Za'Myah Ellis collects a donation of cans and bottles Sunday at Hamilton Parc senior apartment complex in Guilderland at 6051 State Farm Road.

Za’Myah Ellis, 19, who was born with Down syndrome, hugs her mother, Jamie Groff, 46, of Troy. Za’Myah collects cans and bottles to buy gifts for the less fortunate.

"I love helping others. It makes me feel good," says Za'Myah Ellis, 19, left, who collects cans and bottles for nickel deposits with the help of her mother, Jamie Groff, to distribute to needy families.

Za’Myah Ellis hugs her uncle, Stephen Ball. “He’s like a father to me,” she says. He will help her collect returnable cans and bottles at Hamilton Parc senior apartment complex in Guilderland, which he manages, on Wednesday evenings starting May 7.

TROY — Za’Myah Ellis sees suffering around her central Troy neighborhood: unhoused people begging on street corners, children going hungry, families who are flat broke.

She wants to make each person in need she encounters feel better, if just for a little while.

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She spreads random acts of kindness.

“I love helping others. It makes me feel good,” said Za’Myah, 19, who was born with Down syndrome.

She has been bullied, teased about her weight, stared at. She knows how much that hurts and how good it makes her feel when a friend stands up for her.

Empathy is her superpower.

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She unleashes kindness by redeeming nickel deposits from cans and bottles she collects and tallies in a Clynk redemption account. Sunday’s total was $378.70 and Za’Myah has plans to distribute the money as small gifts to brighten the days of others less........

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