Comic book hero: Walton EMC member Jason Kelley uses graphic storytelling to comfort kids

When he was 9 years old, Jason Kelley met G.I. Joe – the first of many literary heroes he’d encounter as a fan of comic books. Now he’s becoming a real-life hero to children in crisis.

The Walton EMC customer-owner has turned his passion into the Comics Appreciation Project (CAP), a nonprofit organization that uses graphic storytelling to comfort displaced children and boost literacy among struggling youth readers.

Kelley recently retired from a career in law enforcement, including several years in the family treatment court system. The Bogart resident’s experiences inspired him to found CAP in 2022.

“In my job I frequently interacted with people experiencing the worst moments of their life. Too often, those individuals were children,” he said.

Through its Share-Care program, CAP partners with foster care services, hospitals, domestic violence shelters, disaster recovery groups and other nonprofits serving children in crisis. Children in crisis situations can relate to, and take inspiration from, the graphic novels.

“We provide individual books as well as our special Share-Care box, which comes with three award-winning graphic novel selections uniquely curated with a displaced protagonist that meets new friends and people on their journey to a new place/land,” Kelley said.

With the help of an Operation Round Up grant, CAP gave away more than 2,000 graphic novels to children ages 8 to 12 last year.

“Walton was the first organization to take a chance on us, and for that I will be forever grateful” Kelley said, thanking fellow co-op members who participate in Operation Round Up.

CAP’s early success has spurred expansion. The nonprofit’s services now include using graphic novels to teach English language learners, summer reading programs and an upcoming family literacy program that will help incarcerated parents connect with their children. To better lead the nonprofit, Kelley (right) is heading back to the University of Georgia to pursue a doctorate degree in reading and literacy.

Like the literary heroes he’s adored since childhood, Kelley is coming to the rescue. His efforts are helping kids in crisis find relatable stories that comfort, inspire and provide guidance for processing life’s changes.

For more information about Operation Round Up and recent recipients, visit www.waltonemc.com/community/operation-round-up.