Grayslake 5-Year-Old Chooses Charity Donations Over Birthday Gifts

Mitchell McCall's birthday celebration at Uniquely Sweet in Grayslake Sunday afternoon was, at first glance, much like any other.

The 5-year-old and his friends—many of whom wore green for St. Patrick's Day—put on aprons and stood at tables to make chocolate pizza. They used their hands to flatten crispy rice cereal treats onto plates, spread chocolate onto the crispy rice cereal and then add candy as the toppings.

What made Mitchell's party special, though, was that instead of receiving gifts from his guests, Mitchell collected items for Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Services.

"He's just so kind and loving," said Mitchell's mom, Meghan, of Grayslake. "He gives hugs to everybody."

Mitchell is intrinsically a giving person, she said. Mitchell, who is in the pre-k program at the Intergenerational Day Center at Condell Medical Center, recently donated the $102 from his piggy bank to the hospital's Pediatric Alternatives in Creative Therapy (PACT) program. For his birthday last year, he collected art supplies for Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, where he underwent surgeries.

"He just cares so much about other people," said Meghan.

Meghan said she was a young mom who received services like parenting classes and counseling from Tri-County Pregnancy and Parenting Services in Grayslake, so collecting items for the organization was important. Guests were asked to bring along items like new or gently-used toys and books to donate to the organization.

She added: "It's better to give to others who do need it."