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Local boys use their birthdays to help those in need
By Derek Hodges
When birthdays roll around, most kids probably anticipate the toys the day may bring them, instead of thinking of those in need.
There are some children, however rare, who see their birthdays as a chance to help others. Jackson County happens to be home to at least three of those youngsters.
Tanner Norman, son of Greg and Natalie Norman of Balsam, stands at United Christian Ministries in front of several boxes of food he collected from friends and family on his birthday.
Tanner Norman, 5, and twins Duncan and Warren LeMay, 10, asked their friends for unusual presents for their last birthdays. They wanted canned foods – as many as they could get.
In unrelated acts of kindness, the LeMays and Norman asked their friends and family for food to donate to United Christian Ministries.
Tanner Norman, a kindergartner who lives in Balsam, put his request for canned foods in the invitations he mailed for his birthday party. After spending the summer talking with his parents, Greg and Natalie, and the AWANA group at Balsam Baptist Church about missions and helping those in need, Tanner decided he had more than enough.
Twins Duncan, left, and Warren LeMay, sons of Dr. David and Wendy LeMay of Sylva, have been collecting canned goods on their birthday for United Christian Ministries for the past several years. -Herald photo by Derek Hodges
“I had too much stuff,” Tanner said. “I still got presents, and now I’ve got way too much.”
He also got plenty of food – about five boxes full.
“We thought about giving to the Hurricane Katrina relief, because that happened right about on his birthday, but we knew there were people around here who needed it, too,” Natalie Norman said. “I was proud of him because I knew he wanted presents, but he wanted to do something for other people.”
“I didn’t miss the presents, I had fun at the park on my birthday,” Tanner said.
The LeMay boys, fourth-graders at Cullowhee Valley School, started their birthday donations several years ago.
“We didn’t really need all the stuff that people gave us,” Duncan said of the presents.
“We decided to give canned goods to United Christian Ministries,” Warren said.
The idea was born out of a conversation with their parents, Dr. David and Wendy LeMay.
“We have a lot. The boys don’t really lack for anything,” Wendy LeMay said. “We’ve always tried to teach them about compassion and doing things for others. We knew United Christian Ministries deals with a lot different people in a lot of situations. It’s just one small way to help.”
For their part, the boys were enthusiastic about the idea that this year led to a net of about 42 cans for the ministry.
“It’s great because we didn’t have to talk them into it,” David LeMay said. “It makes me feel real good.”
The boys know how uncommon their effort is.
“The people at United Christian Ministry said it was a very interesting idea,” Duncan said.
Kathy Cross, director of United Christian Ministries, confirmed the uniqueness of what the boys did.
“It’s a rare thing,” Cross said. “Kids at that age generally want personal birthday gifts. To say, ‘I don’t want or need anything,’ shows they are really concerned for others; a character that will grow as they grow.”
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