Everyone plays a part in society, at work, school, or in their personal life.
For Loey Page Sydes, an IB sophomore at Seminole, her part in society means giving back to the community. She started her up-and-coming nonprofit, The Bells and Whistles Foundation, for this reason. Starting a nonprofit is no small feat, especially if you manage and distribute everything yourself, like Sydes does.
Inspired to bring change after a bad experience while volunteering for another charity, Sydes was inspired to start her own charity/ nonprofit, the Bells and Whistles foundation.
“I used to volunteer at this other organization where I overheard this woman saying absolutely horrible things to the people we were supposed to be helping. It was clear she was only there to
make herself feel good rather than actually do good. That’s when I knew I had to do something myself.”
The foundation’s main goal is to educate people on what to donate, why to donate, and how to give back to the community. The foundation serves as a connection between the people and the charities, making it easier for people to access places they may have not been able to reach.
She plans to regularly hold events, such as an upcoming Valentine’s sale. She also aims to sell valentine cards to students and outside of school, and towards all of the proceedings to charities, namely the Coalition for the homeless, and Orlando Union Rescue.
What began as a simple idea soon grew into a mission with real impact. Sydes noticed a gap in the community—whether it was a lack of resources, support, or awareness—and decided to do something about it. With the help of friends, family, and a lot of determination, she founded Bells and Whistles organization focused on helping those who need assistance rather than helping oneself, or donating, because it feels like you have to.
“After hearing what the woman was saying about the homeless person, my decision to start a nonprofit was solidified, in a sense. I had been thinking about starting a nonprofit for a while, but didn’t get that final push I needed until that day. That woman was in a situation out of her control, and the other lady had no right to be so cruel and condescending. I decided that I would train all of my future employees to always put the people in need before them, and to never judge others in unfortunate situations,” Sydes elaborates.
Juggling classes, extracurriculars, and nonprofit work isn’t easy, but Sydes stays motivated by the positive changes she sees in the community.
“All the items that we get are stored at my place, which is a bit of a hassle at times, but it’s all worth it in the end. I get some help with expenses and reaching out, but I mostly handle everything by myself. As for managing time alongside school, I do have to give up a lot of my free time. However I am very dedicated to my foundation, so a little bit of free time is a small sacrifice,” Sydes says, reflecting on the journey so far.
Through dedication, leadership, and a clear vision, Sydes is not just making an impact today, but inspiring others to find their own ways to give back. She works with her friends and fellow volunteers to personally distribute all the supplies she gets herself, taking her own time out of her day to give back to the community.
Whether it’s through volunteer work, community projects, or starting something entirely new, Sydes proves that making an impact is possible at any age—all it takes is the courage to start.