Thinking of others: 12yo gets gifts for others
Published: July 24, 2005
In a world controlled by parents, teachers and a laundry list of things they can not do, many local teens find feelings of accomplishment in knowing there is something they can do for those less fortunate.
When both your parents are local pediatricians, you live a life other kids can only dream of, said Kirthi Jetty. Your room is full of gizmos and gadgets. Your closet is crammed with all the latest fashions and you never worry about where your next pair of shoes are coming from.
“I have a lot of stuff,” said the 12-year-old student at Smith Middle School. “I’m lucky. My parents have the ability to get me pretty much everything I need and want. I really don’t need anymore stuff.”
That’s why this year Kirthi devised a plan to have both a great birthday party and help less fortunate students in her school.
When invitations to her recent birthday party went out, Kirthi requested each of her guests forget about birthday presents and instead donate money to The Bell Tower Mission in Bourneville. The Bell Tower in turn will take the money and use it to buy school supplies and backpacks for students at Smith.
What’s another CD, when some kids don’t even have the basic supplies needed to go to school?
“I see a lot of kids that need stuff that I always have,” Kirthi said.
Her efforts raised more than $250.
Kirthi’s parents, Lois and Sathish Jetty, are proud of their child, but not surprised by her generosity.
“She has always been such a giving child,” Lois said. “We don’t prompt her or tell her to do these things. She just does because she knows she can make a difference.”
It also was that driving force that prompted her to donate more than 12 inches of her hair to Locks of Love when she was in the fourth-grade.
“It grows back fast,” she said, which is evident by the long ponytail pulled up on the top of her head.
Now, with one good deed out of the way and many others under her belt, Kirthi said she can’t wait until the next great idea hits her.
“I know kids want to help they just don’t know how,” she said. “I’m lucky. I can think of something small and make it happen. It doesn’t have to be big.”
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