Sourced: CentralJersey.com; NJ Dept. Human Services
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic has shown the compassion of many across the country, including one student from Piscataway who realized that even at her young age, there was something she could do something to help others in the area.
Saanvi Muthuchetty, a 7th Grader at Theodore Schor Middle School decided to make and donate 100 reusable cotton face masks to MCFOODS, Middlesex county’s food bank program.
She said she chose to make the masks to promote their importance and encourage kids her age to wear them because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Making these masks really help people in the world,” said Saanvi in a video. “There are so many people out there who don’t have masks — making masks and donating them to other people will really help them out.”
Saanvi first researched YouTube videos for ideas and created a prototype. She then turned to Amazon to purchase cotton cloth, elastic ear bands, thread and a new sewing machine which she had to learn how to use.
“She quickly learned to handle sewing machines,” said her mother, Pallavi. “Her entertainment room became her place to hang out to make the masks.”
Saanvi’s charity didn’t stop with face masks. She and her brother, Arjun, teamed up to help collect canned food donations from around Piscataway which they contributed to MCFOODS at the September 25 food drive in the Lowe’s parking lot.
“I hope my small gestures of kindness and effort can touch other souls to make a difference in the community,” said Saanvi.
Democracy House, at the Center for Community Engagement and Civic Leadership at Middlesex County College, is holding a drive-through diaper drive over the next two Fridays, Oct. 23 and 30, from 3-6 p.m.
Drivers can bring their donations to Lot 2, near the college’s Mill Road entrance on the Edison campus, and hand them to the college volunteers without leaving their cars. Donations are going to the Central Jersey Diaper Bank in New Brunswick.
