LITTLE ROCK, Ark. (KTHV) - When Gibson Evans turns three this year, he won't be getting the traditional gifts from friends and family.
Instead he'll be giving back.
It's the latest trend among birthday parties -- abandoning the usual gift wish list and instead encouraging partygoers to bring non-perishable food items which will in turn be donated to a local food pantry.
Gibson's mom Victoria began the tradition of helping the less fortunate last year on his 2nd birthday.
"We chose a different organization and it went over okay, but I was hoping for more response from our friends and family that came, so this year we chose an organization that I'm a little bit more familiar with," says Victoria. "We put on the invitation, in lieu of gifts we would be accepting donations of non-perishable items for the Foodbank and if people forget, they can just grab something out of their own pantry."
Gibson may be young but his mom says it's never too early to start teaching children the importance of helping others.
"It's important to teach them to be compassionate and to let them know that there are different ways to serve other Arkansans and to engage in community services."
And it's never been more important to help feed hungry Arkansans than right now. Jill Bayles with the Arkansas Foodbank says we are currently at a crisis point in the Natural State.
"One out of four children go to bed hungry in Arkansas every night and they don't know where their next meal is coming from," says Bayles.
That's why she is grateful for families like the Evans.
"We've got major food drives during the year but to have something like this is so great for us," says Bayles. "And it's so easy for parents of the guests not to have to go buy a toy."
The Arkansas Foodbank is always accepting donations at their Little Rock location (4301 W. 65th Street) from 8:30 am to 4:30 p.m. And you can learn more about the startling statistics of the hunger crisis in Arkansas by clicking here.
(Copyright 2012 KTHV)