Local woman up for national award for charity work

A woman wanting to better the lives of foster kids in the Heartland is now up for a national award.

What started as a bake sale four years ago has morphed into a car show and keeps growing.

"We've grown from 54 cars to over 130. We've raised over $14,000 and donated over 500 bags to local charities," April Sevilla said.

Sevilla is the president of Sweet Cases for Sweet Faces. The bags she mentioned are the sweet cases.

They're duffel bags made up of necessities and a stuffed animal for children in foster care preparing to go to a new home.

Some kids used to get only a trash bag for their belongings.

"Once people find out about the cause, they really just want to jump on board and try to make a difference for these children's lives," Sevilla said.

That difference is taking her to Washington D.C. Sevilla is being awarded a medal from The Jefferson Awards Foundation for outstanding community service in Nebraska. That makes her eligible to take home a national award form the foundation.

"I feel like there' so many other people doing so many great things in our community that we should all be going. Not just one person," Sevilla said about the honor.

She has always said the work is not about her, it's about the kids.

"Maybe a bill can be passed that it becomes a requirement that every child, as they enter foster care, automatically gets on of these bags, or a bag," Sevilla said.

Until there's legislation, she hopes to help as many kids in the metro as possible.

Sweet Cases for Sweet Faces raised enough money last year for nearly 200 bags. They were all donated to Project Harmony.

The next car show will be at Millard South on June 9. The national awards ceremony is about a week later.