Power of Children: Jacob Baldwin

INDIANAPOLIS (WISH) - Power of Children winner Jacob Baldwin, a sophomore at Park Tudor is taking a national project local. He's working with the organization called "Project Kid" co-founded by Lenore Ealy after Hurricane Katrina.

"We started leap-frogging across the Mississippi coastline setting up what we call PlayCare which is really a respite childcare site," explained Lenore Ealy who nominated Jacob for the award.

The temporary sites along the Gulf Coast corralled the kids in a safe place while parents stood in lines to fill-out paperwork or get supplies in the aftermath of Katrina.

Jacob learned more about "Project Kid" during a service trip to a disaster preparedness exercise in California.

"There I set up my first PlayCare site and I cared for children afflicted by disaster," said Baldwin.

He was inspired to bring this kind of assistance to Hamilton County.

He learned from Ealy and decided to adapt this kind of resource to first responders in Hamilton County.

Jacob demonstrated how it works, "It's made of PVC pipe and we just take a 10 foot pipe and cut it down to size to make this post. We use this construction fencing which has these slips in it which can really easily slip over the post."

The portable kit can cost upwards of $3,300. Jacob applied for grants and asked local merchants for donations. His first kit is being used by Riverview Hospital in Noblesville.

"In Katrina one of the lessons Project Kid learned was that first responders would not show up for work. So if firemen aren't putting out fires the disaster is not going to get fixed. So there is a real need within Riverview Hospital because they want their doctors and nurses showing up working at the hospital."

Ealy added, "It shows what a young person can do if they're given, if they're given some excitement, passion and initiative and allowed to say here's how I can make my contribution."

Jacob is working to get portable PlayCare kits in other facilities throughout the state. That's the power of children.