LANCASTER — SOAR High School sophomore Abby Kelly had to improvise when the COVID-19 pandemic disrupted plans for her Girl Scout Gold Award project.
Kelly, 15, planned to build a library and fill it with books for Valley Oasis, a nonprofit organization whose services include operating the domestic violence shelter.
“Right now they only have one small book shelf with five books,” Kelly said.
After the pandemic hit, Kelly had to reimagine her project. She has been donating books wherever she can. Abby collected about 10,000 books. She has 5,000 to 6,000 left in her home. There are piles of books in the Kelly family’s living room.
“I love reading. It’s opened up so many doors to so many new places that I never would have thought of,” Abby said.
Abby handed out about 300 books in partnership with Antelope Valley Chevrolet and Project Hope CA during a backpack/school supplies and grocery distribution event at the Lancaster dealership on Aug. 1.
Kelly also donated about 300 books to the Special Victims unit of the Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department.
More recently, Kelly donated about 2,000 books to the Keppel Union School District.
“We are still going to build a library for Valley Oasis; it just has to be pushed back a bit since we can’t get there right now,” Kelly said.
Kelly is the daughter of Leo and Barbara Kelly of Lancaster.
“She’s so excited about her project and that we can get moving on it and pass out some of the books she’s collected,” Barbara Kelly said.
Kelly added she is proud of her daughter.
“She’s doing an awesome program and it’s helping so many in the community,” Kelly said.
Many of the books Kelly received are donations. She also purchased books through the nonprofit First Book Marketplace. First Book sells pallets of unsold new books for the cost of shipping.
“We’ve gotten about 6,000 to 8,000 from them because we’ve gotten three pallets now,” Abby said.
The book subjects cover the gamut from newborn to adult.
“It’s really cool to be able to help the community like this with literacy,” Abby said.
Abby hopes to attend the University of California, Davis, after graduation to pursue a career as a veterinarian.
