Little Hands, Big Heart
How a 4-Year-Old's Birthday Party Became a Food Drive Success
On June 14th, Harper and her dad, Matt, came to TNDF to tell us their story.
On their way to school one morning, four-year-old Harper and her dad, Matt, stopped at Nourish House Food Bank to speak with us about their recent 128-pound food donation. While Harper explored the shelves, grabbing whatever items she could reach and placing them in the basket, Matt watched from afar. He explained, “It feels obscene to get stuffed animals when people are struggling to put food on the table.”
On a weekend in early June, the pair collected non-perishable food items in honour of Harper’s birthday party. Guests were invited for a day of face painting, pinatas, and bouncy castles but were asked by the family to bring food donations rather than gifts. The party was a small event that made a big impact as loved ones showed up with an abundance of mixed-pantry items, now waiting to be put on the food bank shelves.
It is easy to see the difference this donation makes as Harper bounces around the island covered in the cans and boxes she collected, but these acts of kindness create a ripple effect bigger than that alone. They encourage and inspire others to create space for sharing and connection. When asked how she feels about giving back to her community, Harper says with a toothy smile, “Good,” and heads off to school in her sparkly birthday shoes.
We cannot thank Harper, her family, and her party guests enough for the considerable donation. THANK YOU for empowering the community to come together to develop lasting change.
Questions about making a donation?
Please contact Katerina at ekaterine.alexakis@tndf.ca or 705-432-2444.
