LOUISVILLE, Ky. — A 17-year-old Kentuckian is giving back to people in all 50 states.

Nonprofit Sargeant’s Army is organizing children across the U.S. to collect outerwear that’ll be donated to a local charity for GivingTuesday.

What You Need To Know

  • Nonprofit Sargeant's Army has helped the community on GivingTuesday for five years

  • Founder Ashley Nevison, 17, organized children in all 50 states to collect outerwear for houseless veterans this year 

  • The nonprofit also donated about 60 clothing items to Jefferson County Public Schools' Clothing Assistance Program

  • Sargeant's Army has touched more than 68,000 lives over its lifetime 

Sergeant’s Army is in its fifth year giving back on GivingTuesday, and it has grown each year. For 2024, the founder dropped off about 60 clothing items to Jefferson County Public Schools’ Clothing Assistance Program.

GivingTuesday is all about helping others, and Ashley Nevison had a carload of generosity. 

“There are jackets; there’s some hats that we already brought in," said Nevison, founder and CEO of Sargeant's Army. "I think we have some gloves and some scarves and then some shoes that are getting donated today." 

Nevison started Sargeant’s Army when she was 11 years old to honor her cat, Sargeant, who died from cancer. Now, at 17, the nonprofit is hosting its fifth “Small Acts add up Outerwear Drive” for GivingTuesday.

“Been a wild journey, but I’m so grateful for every individual I’ve met along the way, every person I’ve helped,” she said.

Over its first four GivingTuesdays, the nonprofit donated 21,000-plus outerwear items, with the help of other children from all 50 states.

“It's been a lot of me messaging a lot of students across the nation, saying like, 'Hey, this is what my nonprofit does ... we're currently in the middle of this project, and we'd love for you to represent your state,’” Nevison said.

Along with donating clothes to the Clothing Assistance Program, the nonprofit led its “No Solider Left Behind Outerwear Drive," helping houseless veterans. Nationally, 850 outerwear kits and 550 hygiene hope bags were distributed.

“It's so incredible; I don't even have the words to describe the feeling that I have every year when GivingTuesday comes around," Nevison said. "Seeing the amount of impact that we're having in the community is just so meaningful." 

The number of children volunteering across the country for Sargeant’s Army has increased every year.

“We're the ones that are leading tomorrow and changing today, so being able to show my generation and older generations that we really can conquer the world with kindness is just so impactful,” she said.

Sargeant's Army has raised more than $174,000 and touched more than 68,000 lives over its lifetime.

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