I’m a Tulsa Kid: Everleigh Mitchell
Sharing Books for Her Birthday
Everleigh Mitchell. Photo by Sheeba Atiqi
Kindness is a gift everyone can afford to give. This year Everleigh Mitchell, a girl with a heart as big as her smile, asked friends and family for book donations in lieu of presents for her 8th birthday party. Everleigh collected 150 books, including 35 from herself, to be donated to the Crime Stoppers Book Nooks by the Tulsa Police Department. As Dr. Seuss once said, “You can find magic wherever you look. Sit back and relax, all you need is a book!”
Q: How did you come up with the idea to start the book drive?
Everleigh: Last year I collected clothes because my friend collected food for his birthday. This year I wanted to do something like that again, and my mom suggested a book drive.
Q: How many books did you collect?
Everleigh: Almost 150.
Q: What did you do with the books collected?
Everleigh: They were donated to Tulsa Crime Stoppers for their book nooks. We took some to one of the book nooks, too.
Q: What is Tulsa Police’s Reading Patrol?
Everleigh: It’s a program where officers read with kids in different areas. Our friend Jennifer started it, and she reads and plays with kids at an apartment complex. They get to have snacks too.
Q: What is your favorite book?
Everleigh: The whole Ivy + Bean series.
Q: Where is your favorite place in Tulsa to read or find books?
Everleigh: The Tulsa library and thrift stores. Thrift stores always have good books, and they’re really cheap!
Q: Do you have any advice for other children who’d like to give back to the community?
Everleigh: Find something you really care about, then ask your friends and family to help. They can come together to give more than you could give on your own.
Q: Who inspires you?
Everleigh: My friend Haven. She picks up trash at school, and she helps people feel better.
Q: What other hobbies do you have?
Everleigh: Tumbling! It’s my favorite thing to do!
Q: What are your plans and goals for the future?
Everleigh: I want to continue tumbling and then become a tumbling coach. My goal is to win first place and move to elite level when I get older.
Q: What is a fun fact about you?
Everleigh: I can cross one eye at a time!
