My name is Daniel Friedman.  I am 12 years old and making my Bar Mitzvah on August 2^nd, at Temple Beth Miriam in Elberon, NJ.   I am working on my Kishrei  Halev project for my Bar Mitzvah.  My project is considered a Mitzvah or a good deed. 

 I chose to volunteer in a program called “Reading Buddies”. The goals of the program are to provide new, free books and literacy resources to children and their families, motivate children to read, and generate community support for literacy. 

Family and Children’s Service in Long Branch runs the” Reading Buddies” program which distributes new free picture books to students in many underserved schools in Monmouth County three times per year. Retired and senior citizens volunteer to read to students on a weekly basis.  I will be volunteering my time to read to children in the Asbury Park library throughout the month of July.  I am in the process of collecting new children’s picture books for children in kindergarten through second grade to donate to the “Reading Buddies” program.

I like this project because I enjoy reading books to children.  I think all children should have their own collection of their favorite books to entertain themselves and read over and over again!

This is a picture of me reading to my mom’s students on “bring your child to work” day in April.  Would you help me reach my goal of collecting new children’s picture books to donate to the “reading buddies” program?  Give me a call.  The rabbi has my number.  Thank you!!!!!