For many children, birthdays are filled with the excitement of eating cake and opening up presents. While that is true for Audrey Popanz, at just 3 years old, she started a new tradition and started giving her presents away.
Each year, Audrey collects a list of toys Covenant Children’s Hospital needs and puts that list on her birthday invites. Every toy she receives, she donates to the hospital, so kids staying their have something to look forward to.
“There might be people who are really sick and have to stay in the hospital a long time, so you want to give them stuff to be happy,” said Audrey.
This is her fourth year donating, and her mom, Darbara Popanz, says she is not ready to quit.
“Every year we ask, ‘Do you want to do it again, or do you just want to have your party with your own birthday presents?’ And each year, she’s like, ‘Let’s do it for the sick kids again,'” said Darbara.
While Audrey does not get to meet the kids who receive her toys, Stacy Frye, an employee at Covenant Children’s Hospital, said it means a lot to the kids.
“You don’t associate the hospital with being able to do fun things while you are here. So a lot of them are like, ‘Wow, I can play a game, or I can do a craft or play with action figures or cars or Legos.’ It really just brightens up their face,” said Frye.
This year, Audrey donated almost 30 toys to the hospital. Her actions inspired her brother with the same idea on his birthday. He donated food for sick animals.
“They like it, you know. They are still spoiled, but they have been really good about willing to give, so it’s been good as a parent to watch,” said Darbara.
