Like most fifth graders Navika Khurana, from Charlotte, North Carolina, was busy planning her 10th birthday.
But for this big-hearted student her only birthday list wish was donations for a nonprofit that provides food to needy families.
Navika organized a food drive at her school and in her neighborhood to help her local non profit Loaves and Fishes. Last year, the local nonprofit provided boxes of groceries to over 120,000 individuals and families who were in short term crisis.
“Instead of gifts, I asked for can foods to donate,” she told NBC affiliate WCNC. “Can fruits, can meat, can vegetables. Cereal and pasta have to be in a box and that’s all.”
Originally, she set out with a goal to donate 100 pounds to Loaves and Fishes. In just a few days, she collected 180 pounds of food.
“I was very happy because I want to contribute to donating food,” she said. “I was able to collect so much food and then donate to the people in need.”
Navika said she plans to organize a food driver every year. She hopes to inspire others to also help those in need in their local communities.
“I think every single can we donate helps a person,” she said. “Like they say, if you can’t feed 100 people, feed one person. It will make a big difference.”
Navika said her goal is to beat the number of food items collected the previous year so more people can have food on the table.
The desire to help others in such a meaningful way at just 10 years old is an inspiration to us all.
Help us wish this big-hearted youngster a very Happy Birthday by sharing this story.
