ATL Standard

Alpharetta teen Jaden Young wanted only one thing for his birthday, the same thing he has asked for every year since 2015, and his community stepped up and granted his wish - 700 times.

Instead of gifts for himself, Young asked the community to donate items to help the homeless, according to a report by FOX5 News. Young asked for the donations be brought to his annual event, Jaden's Hoops for Homeless Birthday Bash, held Dec. 19 at his school, Valor Christian Academy. 

"When we met Jaden's family and heard his story and heard all about Hoops for Homeless, we knew immediately that this is a student that gets it,"  Jennifer Gastley, head of school at Valor Christian Academy, told FOX5 News. "This is a student that knows how to lead by serving."

Young said he hoped to gather enough donations - he asked for things like baby-care items, personal-care and beauty products, gift cards under $20, water bottles and the like - to fill 400 stockings for the Family Promise of Forsyth shelter, according to the report.

Donations exceeded Young's goal, by 300 stockings. Young was able to stuff 700 stockings with donated items, FOX5 News reported Dec. 20.

"Every year it just keeps getting bigger and better, and it's kind of amazing to me," Young said in the report.

Young began giving back to his community when he was only 9 years old. He said his inspiration came from his cousin, Kaylin Kares, who spent her birthdays serving meals at a homeless shelter. After Kaylin was killed in a car accident at 15, Young stepped in. He said he started his annual Hoops for Homeless event to keep her spirit alive.

"I'm really proud that he's doing this, not only because it's his passion, but he's actually bringing awareness to other kids his age group to get involved as well,"  Nicole Young, Jaden's mother, told FOX5 News.

Homelessness continues to be a rising problem around the country, but in recent years Atlanta has seen its homeless population decrease by about 25%, according to the Midtown Atlanta Alliance. Currently, there are roughly 3,200 homeless individuals in the Atlanta area, MAA states. The decrease is partly attributable to the efforts of community members and leaders, like Young.  

"What we see with Jaden is someone that says, 'I'm going to take the lens off myself, and I'm going to look out in the community'," Gastley said in the report.