Ashburn Boy To Distribute Care Kits To Needy Across DC Area

ASHBURN, VA — An Ashburn boy who distributed much-needed protective equipment to medical workers in 2020 in response to the COVID-19 pandemic is now planning to help other people in need in the Washington, D.C., area on Global Youth Service Day.

Zohaib Begg, 8, who was recognized in 2020 by former President Barack Obama after Patch published an article about his efforts to help front-line workers, is now putting together care kits to give to people in D.C. and Virginia.

In D.C., Zohaib will provide the kits to several organizations, including the Hillcrest Children and Family Center, which serves families, LAYC, which serves homeless youth, and the Ronald McDonald House DC. Among the organizations in Virginia, Zohaib will donate kits to Ronald McDonald Family Room INOVA and Mobile Hope in Loudoun County, whose bus goes out into needy communities.

In March, Bombas sock company agreed to partner with Zohaib "to spread the kindness further" and help distribute 1,000 socks to children battling illness and to those in need. The kits also will contain toothpaste, chap stick, face masks and toothbrushes. Trader Joes and Wegmans donated sanitizers and wipes for the toiletry kits.

Over the weekend, Zohaib, a third-grader at Guidepost Montessori School in the Broadlands area of Ashburn, invited friends, classmates and neighbors to help him put together the care kits in the driveway at his parents' house.

Global Youth Service Day is a campaign of YSA, or Youth Service America, a group that mobilizes millions of young people to improve their communities through service. According to YSA, Global Youth Service Day is the largest service event in the world and is celebrated each year in more than 100 countries.

Zohaib plans to distribute the care kits in D.C. and Virginia from April 23-25.

For the project, Zohaib worked with the D.C. Mayor's Office of Volunteerism and Partnerships, which put him in touch with the various service organizations in the District.

Early in the pandemic, Zohaib donated the personal protective items to Inova Fairfax Hospital, where he had emergency surgery when he was 4 years old to remove a tumor from his abdomen. For his work, Zohaib received shout-outs from Obama, Virginia Gov. Ralph Northam and many others.

Since the start of the pandemic, Zohaib has helped 18,000 front line workers. He was named a Youth Ambassador for the Off the Charts foundation based on his efforts since the start of the pandemic. He was also featured alongside the late Ruth Bader Ginsburg in Bravery Magazine.

Last August, the Virginia House of Delegates passed a resolution honoring Zohaib for his work. The resolution was introduced by Del. Suhas Subramanyam, who represents parts of Loudoun and Prince William counties in the General Assembly.

"In recognition of his extraordinary and selfless good deed, President Barack Obama shared a news article about Zohaib Begg on Twitter on March 30, 2020, describing him as an 'inspiring kid,'" the resolution read.

Along with his charitable efforts, Zohaib enjoys playing and watching sports. He plays soccer, basketball and golf and loves going to Capitals, Nationals, and DC United games.

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