North Royalton High School senior Andy Hudak has completed an extraordinary community service project that brought in more than 4,500 books for the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank, the result of months of planning, teamwork, and overwhelming support from students, families, and local organizations.
Hudak’s passion for literacy and service began well before he launched his project. After volunteering several times at the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank through Parish Service Day at St. Albert the Great, he was moved by the organization’s mission to provide free books to children in underserved communities. “From the moment I first volunteered at the Book Bank, I knew I would become a frequent supporter,” said Hudak. “I resonated with their goals and ambitions and knew that my community would rally behind such an important cause.”
Growing up with a mother who is a teacher, Hudak developed a deep love of reading from an early age. That personal connection made it difficult for him to imagine children without access to books—a realization that motivated him to organize a book drive that would help foster a love of reading for kids across Greater Cleveland.
With the new school year approaching, Hudak themed the project around “Back-to-School” and coordinated with North Royalton City Schools, the Broadview Heights Recreation Center, St. Albert the Great Parish, and his New Hampton neighborhood to place collection bins in convenient locations. He created advertisements and labels, coordinated social media outreach with help from his mom, and spent many hours driving around North Royalton and Broadview Heights picking up donations.
Before long, books began pouring in—so quickly, in fact, that Hudak found himself struggling to store them all. “My basement was filled to the brim with books,” he said. “Even leaking into rooms on the first floor.” With support from his parents and significant help from his good friend Mason Holet, Hudak stayed organized and ensured all donations were safely collected and transported.
What surprised him most was the overwhelming generosity of the community. Every organization he contacted responded with enthusiasm, and residents frequently reached out asking how they could contribute. “Each comment or question about my book drive lit up my heart,” said Hudak.
North Royalton’s three school buildings served as donation sites, and Hudak checked each bin regularly. He was excited to find contributions in at least one bin almost every week. A particularly large donation from one district family early on helped build momentum and encouraged others to participate. “Seeing the North Royalton community rally around this cause gave me a feeling unlike any other,” said Hudak. “That excitement increased exponentially with each donation.”
In total, Hudak delivered more than 4,500 books to the Cleveland Kids’ Book Bank—an achievement he describes as “the world, plus a little more.” Although he has not received specific updates about where the books will go, he knows from his volunteer experience that they will quickly reach children throughout Greater Cleveland.
“I hope these kids are able to experience the joys of reading that I have found,” said Hudak. “I hope they're inspired by the books they read and inspired to grow as humans.”
Leading the project taught Hudak invaluable leadership, communication, and organizational skills. It was one of his first experiences not just participating in service, but managing a complex initiative from start to finish. The experience has further strengthened his passion for service and will continue to guide him as he pursues college and future leadership roles.
As for advice to other students interested in starting a service project, Hudak encourages them to be brave and follow their passions. “Don’t worry about what others think,” he said. “I was always apprehensive to do things in fear of what others thought. Eventually I got over that fear, and I haven’t looked back since.”
Looking ahead, Hudak says he hopes to continue giving back, whether through book drives or other service initiatives, wherever he attends college. He closed with a heartfelt message to the community: “Thanks to the North Royalton community for their support of this project. Each donation, big or small, was much appreciated. Thanks to you, we are promoting literacy throughout the Greater Cleveland area, inspiring children every day, one book at a time.”
