EAST STROUDSBURG, MONROE COUNTY (WBRE/WYOU) — With a new school year upon us, many children are squarely focused on what's ahead for them, but that's not the case for a Monroe County girl who is concerned for other kids.
12-year-old Adelyn Hessek is packing something called a "Birthday Bag." It is one of the things kids in need receive for free at a place called Angels and Dragonflies in East Stroudsburg.
Adelyn routinely lends a helping hand at the non-profit that her grandmother runs.
She always knew it was a busy place, but one day watching her grandmother help participating families, something just seemed to click.
"And I realized maybe these kids like do actually need help, so I realized what, what this was all about and I started to really get into helping," Adelyn explained.
Families come in and take what they need, everything from diapers and school supplies to toys and arts and crafts.
"She just loves jumping in, you know, that's the biggest part of it, and giving out toys. We give away toys at every event," Adelyn's Grandmother, Sherry Scott, told 28/22 News.
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Projects throughout the year include Jared boxes filled with small gifts, toys, and fun activities for hospitalized pediatric patients, and Christmas care packages.
Back-to-school backpacks are filled with supplies for 400 kids who otherwise might not begin the school year on equal footing with their peers.
"I feel very sorry that they're in a situation, and I try and understand their situation as good as possible so I try and just understand what's going through them and I just try and make them feel as comfortable as possible, as if this was just a real store where they're buying things," Adelyn continued.
Adelyn's family is proud of her willingness and readiness to jump right in and help Angels and Dragonflies help others.
Adelyn's grandmother has seen Addy, as she calls her, benefit from it, too.
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"So, she's willing to take the child that's hiding in the corner for whatever reason and bring them out of their shell as well. So it's not only helping her come out of her, you know, comfort zone, it's you know going into somebody else's," Scott said.
In her spare time, the Pocono Mountain East Junior High School student is involved in track and cross country as well as choir and musical theater, but she always manages to find the time to help at Angels and Dragonflies.
"I try and do the little things because the little things do count," Adelyn stated.
She may consider them little things, but she is having a big impact on her community.
Adelyn begins seventh grade on August 25. Here's to you, Adelyn!
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