When he was four years old, Jonas began volunteering on Skid Row with his family. Two short years later, he decided to take it one step further and start his own organization to benefit unhoused youth. Since then, Jonas has organized drives, picked up donations, spoke in front of thousands of people, and inspired everyone he met. Over the past thirteen years, Love in the Mirror has shared resources with over 80,000 people.
Why was Love in the Mirror started?
(Letter Above that Jonas wrote when he was 6 years old about why he started Love in the Mirror)
Hi my name is Jonas. I got the idea to start love in the mirror when I went with my mom to feed the homeless. I help out by stirring the punch or hot chocolate and giving them clothes. I go every month with my mom and my aunt. One time there were homeless kids and they were very hungry. They waited in line behind everybody so they could get a plate of food and some clothes there were no kid’s clothes for them. It made me feel sad because I wish nobody was homeless and they had lots of food to eat and they could have a home. Every month I go back to feed the homeless because there’s homeless people that don’t have food and they are starving and they don’t have food to eat or they sleep on the ground because they don’t have a bed to sleep on and I go to feed the homeless people because they don’t have a home or they don’t have anything to play with. I don’t know why we can’t go every day because they can’t afford to buy food so we just do it once a month so we wait for each month for them to buy the food and to feed the homeless people. I want to help kids because they don’t have food, clothes, toys and some don’t go to school. I want to help them out so they can feel happy for themselves and thankful for people like me. It makes me feel happy that I am helping and that is why I wanted to start love in the mirror. I chose the name because it reminds me of a song and the song makes me think of people who don’t have toys and clothes because every kid should look in the mirror and love themselves.
With all the love in my heart,
Jonas
(November, 2009)
