Gold-hearted Northville teen collects 5,300 books for Detroit Bookmobile
Rithisha Pasunoori (second from left) is pictured with Birdie’s Bookmobile founder Alyce Hartman (center) and other volunteers.
For years to come, kids who visit Birdie’s Bookmobile will be able to enjoy a wide variety of material thanks to the selfless actions of a gold-hearted Northville teenager.
Rithisha Pasunoori, a senior-to-be at Northville High School, has organized community book drives that have totaled more than 5,300 books (2,616 in 2026 alone) and counting for Birdie’s, the Detroit nonprofit that provides free books to children and families.
While Pasunoori asserts she has had plenty of help from local schools, businesses, churches and volunteers, the fact she decided to serve as the catalyst for this endeavor says all you need to know about her.
Thanks, dad!
“I learned of this nonprofit last year when I was looking for a volunteer project for school,” Pasunoori said. “My dad (Laxma) helped me a lot, driving me around to schools, businesses and churches while I was on my search for books.
“I’ve always loved reading and I’ve never experienced not having enough books to read like some of these kids in Detroit. It started as a small project, but has grown to be quite big. Along with getting a lot of satisfaction from this project, I’ve met a lot of good friends.”
Pasunoori said she has received some big donations of gently-used books, including from Northville’s Silver Springs Elementary School.
Northville schools make contributions
“Also, this past year Amerman (Elementary) was cleaning out their library — weeding out books that were a little older but still in good shape — and they made a generous donation.
“I’ve always been a pretty good organizer,” Paunoori said, smiling. “When I come up with an idea, I like to make sure I follow through on it.”
Pasunoori, who said her current grade-point average is 3.99, aspires to attend the University of Michigan after graduation next June and pursuing a degree in finance or business.
Volunteering comes naturally to teen
Volunteering has always been a cause close to her heart.
“At times it gets a little stressful, balancing school and working on this project,” she said. “But it’s such a great cause, how could I not pour every ounce of energy into it.”
As if collecting over 5,000 books for kids in grades K-12 wasn’t enough, Pasunoori has started a GoFundMe page to raise funds for Birdie’s Bookmobile. If you would like to make a donation, visit the GoFundMe page by clicking here.
Whatever her future holds post-high school and beyond, Pasunoori said she will never relinquish her volunteering spirit.
Ed Wright can be reached at 734-664-4657 or edwright@socialhousenews.com.
