Buttons Of Love: 6-Year-Old Hillsborough Native Is Raising Money For Ukraine

HILLSBOROUGH, NJ — As six-year-old Eloise Sloan was getting ready for bed, she told her mom that she wished there was something she could do to help the people of Ukraine.

Eloise Sloan, who just moved from Hillsborough to Lebanon, said "she likes watching the news" and "when I heard about the stuff with Ukraine I wanted to help them."

Eloise remembered her family had a button maker they purchased for another project and came up with the idea on her own to draw pictures supporting Ukraine to make buttons.

The buttons are for sale for $1 and offer a variety of custom hand-drawn designs with the most common as rainbows or a heart with the colors blue and yellow for Ukraine. Each button also has the hashtag #buttonsforlove and xoxo Eloise at the bottom.

In the past two weeks, she has raised more than $273.

"Many people donated more than the $1," said Eloise's mom Amanda Sloan.

All profits are donated to the American School of Warsaw in Poland, which is helping to house and support refugees from Ukraine.

Since starting her fundraiser, Eloise says she has sold buttons to her classmates, her mom's school, family, and friends which has prompted some special requests.

"People said surprise me or do what you want," said Eloise Sloan. "I drew rainbows and ice cream and flag hearts."

She has also drawn a dog, a tree, a monkey, and a shark. Eloise said her favorite design to draw is the dog or the rainbow.

"I am really proud of her," said Amanda Sloan. "Not a lot of 6-year-olds are interested in current events and do things to reach others beyond themselves. I am very proud of her."

Amanda said Eloise is so dedicated to the cause that when given the choice to watch TV or draw buttons, "She chose drawing buttons because she said it was better."

The buttons are available at Basilico Italian Restaurant at 46 W Somerset St. in Raritan or email Amanda Sloan at awechter170@gmail.com.

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