Paying it forward

SPRING HILL After Jonathan Reardon's grandmother passed away three years ago, he was overwhelmed with emotions ranging from anger to confusion.

This was the first time he lost a loved one, and he didn't now how to cope with his grief.

Jonathan found relief from HPH Hospice through the Children's Assistance Program, a counseling program that offers support to children experiencing the death of a loved one.

"They showed me that she's now in a happier place," he said.

And when Jonathan, 13, was assigned a "Pay it Forward" project the first day of seventh grade, he knew which organization he wanted to help.

"The main idea of the project is 'What do you want to do with your life?'" he said. "How do you want to change the world?"

As a way to give back to the organization that helped him through a painful time, Jonathan will hold a garage sale Sept. 24 with proceeds going to CAP, which also helped Jonathan's stepsister, Britney, 23, cope with the loss of her father 11 years ago.

"I know they helped me and my family, and I feel like I should help them back," Jonathan said.

For the next three weeks, Jonathan will accept donations, including furniture, clothing, toys and school supplies, in the hopes of raising hundreds of dollars for the program.

Jonathan, who attends Gulf Coast Academy in Spring Hill, said he hopes his project will encourage his fellow classmates and other children his age to pay forward a good deed to those in need.

"I would tell other kids that the world doesn't expect anything from you yet but sooner or later you will help the world," he said. "I always do want to help the community."

Jonathan's mother Jennie, 49, who also received bereavement counseling through HPH, said she is proud of the effort Jonathan has put into the assignment and hopes it will allow the program to expand.

"I think the world of the organization," she said. "He seems to be enjoying the process."

Robin Kocher, communications director for the HPH Hudson location, said hospice employees were so touched by Jonathan's kindness, that several are donating items to aid the sale.

"It's continues to go full circle and it's great for our community and our organization," she said. "It's terrific to see kids want to give back to a nonprofit that helped them."

Jonathan Reardon's garage sale will be held at 8 a.m. Sept. 24 at 10389 Ireland St. in Spring Hill with all the proceeds going to HPH Hospice's Children's Assistance Program.

For more information or to make a donation, contact Jennie Reardon at 352-596-9394 or visit www.hph-hospice.org.