Kids sell rope bracelets for library
By ERIC MOSKOWITZ, Standard-Times staff writer
ERIC MOSKOWITZ/Standard-Times special
From left, Ben Cattley, 10; Katie Cattley, 9; Andrew Macaulay, 9; and Ashley Macaulay, 11 are summer residents in Mattapoisett. The kids produced and sold rope bracelets over the weekend. They made almost $350, all of which they donated to the Mattapoisett Free Public Library. |
A smiling and well-scrubbed procession of four young cousins made their way up the Mattapoisett Library path yesterday, clutching among them a rope-bracelet display and a cash box stuffed with nearly $350.
Library trustee Robert Atkinson and his wife, Liz, waited for them on the steps.
"I think this is just the greatest thing I've ever heard," Mrs. Atkinson gushed. "It isn't just your parents who are proud, but the whole town of Mattapoisett."
Recently, the kids -- two sets of siblings, ages 9 to 11 -- came upon $5, which they mutually agreed to donate to the library. Then they came up with another idea: make rope bracelets, set up a stand in Mattapoisett Village and donate all proceeds to the library, which is beginning fund-raising efforts for a massive renovation project.
Ben and Katie Cattley, 10 and 9, respectively, and their cousins, Andrew and Ashley Macaulay, 9 and 11, convene every summer in Mattapoisett, home to grandparents Bob and Carol Cattley.
When the kids wondered why "Grammy" skipped dinner one night in June, their parents explained that she was working at the polls on election night, when town voters were being asked to support the library renovations.
The cousins are all eager users of the library, to the point of sounding like a parent's dream or even a public service announcement: "The best part of this is seeing how happy you guys are (to receive the money). I really like the library a lot," Ashley said, before Katie quickly added: "We all do!"
They learned Turk's knots from dad/uncle David Cattley and set up a stand at the corner of Water and Barstow streets Saturday. Peddling lemonade, plus rope bracelets ($3), anklets ($1) and zipper pulls (50 cents), "we made over $200 in the first day" selling to the Harbor Days crowd, said Andrew. Sunday, manning the booth fewer hours, they brought their total to $343.80, then made one last sale at the library before donating the cash.
"We had the right product, and we sold it," added Ben, a stateside member of this business-savvy gang of young altruists. He and Katie hail from Grafton, while Andrew and Ashley live in South Africa. They share summers in Mattapoisett and alternate Christmases in Johannesburg, where the seasons are flipped.
"Whenever we see each other, it's always summer," said Ben. "We even get to swim on Christmas Eve."
The "Cousins Cove Crafts" gang (named for a favorite secret hangout) will head home for the summer soon but promise to return next year with more bracelets.
"We'll still be raising money then," said library director Judith Wallace, telling the kids of the multi-million dollar project. After they went home, certificates of appreciation in hand, Ms. Wallace closed up for the night.
"Doesn't this give you a very warm and special feeling?" she asked.
This story appeared on Page A9 of The Standard-Times on July 24, 2002.
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