Birthday girl brings donations to Miss Emily's

Credit: Tracy Farnham | The News Herald

Jesse Kypena, 6, meets Jim Murray, associate executive director of Southmountain Children and Family Services Jim Murray. Also pictured are Miss Emily’s store manager Dianna Murray, right, and Jesse’s parents, Daniel and Meg Kypena.

By: Tracy Farnham | Morganton News Herald
Published: October 15, 2009

GLEN ALPINE --

Most 6-year-olds want plenty of stuff for their birthdays.
Jesse Kypena was no exception, but she didn't want the gifts for herself.
For her birthday Jesse asked for donations for Miss Emily's, a local thrift store where proceeds benefit Southmountain Children and Family Services.
On Saturday, Jesse helped carry in the donations of clothes, toys and books she received during her birthday party.
Her father, Daniel Kypena, said in the invitation to Jesse's party, children were instructed to bring donations instead of presents.
"Between parents and grandparents, she was taken care of and didn't go without," he said.
The Kypenas said they often do volunteer work and thought donations in honor of Jesse's birthday would be different and special.
"We feel like we have a lot of things. We are blessed, and we always talk about sharing and giving," Kypena said. "Every six months we look at what we haven't been using and can give to someone else."
That's when Jesse said, "What if we donated some of my stuff?"
The amount of donations overwhelemed Jesse and her parents.
"She wouldn't have gotten this much stuff for her birthday and this is something much bigger," Kypena said. "It is for the community."
Meg Kypena, Jesse's mother, said, "It didn't take a lot to put this together, and it was easy to get the children to rally around something like this."
Before they could deliver the items, Meg's hairdresser learned of their collection and emptied items waiting to be donated from her car to Meg's.
Jesse's parents said they received a favorable reaction from the parents of the party gift idea.
"It went over well, and it makes me want to do this again next year," Meg Kypena said. "It was amazing the outpouring we received."
Dianna Murray, manager of Miss Emily's told Jesse, "It's amazing what one person can do to make a huge difference in someone else's life and most 6-year-olds don't think about that."
Murray said it is possible that other children might take Jesse's lead and make a similar contribution.
Daniel Kypena said, "That's wonderful if this could be a small catalyst for something like that."

Birthday girl brings donations to Miss Emily's

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