24 | JULY 28 • 2022 

OUR COMMUNITY

C

asey Belen, 12, of Birmingham 
has been nominated as 
Volunteer of the Week for 
turning his mitzvah project for his 
upcoming bar mitzvah into a passion 
project.
The seventh-grader at Derby Middle 
School says he loves kids and wants 
to be a pediatric surgeon when he 
grows up. This inspired him to start a 
fundraiser to raise money to buy new 
toys for kids in the hospital.
“I feel bad for some of the kids that 
are so sick. So, I wanted to figure out a 
way I could help and make them happy,” 
Casey said. 
Casey started a GoFundMe with a 
goal to raise $3,000. So far, he has raised 
close to $2,000.
“My friends and family have been 
excited to help out and have even 
donated or dropped off toys for the 
fundraiser,” he said.

With some of the donations collected, 
Casey has been able to pick out toys 
for ages ranging from 1 to 14. He then 
makes a nice care package in color-
coordinated bags that represent different 
ages, while adding a personal touch with 
stickers that say, “Hope this brightens 
your day, from Casey.”
Casey’s parents, Andrea and Jeff 
Belen, say they are proud of Casey and 
have supported him throughout the 
whole process. 
“He’s been taking the initiative to 
reach out to family and friends to ask 
for donations. He also has a lot of fun 
picking out the toys at Target and other 
places,” Jeff says. 
Jeff adds that hospitals typically see 
more toys and donations during the 
holiday seasons, but hospitals need help 
year-round. He encourages people to 
donate if they can.
Casey has already made a few 

donation drop-offs to hospitals 
throughout the Metro Detroit area, 
including Children’s Hospital in Detroit, 
Beaumont Hospitals and is looking to 
donate to Mott Children’s Hospital.
Even after his upcoming spring bar 
mitzvah, Casey says he would like to 
continue his mitzvah project if possible 
and is even thinking about extending it 
to senior citizens. 

To donate to Casey’s fundraiser, visit 

tinyurl.com/p7eej79p. If you would like to 

nominate someone to be the next Volunteer 

of the Week, send a short paragraph telling 

us why to socialmedia@thejewishnews.com.

Meet Casey Belen, who has dedicated his mitzvah 
project to giving back to children in pediatric care.

Bringing Joy to 
Children’s Hospitals 

RACHEL SWEET ASSOCIATE EDITOR

VOLUNTEER OF THE WEEK

Casey 
Belen

Bags of toy 
donations 
Casey Belen 
put together. 

Casey dropping off toy donations at 
Children’s Hospital of Michigan. 

