An Abbotsford boy celebrated his fourth birthday at the end of November by collecting items for the local food bank.
Dylan Chick delivered the donations – 18 bags collected from neighbours and more from friends attending his party – to Abbotsford Fire Hall #7 (Old Clayburn Road) on Nov. 22.
His mom, Nicole, said the project began when she and Dylan attended an open house at the fire hall in October during Fire Prevention Week.
The event included a silent auction, and Nicole bid on – and won – a birthday party at the hall, including food, drinks, goodie bags and having the birthday boy picked up at his home.
All proceeds from the silent auction went to the food bank.
“We were very excited for Dylan to celebrate his birthday at the fire hall but really wanted him to understand more about the donation we made for him to have this amazing opportunity,” Nicole said.
She came up with the idea of Dylan celebrating his birthday by collecting items for the food bank.
Jason created a flyer, and Dylan taped each flyer to a plastic bag. The bags were then hung on each of their neighbours’ doorsteps on Waterton Crescent with a request to fill them with food.
The family collected the donations a few days later, with plans to take them to the birthday party.
Dylan’s invitations to his friends also mentioned that food bank donations would be collected at his celebration.
All the donations were left behind at the fire hall for the firefighters to deliver to the Abbotsford Food Bank.
Nicole said Dylan had so much fun with the project that the family plans to make it an annual event.