A boy who read junk mail because he couldn't afford books has been left overwhelmed by the kindness of strangers.
Mathew Flores, 12, approached his local postal worker, Ron Lynch, to ask if he could have any spare junk mail to read.
Baffled by the youngster's response, Lynch asked why he wanted the junk mail. And the 12-year-old's answer pretty much broke his heart.
The postal worker took to Facebook to explain the boy's predicament and asked strangers to send over books for Flores to read. Which, of course, they did.
Mathew Flores, 12, has been inundated with books from kind strangers
"He told me his wish is to have books to read. I told him the library had many, but he said they don't have a car, and couldn't afford the bus."
"Let's get this 12 year old some books," he continued. "Let's help him. I was given many books as a child, and it's time to help someone else! Please share and let's get him tons of reading material!
"Most kids his age want electronics. It's great to see his desire, and you should have seen him beam when I said I could help!
"He's counting on me, so I'm counting on you!"
After his request was published on social media, it went viral and people from across the globe sent hundreds of books to Flores' door.
The delighted 12-year-old now has a bookcase filled with books. He told Salt Lake City's Deseret News that he can't wait to share them with other children, and has promised to read every last one.
Meanwhile, the postal worker who made it all happen has posted a heartfelt status thanking everyone for their support. He wrote: "Friends... I'm stunned and humbled by what happened.
"I deserve little credit. It's all of you who cared enough to do something about it that are the true heroes of this story."
"Mathew is thrilled and we're all overwhelmed," he added. "Bless you all, and thank you all so much!"
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10 Books To Read This Summer
Champagne Supernova by Maureen Callahan(01 of34)
Escape into another time, and another world, by reliving the heyday of the supermodel ‘90s with this dishy non-fiction book. If that’s right up your alley, check out the list of other model-centric media provided by journalist Lisa Schmeiser of "So What, Who Cares."
Scruples by Judith Krantz(02 of34)
There’s something to be said for bringing a classic of guilty pleasure reading along with you on a weekend trip. Krantz’s 1980s bestseller looks at the lives of the rich and famous — and those who sell them expensive clothes. It’ll be fun to see what’s changed in celebrity culture in the past couple of decades, and what still rings true today.
One Summer, America 1927 by Bill Bryson(03 of34)
Bryson is well known for his travelogues, but this historical look at a particular summer in the United States — one that saw both the highs of transatlantic flight and the lows of the growth of the mob — is educational while also being compelling reading.
Summer Sisters by Judy Blume(04 of34)
Don’t think you had to leave Blume behind when you finished high school. While her children’s lit is endlessly re-readable, her adult novels are also worth packing in your beach bag. This one is a compelling tale of two friends, different in many ways and tied together irreversibly, and how their summers together affect them throughout their lives.
The Royal We by Heather Cocks and Jessica Morgan(05 of34)
The two hilarious women behind the blog Go Fug Yourself tackle the Royals in their first adult novel — its story of an American who meets and falls in love with a future king while at school in England is clearly inspired by Kate and Wills, but no less entertaining for it.
Hyperbole and a Half by Allie Brosch(06 of34)
Sometimes you just want to read something funny, and Brosch’s debut, featuring many of her simple and simply hilarious web comic, definitely fits the bill, even when she’s writing about serious topics like depression.
Is Everyone Hanging Out Without Me? (And Other Concerns) by Mindy Kaling(07 of34)
Lounging at the beach with Kaling’s book is like spending the day hanging out with your funny, surprisingly wise best girlfriend, except you also get the benefit of alone time spent reading.
The Sisterhood of the Traveling Pants by Ann Brashares(08 of34)
While intended for a young-adult audience, the Traveling Pants series hits on truths that resonate beyond adolescence. Who ever forgets what your best friends meant to you when you were young, or how hard it was to grow up? Start with the original for a day at the beach, or pack all four for a cottage weekend. And don't miss her adulthood follow-up book, "Sisterhood Everlasting." Just have tissues handy.
Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari(09 of34)
Ansari’s first book is the perfect combination of light beach reading and interesting social science. The comedian paired up with NYU professor Eric Klinenberg to look at the state of modern dating, and the result is alternately hilarious and fascinating.
Crazy Rich Asians by Kevin Kwan(10 of34)
This send-up of the world of the uber-wealthy in Singapore is an entertaining combination of over-the-top hilarity and a cultural examination of the rapid changes seen in Asia’s booming economies. His sequel, "China Rich Girlfriend" also just came out.
Dark Places by Gillian Flynn(11 of34)
Loved "Gone Girl"? Then you won’t be able to put down author Flynn’s earlier novel, "Dark Places," which is no less somber and suspenseful. Read it in July and you’ll be ahead of the curve for the release of the film adaptation in August.
