Every Book Deserves a Reader: Getting Involved Through Literacy

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Aarush Kalia. Read his story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light. 

Aarush Kalia is a senior in high school who enjoys playing soccer and spending time with his puppy. He’s always been fascinated with math and hopes to study it in college. Aarush is passionate about integrating STEM to allow change. When Aarush is not focusing on school and extracurricular activities, he enjoys lending time to his nonprofit, 2ndChance, an organization that collects and donates books to Juvenile Detention Centers. 

Aarush started 2ndChance while he was a freshman in High School. During his brother’s senior year, his family visited Yale University as a prospective school. While touring the campus, they walked by the Yale Law School library, and he noticed a flier about a “book collection.” It immediately got him thinking and inspired him to create something similar for Juvenile Detention Centers. 

Today, 2ndChance is a nonprofit that collects and distributes books and educational resources to Juvenile inmates. The program has also expanded beyond juvenile detention centers and public libraries. 

What inspires you to volunteer? 

The ability to get involved in the community inspires me every day. My parents have always emphasized the importance of education in our household, but I noticed that volunteering is another important skill and life trait. I enjoy learning and giving to my community, helping other kids succeed and providing people with opportunities to learn. Getting involved is fulfilling. I love volunteering.

Tell us about your volunteer role with 2Chance. 

I am the founder of 2ndChance. It started as an initiative and has grown into a nonprofit organization. It began with me sourcing books and delivering them to juvenile detention centers. As time passed, I started to get help, and today, we have biweekly meetings with students in multiple states. Before, I did a lot of the work, and now, I still do plenty of work, but from a management perspective. 

What are your long-term plans or goals for the organization? 

With the support I’ve been getting, I can only hope that 2ndChance continues to expand and grow soon. I want to build on what we’ve done so far and continue outreach at more centers. I hope this can evolve into a mentorship program where volunteers connect with the kids. It would be nice if teachers, retired teachers or adults could be present to allow fruitful conversations and offer support to the kids in need. 

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work? 

The most rewarding part is the amount of change 2ndChance has made in my life. I now have the opportunity to create equal opportunities in education and listen to people who usually aren’t given a chance. 2ndChance has shown me that I will always face issues, and things can become overwhelming, but we can make a difference with patience, teamwork and communication. That’s why this project is dear to my heart. 

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer? 

While working with 2ndChance, I encountered many challenges. Some were easier than others, but it wouldn’t have allowed me patience without these challenges. I’ve had requests to have the books new, to have books in Spanish and paperback books. Each request comes with a different set of hurdles, but each time, I grew from it. Overall, I learned perseverance. Patience is a great trait I’ve learned, but the ability to constantly improve as I face these challenges has helped me grow in life and as a person. 

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about. 

I look forward to sharing 2ndChance with banks and receiving funding to collect the books these centers and libraries need. Part of the reason I registered 2ndChance as a nonprofit is that we need funding from banks and local businesses. With the help we need, we hope it can allow more donations soon. 

Why should others get involved with causes they care about? 

Others need to get involved with causes they care about because there is nothing like getting involved in the community. Right now, a tiny percentage of the population volunteers, and it is essential to do something, no matter how small. Any impact made will significantly impact people, whether that’s in education, literacy or whatever. Just try as hard as you can. 

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering? 

My advice is to believe in your project and idea. If you have an idea, the next step is to explore it and follow through. Even if the idea doesn’t come to fruition, try again. Eventually, one of the ideas will work and become more successful from there. 

What do you want people to learn from your story? 

It’s important never to give up. I faced several challenges throughout my journey of building 2ndChance, and look at the work we are doing today. Ask for help from your parents, teachers, faculty, neighbors and friends, that would motivate you to move forward. Never be afraid to ask for help, and continue to persevere. 

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Aarush? Find local volunteer opportunities.