For her sixth birthday, asked her friends not to give her presents, but instead to bring donations for the Cornelius Animal Shelter to her party. She collected items such as food, toys, trash bags, blankets and treats, as well as monetary donations.

Grace, a Kindergarten student at Cornelius Elementary School, collected 200 pounds of donated items and $100 for the shelter. Grace got a tour of the facility when she and her family dropped off the donations.