Several afternoons a week, two Oak Harbor kindergarten students study mathematics and art while gaining experience in marketing and community service.

Makenzie Judd and Jay Johnson, both 6, can’t discuss long division or color wheels. They only know they are helping people.

The kids’ undertaking isn’t original. But their desire and enthusiasm to help strangers is remarkable.

In February, Makenzie watched “Extreme Makeover Home Edition” with her mother. The Feb. 13 program featured a young girl with cancer. The 8-year-old in New Mexico began making beaded bracelets to fund redecorating a children’s cancer ward.

This girl got the hospital makeover as well as a new bedroom filled with beads and beading supplies as a surprise.

Makenzie asked her mother Tina if she too could make jewelry and sell it to help people with cancer.

Tina agreed and purchased what she describes as a “cheesy” starter kit. The single mom never believed the project would capture her daughter’s attention for long.

The starter kit didn’t last. Its large beads in garish colors lacked elegance.

Makenzie prefers small beads in more refined colors. Judd didn’t think Makenzie would persevere as small beads are difficult to work with.

But Makenzie and her friend Jay happily manipulate the tiny beads. They count them and place them in intricate patterns in complex color combinations without becoming bored.

“It’s gone farther than I thought it ever would,” Tina Judd said Wednesday afternoon.

They placed a few necklaces at Electric Beach Tanning. Their stock sold out the first day. Once people heard about Makenzie’s mission, orders started rolling in from family and friends. Her friend Jay asked if he could make jewelry too.

Now Tina makes road trips to Mount Vernon to purchase more beading necessities as local supplies don’t meet the artists’ requirements.

By the afternoon of May 4, Makenzie and Jay had raised $560. Each piece of jewelry sells for $5. That’s 115 pieces of jewelry completed in about 10 weeks.

Judd said the amount of time the kids spend making jewelry is stunning.

“No one expects the necklaces are so nice,” she said.

The kids create their own patterns. Sometimes the creative process takes 30 minutes to perfect.

Judd said the kids discuss every angle of design. They shine flashlights on beads, they view the designs at eye level. Only when each detail meets their quality assurance protocol may the actual stringing begin.

Judd said not laughing while listening to discussions is hard as the kids sound so adult.

“Makenzie once asked Jay if he would ‘assist’ her in making a pattern,” Judd grinned.

Designs they particularly like are named and the patterns written down.

“Bumblebee” is black and yellow.

Jay calls his black, chrome and crystal necklace “The Zebra.”

Thursday afternoon he created “Disco” in black, chrome and iridescent blue.

Later, he hoped to use black and yellow beads in an interpretation he’d call “Tiger.”

Green beads representing eyes would separate “Tiger” from “Bumblebee.”

Wednesday, Makenzie was experimenting with shape using the new squared beads her mom had found.

Each kid has discriminating style. Jay builds his designs around a particular color or shape that captures his attention.

Makenzie prefers a bit more direction.

She’s revealed to her grandfather just how difficult creating can be.

Orders that aren’t specific “frustrate” her as picking all the beads causes much stress. She prefers customers request a color around which she can base her designs.

Kids raising money to help family members or close friends fighting cancer isn’t new.

However, until only recently, Makenzie and Jay didn’t know anyone with cancer.

Jay’s grandfather started treatment for cancer. He’s the only person the kids know who’s affected by cancer.

Judd said having this face put on cancer drives the kids to make more jewelry.

Tina Judd can’t estimate how much money she’s spent on supplies and gas. The kids recoup no costs. Every $5 goes directly to Relay for Life.

The single mom’s tax refund is bankrolling the project.

Judd has no idea how long the kids will continue their jewelry enterprise but once it becomes a chore the kids endure, the necklace endeavor will end.

Until then, Judd’s resigned to making more highway runs for beads and string.