Scarsdale Sisters Collect over 1,000 Graphic Novels for Kids at Pleasantville Cottage

Scarsdale sisters, Mila and Alexa Hess led a community donation drive to benefit the JCCA Pleasantville Cottages, collecting over 1,000 graphic novels for children to read.

Mila Hess, a sophomore at Scarsdale High School, and her sister Alexa Hess, a freshman at Suffield Academy in Connecticut, organized the drive, focusing on the collection of graphic novels as these books can be especially engaging and accessible, and help reluctant readers to build confidence and to develop a genuine love of reading.

Graphic novels are often an accessible and motivating way to support literacy, particularly for kids who may feel intimidated by traditional chapter books. The donated collection will provide both encouragement and enjoyment for children at the JCCA Cottage, helping them strengthen reading skills while also experiencing the comfort and excitement that stories can bring.

The Hess sisters wish to thank the Scarsdale community, whose generosity made the drive such a success. Local families, friends, and neighbors donated books and spread the word, making this project a meaningful community effort with lasting impact.

Sandi Rosenthal, Director of Volunteers at Pleasantville Cottages said, “I can’t thank you enough for the books, they are amazing. Our tutoring and library staffs were so excited to receive them. Mila and Alexa are truly contributing to instilling a love of reading in our children.”