Elijah’s Eagle Scout project proved that even small kindnesses go a long way!
When Elijah Kelly realized a local reading center was in need, he stepped in to lend a helping hand and learned that giving is even better than receiving!
Mom, this is it!” Elijah Kelly exclaimed. “The perfect idea for my Eagle Scout service project!”
The 13-year-old had been riding home from school with his mother, Paula, when she’d told him about a unique new reading center in their local Ocoee, Florida, mall.
“It’s a wonderful place where kids with special needs can practice reading out loud to therapy dogs,” Paula had explained. “But the owner, Thom Battisto, still needs books, furniture, supplies and help raising funds.” Paula had thought Elijah might be interested in helping, as he had mild autism himself, but she’d never seen such excitement in his eyes.
“This is exactly what I’ve been looking for— a chance to make a real difference,” Elijah beamed. “Let’s call Thom now!” And when the owner of Sydney’s Reading and Learning Center heard Elijah’s enthusiasm, his face broke into a huge smile.
Thom had begun the Read to Sydney literacy program seven years earlier, after his beloved rescue, Sydney, became a certified therapy dog. As Sydney visited classrooms and libraries as a nonjudgmental reading buddy for kids, Thom had dreamed of opening his own center.
He’d finally found the perfect spot in the West Oaks Mall, but he’d been unable to raise enough money for supplies and furniture. But after talking to Elijah, Thom began hoping that would all change.
“This is awesome!” Elijah cheered as he toured the center, seeing kids snuggled on the floor reading to Toby, one of the rescue dogs that had
taken up Sydney’s man
tle after she passed. But then Elijah no
ticed a girl in a wheelchair struggling to get close to Toby. What about her? he thought sadly. Petting the dog is a huge part of the fun. Suddenly, Elijah blurted, “I’ll build a table so kids in wheelchairs can sit closer to the dogs as they read!” That weekend, Elijah and his older brother, Jeff, got to work. “It has to be tall enough for a wheelchair to roll underneath and have steps so the dogs can climb up and sit by the kids,” Elijah described. Meanwhile, Elijah also started gathering donations for the center. In just two months, he collected 2,000 books, several beanbag chairs and two computers. And last October, Elijah’s table was installed, complete with a set of steps decorated with multicolored puzzle pieces for Autism Awareness.
The kids’ faces lit up when they saw it. “Sitting at the table with the dog makes me feel so happy about reading!” 13-year-old Kaitlyn smiles from her wheelchair.
“It’s much easier to read at the table because I can put down the book and pet Toby,” agrees Victoria, age nine.
Parents, like Shari, are also thrilled. “My two kids just love reading to the dogs,” she smiles. “It builds their confidence and self-esteem.”
Though Elijah completed his Eagle Scout project and received several awards for his work, the acclaim is not what matters to him. “It feels so good to help,” he says. “The most important thing we can do is help others, especially those who are different from us, whenever we can.”
Thom is also overjoyed with Elijah’s contributions.
“The center is a safe place where everyone feels accepted and included, and Elijah is a big part of that,” Thom beams. “He’s proven small kindnesses go a long way!”
I want kids in wheelchairs to fully enjoy the dogs, too “There is nothing more beautiful than someone who goes out of their way to make life beautiful for others.”
Mandy Hale