Instead of birthday gifts, Chester student wants others to donate to food pantry

<span>CHESTER -- Carson Dunn will turn 10 years old on Feb. 18.</span>

<span>While that milestone normally doesn't result in headlines, what he is choosing to do with his birthday is making news. </span>

<span>The St. Mary's Catholic Grade School fourth grader wants people to donate to the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry instead of giving him gifts.</span>

<span>"I think it's great that he's wanting to do this," said Todd Dunn, Carson's father. "Any father would be proud of his son wanting to to help out someone less fortunate than himself.</span>

<span>"You don't know how good you've got it when you've got a meal in front of you and a lot of people don't have that opportunity."</span>

<span>Family members say Carson is a naturally giving person and they have "never seen him be selfish."</span>

<span>"Right after Christmas, Carson told his family he already knew what he wanted for his birthday," said his stepmother, Beth Dunn. "He said 'I just want everybody who was going to give me presents to donate to the food pantry.'"</span>

<span>Family members say Carson got the inspiration for his good deed from The Rev. Gene Wojcik at St. Mary's.</span>

<span>"Carson said 'I remember Father Gene talking about ways to make a difference and things they can do selflessly,'" Todd Dunn said.</span>

<span>For Carson, his goal with this initiative is simple.</span>

<span>"So the people who cannot eat can have some food," he said.</span>

<span>"He would rather give than receive and he's got such a generous heart," Beth said. "It's so nice to see that."</span>

<span>Bob Koenegstein, director of the Chester Area Christian Food Pantry, is appreciative of the gesture.</span>

<span>"Whenever you have a child who sees the apparent need in the community to give back, it's simply a wonderful thing," he said. "On behalf of the food pantry, we're very thankful."</span>

<span>The Chester Area Christian Food Pantry opened on May 2, 2007 and has seen its community participation grow significantly in the past eight years.</span>

<span>"When we first started, we were 90 percent USDA and 10 percent community," Koenegstein said. "During these last eight years, it's developed to where we're 85 percent community and 15 percent government.</span>

<span>"The community makes this pantry."</span>

In addition to Carson's gesture, his older sister, Autumn Dunn, will be donating her hair to Locks of Love sometime in the next four or five months.