The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
Jonathon Naylor Editor He's not fat and jolly. He doesn't wear a red suit. And it will be years before he can grow a beard to tug on. But that isn't stopping little Kayden Rice from making the holidays a whole lot merrier for the Flin Flon area's less fortunate children. The benevolent seven-year-old has donated all the presents from his recent birthday party to the Salvation Army's Christmas gift program. 'I wanted to be the Santa for the kids who don't have any toys,' says Kayden with a straightforward innocence. Kayden held his birthday party on Dec. 8, just three days after his actual birthday. The following morning, the Ruth Betts Community School second-grader was at the Sally Ann to present the 14 toys he received. His generosity genuinely touched the church's Cpt. Krista Loder. 'I think it's great,' she says. 'I think the world could use more generous hearts that give out of their abundance to help somebody who doesn't have anything.' Among the gifts Kayden donated were a remote-controlled car, a Pok_mon action figure and a Tyrannosaurus rex that chomps down his teeth when a trigger is pulled. Since Kayden's birthday guests were told ahead of time the gifts would be donated to the needy, some girls' gifts were also included. Kayden has always been a generous kid, but his latest gesture particularly impressed mom Leeah Rice. 'I thought it was pretty awesome that a seven-year-old would do that,' she says. The gifts will be sent out, along with others donated to and purchased by the Salvation Army, this Friday and Saturday.
