As Tatumn Norcross, 9, attempted to compile a birthday list of things she might want for her upcoming 10th birthday, she struggled for ideas.

“I kept looking around my room and thinking I have too much stuff,” Norcross said. “I couldn’t think of anything to ask for so I decided it was probably because I don’t really need anything.”

Norcross decided instead of going through the normal birthday routine of asking for gifts from her friends that might attend her birthday party, she wanted to ask everyone to bring a donation to a local charity.

Norcross mentioned the idea to her mom, Denise Norcross, who was surprised to hear her daughter came up with the idea.

“She (Tatumn) came and told me she didn’t want any birthday presents this year so instead she wanted her friends to bring something she could donate,” Denise Norcross said. “I was surprised she had that idea because we had never talked about anything like that before, but I agreed to help her find a way to locate a charity and we went from there.”

Denise said she has always thought Care Net Pregnancy Resource Center of Chilton County, Inc. was important and suggested Tatumn invite her friends to donate items the organization might need.

Both Denise and Tatumn made “mustache” invitations inviting friends to “comb on over” to the Southern Country Skating Rink in Clanton on May 11 but instead of presents, asked everyone to bring donations for Care Net.

Care Net is a non-profit, Christian organization that ministers to women and families facing difficult decisions brought on by unplanned pregnancies.

Care Net found out Tatumn planned to have donations from her friends for the organization and Executive Director Susan Scott wrote Tatumn a letter thanking her for the idea and provided a list of items the organization could use.

Some of the items included copy paper, baby lotion, postage stamps, baby wash and bottled water.

Although Tatumn admits she thinks the suggestion for her birthday party is “really not a big deal,” her mom can’t help but be proud of her daughter’s decision.

“It made my heart warm,” Denise said. “It was a good reminder that she is being raised right because she is looking at others instead of herself.”

Tatumn is excited about her birthday party and hopes her friends will enjoy the idea of bringing something for Care Net instead of bringing a present for her to open.

When asked why she chose a mustache theme for her party Tatumn simply responded, “because they are cool.”

For more information about Care Net of Chilton County, call (205) 755-6767.