By Brennan Phillips
Special to the Western News
For most people, their birthday is a time for the spotlight to be on just themselves.
For Ryker Kruck, 6, it was an opportunity to give back to the community.
Kruck had been following the YouTube personality Stephen Sharer, and was inspired by him to try and make his birthday into something special.
Instead of toys, this year he asked for food donations instead.
“It’s amazing that a boy his age would ask for food donations,” said John Rankin, the family services supervisor at the Penticton Salvation Army Food Bank.
“It’s much appreciated, that he would not want presents, that he would want to gather food instead, to help the community. It’s really special.”
Ryker celebrated his sixth birthday on Nov. 23 with an afterschool party at his Okanagan Falls school gym. At his party, he collected the food, which he then sorted and prepared for donation at home.
A total of 91 pounds of food was raised and donated to the Salvation Army Food Bank.
Other parents and kids at the school have also been asking about Kruck’s generosity, and are thinking of incorporating the Share the Love idea into their own birthdays.
“Ryker is a very caring and loving boy, he always is concerned about the well being of his friends, family and complete strangers,” said his dad Jeff.
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