Community service
Books and Supplies Drive
Our first mission grew from a love of books and a desire to help more students experience the joy and knowledge they bring.
Introduction
My name is Shona Kumar and I founded Young Hearts For Change. I am beyond amazed and grateful for the overwhelming support we have received for our initiative. It all started with a personal passion for books. From a young age, I’ve loved the joy and knowledge that books bring, and I wanted others to experience that same love. It became clear that many of my friends were in the same situation, with shelves full of books waiting to be shared.
As Young Hearts For Change’s first mission, we started a Book Drive.
West Essex Tribune Feature
Thank you, West Essex Tribune, for featuring our books and supplies drive. Your support has been invaluable in helping us reach and make a significant impact in our community. We are profoundly grateful for your support and commitment.
Park Elementary School, Newark
We want to extend our deepest thanks to Park Elementary School in Newark, NJ for the warm welcome and incredible hospitality at the Back To School Picnic. Our team was proud to set up stands and personally hand out 1,000+ books along with a large variety of school supplies to the hundreds of families who attended.
There’s something truly special about a fresh start, and we are honored to have contributed to your wonderful community. A special thank you to principal Ms. Amy Panitch for helping coordinate everything. The enthusiasm from students and their families reminded us just how vital access to learning materials and school supplies is for academic success.
KIPP NJ Public Schools, Newark
It was such a pleasure meeting everyone at KIPP New Jersey Public Schools in Newark, NJ. Through the incredible support of our community in Livingston, we were able to collect and donate 1,000 books and a significant portion of school supplies to KIPP. We are deeply thankful to the principal, teachers, and staff for their warm welcome and their commitment to spreading love and education.
A special thanks to Ms. Adassa Robinson-Brutus from Livingston Moms for connecting us with her wonderful school and helping us increase access to books for students.
Dr. William H. Horton, Newark
Meeting everyone at Dr. William H. Horton in Newark, NJ was an incredible experience. We are grateful to the principal, teachers, and staff for their warm welcome and their dedication to fostering a love for learning.
Thanks to the tremendous support from our community in Livingston, we donated 1,000 books to the students. This would not have been possible without the generous contributions and dedication of our volunteers and donors.
Franklin School, Newark
A particularly heartfelt thank you goes to Ms. Amy Panitch, the principal of Franklin School, a K–8 school in Newark, NJ. After seeing our Facebook post, she reached out to us, and we were able to donate 1,500 books to Franklin School.
Meeting the children and witnessing their smiles as they received the books was a wonderful experience. Moments like these remind us of the power of community and the impact we can have when we work together.
