Birthday boy shuns gifts, gathers food for friends in need
Published: February 7, 2007
For his 11th birthday, Caleb Miller decided the gifts should go to his neighbors.
His parents, Jill and Wade Miller, had told the fifth-grader that neighbors and fellow Emerson Elementary School parents Cynthia and Kurt Billmeyer were having health problems.
Cynthia Billmeyer was laid up for six weeks after surgery Dec. 15, while Kurt Billmeyer started cancer chemotherapy Dec. 21.
So Caleb asked his buddies to bring groceries rather than gifts to his football/tailgate birthday party Dec. 30.
The next day, he and his cousin loaded his wagon with six overflowing bags of groceries and delivered them to the Billmeyers. Caleb also brought a couple of toys for the Billmeyers’ 8-year-old daughter, Allison, an Emerson third-grader.
“He grabbed my heart,” Cynthia Bill-meyer said. “I was really touched and overwhelmed, and I couldn’t believe a kid would do this for us. I felt so much gratitude.”
Caleb said the Billmeyers needed help in hard times more than he needed gifts.
“It was good to give,” he said. “I already had so much, and I didn’t need any more toys or presents.”
On Tuesday, Cynthia Billmeyer returned the favor.
She surprised Caleb at Emerson with an award from Angel on My Shoulder, a St. Germain, Wis.-based organization that works to improve the lives of people affected by cancer.
“Caleb was an angel on my shoulder because of his caring and compassion,” she said.
In addition to the award certificate, she gave Caleb a bag full of toys donated by Angel on My Shoulder as belated birthday presents.
“I was surprised,” Caleb said. “I didn’t expect this.
“I feel happy about what I did, and it’s something I would do again,” he said. “My hope is others will do the same.”
Cynthia Billmeyer said Caleb inspired her daughter to cut her hair and donate it to the Locks of Love organization.
“Everyone needs help sooner or later,” Cynthia Billmeyer said. “We all can do something like give food to the food pantry.”
Jill Miller said she was touched by a boy who couldn’t afford a present for the birthday party but was so excited to donate two cans of soup.
She said she is proud of her son, but added what Caleb did was not unique or special.
“We try to build Christ in our children’s hearts,” Jill Miller said. “We all can be generous at heart.”
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