A Canyon High School student is on a mission to provide children in need with free books.

Mackenzie Krestul, 17, founded the nonprofit Code Read last year, and plans to distribute nearly 1,500 books to low-income students at Manzanita Elementary School in Palmdale on Thursday.

The students of Manzanita Elementary School in Palmdale.

“I myself have been very, very passionate about reading ever since I was very young,” Krestul said. “It’s something that’s very dear to me, and I also believe that it’s so important as you’re growing up — not only being able to go on all kinds of adventures through books, but you also learn so much.”

Krestul believes every child should have his or her own books to read at home, and through Code Read’s first official book fair giveaway, nearly 750 students are set to take home two books each.

In order to “earn” their two books, eligible students completed reading logs tracking how much they’ve read, and in return received “book bucks” they can redeem at Thursday’s fair.

“We heard from the teachers and the principal they were all so inspired and excited about our program,” Krestul said, “and every student at Manzanita read enough or beyond enough to earn two books, which we’re so excited about.”

Related: San Diego Restaurant Headed By Canyon High Grad Named One Of Top 8 Pizzerias Nationwide

The Palmdale School District was chosen to be Code Read’s first official partner because of the high number of children enrolled in free and reduced lunch programs, and Krestul hopes to partner with other districts in the future.

Code Read’s first book fair, set to open Thursday.

“I hope that we can continue to expand from where we are,” she said. “Right now we’re staying in the Palmdale District, but we definitely aspire to reach out to as many districts and as many schools and as many students as we can.”

Plans are already in place for at least two more book fairs at Palmdale elementary schools this year, which Krestul will coordinate with the help of her family as she continues to balance her schoolwork at Canyon High.

“I can definitely say I would not have been able to do any of (this) without the support of my family, especially my mom,” she said. “They’ve been so helpful and so supportive, which has been amazing in itself.”

When asked how it feels to be just 17 years old and already the founder of her own nonprofit organization, Krestul noted it still seems surreal.

“Every time I think about it, I just feel so elated because I’ve always really loved to help other people,” she said. “And now I’m having the opportunity to help younger kids, alongside helping them with something that I myself am very passionate about… It’s really been an incredible experience.”