Instead of unwrapping presents on her 10th birthday, Taylor Caldwell arrived at the Kokomo Humane Society at noon Saturday bearing gifts for all the dogs and cats at the shelter.
Taylor along with her parents and her friend, Emma Larche, delivered bags full of blankets, towels, dog and cat toys, homemade dog biscuits and other gifts for the animals.
At her birthday party Friday, Taylor asked that instead of getting her presents she wanted everyone to donate to the Humane Society.
“My friend, Emma, donated some stuff to the Humane Society and I thought it would be cool if I did the same thing,” Taylor said, carrying a large bag of blankets for the animals.
“I thought it was a good idea,” Taylor’s mother, Theresa, said of her daughter’s generosity.
“I suggested she donate to a food pantry, but she said she wanted to help the animals,” said Theresa. “It took a lot of convincing to give up her presents. She’s a good kid.”
The Caldwells, who live in Hamilton County, decided to donate to the Kokomo Humane Society after realizing the shelter was in need of blankets and old towels.
“Our Humane Society in Hamilton County is doing fine and we heard they needed blankets so we decided to come here,” Theresa said.
Theresa said when Taylor’s friends and other family members learned of her idea, they all donated something.
“Everybody was excited to help out,” she said.
The staff at the Humane Society was thrilled by the donations and in turn presented Taylor with a birthday present — two stuffed animals — and some cupcakes.
Taylor, Emma and her parents also were treated to a tour of the facility and a chance to pet several of the dogs and cats at the shelter.
“I think it’s cool,” said Karen Peelle, who works at the shelter. “I just think that’s great what she’s doing.”
Peele said kids often donate items to the Humane Society, but to have a child give up her presents on her birthday is special.
“These kids have all these other outlets to give and for them to come up here — I’m very excited.”
Local News
Related Photos
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FEELS GOOD TO GIVE: Taylor Caldwell, left, along with friend Emma Larche, deliver toys, food and blankets to the Kokomo Humane Society on Saturday. Caldwell and her family are from Hamilton County. KT photo | Tim Bath
Discussion
Girl plans birthday party to help Humane Society
10-year-old gives up presents to help animals
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Question Time: Dinner for four
We received several dozen very interesting responses Friday when we asked our readers to answer the following question: “If you could have dinner with any three people living or otherwise who would it be and why?” As a result, a few us here at the Kokomo Tribune decided to give it a try as well.
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Bullying reporting now required
Oliver Jackson — known in the music world as DjBigO317 — remembers being bullied by the kids on his high school football team for being small.
He told his coaches about it, but they brushed it off and told him to do the same.
Now, his 6-year-old daughter is battling issues with bullies at her school in Indianapolis, and he won’t let it go.
He is on a crusade to end bullying, and he’s taking the message beyond his daughter’s school. -
The bully bashers speak out
Nineteen-year-old Trenton Lewis wants to change the message hip-hop music is sending to kids across the country.
The Kokomo High School graduate envisions songs that inspire change and songs that promote safer schools instead of ones that glorify drugs and violence. He wants to push the negativity out of music. - Bullying statistics - May 19, 2013
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State to spend $2 million to clean up voter rolls
Indiana’s bloated voter registration rolls, which officials say make elections more susceptible to fraud, will soon come under more scrutiny by the state.
- Public Eye - May 19, 2013
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Fallen comrades remembered
In the 148-year history of the Kokomo Police Department, two officers have died in the line of duty. Members of the department took part in a ceremony Friday to honor not only those two, but all fallen police officers.
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Local deputies play key role in arrest
A mother and her infant son are now safe, thanks in part to the determination of deputies with the Howard County Sheriff’s Department. The officers worked from the time Kristy Redenbaugh was reported missing in September 2012 until the man police allege was her captor was arrested Thursday.
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Charter school to open in August
Goodwill Education Initiatives will unveil the area’s first charter school for high school dropouts Aug. 15 in downtown Kokomo.
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Districts call special board meetings
Northwestern School Corp. will likely reduce the hours of about a dozen instructional assistants to avoid having to provide them with insurance.
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Question Time: Dinner for four
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