The Lost Girls by Jennifer Baggett, Holly C. Corbett, and Amanda Pressner(12 of34)
Stuck spending your summer at home instead of travelling the world? Then escape with this story of three women who did just that, leaving behind their lives in New York to spend a year circling the globe. You can just enjoy the escape of reading about someone else’s adventure, or get inspired to take one of your own.
(13 of34)
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Book: The Awakened Introvert by Arnie KozakThe "help" part: Like Quiet from a couple of years ago, this book celebrates introverts — but perhaps more importantly, also gives specifics (including full-on worksheets) about how to use your introverted nature to your advantage.Pearl of wisdom: "Introverts are not failed extroverts. The time has come for this culture to embrace the quiet strengths of introverts."Get it here.
(15 of34)
Book: Happy is the New Healthy: 31 Ways To Relax, Let Go and Enjoy Life Now! by Dave RomanelliThe "help" part: If you're the kind of person who likes advice that you can put into practice right away, you'll want to try out these tips. The idea is, the happier you are, the healthier you become ... so it wouldn't hurt to try.Pearl of wisdom: “It takes practice to create a positivity bias, to be grateful for all you do have instead of all you do not have, all that is right instead of all that is wrong, all that feels good instead of all that aches.” Get it here.
(16 of34)
Book: My Boyfriend Barfed in My Handbag . . . and Other Things You Can't Ask Martha by Jolie KerrThe "help" part: Kerr is a cleaning expert who isn't afraid to tackle anything from the basics (how to use a mop) to the embarrassing (a.k.a. the title). Self-improvement, no, but life improvement, oh yes!Pearl of wisdom: "The biggest mistake people make when setting out to tackle their chores is forgetting to put on music. It's basically the same theory behind listening to music at the gym: it gets you moving, perks you up, provides a rhythm to work along to."Get it here.
(17 of34)
Book: Leave Your Mark: Land Your Dream Job. Kill It In Your Career. Rock Social Media. by Aliza LichtThe "help" part: If you're trying to figure out what your "personal brand" is and how exactly to convey that in what you do every day, this is the book for you.Pearl of wisdom: “If you get to the top of the ladder by pushing people off, you'll find that there won't be a ladder left or people to help you get back down.”Get it here.
(18 of34)
Book: The Doctor Is In: Dr. Ruth on Love, Life and Joie de Vivre by Dr. Ruth K. WestheimerThe "help" part: The woman who's given millions of people advice about sex and love talks about her own life — and imparts some lessons on how to deal with relationships issues that come up, from the tragic to the beautiful.Pearl of wisdom: "Your life doesn’t have to be an open book in order to find sexual satisfaction."Get it here.
(19 of34)
Book: The Crossroads of Should and Must: Find and Follow Your Passion by Elle LunaThe "help" part: This one goes out to all the people who feel like they're not doing what they want in life — and aspires to help them figure out exactly what it is they must be doing instead.Pearl of wisdom: "How often do we place blame on the person, job, or situation when the real problem, the real pain, is within us? And we leave and walk away, angry, frustrated, and sad, unconsciously carrying the same Shoulds into a new context — the next relationship, the next job, the next friendship — hoping for different results."Get it here.
(20 of34)
Book: The Surrender Experiment: My Journey Into Life's Perfection by Michael A. SingerThe "help" part: Lessons learned by a man (who happens to be a founding CEO of a billion-dollar company) who decided to quit being consumed by how he can change the world, and instead, see what happens when he lets flow on its own.Pearl of wisdom: "If the natural unfolding of the process of life can create and take care of the entire universe, is it really reasonable for us to assume that nothing good will happen unless we force it to?"Get it here.
(21 of34)
Book: Triggers: Creating Behavior That Lasts — Becoming the Person You Want to Be by Marshall GoldsmithThe "help" part: If you find yourself reacting to situations in ways you don't want to, this book aims to figure out what's causing those behaviours — and turning them into something positive.Pearl of wisdom: "When we presume that we are better than people who need structure and guidance, we lack one of the most crucial ingredients for change: humility."Get it here.
(22 of34)
Book: Getting There: A Book of Mentors by Gillian Zoe SegalThe "help" part: If you've ever wondered what it is that a mentor does, this book answers through the words of people whose advice you really want to hear, like Warren Buffet, Marina Abramovic and Daniel Boulud.Pearl of wisdom: "Any contribution you make on a daily basis is fantastic."Get it here.
(23 of34)
Book: The Life-Changing Magic of Tidying Up: The Japanese Art of Decluttering and Organizing by Marie KondoThe "help" part: If you're constantly feeling overwhelmed by stuff and have had enough, this approach to cleaning up your home (and life) could be for you. Pearl of wisdom: "To truly cherish the things that are important to you, you must first discard those that have outlived their purpose."Get it here.
