When Sammie Vance was just 8,she thought about a question:What breaks your heart? "For me,it's seeing people who need a friend,US,told people magazine,I don't want others to feel that way. "
Soon after a summer camp,Vance learned about buddy benches ("伙伴长椅"). These benches are seats at a school playground. A lonely child can sit on it
She loved this idea. "This would be really cool to have at my school," Vance said. Then she got into action immediately. She collected 725 kilograms of bottle caps and found a company to turn the caps into benches for her school. According to Vance,these recycled benches cost much less than regular park benches and are good for the environment.
Vance collected more for benches at other schools too. She also made a Facebook page for others to follow her journey and make bottle cap donations. She was surprised that her small project has had an influence on people around the world. She even received bottle caps from Germany,Australia and Israel.
Today,Vance has helped make more than 200 recycled benches in schools and neighborhoods. But she has no plans of stopping. She said in an interview that even adults can use a buddy bench because people at any age can feel lonely. "I just look forward to making a difference," she said