For Benjamin Carpenter, 14, of Brandon, Fla., reading is more than just an enjoyable hobby. It’s a way for him to give back to the community, through his two nonprofit organizations, Ben’s Mends and Ben’s Mends Hearts.
“It was an easy choice to try to help others who may not have the same opportunities as I do and to help them escape from their troubles into a book or story,” says Carpenter, who received a diagnosis of spinal muscular atrophy at age 2 and uses a power wheelchair.
Carpenter started Ben’s Mends in 2007. The organization, which receives used and abused books from outside sources and repairs them with professional book supplies, has donated more than 3,000 refurbished books to other nonprofit organizations such as Tampa’s Shriners Hospital for Children, the Veteran’s
Ben, center, and a few of his friends.
Administration and an Alzheimer’s disease care facility. Books also are mended and donated to Carpenter’s former elementary and middle schools.
A soon-to-be freshman at King High School, Carpenter is involved in every aspect of Ben’s Mends, from picking up
used books to repairing them to dropping off mended books. He’s also in charge of fundraising and public awareness events to promote Ben’s Mends. Volunteers (the number varies) are mostly his classmates.
Carpenter’s second organization is
still in its beginning stages. Ben’s Mends
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