Allison Pasek/The Gazette (From left) Genevieve Horchler, 10, Meghan Wrinkle, 10, and Amelia Short, 8, stuff envelopes for the annual SIDS Walk with other members of Cheverly Kids Care at the Horchler home in Cheverly. Their next project involves compiling "snack sacks" for homeless children.

"When she sees homeless people on the street holding signs, she wants to give them money," said Ann Marie's mother, Tammie Nelson-Stringer. "Now she understands what's going on and how they got there, and she wants to help."

The Cheverly club is part of Kids Care Clubs, a national nonprofit that develops the spirit of compassion and philanthropy in children by providing them with meaningful opportunities to serve others. Nelson-Stringer started the Cheverly group in December 2003 to encourage volunteerism in local children.

"Kids often collect food and things during the holidays, for example, but there's no connection," Nelson-Stringer said. "I wanted to get my kids involved in something more meaningful."

After discovering the national organization online and receiving an information packet, Nelson-Stringer decided to host a holiday community service event in her home. About 20 children between the ages of 4 and 12 came to her home to prepare holiday food boxes and wrap gifts for homeless children and their parents.

"The participants were kids from the neighborhood and the children of my friends," Nelson-Stringer said. "To make the event relevant, we discussed how much food a family needs to make a holiday meal."

The children also prepared holiday cards for homebound senior citizens and listened to stories about the homeless and the elderly.

In the wake of the successful holiday service project, Nelson-Stringer and a group of local parents agreed to start a Kids Care chapter in Cheverly. Club organizers offer group activities for 4- to 5-year-olds, 6- to 9-year-olds and 10- to 12-year-olds. These service projects augment volunteer activities that already take place in area schools and churches, Nelson-Stringer said.

"Although some parents felt their children already participate in service projects, they do enjoy seeing the children work together in the Kids Care Club," she said. "These projects aren't chores."

In April, club members between the ages of 6 and 12 helped clean the Anacostia River at the Bladensburg Waterfront. Children also participated this year in the Cheverly Cicada Crunch 5K run for breast cancer research and raised money for Share Our Strength, a national organization that combats child hunger.

In May, 4- and 5-year-olds potted spring plants and delivered them to the Gladys Noon Spellman senior citizen's home in Cheverly.

For a current effort to assist homeless children, the group is using a three-pronged approach. The 6- to 9-year-olds contacted area businesses to gather donations for the Shepherds Cove Family Shelter in Capitol Heights.

Then the children will help prepare "Sleepy Snack Sacks," individual bags that contain healthy snacks, small toys and a personal note. These bags are for children who arrive at the homeless shelter at night after dinner has been served.

"We're doing this because local children might have classmates who are homeless," said Nelson-Stringer. "During this event, we'll discuss how difficult it might be for homeless children to finish their homework or bring a friend home from school if they don't have an established environment."

Nelson-Stringer tailors her messages carefully to make sure she doesn't frighten club members.

"We don't want kids to think they'll be homeless tomorrow," she said. "However, we do want club members to know that homeless children are a lot like them. We must also walk a fine line between being compassionate and condescending. We're not doing this because we're better than they are."

Nelson-Stringer hopes to invite club members to an event at the family shelter later this year.

"The 6- to 9-year-olds and their siblings can come to the shelter and have a barbecue and jump rope with the children who live there," Nelson-Stringer said.

It's an event that's likely to bring out the kid in everyone.

Cheverly Kids Care Club

How it makes a difference: The club, launched by Tammie Nelson-Stringer in December 2003, helps local children participate in meaningful, hands-on service events. The group will prepare treats for homeless children on Thursday from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. For more information, call 301-386-3782 or visit www.kidscare.org.