For his 13th birthday, Blake Habersetzer hopes to raise $13K

SNOHOMISH — Blake Habersetzer knows exactly what he wants for his 13th birthday later this month: $13,000.

The money isn’t for him — it’s to address an unfolding humanitarian crisis in east Africa. The youngster stood outside the Haggen supermarket on Avenue D one morning last week working toward his goal.

“Hello! We’re raising money for the drought in Somalia, where it hasn’t rained in two years,” he told passing customers.

Cheerful, Blake appeared unfazed by shoppers who avoided eye contact or walked on without breaking stride. At other times, people have quipped that maybe the Pacific Northwest could send over some of its drizzly weather. But quite a few did chip in a dollar … or 2 or 10. In less than an hour, his glass jar was full of loose bills.

“He just keeps going,” said his mother, Paulette Habersetzer.

Blake said the fundraising idea came to him as he was headed home from a friend’s birthday party in December. How would he celebrate his birthday April 24?

“I’m turning 13,” he said. “That’s kind of a big year, becoming a teenager.”

The youngest of four children in a Lake Stevens family, Blake attends the Academy of Snohomish, a small, private Christian school where his mom is the administrator. He plays drums in a band with his siblings, competes in speech club and is preparing to test for his black belt in Tae Kwon Do next month.

He remembered a speaker who visited his school in the fall. Mindy Lee Irvine spoke of setting out to raise $40,000 for her 40th birthday to help victims of child sex trafficking. The donations went to World Concern, a Christian global relief organization based in Shoreline.

Blake decided he would do something for people in Somalia, where the deadly water shortage seemed to have attracted little media attention.

“I kinda did the mom filter for a little while and he was like, ‘I really want to do this,’ ” Paulette Habersetzer said.

Blake reached out to the woman who raised $40,000. She put him in touch with World Concern. Things took off from there.

A tri-fold board Blake set up outside the grocery explained his mission. The donations would go toward efforts to provide clean water, improved sanitation and hygiene training in Somalia.

The country in the Horn of Africa has an estimated population of more than 10 million. More than 3 million need urgent, life-saving assistance, according to the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Humanitarian officials worry the region could see a famine equal to or worse than one that devastated the area in 2011, killing more than a quarter-million people.

World Concern says it costs little to make a difference. A mere $34 can provide emergency water to one family for a month. If Blake reaches his target, it could help 382 drought-affected families.

“Just think of what one boy can do who sacrificially shares his blessings with others,” said Jacinta Tegman, World Concern’s president. “By opening his heart and sharing his birthday with others, Blake is making it possible for life-saving water to be brought to those in greatest need.”

Blake has been heading out twice a week on average for about three weeks. He often stays about three hours at a stretch, his mother said. A couple of friends from his school have been helping him.

He surpassed $5,000 in donations last week. He plans to make a final push April 23, the day before his birthday. A party at Zion Lutheran Church in Snohomish will feature guest speakers from World Concern, a virtual reality tour of drought-affected areas and birthday cake. It’s set for 3 to 5 p.m. at 330 Union Ave. RSVP by April 18.

“I think God really inspired me to do this,” Blake said.

Noah Haglund: 425-339-3465; nhaglund@heraldnet.com. Twitter: @NWhaglund.

$13K for 13

Blake Habersetzer has set out to raise $13,000 for his 13th birthday to help supply water to drought victims in Somalia. To donate online, go to give.worldconcern.org/13kforblakes13th.

He has scheduled a fundraising birthday party for April 23 at Zion Lutheran Church in Snohomish. It’s set for 3 to 5 p.m. at 330 Union Ave. RSVP by April 18. To make reservations or learn more, email 13kforblakes13th@gmail.com or go to www.facebook.com/blake.habersetzer.7.