10-year-old in Michigan collects blankets for homeless

GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. (WOOD) – He’s got a heart of gold and he’s using it to help the homeless.

Over the past few weeks, 10-year-old Ayden Quimby has collected blankets. Sunday morning, he passed them out to the homeless in Grand Rapids, Michigan to keep them warm this winter.

“I just got sad for all the homeless people that couldn’t keep warm in the winter,” Ayden said.

He calls it The Ayden Project, now in its third year. He collected 10 blankets the first year, 25 the second and 132 this year. Along with each blanket he hands out is a note that reads, “The Ayden Project 2016: Because everyone deserves to be warm.”

“I like helping other people,” Ayden said.

He got the idea when his aunt was getting ready to throw out blankets. He suggested giving them away instead.

Ayden was once homeless. A few years ago, he and his mother lived in a car. He knows what it’s like to go without.

He plans to donate blankets every year and increase the number each time.

“Go big or go home,” Ayden said.