Posted by By Dylan Friedman, Writer
The Maya Gold Foundation is a non-profit organization committed to empowering youth to access their inner wisdom and realize their dreams. It was founded in New Paltz, NY by Elise Gold and Mathew Swerdolf after their daughter, Maya, took her life at age 15. The Foundation not only works to support youth in the Hudson Valley, but also strives to reduce sexual trafficking in Nepal, as these were Maya’s wishes. The Maya Gold Foundation is partially led by teens on the Youth Action Team, which is annually open to new applicants from high schoolers in the Hudson Valley.
This year, the Maya Gold Foundation has taken on a new and exciting project. They are building a Mental Health Giving Library full of helpful books, journals, zines, and more to support anyone, anytime. The mini library will be stationed in front of Wellness Embodied (next to McDonald’s) on Main Street, and will be full of content for all ages, issues, and mindsets. The official opening will be at 3 p.m. on May 4, 2024, and all are welcome! The Maya Gold Foundation will be accepting donations of books leading up to and after the opening, and they can be donated in the collection box at the NPHS High School Library and in the mudroom in the back of Wellness Embodied.
Teens on the Youth Action Team have been working hard with Mathew Swerdolf to build the Giving Library. It is coming along smoothly, and will be large enough to house many, many books! They are looking for books for all ages, from picture books for toddlers learning about how to treat themselves and others, to informational books about mental health, empty journals to help with self-guided care, stories that are enlightening and relevant, and handmade zines by local artist Lucy Hoffman and Youth Action Team members. Please consider donating your unwanted books that you think may be of service to the Maya Gold Foundation! They will be much appreciated.
The Giving Library will be fully stocked with books and zines as soon as it opens, and it will be completely free for public access. The aim is that community members will borrow books, and either keep them for personal use, return them, and/or drop off more books for others to benefit from. No library card or check-outs required!
In addition to building the Giving Library, the Maya Gold Foundation will be very busy this Spring! Later in May, they will be visiting the State Capital and meeting with the chairs of the Mental Health Committee in both the State Assembly and Senate to advocate for mental health. On June 9, the Youth Action Team will be hosting an art fair for any local high school students to display and/or sell their art. Make sure to be on the lookout for more details, especially if you or a friend are interested in having your work displayed! It will be on the same day as the New Paltz regatta, so there will be many people out and about to view the beautiful art. Finally, the Maya Gold Foundation is still actively involved with human trafficking prevention in Nepal, and are working on helping Nepali youth find safe futures. These are big and exciting projects, and the Maya Gold Foundation will be looking for new Youth Action Team members later this spring to help out! To apply for the YAT, go to the “Apply” tab under “Stay in Touch” on the website mayagoldfoundation.org.
The Maroon 