Community Embraces Local Girl Who's Speaking Out Against Bullying

Jennie Fruin, of Mattituck,  13, has taken a stand against bullying — and has found a community who's come out to embrace her efforts.

Jennie, who, with a friend, sold bracelets that say "Stop Bullying" outside Waldbaum's at the Mattituck shopping plaza on Sunday, said she has gotten an outpouring of support.

"People have said, 'Wow, you guys are doing a great thing,'" Jennie said. "Others say, 'I'm 100 percent against bullying,' or 'I'm so proud you guys are doing something about it."

The experience has been important to Jennie. "It's meant a lot, having different types of people buying things, and telling me it's a great thing made me proud."

Jennie decided to speak out after she saw firsthand the devastating effects of bullying.

"One of my friends got bullied — she goes to a different school — and it hurt me," she said. "I decided to do something about it."

Her friend, Jennie said, had kids calling her names at school. "She got textbooks thrown at her, and she was pushed down the stairs a few times."

Her friend, Jennie said, is also only 13 years old, and was even younger when the bullying began.

Jennie, with the help of her parents, ordered bracelets that say "Stop Bullying" and "Don't Do Drugs," as well as key chains, posters and T-shirts.

"My daughter has been speaking about bullying problems for over two years and is highly against it," Jennie's dad, Michael Fruin said, explaining why he and his wife helped her to order the items to sell.

Any monies raised will go to school bullying prevention programs, Jennie said.

Her friend, Jennie said, was deeply impacted by the bullying; watching movies that deal with the issue, including "Cyberbully" made her cry. "She can relate," Jennie said.

With a wisdom beyond her years, Jennie has advice, not only for kids who are being bullied, but for the bullies themselves, or to bystanders. 

To bullies, she said, "Maybe they can just think before they do it." Kids who are bullied, she said, "should talk to an adult." And others, who witness bullying firsthand, should "talk to an adult. I don't think a lot of kids are doing that now."

She added, "I would tell anyone that is being bullied to stay strong. They should just ignore it and find a group of friends that care about them. They should stick around positive people."