[cnn-photo-caption image= http://i2.cdn.turner.com/cnn/2008/images/09/14/art.adler.jpg
caption=”Julian Adler, 13, started From My Hood to Your Hood to give sweatshirts to hurricane victims.”]
When we look at major disasters like hurricanes in the United States, many of us think, “My goodness, how can I help?” In many cases, everything is needed, starting with basics like soap and food. And really, we all have something we could part with, right?
Julian Adler looked at Katrina and then looked into his closet. He saw the devastation and a way he could help. Julian is 13, an age many Jewish kids celebrate their Bat or Bar Mitzvah. In his neighborhood, they observe a custom where sweatshirts are given out as party favors. Some kids can end up with as many as 100 hoodies! Julian knew they didn’t need all of them, but knew that the victims of the hurricane did.
He started From My Hood to Your Hood, donating sweatshirts to youngsters who lost everything. He then applied for charitable shipping with FedEx and got it. Now he’s thinking of how he can help the ‘hoods effected by Gustav.
Update: Watch the CNN.com Live interview
Young People Who Rock 
In a society where the common theme has become “how can I help myself”, it is refreshing to see a young man with a heart for others. Stories like this are often lost in the midst of stories of war and court cases, but they should be among the first to be told. Julian Adler can serve as a role model for others his age and even adults as he practices the act of serving others. It is often not the easiest thing to do to put others before ourselves, and it is heartwarming that someone at such a young age created a charity.
This blog reminds me of Zachary Hunter, another young man who started a campaign to help others. He began what is called Loose Change to Loosen Chains. His efforts are working toward abolishing slavery in other parts of the world.
Society should look up to people like Adler and Hunter who work toward the better good of the world and who are compassionate toward the suffering.
Keep up the fantastic work, Julian! It makes me so proud to see kids out there who are willing to take the hard road, even when they know that their friends and other kids might not agree with them, and do good for the community. You are a true example to not only kids everywhere, but to us adults as well as to how even one person can make a huge difference. Thank you!
Great effort and act of kindness. Where can we send sweatshirts we want to donate and can we do so via your charity rate shipping?
CD… editors… I would like to know the answers to the questions CD posted.
I live 60 or so miles inland from the Gulf Coast, in Mississippi. We suffered through Katrina, was lucky through Gustav and Ike. So, I know first hand what it is to loose – my husband lost his business in New Orleans due to Katrina – yet we didn’t loose it all like so many. I would love to help out in any way I can, as well. The sweatshirt idea is awesome, and I commend the young man who’s idea it was. We need more youth like him, as well as adults!
Keep up the great work!!
Where can we mail hoodies to??
“Good job” and i might do that as well.
This is an article that makes a parent feel fantastic! If only we had more children in this world with your attitude and willingness to help and share. Where can we send the sweatshirts and how do we use your fed ex charity shipping method? I’ll show this article to my daughter today after school and we’ll round up some much needed sweatshirts to help. Good luck with your ventures.
I had to do a double take. Julian is the twin to my 18 year old son when my son was Julians age..it’s almost scary..anyway, keep up the great work !
Anita
Good for you, Julian. I commend you on your thoughtfulnes and unique gift to those victims of the hurricanes. For a person of your age to part with the “material” things in their lives is a message to other youth and adults. You’re a kind soul!
awesome young man. good job!
I found a contact for the sweatshirts: Per an article about Julian and the project, CALL JULIE HOLLANDER, DIRECTOR OF TEEN SERVICES AT THE SID JACOBSON COMMUNITY CENTER, 516-484-1545, X117, OR EMAIL JHOLLANDER@SJJCC.ORG.
My Cousin (that’s him!!) is one heck of a kid… I am so proud to know him, and see that he is well on his way to change the world!!
What a great idea and what a wonderful young man. Keep up the good work!! I am sure you will inspire others to look and find a way to make a difference. You ROCK!!
Julian!!!! Good Job you are so good to the youth hahahah yea julioooo with ur bape sweatshirts and shoes
-ross lol pcccceeee
Julian, You are an amazing kid & an inspiration to all. Your family should be very proud of all your accomplishments. The world needs more people like you. I hope more children can learn from you & know how it feels to give back to others.
I know this kid he is a close friend of mine and i remember going to his house and seeing the piles of sweatshirts good times (Really Good Kid.)
What a bright young man! I hope other kids who end up with over 100 hoodies send their hoodies them to Julian for distribution.
Julian is the truth, this is how you keep it real ya dig! Good Job man!!
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Julian,
You have tapped into a need and are using your life to fulfill it. Good work Julian, keep searching for ways to continue this marvelous thing you have started. You make a difference. Thank you.
What an awesome little guy, I hope my son grows up to have as much compassion and respect, his mum must be so proud. In a world where many simply think “But the problem is so big, and I’m so many miles away, what can I do?” It is so fantastic to see someone so young see a problem and think, “I CAN!” If there were more people in the world like this, it would be a much better place.
http://www.youruserreviews.com/aboutus.php
I KNOW HIM!
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YEA the TENNIS PRO WITH FRO!!!!!!! I AM SO PROUD OF YOUR ACCOMPLISHMENTS!!!!! I LOVE YOU FOREVER AND EVER!!!!!
LOVE ALWAYS
MARK<3<3
OMGG he goes to my school
hes in my class
he goes to camp with me
wow.
I think this is such a good idea. Something as simple as a hoodie can make such a difference! What is said is true, hurricane victims nedd simple things and we have more than enough to share!
That is such a great idea. I wish I had a way that I could have helped, even though I most likely did. I think that what you did was really cool and nice. I am glad you found a use for so many sweatshirts that was good thinking! Now, if I all of the sudden get lots of sweatshirts that I don’t need, I KNOW WHAT TO DO! Thank you so much for helping out the victims that had no way to get things of their own.
East Middle School Student
I think Julian has done a great thing. He is an inspirational kid and deserves to be rewarded. Which, of course, he really is being by getting the good feeling of helping people who lost everything, It really surprises me that Julian is taking the time to do this. Most kids I know would never do that and I recommend them to read this article. It’s very inspirational for me and I think it would be for many others.
Way to go Julian!
-Student from East Middle School
After a long day on school, I went home very exhaust, thinking that I should stop school, but when I arrived to my house I went directly to the living room, just for turn on the TV. So I turned the TV on CNN them I sew to ladies taking one taking about shoos others taking abut business. These ladies were Nicole Lapin and Una kim and Kim said something that stop me for a moment she said something like Paraphrasing “stay and school because is values resources, work hard, and go there and live your life with passion ” Maybe you wandering why I am sending thi masse well this is why. As an international student my goal is to start one- day my own global business in this new evolution of globalization I want to be an entrepreneurs and those words that UNA KIM said were very remarkable for me because those words told me three thins 1) live with passion 2) work hard and 3) Stay in school so thank to CNN.
hi. its really good and great thing that everyone doesnt get the gots.but still to dare about somethng good n positive is is to call TO ROCK Isn’t it?