Sydney Kaplan’s parents always told her she had “good stuffing,” meaning she was full of compassion and sensitivity. In particular, she was bothered by homelessness.

So she used her good stuffing to create Sydney’s Stuffing, a non-profit she founded to make and distribute pillows to at-risk children. The pillows are designed to be portable-they have a clip to attach them to bags. And they are emblazoned with an appropriate inspirational message: “It’s what inside that counts.”

“I learned that one in 30 kids-nearly 2.5 million children-are homeless in the U.S.,” Sydney wrote. “The thought of people, especially children, not sleeping in a bed with a pillow upsets me. Sleep gives me the ability to focus in school, work hard, and have a good day.”

The pillows come with a notepad and pen zipped into the pillowcase’s pocket. This, she explained, “is for the recipients to record their hopes, dreams, and ideas.”

In addition to homeless children, Sydney is distributing the pillows to kids in hospitals and generally going through tough times. Sydney also gave pillows to children she met in Israel last December, at an absorption center for Ethiopian immigrants in Kiryat Gat, a city in JUF’s Partnership Together region.

So far, Sydney’s Stuffing has given 2,000 pillows to children. She has raised over $10,000 to date, and will continuing fundraising at special events and online.

Sydney’s parents, her sisters Jessica and Danielle, her extended family, and her friends all helped her realize her dream. Reva Nathan & Associates and local company called Done Deal Productions assisted her in making her design a reality, and had the pillows manufactured at a low cost and high quality. Other local retailers-such as Just Between Friends, Such a Deal and Estreet-promoted sponsorship of pillows in exchange for discounts, and Sydney was mentored by Allowance for Good, which guides budding philanthropists.

JUF’s TOV Volunteer Network’s Concierge program-supported by a JUF Breakthrough Fund grant- helps people tailor projects customized to their time, interests and budget. Through the program, Sydney learned about the needs of homeless youth, and the opportunity to extend the project hospitalized and chronically ill children. And TOV helped Sydney coordinate with local shelters to place the pillows into the hands of children in need.

“Seeing a child realize her dream of helping others through an encouraging community has been incredible,” said Amy Kaplan, Syndey’s mother.

“I have dreams that this pillow will improve lives,” Sydney said. She wants all kids to “get a better night’s sleep and have a comfortable place to rest. At the same time, I hope it will give them confidence by knowing that people care.”

For more information, contact [email protected] or check out her Go Fund Me Page at www.gofundme.com/sydneystuffing .