Easing a Pandemic Side Effect

Meet Daily Point of Light Award honoree Meera Mehta. Read her story, and nominate an outstanding volunteer or family as a Daily Point of Light.

As pandemic restrictions began to disappear, testing showed that only 44% of New Jersey third graders were reading at grade level, a number that has still not returned to what it was prior. In 2022, writer and book-lover Meera Mehta decided to tackle the problem with Novel Futures, a nonprofit creating sustainable access to books and writing resources for underserved kids and families.

Over 600 volunteer hours later, now a high school senior, Meera’s book drives have helped thousands of kids build home libraries. She has built partnerships with schools, libraries and community organizations. And in two years, she has led more than ten free writing workshops for children. With a younger brother who has been steadily involved, Novel Futures should be increasing literacy for years to come.

Meera also serves as president of her school’s Feminist Club where she leads discussions on women’s issues and organizes drives to support various organizations and women’s shelters. Recently, she collected menstrual products to help stock the bathrooms at the local library. In college, she plans to study anthropology with a minor in women and gender studies and creative writing.

What inspires you to volunteer?

I just want to be helpful. That’s what leads me to work with the Feminist Club. I loved leading that period product drive, because I felt like I was really making a difference for people in my community.

During the pandemic, literacy rates in New Jersey dropped by about 8%. That number really stuck with me, because I’ve always loved reading, especially as a kid. Reading helps me look at things from new perspectives. Writing helps ground me in what’s going on around me. It allows me to share my beliefs or reflect on a specific moment or experience. I couldn’t imagine kids losing access to something so fundamental. So I started leading book drives and founded Novel Futures my freshman year.

Tell us about your volunteer role with Novel Futures.

It started as a small book drive, but it became something bigger. I created Novel Futures with the initial idea of simply collecting and donating books. Our first and biggest partner has been BookSmiles, which distributes books we collect to schools and learning centers across the state. They’ve helped us scale our impact and put books into the hands of children who need them most.

We’ve also expanded more locally. I partnered with the Montclair Human Needs Pantry and Childhood Development Center, so more kids in our local community can access books they want to read. So far, we’ve collected and distributed over 60,000, but I’m aiming for 100,000 by the end of senior year. I coordinate volunteer teams, oversee book drives and manage year-round distribution systems.

As things grew, I developed online literacy tools to reach kids who might not have easy access to in-person programs. I created a diverse BookFinder tool on our website, which is a curated database organized by categories like ethnicity, gender and other themes to help kids and parents discover relatable books that reflect different identities and lived experiences. It can also filter for things like picture books or middle school books and is used year-round by families, teachers and partner organizations.

I started hosting free writing workshops to help kids build skills and write their first stories at my local library, school and even in partnership with Girl Scout troops. One of my favorite parts has been developing Story Explorers, a free downloadable workbook for kids to practice creative writing and build confidence on their own.

I’m also going to be a keynote speaker at Make a Difference Day this spring. In the past few years, I’ve gone to local elementary schools to talk about literacy equity and reading.

What’s been the most rewarding part of your work?

The first is seeing kids get books when they might not have any at home. Last year, I went to the Montclair Childhood Development Center to do a book drive, and each kid got to take one home. They all seemed so excited to start their own home library.

I also love doing workshops and watching kids develop their voices through writing. Some kids come in not knowing what to write or are intimidated, but by the end of one or two workshops, they’re able to get a better grasp on it.

What have you learned through your experiences as a volunteer?

Making a difference can start off as a really small project, but it can grow if you want it to. I started it with a single book drive, and as I saw the impact, I realized I could expand.

Tell us about future partnerships, programs or events that you are excited about.

I have another workshop scheduled with a Girl Scout troop coming, and as senior year frees up in the spring, I’m going to be reaching out to more partners to see how much I can expand before I leave.

Any advice for people who want to start volunteering?

Start small. I’m lucky, because now people ask me if they can drop off donations. A lot of people in my community have little kids who outgrow specific books, so they’re always looking for places to give them. There is less need to solicit donations.

What do you want people to learn from your story?

It’s important to have a passion or to find something in the community you care about, because if you’re able to make a difference, you should. If you’re interested in the environment, go pick up trash at a park. Not only does it benefit others around you, but you learn a lot about yourself. It makes you more aware as a person.

Do you want to make a difference in your community like Meera? Find local volunteer opportunities.