Jaida Kelly, a seventh-grader at Edward Devotion School in Brookline, has had a passion for books since she began reading at age 3. After realizing how many children don’t have any of their own, however, the 12-year-old organized a book drive for homeless children as the service project for her bat mitzvah on Jan. 21.
“I thought, if I have this many books that I have outgrown, I’m sure other people do, too,’’ Kelly said. “If only we could all get together and bring our books to kids who don’t have them, what a difference we could make.’’
After receiving permission from Home Suites Inn in Waltham, a hotel that is home to a number of homeless families, Kelly set a goal of collecting 500 gently used children’s books. Instead, she was “really surprised’’ when her mother Dara’s Facebook post and newsletter blurb for her school and Temple Sinai in Brookline generated more than 2,500 donations within a few weeks.
On Dec. 15, Kelly was joined at Home Suites Inn by her family and a few friends in setting up a 1,000-book library, book fair, and story hour “to help [homeless children] see how a story can transport you to places beyond even your wildest dreams.’’
Kelly described the event, which ran twice as long as the scheduled 2½ hours, as “really awesome and fun.’’ She gave away books to approximately 35 children and adult attendees, with the “Diary of a Wimpy Kid,’’ “The Hunger Games,’’ and “Magic Tree House’’ series the most requested titles.
On Dec. 30, Kelly donated an additional 1,000 books to More Than Words, a Waltham-based nonprofit social enterprise for youth who are in foster care, court-involved, homeless, or out of school.
In addition, she is considering running a similar book fair at another family shelter to distribute the remaining titles.
“I learned that it doesn’t matter who you are, or what you like — that books can bring people together,’’ Kelly said.
“It’s amazing, knowing I did something that helped so many people. If anyone gets the chance during their life, they should try doing a small act of kindness too.’’
Cindy Cantrell
Cindy Cantrell may be reached at cindycantrell20@gmail.com.
