Book Support

On a sunny Saturday in late February, Rohan Mukhopadhyay unpacked 10 boxes of children’s books. He was at the Beehive, a venue in Los Angeles, California, with his family. They arranged the books on folding tables. The books had been donated. They came from authors, publishers, and others. Rohan, 13, was giving them away. It was part of a program he started called Reading Among Ruins.

GETTING READY At his temporary home, in Santa Monica, Rohan organizes books for donation.

Just weeks earlier, wildfires had torn through Los Angeles. More than 16,000 structures were destroyed. These included schools and houses. Rohan and his family lost their home in the Palisades Fire. Rohan’s beloved book collection was destroyed. “I was heartbroken,” he told TIME for Kids. “It made me wonder how other people, other kids, felt about losing their books.”

That question kick-started Rohan’s efforts. “I wanted to help,” he says. Now he’s going all out to get books to kids who were affected by the fires.

DONATION DAY Rohan arranges a selection of books at the Together We Rebuild event, in Los Angeles, California, in late February.

Books Matter

In its first month, Reading Among Ruins gave away more than 1,000 books to kids. Asher Finkelthal, 13, was one of them. Using an online form, “I requested a few books by Stuart Gibbs,” Asher told TFK. “He’s one of my favorite authors.” Rohan gave him books from Gibbs’s FunJungle and Spy School series. “It felt really good” to get them, Asher says. “It’s nice to know that other people care about books also and want to help people rebuild their collections.”

TAKE YOUR PICK Wildfire victims can take free books at Together We Rebuild.

Veeren Mehra is 10. He also got books from Rohan. He says he learned a powerful lesson: “If you are in a tough situation,” Veeren says, “people will be there for you.”

Books are there for people, too. “They’re things that you come back to again and again” for comfort and joy, Zibby Owens says. She’s the founder of Zibby’s Bookshop. It’s in Santa Monica. Rohan and his family visit often. “I think what he’s doing is amazing,” she says about Rohan. “Being able to sense what your friends need in a time of distress? That is a superpower.”

Community Spirit

The giveaway Rohan did in February was part of a larger effort. It’s called Together We Rebuild. Local groups provided clothing and furniture. They connected people with aid and helped them find housing. Kids got special attention at the daylong event. There was entertainment and a petting zoo. “We probably gave away more than a couple hundred books,” Puja Chugani says. She’s Rohan’s mom.

GOOD READS Rohan offers books that were donated by authors and publishers.

Rohan recalls how kids looked as they chose books: “Really excited,” he says. As long as there’s a need, he plans to keep giving.

Inspired?

Let Rohan’s story inspire you to address a need in your community. Click below for ideas about how you can boost literacy and make the world a brighter place.