Dominic was just 3 years old when he knew he wanted to give back to the community.
RELATED: The Good News Blog of 2020: Share your story with us
His adoptive mother, Rose Miller, said Dominic was always advanced in communication and could convey how he was feeling even at such a young age. When the family was forced to foreclose on their home in Oakland County, Rose said that’s when Dominic decided he wanted to give back to others.
“He really struggled with leaving what he knew behind,” said Rose. “He saw people eat out of trash cans, sleeping at bus stops. Dominic was like, ‘we have to do something.’”
Rose said Dominic began to collect pajamas and books for kids in need despite dealing with his own health challenges with cerebral palsy and epilepsy.
“Each year for Christmas, he gets a new book and a pair of pajamas and that’s kind of how it came about,” said Rose. “He wanted other kids to have that joy and comfort that it brings him.”
The first year of his drive, he collected around 65 pajamas and around 75 books.
He was just 4 years old when he made the delivery to area shelters near his Eastpointe home like MCREST, Turning Point, and Lighthouse. That’s when the annual tradition began.
Now, Dominic is 11 years old.
“It keeps growing and getting bigger,” said Rose. “Now he works on it all year long.”
He set his goal for this year before COVID-19 hit, going for just over 4,000 in pajamas and books/toys. Because he hasn’t been able to hold his normal events this year, Rose said Dominic is trying to come up with alternative solutions.
This Saturday (Dec. 12), the family is holding a drive-thru donation drop-off at Athena Hall in Roseville from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m. to help him meet his goal.
“He says that it just makes him feel complete,” said Rose. “He tells me all the time . . . it was like an angel came down and told him he needs to help his community.”
