Boy Donates to Food Pantry for Birthday
FOND DU LAC- Caleb Vang celebrated his seventh birthday and invited all his classmates and friends to a party. However, instead of gifts for himself, Caleb asked birthday guests to bring a gift of food for The Salvation Army Food Pantry, located at 237 N. Macy St.
The twist on birthday gift giving is a family tradition in the Vang house. “The kids know that if they have a ‘friend party’ it’s an opportunity to pick an organization in our community who helps people and do something to help that organization,” said Caleb’s mother, Jenny.
Jenny Vang listed nonprofits to her son and, as she said “The Salvation Army,” Caleb responded with an “Oh yeah,” he said.
After the birthday party, the “gifts” were piled into the family vehicle and Jenny Vang drove Caleb to The Salvation Army food pantry. When Caleb entered the pantry and saw all the people coming to get food, he wanted to do even more to help.
Caleb met with his teacher Stacy Lisch, Roberts Elementary School Principal Michelle Hagen, and Connie Millard, Community Resource Development director of The Salvation Army. The outcome? The Roberts Elementary School student is coordinating a school-wide food drive as well.
Caleb created posters that hang throughout school classrooms, hallways and the lunchroom; the initiative was also announced and every student and staff member heard about his initiative at Monday Morning Meeting. Caleb hopes to collect 200 items for the pantry by Friday.
"If every class would put 12 items into the (collection) bins, we’d nail the goal,” he said.
“In a community filled with big hearts doing amazing things, Caleb’s compassion and desire to create change stands out,” Millard said, explaining, “Caleb’s desire to help encircles his entire school – the ripples of all he, his family and his school create with the food pantry collection will impact over 1,000 households our food pantry serves and linger in the hearts of everyone who played a part.”
For more information on the food drive or helping Caleb reach his goal, contact The Salvation Army at 920-923-8220.