Created: 6/24/2008 1:47:05 PM 
Greensboro -- When Audrey Mangum handed out invitations to her 11th birthday party, she asked friends to bring cans of food in place of presents.
"I collected bears at one of my birthday parties, and we took them to Moses Cone and gave them to the children," recalled Mangum. For the past four years, she has turned her birthday into a donation day. "It kind of means a lot to me to have all of my friends here to donate."
The 11-year-old plans to donate the food to the Greensboro Urban Ministry. "It's a really good thing that she's doing," said 11-year-old Allison Harris, who brought canned food to Mangum's birthday party. "I was really surprised because I really like getting presents for my birthday."
At previous birthday parties, Mangum collected teddy bears, toys and food to donate to the less fortunate. Although she did not ask for presents, some of her friends brought them anyway. "That is pretty cool," said Mangum. "They didn't even have to do that."
While she is thankful for the presents she received, Mangum says it is the gifts she will give away that she will cherish the most. "I would just want to know that a family would have something to eat, and that would make me feel happier than a present."
For a list of local food pantries, click here.
WFMY News 2
