TAMPA, Fla. — Calyn Quinn finds herself in a less-than-bubbly mood every now and then.
“When the kids see that, they come right up to me and give me a hug,” says Quinn. “They bring me such joy.”
The feeling is very much mutual.
Over the past three years, the 19-year-old has delivered care, comfort and sweet babysitting skills to 80 Tampa Bay families disrupted by pediatric cancer.
“Mother Teresa has a quote, that you don’t need to go far to help people,” Quinn says. “There are people in your community that need help.”
Calyn is rarely in a less-than-bubbly mood, mind you. She is unfailingly upbeat, a superpower and then some.
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On a Wednesday morning, the smiley Tampa Catholic grad is hanging out with Trinity, a fun-loving 3-year-old fighting a rare form of cancer.
They have a little Chik-fil-A then head to Picnic Island Park for serious playground time.
Trinity’s mother Skyla, who had a stressful morning and needed someone to watch her daughter for a bit, says Calyn is nothing short of a godsend.
“She’ll give you everything and anything you need,” Skyla says.
Calyn is more than the World’s Best Babysitter for families in need. Her nonprofit, Fight for Gold, raises money to help families pay bills and have Christmas presents.
Last year Calyn raised more than $4,000 when she let kids shave her head, a show of solidarity with her hospital-bound friends.
“Even if I can’t help a family financially, I can still go and love on the kids,” Quinn says. “If I go a few days without seeing a kid, I miss their joy. They keep my faith and positivity strong.”
For more information on Calyn Quinn’s Fight for Gold nonprofit, go to instagram.com/fightforgoldd.
