Nine-year-old Taylor Lee Shelton has a heart for reaching out to others in need.

That sense of empathy recently led Taylor, a third-grader at Community Christian School in Stockbridge, to work toward making a positive impact on other kids’ lives, one stitch at a time.

Taylor recently created her own nonprofit venture, Sew Love. The group has created decorative pillows featuring words of inspiration for girls at Gigi’s House, a local shelter for underage girls.

Taylor’s mother, LaMonica Shelton, said when the child started the Sew Love organization, she was learning about kids in foster care and wanted to do something to help them.

“She started working on it more in second grade,” said Shelton. “She identified people she wanted to help her, and she developed a board of people from around the county. The first person she spoke with is someone I know. We were at a friend’s gathering, and he said he would be willing to help. He did all the filing for her to establish the nonprofit.”

LaMonica Shelton said Taylor began sewing when she was in kindergarten with help from her grandmother, Richardene Shelton.

“My mom’s profession was interior decorating, and for years she tried to get her children into it, so she’s really glad to have one of her grandchildren doing it with her,” said LaMonica Shelton.

LaMonica Shelton said due to Taylor’s age at the time that Sew Love began, they decided to “start small” by putting money aside whenever possible.

“The whole thing is that as she gets older, she can expand it if she wants to,” said Shelton. “I’m very proud of her. She is a very compassionate child, and she is always wanting to do for others.”

Cindy Hall is the director of communications for Community Bible Church, which oversees Taylor’s school. Hall commended Taylor for her desire to help girls at the shelter.

“While Taylor is not fully aware of what Gigi’s House does or why it exists, she wanted to do her part to support Community’s partnership with Gigi’s House and to support girls and young ladies in need of help,” said Hall. “It’s Taylor’s hope that young ladies can use the pillows while at Gigi’s House, and take them with them after they transition to their own home.”