Birthdays are a big deal to children. Parents often spend weeks or even months of planning to make sure the big day is one to be remembered. But unfortunately, not every family can afford a celebration and give gifts.

Two years ago, a classmate in Bella Smith’s third-grade class mentioned that his family couldn’t afford a birthday party for him. Well, that was all Bella needed to hear. Shortly thereafter the 9-year-old girl from Kentucky launched the “Bella’s Boxes” project.

The purpose of the project is to pack boxes with birthday goodies—balloons, cake mix, icing and sprinkles—and then deliver them to families in need through her school’s Family Resource Center.

“The school she attends is a Title 1 school, which means 80% of the population here is impoverished—so we have students that struggle with a lot of things,” Bella’s mom, Marlana Evans, says to Good Morning America.

Thus far, Bella has packed 65 birthday boxes this year and the numbers are growing. Each box is funded through donations from community members.

“I’m extremely proud of her,” Evans says, who also teaches at Bella’s school. “She’s a very good girl with a big heart.”

The project is beneficial because Bella identified a need in her school, but different communities need different things. If your kids are inspired by Bella, assist them in checking with local charitable organizations or food banks to see what people really need. Then, whether it’s birthday boxes, milk, food, diapers or cash, you and your kids can make it happen.

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