A fourth grade Central student brightened the holiday for almost 70 nursing home residents when she decided to nab all of the tags off area Angel Trees and purchase Christmas gifts. For her kind act, she was rewarded with a gift of her own at Kewanee Care this week.
Kinsleigh Finin, 10, said that the idea to purchase gifts for residents in area nursing homes came about after she joined her school’s K-Kids club.
“I joined K-Kids and we’re doing all these good deeds, so I wanted to make my own good deed by filling tags,” said Kinsleigh.
With the help of her mom, Christie Burnett, and her grandma, Madeline Yordy, who baked and delivered cookies, Kinsleigh held a bake sale the first weekend of December that raised over $1150.
Her mother said that the amount raised wasn’t quite enough to purchase gifts for all of the 69 residents, so she put out a social media post asking for donations and raised close to another $500.
There is money left over for next year, Christie said.
One nursing home employee, Julie Johnson, marketing liaison, said she was so touched by Kinsleigh’s generosity, that she felt that Kinsleigh should be recognized and wanted to get her a gift as well.
On Tuesday, nursing home staff presented the 10-year-old with a gift basket filled with candy, toys and other items they felt she would like.
“It’s a blessing for us,” said Julie. “It just makes you realize the holiday spirit is out here and people want to give back to others. We are very grateful to her.”
