Jaden's Hoops for Homeless Birthday Bash filled 700 stockings for the homeless in the Alpharetta community. | Unsplash
Jaden's Hoops for Homeless Birthday Bash filled 700 stockings for the homeless in the Alpharetta community. | Unsplash
Since Jaden Young was nine years old he has been giving back to the community, following the lead of his late cousin.
This year, for his 17th birthday he hosted an event called "Jaden's Hoops for Homeless Birthday Bash," where he stuffed stockings for homeless people.
According to a report by Fox 5, Young has been giving back to his Alpharetta community in honor of his cousin, who died in a car accident. The stockings benefit the Family of Promise for Forsyth to help homeless families. He had a goal to stuff 400 stockings but he nearly doubled that total with more than 700 stockings. This accounts for the 650 families in need, according to the Family of Promise of Forsyth.
"Every year it just keeps getting bigger and better, and it's kind of amazing to me," Young told Fox5.
Young’s cousin Kaylin Kares would spend her birthdays feeding the homeless, and Young said he was inspired by her selflessness. Just after her 15th birthday, Kares was killed in a car accident. Kares had put aside a day that was supposed to be all about helping the community, and that was the inspiration for Young to create Jaden’s Hoops for Homeless Birthday Bash.
Young’s mother, Nicole, said that she was proud of her son because of his passion, as well as being an inspiration to help the community for his peers.
Valor Christian Academy Head of School Jennifer Gastley said that when she was impressed with Young’s vision with Hoops for Homeless.
“This is a student that knows how to lead by serving,” Gastley said.
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