New Jersey Boy Uses His Crocheting Skills To Help Homeless

HUDSON COUNTY, NJ — A 12-year-old student in New Jersey is showing his community the power of caring with a unique hobby: crocheting hats, scarves and other items for the local homeless population and neonatal intensive care units.

Jaheir Moore, a middle school student at Whitney M. Young Jr. School in Jersey City, said that he started crocheting two years ago after a friend told him about a class at the local YMCA.

"There's a lot of homeless people on the street and they look bitterly cold in this weather,” Moore recently told NBC New York, explaining his motivation to a reporter.

According to a representative for U.S. Representative Donald Payne Jr. - who honored Moore’s inspirational community spirit with an award last month – the youth has donated his hand-crocheted items to Christ Hospital several times, and has also donated to St. Joseph's Home.

Moore’s mother, Latia Lawrence, told NBC that he is a straight-A student and “loves school.”

Moore is interested in pursuing a career in the fashion design industry and will get a chance to show off some of his creations on Feb. 25 at the Ukrainian Community Center in Jersey City, NBC reported.

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Photo via Facebook page of Donald Payne Jr.