Saturday, Nov. 07, 2009

Kennewick girl donates birthday presents to SARC

By Dalina Castellanos, Herald staff writer

RICHLAND -- For most 6-year-olds, the card accompanying a birthday gift is an afterthought.

For Amiah Desgranges, it's all she's going to keep.

Clutching a hand-drawn card from her friend Sophia, Amiah's face lit up when she saw Sophia's drawing, paying little attention to the gently used gift that came with it.

Cuddly teddy bears, Piglets and Care Bears all sat in a pile, mostly used and unwrapped, on a table at Smoovies in Richland during the Kennewick girl's birthday party Friday.

The pile of toys soon will have a new home at the Sexual Assault Response Center in Kennewick, per Amiah's request.

"God has blessed her so much and she has enough toys that she wanted to give to others," said her mother, Cathy Desgranges of Kennewick.

Desgranges said she encouraged Amiah, who attends Liberty Christian School in Kennewick, to donate to SARC in the past at different holidays, but "it's not only Christmas and Easter when the kids need (toys)."

The center takes in about 400 victims of sexual abuse each year, 50 percent of whom are children under 12, said JoDee Garretson, executive director of SARC.

"Every child that comes in here, we give them a stuffed animal or blanket," Garretson said. "Their memory of being here can be more positive because they have those items."

Desgranges said she hopes the toys provide the children with "something to hug and talk to."

"It takes a lot of strength to be at one of those places," Desgranges said as tears welled up in her eyes. "(The toys will) let them know that someone who cares about them."

With limited resources and holidays just around the corner, Garretson said the gifts are very helpful.

And the energetic 5- and 6-year-olds at the party were happy to help.

Heather Larsen of Pasco said it was nice to bring a donation instead of a present.

Larsen's 5-year-old daughter Faith understands the value of donating to others, as does her classmate Ashton Simmons.

"(Ashton) still wonders if the turtleneck she gave to the mission keeps its new owner warm," said her mom, Andrea Simmons of Kennewick.

Amiah, seated in front of a Rock Band 2 drum set at Smoovies, said she wasn't going to miss the presents. She even has another pile ready to donate back at home.

Though the suggestion for the birthday gifts might have been her mother's idea, Amiah had the final say.

"I know that it's the right thing to do," Amiah said.

-- Dalina Castellanos: 509-582-1542; dcastellanos@tricityherald.com