Teen girl helps to inspire others
15-year-old leads with generous community service
Jayera Griffin, 15, of Riverdale generated one of the Southland’s more inspirational and heartwarming stories of the year.
Back in April, the kindhearted and community service-oriented Jayera spent about $1,000 she had saved and raised through fundraisers to hold a “free wash day” at Mama’s Coin Laundry, a local laundromat near her home.
Now, the freshman at Thornton Township High School in Harvey is being recognized for a new philanthropic endeavor.
Jayera recently donated a wagon full of book bags and $1,000 to buy school supplies for students in Dolton Riverdale School District 148. The materials will help children who run out of pencils, notebooks and other supplies a few months into the school year.
“I noticed at the beginning of the school year there was an abundance of school supplies available, which is a very good thing,” Jayera told school board members on Nov. 27, according to a news release from the district.
“Some school supplies are absent, some school supplies are inadequate and some are completely depleted before winter break,” she told the board. “This may leave the student without school supplies for the majority of the school year.”
Donating money for school supplies is a very practical gesture of goodwill, one that is sure to make a difference. Children without essential learning tools may struggle to keep up with their schoolwork. Their confidence might suffer, and they may be unable to achieve their full academic potential.
Jayera was valedictorian of her
eighth-grade graduating class this year at Washington Junior High School, the district said. She knows what it takes to achieve academic success.
“If a child loses his pencil, please give him one. If a child does not have crayons, please supply them,” she reportedly told board members. “School supplies are basic necessity for school. There should be no reason why the kids in School District 148 — my school district — are not successful.”
The district recently purchased supplies with the donation and will distribute them to students next week, Superintendent Kevin Nohelty said Wednesday.
“The way she gives back to the community, inspires so many others,” Nohelty said.
Jayera is an excellent role model for other students, he added. School officials are impressed by her maturity, intelligence and compassion, he said.
“She’s extremely humble,” Nohelty said. “Her parents did a great job raising her.”
Ninety-one percent of the district’s 2,103 students are defined as low-income because their families receive public aid, they are living in substitute care, or they are eligible for free or reduced-price lunches, according to the Illinois State Board of Education’s 2018 School Report Card for District 148.
“Some of the parents can’t afford” to buy additional school supplies, Jayera’s father, Michael Griffin, said by phone Tuesday. He was speaking from the Glenwood Roller Rink, where he works as a DJ.
Jayera also helps raise money to help a local club sponsor free skate days for children at the rink, he said. Griffin said he’s also part of the effort with the club, called Cruise Control.
“What we’re trying to do is keep kids off the street,” he said. “If they can play together, they can live together.”
Griffin said Jayera continues to be a straight-A student at Thronton High School and remains dedicated to community service.
“We support her with everything she’s doing,” he said.
Jayera’s act of kindness and generosity with the “free wash day” in April earned her a lot of attention. Several Chicago-area TV and radio stations reported her story, which then received national coverage.
TV stations in Atlanta, Boston and Memphis picked up her story. Ebony magazine did a piece. Her desire to help others inspired people on social media. The website Diply included her tale in a piece headlined, “13 Feel-Good Stories For When You Need A Good Happy-Cry.”
Jayera’s thoughtfulness captured the hearts of people far and wide. Her story caught the attention of the company that makes Clorox bleach. Clorox provided a grant to offer three additional free community wash days over the summer at Mama’s Coin Laundry.
In June, Clorox published a video on a social media page about Jayera’s efforts. The video has been viewed more than 1.8 million times. A camera crew visited the laundromat and interviewed people.
“It makes me feel sad when I get bullied because my clothes are dirty,” a young boy said in the video.
“Clean clothes make me feel real good,” an adult woman said in the video. “It makes me have confidence in myself.”
More than 400 people visited the laundromat that June day, Clorox said in the video. Laundry-related expenses cost the average American family up to $800 a year, Clorox said. Every little bit helps people who struggle to pay monthly bills.
Typically at Mama’s the driers are free but the cost of washers can range from $4.50 for smaller loads to $8 for the bigger machines.
“I love putting on events like this because it makes other people happy,” Jayera said in the video. “Seeing other people happy makes me happy.”