Article updated: 12/13/2011 3:15 PM

Hanover girl helping ill Carpentersville boy through Jewish faith

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Mariah Reeves and her mom, Sandy, of Hanover Park, started fundraising efforts to help the family of a sick boy from Carpentersville. The Reeves family celebrates Christmas and Hanukkah, and Mariah is using her upcoming bat mitzvah to make Christmas cheerier for the boy's family.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Tina Saavedra of Carpentersville spends most of her time caring for son Nathan, 3, who needs a second kidney transplant.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

Mariah Reeves, 12, of Hanover Park dons a tallit, the prayer shawl she'll wear during her March 17 bat mitzvah. She's completing 13 service project before the event, one that through charitable giving helps a Carpentersville family.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Mariah Reeves with her mom, Sandy, of Hanover Park, looks over the list of 13 service projects she needs to complete before her bat mitzvah. Mariah Reeves has decided to help the Saavedra family to satisfy one of the 13 good deeds. The Saavedras live in Carpentersville and have fallen on hard times.

Bob Chwedyk | Staff Photographer

Nathan Saavedra, 3, of Carpentersville needs a kidney after the last donation failed.

John Starks | Staff Photographer

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Mariah Reeves comes from a working class family in Hanover Park and knows what it is to scrimp and save. But Mariah's parents also brought up the 12-year-old to give back to others, especially this time of year. So Mariah is drawing on her Jewish faith to help the family of a Carpentersville boy she's never met to have a merrier Christmas. "It's hard for them to have hope," Mariah said.