Meet Your Neighbor: Kayla Abramowitz, 11

Eleven-year-old Girl Scout Kayla Abramowitz is on a mission to collect used DVDs to donate to the Michael Fux Family Center at Miami Children’s Hospital.

Allen EyestoneKayla Abramowitz, 10, is collecting DVDs with other members of her Girl Scout troop to give to Miami Children’s Hospital. Abramowitz is shown at her school, Palm Beach Gardens Elementary, where she’ll place her box to collect DVDs. (Allen Eyestone/The Palm Beach Post)

Her goal is to collect 100 DVDs. She created a flyer and pounded the pavement in her North Palm Beach community, explaining her project to the neighbors.

More recently, her principal at Palm Beach Gardens Elementary, Marie Caracuzzo, okayed the fifth-grader’s request to solicit donations at the school throughout April.

“I’m doing this because it helps the whole hospital community and helps kids stay happier,” Kayla said.

Kayla was once a patient herself in the hospital for two weeks due to a gastrointestinal issue. While recovering, she rented movies from a very small collection, and decided she “wanted to change that.”

Since her hospital stay, her 7-year-old brother, Ethan, has frequented the family center because of gastrointestinal issues and arthritis.

Her brother’s strength has inspired her even more to collect movies for the kids at the Miami Children’s Hospital.

She got her Girl Scout Troop involved, Troop 20274, led by Sara Browning. The Scouts created a collection box that will be placed in the school’s front office. Caracuzzo allowed Kayla to distribute a flyer to each teacher so they could share with the school’s 700 students. A pizza party will be awarded to the class which collects the most DVDs.

Kayla’s mom, Andrea, is proud of her daughter for masterminding such a beneficial way for people to donate their used DVDs.

“You can always donate DVDs to the library or to Goodwill which is a good thing, but they’re really desirable at a children’s hospital because there are times when kids aren’t well enough to get out of bed,” Andrea said. “Those kids want to rest and watch DVDs.”

Kayla is no stranger to community service. Last year, she set up a lemonade stand with her friends on her birthday, and raised $25 for the Peggy Adams Animal Rescue. Kayla and her Girl Scout troop also spent a day at Quantum House – cleaning, entertaining, decorating and preparing a meal for families staying there.

Kayla’s plan, with the help of mom, Ethan, her 9-year-old brother, Ben, and father, Michael, is to send the 100-plus DVDs to the hospital in May. Heading into April’s big push, her efforts have already spawned a modest collection.

“It makes me feel really proud and happy to know that the kids at the hospital will enjoy watching these movies,” Kayla said.

For information on Kayla’s project, or how to donate, email her mom, Andrea, at prowriter@bellsouth.net.

Who is your hero?

Ethan, because he stayed strong through his surgery

What is your favorite movie?

“Monsters Inc.”

What are your hobbies?

Drawing, Girl Scouts, golf

What do you do to get away?

Chautauqua camp in New York.