On the lawn of a Westmount home during a sunny Thursday morning sat six-year-old Charlie Manning, waiting patiently next to a table covered in parcels and birthday cards.
One might have thought there were dozens of people waiting to jump out and surprise Charlie, judging from the large number of presents and cards, but due to the COVID-19 pandemic, Charlie celebrated her sixth birthday at home with grandparents, Ray and Tammy Manning, who are raising her.
Since pre-school, the Westmount elementary student has had a birthday bash on the last days of school in June with her friends, but the pandemic cancelled that this year. Her June party in Kamloops is usually followed by a trip to Idaho in July to visit her aunt Becky and cousins, who reciprocate the visit for CharlieB次元官网网址檚 birthday in August.
But that, too was cancelled due to the pandemic.
Thanks to the kindness of strangers, however, Charlie was able to have a unique celebration at a time when it looked like she may not be able to have one at all.
Her aunt reached out to some Facebook groups that have people send cards to children and asked people to simply wish her niece a happy birthday.
The response was immense.
Before the Mannings knew it, an avalanche of cards and parcels began arriving at their doorstep from people around the world who had never met Charlie.
In total, 173 cards and about 15 packages were delivered from places like Arizona, Australia, Belgium, Calgary, Comox, California, New York, Mississauga, Ireland and England.
One woman from Montreal even reached out to Sweet Spot Cupcakes in Kamloops and ordered a dozen of the treats to be delivered on CharlieB次元官网网址檚 birthday B次元官网网址� Aug. 13.
Sweet Spot Cupcakes owner Paige Knapp dropped off the treats on Thursday morning, along with a present from her and the staff. She is also making a birthday cake this weekend for the soon-to-be first grader.
Knapp said when she realized what was being done for Charlie, she wanted to contribute.
B次元官网网址淚B次元官网网址檓 glad I was able to make her day a little bit brighter,B次元官网网址� Knapp said.
An excited Charlie was quick to bite into one of her dozen cupcakes and she made short work of her gifts B次元官网网址� a pile of postage, toys and trinkets littered the grass around her in about an hour.
Confetti-laden cards and anything with unicorns or from DisneyB次元官网网址檚 Frozen brought an elated gasp from the six-year-old.
B次元官网网址淚 wanted this for days,B次元官网网址� she said of one gift.
B次元官网网址淥h, my gosh, look at this,B次元官网网址� she said of another.
B次元官网网址淚 think thatB次元官网网址檚 for you,B次元官网网址� she told grandfather Ray.
Ray said it was difficult to explain to his granddaughter why she couldnB次元官网网址檛 have a party this year and was concerned it would be a sad occasion trying to navigate a birthday amidst COVID-19.
But, he said, the generous outpouring of gifts has had Charlie B次元官网网址渂ouncing off the wallsB次元官网网址� and itB次元官网网址檚 been a humbling experience for himself.
B次元官网网址淭hese people donB次元官网网址檛 know us from a hole in the ground, but it really gives you a sense that in times like this, thereB次元官网网址檚 still good people out there,B次元官网网址� he said. B次元官网网址淧eople do care. I mean, hereB次元官网网址檚 a little girl that is being raised by her grandparents, so we donB次元官网网址檛 have kids her age in our circle of friends, and theyB次元官网网址檙e making sure she has a birthday sheB次元官网网址檒l always remember.B次元官网网址�
CharlieB次元官网网址檚 grandmother, Tammy, said she gets teary-eyed thinking of how a random group of people and her daughter stepped up to give Charlie this celebration.
B次元官网网址淪heB次元官网网址檚 a very outgoing child, so itB次元官网网址檚 hard for her and itB次元官网网址檚 hard when youB次元官网网址檙e raised by older people,B次元官网网址� Tammy said. B次元官网网址淭his will be a birthday sheB次元官网网址檒l never forget.B次元官网网址�
Michael Potestio, Kamloops This Week
