Eight-year-old Alex Anning decided to celebrate his birthday by helping families who recently lost SNAP benefits.
Instead of a party, he organized a food drive to give away free groceries to his neighbours in need. The idea for the food drive came after Alex, who lives in Tinley Park, in Chicago, Illinois, with his mother, Kymbria Young, saw a man experiencing homelessness while they were out driving.
His mother said that he became upset when they couldn’t stop to help. That moment inspired him to turn his birthday into a day of giving. With the help of his mom’s nonprofit, ‘Season to Soar’ programme, Alex began collecting food donations.
By the weekend before his birthday, their home was filled with canned goods, snacks, and fresh produce. Together with family and volunteers, he packed grocery bags for more than 150 families.
“We just grab the food and put them in the bag,” Alex said. “As many as we can.
“The more stuff you put in the bags, the heavier the stuff gets.” For Alex, helping others is part of what makes birthdays special.
He said he wanted to give back because it’s good for the community and helps the planet. His mom said she couldn’t be prouder of his compassion and leadership.
“To see that my son is giving and leading change by serving the community is just so inspiring for me, and I hope that it inspires others as well,” Young said.
After seeing the impact of his first food drive, Alex already has plans to do it again next year. For him, giving is now a birthday tradition.
