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Doll Making Company Ready to Help 8-Year-Old with Barbie Drive

 Josilyn has collected more than 600 barbies. Her goal is 1,000.
Josilyn has collected more than 600 barbies. Her goal is 1,000.
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DNAinfo/Andrea V. Watson

CHICAGO — Mattel is ready to help 8-year-old Josilyn Martin with her Barbie drive.

The doll maker pledged to assist the suburban Richton Park resident with her goal of collecting 1,000 Barbies to distribute to needy Chicago girls. Her mother, Kellie Martin, said that the company reached out via email and asked for her address. The toy company didn’t say how many Barbies they would send, but they just said they wanted to help.

Martin is letting Josilyn take the lead with this project.

“I think she’s a little overwhelmed with the media, but she’s doing well,” she said. “She’s excited that she’s getting to help people.”

This is the first year of the Barbie drive. Martin said that this is a good learning experience for Josilyn.

“I love that my daughter is getting this lesson,” she said. “She’s getting the lesson that you can do anything you put your mind to.”

Josilyn has collected close to 700 Barbies. Martin said that they will continue to distribute them.

Earlier, the girl explained, "I think every girl should have a Barbie."

“I went to the park with my grandma. I brought my Barbie with me, and I saw a girl and I wanted to play with her. I went up to her and asked if she had any Barbies, she said ‘No,’ and then I asked if she wanted mine. When I got home I asked mommy if I could [make] a law, and she said I couldn’t. I wanted that law to be that every girl should have a little Barbie,” Josilyn said.

There was no comment from Mattel.