For a child, celebrating a birthday usually means a party, a cake, and most importantly presents.

Two local boys however, saw their birthday as a chance to help out some needy people with a donation to the Ironton City Welfare Mission.

Tanner Fraley and Tyson Harvey of Ironton are best friends who jointly celebrated their fifth birthday this past Saturday. They also showed they have hearts much bigger than what their 60 pound frames would suggest.

“We were cleaning out Tanner’s room and he just had so many toys,” said Shana Fraley, Tanner’s mother. “I asked him if he really needed anymore toys?”

Tanner’s answer was no, but he and Tyson still wanted to ask for something for their birthday. That’s when the boys got an idea, spurred by a canned food drive going on at Sharon Baptist Church, the pair decided that they should ask for food on their birthdays.

“We asked people to bring us cans of food instead of presents,” said Tanner smiling as he and Tyson bounced around the parking lot of the City Mission. “Then we brought it here so they could give it to the hungry people.”

Most 5 year olds wouldn’t dream of giving up a birthday present, let alone be happy doing it. Tanner and Tyson, however, seemed genuinely excited to be able to help underprivileged families in Lawrence County with their donation.

“It makes me feel good,” Tyson said emphatically. “I feel good that I can help people.”