Peyton Jones loves going to her elementary school in New Washington, Indiana.

The 8-year-old enjoys art and music class and has lots of friends. But during recess, she would sometimes notice other kids who didn’t have someone to play with.

“That’s the main thing they are excited about at school,” she said. “They want someone to play a game with them.”

Peyton decided to do something about it, setting her sights on buying a “buddy bench” for the school playground.

She first learned of the benches when her mother, Emily Oliver-Jones, read about them in a magazine article.

The concept is simple: Any kid who doesn’t have someone to play with, but would like to play, sits on the bench. This lets other kids know that the seated child wants someone to play with and, ideally, another student will ask the schoolmate to join in the fun.

During her fall break, Peyton and her mom learned how to make homemade sugar scrubs to raise funds for a buddy bench. In just over two weeks, they made more than 200 jars of the scrubs in different varieties, such as cherry almond and brown sugar.

After selling out, Peyton had $500 to purchase one bench for the school. However, when she told her principal what she intended to do, the school decided to match her dollar amount, enabling the purchase of a second buddy bench, thereby outfitting both playgrounds at the school.

Peyton created her own business, “Peyton’s Creations,” and uses the money she earns to fund “Peyton’s Projects.”

Daughter and mother haven’t quite settled on their next philanthropic venture yet, but they have a few ideas in mind. An art cart for bored children in the hospital, family fun night bundles for police officers, and a free-standing lending library all are possibilities.

Peyton, who says she has been a victim of bullying, told the Jeffersonville, Indiana News and Tribune she hopes to do at least one more project with an anti-bullying, inclusive message.

As she plans her next undertaking, she is challenging other schools in the area to match what she did at New Washington Elementary.

“How great would it be if every school had a buddy bench?” her mom said.

Walden writes for the Jeffersonville, Indiana News and Tribune.