Now, I don’t know about you, but I haven’t met a ton of kids who would happily give up their birthday celebrations, no questions asked.
After all, what could be better than a party, piles of presents, and maybe even a cake as awesome as this rainbow-inspired confection?
Well, for 9-year-old Virginian Emma Garthwaite, the answer to that question is simple: helping those in need.
The elementary schooler made waves recently when she decided to turn her upcoming birthday celebration toward helping people affected by the catastrophic flooding that has devastated large swathes of the Southeast, particularly in Columbia, South Carolina.
Emma got involved in the cause when her one-time preschool teacher, Pam Brumett, a former Columbia resident, urged kids to participate in a food drive for those affected by the flooding. Emma took to the cause enthusiastically, and managed to collect heaps of dry goods and over $2,000 in cash.
But she wasn’t about to stop there. Like the young boy who gave up his birthday to give back to the police, Emma decided to dedicate her own special day to the cause.
She has pledged to give all of her birthday toys to kids in South Carolina who may not otherwise get presents this Christmas. On top of that, when Ms. Brumett went south to deliver the goods raised by the food drive, Emma went along.
Together, they dropped off the food, supplies, and money, then continued on to assist in the rebuilding efforts of one of the families worst hit by the storm. Hear what that family has to say about Emma in the video below.
If you're inspired by this young girl and her big heart, please SHARE her story with your friends and family!
