Olivia Yrarragorry wanted to spend her birthday and Christmas money on something that would make her happy, but instead of spending it on herself, she donated it to an animal shelter.
Why would a 9-year-old girl give away her money to cats and dogs, to which she is allergic?
“She loves animals very much, and the funny thing is she is allergic to them,” her father, Michael Yrarragorry, said.
Olivia also shared her thoughts on the donation.
“Animals need the money more than I do because they need homes and food,” Olivia said in a telephone call with The News-Journal. “And I already have a home and food.”
Olivia’s mother, Leah Kneer, was surprised when her daughter asked if she could give away all the money she had saved.
“She just came up to me one day and asked if she could take all her money she had saved and donate it. I asked her if she was sure about that, and she said she was,” Kneer said in a telephone conversation with The News-Journal.
But Kneer understood why her daughter wanted to give away her money. She always talked to her daughter about being kind, she said.
But Kneer said she found it interesting that her daughter wanted to help the animals she was allergic to.
“It was all her idea. She just came up with it,” Kneer said.
Olivia’s grandmother has a friend who works at the Edgewater Animal Shelter, so she was familiar with the facility, Kneer said.
“We chose to donate to the animal shelter because of our family friend, and we know how great of an organization it is,” Kneer said.
Kneer said she was so moved by her daughter’s kindness that she also put money into the fund. Then she reached out to friends to help with her daughter’s cause, she said.
“I am so proud of her. She has her heart in the right place,” Kneer said.
9-year-old girl donates $700 in supplies to Edgewater Animal Shelter
Roxanne Hicks said she and her staff at the Edgewater Animal Shelter were surprised when Olivia and her grandmother showed up June 8 with a bunch of supplies.
“It was just amazing,” said Hicks, director of the animal shelter.
The child showed up with $600 to $700 worth of supplies that included food, treats, toys, blankets and beds for cats and dogs. Olivia also brought trash bags, paper towels and other needed supplies to the shelter, Hicks said.
“She is such a sweet little girl. She gave all her birthday money she got from relatives, and had her friends help, too,” Hicks said. “It is just so amazing that a little girl like Olivia would not be thinking only of herself.”
It was a big donation, especially coming from a child, Hicks said.
Olivia will turn 10 this month, and already she is planning on gifting the needy.
For this birthday, Olivia said she plans to make care packages for the homeless.
“They also need homes and food,” Olivia said. “Everybody has their own idea about kindness and my idea is to make care packages for the homeless.”
This article originally appeared on The Daytona Beach News-Journal: 9-year-old girl donates birthday money to Edgewater Animal Shelter
Reporting by Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal / The Daytona Beach News-Journal
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
By Patricio G. Balona, Daytona Beach News-Journal | USA TODAY Network
