Hi my name is Calina and I attend Spring Lake High School. My 16th Birthday is coming up VERY soon. I know it is tradition to do something extra special for your 16th Birthday but I have had the worst time trying to think of what would be super special to me. That is until I brought some of my family down with me 3 weeks ago, to meet some of my friends downtown Grand Rapids . I then knew EXACTLY how I want to spend my special day! My mom raised my siblings and I to always give back and volunteer . My heart has always felt so Blessed spending time with the homeless . My mom and I like to make meals for 60 people and bring them down to pass out and spend time getting to know those that are struggling, once a month. many of us remember the homeless during the colder months and Holidays to bring blankets, coats, gloves etc but we forget how hard it it for them in the hot months. Oh my goodness how they are so thankful for a bottled water in the 90 degree weather!

Many of my friends and family wonder why I enjoy spending time with the homeless. Well, because I have learned so much from them. I see so many of them be the hands and feet of Jesus than I do in some of my own family and in Churches. They are humble. They are thankful. They love to sing and then when we start dancing too, watch out here comes the laughter! Although they are all so hungry and could ask me for another meal that I have packed and am pulling around in my wagon, they instead tell me that they saw a lady sleeping on some steps earlier down one street and to please put a meal by her for when she wakes. Or there are 2 guys shivering in a closed store front trying to keep warm 2 roads over, they could really use a meal. They do not all know one another, but they watch out for one another and help each other survive. I think of it like on Black Friday how parents are pushing and shoving for the best toy so their kid can have it. Yet these friends are freezing and starving but they are making sure that they take just enough to stay alive and then send us to help others. I find so much inner beauty in them!

With that being said … more than anything I would LOVE to show up on my 16th Birthday with my wagon packed full of

16 cases of water

16 large pizzas

16 freeze pops (the kind you snip the top off)

If you are willing to donate money to my Go Fund Me , or Venmo my mom

@Tanya-Doane-3

or would like to donate products, I would be so very thankful!

Also if you know of a company that would like to contribute a financial donation, food or water for one of the monthly meals that I prepare and deliver, please please share this with them :)

if you are not in a place to donate I understand! Prayers, Prayers will help more than anything!

Thank you for helping me make the Best and most Memorable Birthday for me ever!

~ Calina