He isn’t asking for gifts — he’s giving them!

On Chicago’s South Side, 8-year-old Alex Anning is proving that kindness and leadership don’t have to wait for adulthood. This young boy has turned what could have been a typical birthday party into a mission of generosity and community care.

Instead of unwrapping toys or blowing out candles, Alex decided to use his special day to feed others. He’s organizing a food drive to help 150 families in need, showing that compassion truly knows no age limit.

According to ABC7 Chicago, Alex’s idea came after he saw a man experiencing homelessness while out with his mother. The sight stayed with him for days. “He kept asking if there was something we could do,” said his mom, Kymbria Young, recalling how her son’s empathy quickly became action.

Alex later learned about Armani Crews, a Chicago kindergartener who made headlines in 2017 for using her 6th birthday to feed the homeless (CBS News). Inspired by Armani’s example, Alex told his mother, “I want to do what she did.” That single sentence sparked an entire movement of giving.

Partnering with the Chicago-based nonprofit Season to Soar, Alex’s food drive is set to take place on Saturday, November 1, from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. at Carrie Jacobs Bond Elementary School (7050 S. May St). The organization, known for empowering youth and families through service initiatives, has praised Alex for embodying its mission.

Families attending the drive will receive free grocery bags filled with meat, pasta, bread, and dessert — everyday staples that can mean the world to those struggling with food insecurity. “His compassion shows that anyone, no matter their age, can make a difference,” said Young in a statement reported by Good Morning America.

While Alex’s birthday might not come with presents, balloons, or a party, it comes with something far more lasting — the joy of giving and the warmth of community. In his eyes, the best gift is knowing that 150 families won’t go hungry that weekend.

Community leaders have taken notice, too. Local teachers and volunteers are calling Alex’s initiative a “beacon of hope” for Chicago’s South Side, an area that has long faced economic challenges. “When children like Alex lead with heart, it reminds us what humanity looks like,” said one volunteer from Season to Soar.

Alex’s story echoes a growing national trend of young changemakers stepping up to address social issues — from food insecurity to environmental care. As USA Today recently noted, “Generation Alpha is already redefining what activism looks like, often focusing on empathy-driven action at the community level.”

So this year, instead of toys, Alex is unwrapping gratitude — and teaching everyone that joy doesn’t just come from receiving. It grows when we give it away.

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This is what it looks like when the next generation leads with love.