Zohaib Begg was just 7-year-old when he received accolades from a former president.
President Barak Obama commended his efforts to collect more than 6,000 items of personal protective equipment for front-line workers on Twitter.
Now at 8-year-olds, the self-proclaimed “Chief Kindness Officer” is focusing his efforts on the homeless.
“The reason I want to give to the homeless is because every time I go to D.C. I see it’s a problem with my own eyes, and I had the desire to help them from my own heart,” the Virginia boy told CBS News.
Before this most recent endeavor, he started going to restaurants, hotels, and spas to collect gift cards for hospital workers once they were fully stocked with PPE.
He helped at least 18,000 front-line works during the pandemic.
“You can make a difference at any age,” Zohaib tells ABC 7 News.
Now the boy is looking to reach at least 1,000 homeless people for Global Youth Service Day.
“It means a lot to me and I know how the families feel and I just hope these kits give the families who are dealing through this hard time right now a little bit of comfort,” he said.
Zohaib took to the streets with Sharon Wise, a formerly homeless woman who now services as an advocate for the homeless population.
The two of them passed out food, toiletries, and other supplies to those living on the underskirts of the 3rd Street tunnel off of New Jersey Avenue in Washington D.C.
“They weren’t born one day and say, ‘Hey, I think I want to be in a camp one day.’ You know, they ended up there and seeing him out there with me and some of the other volunteers, it just gives them hope, saying, ‘Wow, this little boy is out here. He cares about us,'” Wise said.
For the love of good news Friday:“8-year-old brings comfort to homeless in Washington, D.C.An 8-year-old boy in…
Posted by Love Like Lenny onFriday, May 14, 2021
All of the toiletries and supplies handed out that day were collected from businesses Zohaib reached out to for donations.
“I kept making holes in my socks so my mom got me Bombas, and I thought they’re very comfy. Then I thought, ‘Hey maybe Bombas could give me some socks.’ So me and my mom emailed them for 50 socks and they ended up giving us 600,” Begg said.
Zohaib Begg is a little boy with a big heart. https://bit.ly/2RKUOEL #GetUpDC
Posted by Get Up DC onWednesday, May 12, 2021
The boy also got donations from local dentists, Trader Joe’s, Wegmans, and Chik-fil-A.
“I believe in spreading kindness, and all my donors and partners for this event share this vision and also believe that no one is too young to make a difference,” he said.
8-year-old Zohaib Begg is helping the homeless and those in need! Proof that you don’t have to be an “adult” to take action and make a difference… this kid is incredible and making an impact! #GetUplifted
Posted by Annie Yu onWednesday, May 12, 2021
“It makes me happy to give to others,” he said. “I also want to show children that no matter your age, you can always make a difference and a positive impact in your community. You just have to find the problem and find one solution.”
He has already inspired others in his own neighborhood to help out.
“Since I can’t pack 1,000 socks by myself, a lot of my neighbors are going to help me pack kits” Zohaib said.
Learn more about this extraordinary boy in the video below.
Please SHARE this with your friends and family.
