He startedabusinesscalled Max’ s Helping Hands with the intenttohelp local neighbors with small projects, such as landscaping, lawn maintenance and mail collection, while away on vacation. However Sarkissian’ s mission, and his small business, soon grew into abigger endeavor. Inaddition to helping out in his local community he also decided to take on raising funds for worthy causes and helpingthose less fortunate.

“ I knew Iwanted to start abusiness this past summerand thought that it would be agood idea to give back to kids

who have less than me, since Ireally don’ t need anything,” Sarkissian says.

Inspired by his mother and grandmother, Sarkissian focusedonmaking a difference in Paterson.“ My mom works with the City of Paterson employees and has been helping them for many years, and Iknew, by going with her afew times to familiesthat we help there, that they do not have very much at all,” he says.“ My grandmother, who grew up in Paterson, and was ateacher, suggested Igive to kids my age throughschool supplies. Ithought that was agood idea and something Icould do.”

Summer came to aclose, but Sarkissian’ s business and mission continued to grow. Despite the demands of school, sports and religious and club activities, Sarkissian pushed forward doing all he could in his spare time.

His achievements did not go unnoticed and soon he gained the support of friends.“ I didn’ t think Iwould get such agreat response,” he says.“ Ihad no

idea how many people would support me when Istarted. Iwas surprised. There was nothing negative that Iheard from anyone. Instead, people were very positiveand supportive. Sometimes they would pay me double, just because they knew Iwhat Iwas doing. Everyone was very nice and loved my idea.”

To date, Sarkissian has presented $ 500 worth of pens, pencils, notebooks, white boards and erasers to School No. 12, aK-8 school in Paterson.

“ Shoppingfor all the suppliesand delivering them that day to the school, it made me feel like Idid something that made adifference,” he says.“ I had no bumps in the road. It was just alot of work!”

PrincipalAndre S. McCollum Sr. gratefully accepted Sarkissian’ s donation and said the items, many on his teachers’ wish list for their students, would make their ability to teach that much easier. He also encouraged Sarkissian to continue his gooddeeds toward others and hoped this was just the beginning of his support to those in need.

“ I have not completely decided how Iamgoing to proceed. Iamthinking about asking the school for something they need that is big, for example, basketball hoops on their playground, and just aiming for that goal,” Sarkissian says.

His advice for other kids is that everyone can take some initiative to help others.

“ Use your extra time in the summer to make adifference. Anyonecan do it. It made me feel that, even though Iam only 12, you can still help other people, no matter how old you are,” he says.“ Anyone can do it and we should. It is a good feeling.” ●

– DEIRDREFLANAGAN WARD

COURTESY OF THE SARKISSIAN FAMILY

16 FEBRUARY / MARCH 2017 |( 201) FAMILY

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