This 9-Year-Old Collected 400 Pounds Of Food For The Needy For Thanksgiving

This 9-Year-Old Collected 400 Pounds Of Food For The Needy For Thanksgiving

Giving back has become a hobby for Gunner Robinson.

The 9-year-old from Wilmington, North Carolina, has collected 401 pounds of nonperishable food items for those in need, his mother, Kristi, told The Huffington Post. Wanting to help families put food on the table for Thanksgiving, Gunner began collecting the items on Oct. 13, according to WECT News.

Gunner amassed the donations by reaching out to friends and family, Kristi's work colleagues and the family's church community. All but 15 of the 401 pounds of items have been donated to a soup kitchen and food banks, Kristi told HuffPost on Monday, noting the rest will be given soon.

(Story continues below)
gunner robinsongunner robinsongunner robinson food drive

Kristi said her son simply wants everyone to have what he has.

"He says his favorite part of the holiday season is when all [of] his family gets together for the big meal," she wrote on a Facebook page garnering donations from people wanting to help her son's mission. "He hopes other families now will get that same opportunity."

The Facebook group, Gunner's Runners, launched this summer, when Gunner asked others to donate shoes for kids who may need them instead of receiving birthday gifts. He collected more than 400 pairs, CNN reported.

For Christmas, Kristi told HuffPost that Gunner plans to "adopt an angel" by choosing a child in need to provide presents to for the holiday.

To stay in touch with Gunner's progress or donate to his cause, visit the Gunner's Runners page on Facebook.

Before You Go

16
Roasted/Puréed Squash
Every year pureed squash finds its way to the table, and every year it is the last one picked for the team.
15
Green Bean Casserole
If green bean casserole were made with fresh green beans and a homemade cream sauce -- keep the Funions -- this dish might be something to talk about. But at its current state -- with limp beans and canned soup -- it's not worth the precious and limited real estate in your stomach on Thanksgiving Day.
14
Jellied Cranberry Sauce
Lew Robertson via Getty Images
We know people eat this stuff, but we still don't understand why.
13
Dinner Rolls
Ian O'Leary via Getty Images
Any other day of the year, dinner rolls rock. But when there's stuffing on the table -- which there had better be -- dinner rolls immediately become superfluous.
12
Creamed (Or Glazed) Onions
Heath Robbins via Getty Images
Onions are great. Cream is great. But these creamed onions are just messing up the mojo of all the other Thanksgiving sides.
11
Rice Dressing/Casseroles
This dish wants to be stuffing, but it will never hold a candle to America's favorite Thanksgiving side.
10
Cornbread
Dorling Kindersley via Getty Images
Even if you're not celebrating Thanksgiving in the South, cornbread is a welcome addition to the line up of sides.
9
Creamed Corn
Foodie Crush
If you don't already make creamed corn for Thanksgiving, this is the year you try it. This stuff is goood.
8
Potato Gratin
Annabelle Breakey via Getty Images
Yes and yes. Even if mashed potatoes are on the table.
7
Biscuits
Lauri Patterson via Getty Images
There has never been, nor will there ever be, a meal where biscuits are not appropriate.
6
Brussels Sprouts
If there's going to be something green at Thanksgiving, it had better be Brussels sprouts.
5
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
It's true, no one every really gets all that excited about cranberry sauce. And you can never eat more than a few spoonfuls. BUT, without cranberry sauce -- fresh cranberry sauce -- the integrity of the entire Thanksgiving meal would be compromised. Also, the sandwich you make with leftovers the next day would completely fall flat.
4
Mashed Potatoes
Cal Crary via Getty Images
Mashed potatoes are a must. No question.
3
Sweet Potato Casserole
There is no other time of year that you get to eat marshmallows on top of your vegetables. This is GLORIOUS. Eat seconds.
2
Gravy
beyhan yazar via Getty Images
MMMmmmmhmmmmm. When you pour gravy on top of your fully-loaded Thanksgiving plate, it makes all the other sides even better. We owe everything to gravy.
1
Stuffing
Stuffing IS Thanksgiving. End of story.

Popular in the Community

Close

What's Hot