Edmond Girl Donates Birthday Gifts To Youth Shelter

An Edmond second-grader is trying to make things better for a local shelter, two feet at a time.

Eight-year-old Kyra Jackson is an avid watcher of the Disney Channel. It was there that she saw a story about another girl who asked her friends to bring children's shoes to her birthday instead of presents. Jackson thought it was a great idea, and asked her mother Heather Spurlock if she would help her spread the word.

"Kyra saw that clip and said that she wanted to do that," Spurlock said. "But she wanted to keep the shoes in Oklahoma City."

Through a friend, Spurlock was put in touch with the Mid-Del Youth and Family Center Shelter, where shoes were desperately needed. Many children arrive at the shelter without shoes according to shelter director Gail Andrews.

"For someone to do something like this, it makes my heart flutter," said Andrews. "And a child? They can see other kids that need. I don't know what to say."

Kyra's generous act didn't surprise her mother at all. In fact, she would have been surprised if Kyra didn't react that way, she said.

"Kyra's very selfless, a very old soul I guess you would say," said Spurlock. "She is always thinking of others."

Kyra didn't waste any time helping the children with their shoes at the shelter, as soon as the boxes were opened, she helped to take off the tags and get the shoes on the children's feet.

There were a lot of smiles around the shelter Tuesday, but none as big as Kyra Jackson's.

"We raised a lot of shoes," said Jackson. "And it will help a lot of people."