Girl builds 'birthday boxes' after learning classmates couldn't afford to celebrate their own birthdays
A 9-year-old girl is working hard to ensure that none of her classmates miss a birthday celebration.
Two years ago, Bella Smith, a third-grade student at Wyan-Pine Grove Elementary School in Kentucky, launched "Bella's Boxes."
Bella started the project after a fellow student told her that his family couldn't afford to have a party for him, Smith's mom, Marlana Evans, told "Good Morning America."
"The school she attends is a Title 1 school, which means 80% of the population here is impoverished -- so we have students that struggle with a lot of things," said Evans, who teaches at Bella's school.
Evans said that Wyan-Pine has a backpack club which sends home to students that need it. Bella fills her "birthday boxes" with cake mix, balloons, icing, sprinkles and distributes them through the school's Family Resource Center.
Bella receives all supplies through donations from community members. For her own birthday, March 26, she requests birthday box donations instead of gifts.
"I'm extremely proud of her," Evans said. "She's a very good girl with a big heart."
Bella has packed 65 birthday boxes this year and is still going.
"I thank God for the opportunity for letting me be able to shine my light and show that I love my neighbor," Bella told "GMA."
