LAS VEGAS, Nev. (FOX5) -Jaya Brooks loved Minnie Mouse and dressed up as her for her third birthday last June.
“We were going to Disneyland for her birthday. That’s what we were supposed to do. We had that planned,” said Jaya’s father, Jan Brooks.
Jaya was killed last winter when a wrong-way driver hit the car she was in on U.S. 95 near Elkhorn Road.
“We could have stayed home and cried all day, for what? So, let’s get up and help people,” said Jaya’s grandmother, Andrea Raney.
Andrea Raney, Jan Brooks and other family and friends celebrated Jaya’s birthday Wednesday by bringing donated items to Peggy’s Attic, which provides clothing, toys and many other items to kids in traumatic situations who end up separated from their families.
The family brought several bags of items that were donated. Jaya’s grandmother set up a foundation for Jaya and collects items for different groups that help kids, including hospitals.
“I just want to thank everybody for taking the time to care about something bigger than anyone of us. But at the same time someone that was so little and special to so many of us,” said Andrea Raney.
I told them what a beautiful legacy that is for her,” said Jennifer Erbes, Family Services Manager.
She added, “This is beautiful. It’s her birthday. They’re servicing so many kids who are in traumatic experiences right now or are experiencing being away from their family. And to provide those items for kids is just a beautiful blessing for us.”
Erbes says Peggy’s Attic helps provide clothes and other donated items to thousands of kids each year and its shelves need to be replenished.
Raney says the family also delivered toys to Sunrise Hospital on Wednesday and is paying dues for some children to go to gyms where they attend gymnastics. Jaya loved gymnastics. The family is also working on legislation that deals with wrong-way drivers.
People interested in making donations can visit jayaslight.org.
Three people were killed in the wrong-way crash, including the wrong-way driver, Jaya Brooks and a person in another car that was hit.
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