton hopes more people recognize the impact organizations such as Simply Hygiene can have by addressing needs that are often overlooked.
“Something I want people to know about Simply Hygiene is that it’s way more impactful than people realize,” Brunton said. “They focus on meeting basic needs that often get overlooked, and those small things can make a huge difference.”
For Brunton, volunteering with Simply Hygiene is another opportunity to lead by example and show that helping others can start with something simple.
“It’s a simple mission, but it reaches a lot of people,” Brunton said.
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