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“Literacy is, finally, the road to human progress and the means through which every man, woman and child can realize [their] full potential.” – Kofi Annan
At Making Spirits Bright, we aim to provide all families with inclusive, diverse, and entertaining books as often as possible. That’s what makes D.O. It For Denny a perfect partner for us. Named after founder Sami O’Neill’s uncle Denny, D.O It For Denny started out in 2018 as a FaceBook page that would gather volunteers and host various “givebacks” such as backpack drives for underprivileged students and blessing bags for the homeless facing Michigan winters. Denny O’Neill was a Detroit Lawyer who suffered from MS and would always go out of his way to show kindness and compassion to those around him, such as hiring people off the streets to write for him as his disability left him unable, and doing pro-bono work for teens in trouble. Inspired by his actions, Sami O’Neill created D.O. It For Denny, a “non-profit organization that uses monthly acts of kindness to find ways to D.O. Good”.
D.O. It For Denny, now a fully registered Non-profit with an official website, focuses on families in crisis by organizing giveback events, collecting donations, and occasionally teaming up with other nonprofits to do as much good as possible. D.O. It For Denny has sponsored over 400 families, passed out over 500 blessing bags, donated thousands of books to young readers, and has completed over 50 projects with many more on the way. Along with this, D.O. It For Denny has six recurring projects that are constantly evolving and are always looking for volunteers and donations. Their “Take What You Need Stations” started as a backpack drive, but transformed further into a daily event with stations open to students who might not have access to personal care items such as toothbrushes, deodorants, and combs. These stations are strategically set up so students can personally acquire these items without having to feel ashamed or embarrassed. This type of consideration is found throughout each of D.O. It For Denny’s projects as they want to elevate and humanize the people they help.
In order to further connect with their community, the D.O. It For Denny website has an easily accessible resources tab on their website that lists several businesses, websites, and phone numbers for resources ranging from mental health hotlines to food insecurity resources. Each business is clearly labeled with some information as to how to get in contact with them, so people in crisis will have no confusion as to how to get the help they need. Never be afraid to reach out if you’re struggling and ask for help.
Making Spirits Bright and D.O. It For Denny makes fantastic partners because of our shared passion for providing necessary resources to everyone, especially underprivileged families. At MSB, we understand literacy among young readers is critical for developing important educational and social skills. Books can teach children valuable lessons about compassion, kindness, and empathy and diverse stories are necessary for empowering children of all backgrounds. D.O. It For Denny emphasizes the importance of the person, not the situation they’re in, and operates with the same care, empathy, and compassion Making Spirits Bright emphasizes in the books they select. Together, Making Spirits Bright has donated many books to D.O. It For Denny’s back to school events to help further their missions and change lives one book at a time.
If you would like to become involved, D.O. It For Denny hosts many in-person events and recruits volunteers through their Facebook Page. For those who want to help but are unable to do so in person, D.O. It For Denny is always looking for monetary donations and Amazon Wishlist purchases through this LINK to their website. They have several different quick and easy methods of monetary donations such as Venmo or Paypal. A link to their Amazon Wishlist is available for those who want to purchase specific items. Event posters are also listed on their website for people who wish to get involved but don’t have a Facebook account. Addresses for Donation drop off locations are listed with a map for visual aid for those with items to spare.
Author Bio:
Ava is a Michigan-based comic artist, publicist, and amateur roller-blader pursuing a BFA in Sequential Art at the Savannah College of Art and Design. As an artist, she has a deep love and respect for picture books and the people who make them, as she believes they are an integral part of every childhood.
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