Special Delivery

Jordyn Perez was about to turn 8 years old when her mom suggested a new way to celebrate her birthday. “What would you think about donating your gifts to a children’s hospital?” her mom said.

Jordyn wasn’t sure. She gave it some thought. “I was like, ‘Okay, that’s cool,’” she told TIME for Kids. “I already had everything I needed. And these kids that were going through things at the hospital—they needed it more than I did.”

Now Jordyn is a freshman in high school. She continues to bring joy to kids being treated for serious illnesses. In December, she made her eighth annual birthday-gift donation to Baptist Children’s Hospital. That’s in San Antonio, Texas.

DISTRIBUTING JOY Jordyn poses with a patient at Baptist Children’s Hospital in 2023.

“Just to see their little faces when she hands them the gifts, that’s always been our favorite part,” says Sondra Perez. She’s Jordyn’s mom. “Seeing their reactions just touches our heart.”

Caring for Kids

Kids can be in the hospital for lots of reasons. For instance, asthma is a top reason for younger children in the United States. It’s a condition that affects breathing. Whatever the patient’s illness, a hospital stay can be stressful. Efforts like Jordyn’s are a bright spot during a difficult time.

Jordyn’s gift drives kick off each year in November. She sends her friends invitations to her birthday party. The invitations list gift ideas for kids at the hospital. These include blocks and toy trains. “And for the teenagers,” Jordyn says, “it might be nail polish or books.”

Jordyn also shares the list with family, coaches, and teammates. (She plays volleyball and runs track.) The number of donations “grows every year,” she says. “We measure how much of the carpet it covers in our living room. Last year, it covered the entire carpet.”

GIFTS GALORE Jordyn shows off gifts that were donated to her drive in 2021.

Then it’s time to share the gifts with kids at the hospital. “Seeing other people’s happiness—that’s all that matters to me,” Jordyn says.

Do Good, Feel Good

Natalie Gutierrez works at Baptist Children’s Hospital. She has seen firsthand the effect of Jordyn’s gift-giving. “She puts smiles on the faces of these little patients in our hospital and on our nurses and staff,” Gutierrez says. “They are all amazed at her generosity.”

READY TO GO In December 2023, Jordyn’s pile of donated gifts is ready for patients at the hospital.

Jordyn has inspired others to follow in her footsteps. Friends have collected and donated gifts for their birthdays. Her 11-year-old twin sisters help animals by donating to the Humane Society.

“Giving to others, it’s just a good feeling to have at the end of the day,” Jordyn says. “I want to keep doing this as long as I can.”

Inspired?

Next month, we’ll feature kids who are speaking up for causes they care about. Could you be one of them? Click here for ideas on how you can promote civic engagement in your community.