(24 of34)
Book: Altruism: The Power of Compassion To Change Yourself and the World by Mattieu RicardThe "help" part: The author, who was known for his previous book on happiness, pushes forward the idea of compassion and giving to others as the way forward for all of society. Pearl of wisdom: "In the reality of every day, despite the share of violence that afflicts the world, our existence is usually woven from deeds of cooperation, friendship, affection and care."Get it here.
(25 of34)
Book: The Joy of Missing Out: Finding Balance In a Wired World by Christina CrookThe "help" part: Exhausted by the aspirational shots you're seeing on your social media feeds, or the sense of disconnection you get from being connected all the time? This book talks about all of that, and gives worksheets on how to find ways to bond with people without technology.Pearl of wisdom: "We understand the causes and effects of the sedentary body, but, as the Internet takes over and our memory is needed less and less, what happens to our sedentary minds?"Get it here.
(26 of34)
Book: Let's Be Less Stupid by Patricia Marx (available July 14)The "help" part: An attempt to regain her 22-year-old brain, this former SNL writer goes through the many ways modern society makes us stupid — and like any good self-help book, has quizzes in each chapter. It's a lot of fun, with a surprising amount of science.Pearl of wisdom: "Not only does the brain have a lifelong ability to create new neurons; like a government with an unlimited highway budget, it has an endless capacity to build new roadways."Get it here.
(27 of34)
Book: Activate Your Brain: How Understanding Your Brain Can Improve Your Work — and Your Life by Scott G. HalfordThe "help" part: Another brain book, but this one is less about the facts and more about the usage — like how to focus better, how to reduce distractions and how to deal with negative stress.Get it here.
(28 of34)
Book: 4,000 Questions for Getting to Know Anyone and Everyone (2nd edition) by Barbara Ann KipferThe "help" part: This is a great book to have on hand for everything from dinner parties to cozy nights with your longtime partner to road trips with pals. Unexpected and fun and serious all at the same time.Pearl of wisdom: "What, more than anything, makes you angry? Who were your childhood idols? What kind of leader are you most inclined to follow?"Get it here.
(29 of34)
Book: The Gratitude Diaries: How a Year Looking on the Bright Side Can Transform Your Life by Janice Kaplan (available Aug. 18)The "help" part: What does life look like when you put a real effort into appreciating every bit of it? Part memoir, part scientific investigation, this book gives practical hints on how to insert more gratitude into your life.Pearl of wisdom: "People who practice intentional gratitude — making their gratitude lists or planning pay-it-forward experiences — give themselves an extra round of immunity."Get it here.
(30 of34)
Book: Find the Good: Unexpected Life Lessons from a Small-Town Obituary Writer by Heather LendeThe "help" part: When you write about people's death all the time, inevitably you're going to glean some advice from the way people have lived their lives — and this memoir/self-help book does just that.Pearl of wisdom: "If indeed all the wisdom I had in my heart was to be summed up in final words and it was difficult to speak more than, say, three, what would I rasp before my soul flew up the chimney? Find the good."Get it here.
(31 of34)
Book: Modern Romance by Aziz AnsariThe "help" part: Sure, this is a hilarious memoir by a great comic, but it's also an exploration of what it means to have a relationship in 2015 — and all the joys and difficulties that entails.Pearl of wisdom: "With so many romantic options, instead of trying to explore them all, make sure you properly invest in people and give them a fair chance before moving on to the next one."Get it here.
(32 of34)
Book: I Know How She Does It: How Successful Women Make the Most of Their Time by Laura VanderkamThe "help" part: It's the work-life balance question, but tackled from the lens of women who have managed to find ways to make it work .. so hopefully, some of their smarts can apply to you.Pearl of wisdom: "It is about how you can move around and rethink the hours of your weeks to nurture your career, your relationships and yourself."Get it here.
(33 of34)
Book: If You Feel Too Much by Jamie TworkowskiThe "help" part: These essays that aim to help people dealing with difficult topics — everything from suicide of a loved one to celebrating Mother's Day without a mom — have been inspiring to millions.Pearl of wisdom: "And God must be a pretty big fan of today, because you keep waking up to it. You have made known your request for a hundred different yesterdays, but the sun keeps rising on this thing that has never been known."Get it here.
(34 of34)
Book: The Upside of Stress: Why Stress Is Good for You, and How to Get Good at It by Kelly McGonigalThe "help" part: Stress as a positive? There are plenty of people who will be happy to hear that's the case — and this book gives real ways to use stress to make your life better.Pearl of wisdom: "How you think about stress affects everything from your cardiovascular health to your ability to find meaning in life. The best way to manage stress isn’t to reduce or avoid it, but rather to rethink and even embrace it."Get it here.