Northport Girls Swap Gifts for Food Donations on Birthday

Instead asking for toys, dolls and games on their birthdays, Josephine, 6, and Cordelia Gleason, 4, wanted to do something for others to celebrate.

Earlier this month, the Northport girls had a birthday party, but instead of having a table filled with wrapped boxes and bows, they had grocery bags filled with items to give to families in need. That’s because instead of gifts, they asked their friends to donate food to the Ecumenical Lay Council pantry in Northport. The girls donated the goods the following week.

“I wanted to share this story not only because I am proud of my daughters for thinking of others on their day, but also, because I thought it may attract some interest and make others think of doing the same,” Andrea Ryan, their mother, said in an email.