News We Love: Teen donates handmade pillows to foster children
Eliza White, a 14-year-old from Nebraska, spends her weekends selling handmade pillows at craft fairs, but her business model includes having a heart for children.
"For every pillow purchased, I donate one to a kid in foster care," White said.
Foster care and adoption are central themes in the White family's life.
"Our family went from three to eight in two and a half years," said Kailah White, Eliza's mother.
"I have seven siblings. I'm the oldest, said Eliza.
Eliza’s great-grandmother, Shirley, taught her to sew, and her grandmother, Tonya, helped her create a business plan.
"My mom and my Nanna are my managers, and I call my mom a 'momager' and my nanna a 'nanager,'" Eliza said, jokingly.
Each pillow is hand-stuffed and sewn with colorful donated fabric and includes a signature message from Eliza. Some of the tags read: "You are strong; You are loved." Over the years, Eliza has sold hundreds of pillows and donated just as many to foster care agencies.
"My hope and joy is just that when these pillows go to kids in foster care, that they know they are loved," Eliza said.
The White family’s journey with foster care has come with surprises. One night, social workers brought Eliana, a foster child, to their home.
"She was an emergency removal. I said absolutely, bring her here," Kailah said.
The 2-year-old arrived with only a backpack containing crayons, a coloring book, and one of Eliza’s pillows.
"She had this little backpack with crayons and a coloring book and one of my pillows," Eliza said.
"One of Eliza's encouraging pillows was in her backpack," Eliza’s mother said.
"It was like this full-circle moment. I was crying, my mom was crying, my dad was crying," Eliza said.
The Whites adopted Eliana last year.
"Our little girl has been a blessing," said Kailah.
The family has also adopted siblings Everett and Layla and hopes to adopt twin siblings currently in their care.
"Our heart is to keep siblings together," Eliza’s mother said.
Through it all, the Whites credit their faith as the foundation of their lives.
"It has been such a journey. It's all God. It's all God," said Kailah.
Eliza calls her little sister her "mini me."
"I just love her so much," Eliza said.
"It's just the biggest feeling I've ever felt in my life," Eliza said, referring to the moment she realized the toddler was gifted one of the pillows she created, before they even met.
Eliza pours that feeling into every pillow she creates. To learn more about Eliza's Encouraging Pillows or to purchase them, go to this page on Facebook:
