“I wanted to help the kids who don’t have anything. This makes me happy.””

Jake Mancieri, 6

When 6-year-old Jake Mancieri puts his mind to it, there’s nothing he can’t accomplish.

Recently, Jake, the son of Brett and Jennifer Mancieri of Broad Common Road, held a special fundraiser for the benefit of the East Bay Food Pantry. What he accomplished on those consecutive weekends was simply amazing. Mama couldn’t have been more proud.

“My son is really something special,” said Jennifer Mancieri, chairwoman of the Christmas Community Aid Drive, who watched Jake collect about $500 recently. “He wanted to do a ‘sticker store’ all by himself, where he sold lollipops, stickers and even lemonade, in an effort to raise money for needy children this Christmas.”

Nicki Ann Tyska, East Bay Food Pantry & Thrift Shop executive director, was beaming from ear-to-ear when Jake entered the front door of the food pantry last week with $500 in bills and coins in his hands.

“This is a great example of the new generation which is thinking about other kids for our ‘Christmas for Kids’ program,” she said. “We can’t thank Jake enough. He is a very extraordinary little boy with a heart of gold. Last year, we handed out Christmas presents for just under 400 children. This year, we’re hoping to do even more.”

Jake, who will be entering first grade at Rockwell School, was pretty sincere when asked why he took it upon himself to help other children less fortunate,

“Because I wanted to help the kids who don’t have anything,” he said. “This makes me happy.”

The second annual Kick off to Christmas Community Aid Drive, sponsored by the Bristol Fire Dept., will be held Nov. 26, at Jacky’s Galaxie, from 5 to 9 p.m. The event, which was held last year at the Judge Roy Bean Saloon, had to move to a bigger venue in order to accommodate the large number of people expected to attend, Jennifer Mancieri said.

“We will be collecting non-perishable food items, new or gently used winter clothes and new unwrapped toys,” she said. “There will entertainment for the whole family.”

To donate to the East Bay Food Pantry, call 401-396-9490 or visit http://eastbayfoodpantry.org/.