Long Valley Boy Celebrates Birthday by Giving to Food Pantry

It’s often better to give than receive, as the old adage goes, and Cole Wormann has proven that to be true.

The Old Farmers Road School student who recently ended his kindergarten year turned his summer birthday celebration into a community effort, helping others in need. 

Wormann’s birthday celebration at school was scheduled for the end of the year, and rather than engage in the traditional gift-giving – which includes a small gift for each of the birthday student’s classmates – Wormann brought that effort to the grocery store.

The soon-to-be first-grader bought one non perishable food item for each of the students in his class (25 total, including his teacher, teacher’s aides, and principal), and donated the goods to the Washington Township Food Pantry.

Wormann brought five boxes of pasta, five jars of sauce, five cans of tuna, five boxes of cereal, and five boxes of brownie mix to the food pantry. “The [food pantry] is a great organization that does A LOT of good things for our community. I hope you feel happy about supporting people in the area, and thank you for celebrating my 7th Birthday with me!” Wormann wrote in a letter to his classmates.

The donations couldn't come at a better time, as the food pantry often reaches critically low levels during the summer months. In its three-decade history, the pantry is currently aiding the most residents ever, with approximately 70 families registered for ongoing help.

While his birthday isn’t until August, Cole Wormann just helped a lot of his neighbors celebrate by lending a hand to the community.