NEW BEDFORD — Scarlett Rainho, 9, sat among new, unopened toys wearing a black hoodie that read “Better Person Club” in pink letters on the back, with “BPC” on the front.

It’s the name of a club she started earlier this year with the help of her grandmother, Susana Pacheco.

The toys aren’t hers. She plans to donate them to local kids, perhaps at a nearby hospital.

The East Fairhaven Elementary School fourth grader said usually when she’s out in the car, she sees people holding a piece of cardboard which explains that they’re poor and homeless. “I feel bad for them and I want to help them, so that’s why I created the BPC, Better Person Club,” Rainho told The Standard-Times on Sunday morning.

Rainho said members of her club offer money for a good cause. She recently used the money raised to shop with her sister Karyssa Lopes, 11, and Pacheco to make care packages for the Sister Rose House homeless shelter, the Lighthouse Animal Shelter and CareOne Nursing Home, all of New Bedford. Pacheco said her late father used to stay at CareOne.

Donations included blankets, socks, hats, scarves, gloves, toothbrushes and toothpaste and breakfast energy bars for the homeless shelter; blankets, cans of food for dogs and cats and toys for the animal shelter and Santa ornaments for the seniors.

Rainho estimated there are over 40 members in the club and donations poured in, and are still coming, after Pacheco sent out an email at work about her granddaughter’s efforts.

Pacheco set up a bank account for the club at Bristol County Savings Bank so people can donate to it directly. She plans to set up an email and a venmo account for the club, too.

Asked how much money she started with, Rainho said it was 50 cents in a bag which grew to over $1,000, including recent toy donations from the Fairhaven Police Department and Greater New Bedford Vocational-Technical High School toward the cause. She asked family members and others to also contribute 50 cents, although they donated a lot more.

Lt. Kevin Kobza of the Fairhaven Police Department said by email that the department applauds Rainho's efforts and decision to embark on the endeavor.

"It's such an amazing project she undertook and we are very happy to be able to help her out in such a wonderful cause," Kobza said. "She is truly a remarkable person and we wish her all the best and congratulate her for the success she achieved."

Rainho has big plans for the club: In about three years she hopes a quarter of the world will be members and she'll eventually be able to buy homes for the homeless.

She also inspired Lopes, who has helped with the recent efforts, to do her own act of kindness. She said she wants to start reading to animals at a local shelter to keep them company and occupied. She really likes to read, particularly mysteries, horror books and biographies.

Pacheco said she’s sure both of the girls are going to make a difference.

On Dec. 23, donations were made to the animal shelter and nursing home. On Christmas Eve, the three donated to the homeless shelter and handed out a couple packages to two homeless people on Route 18.

Rainho said she felt very happy that she got to make the donations.

Follow Aimee Chiavaroli on Twitter @AimeeC_SCT