A young Zanesville boy turned what’s typically a day of receiving for most 9-year-olds into a day of giving this week. 

For his ninth birthday, James McCandlish didn’t want his friends and family to bring gifts to his party. 

Instead, the third-grader at John McIntire Elementary School asked for canned goods so he could donate it to the local food pantry, Christ’s Table. 

“I’ve had so many birthdays, tons of different toys, and I don’t really need tons of stuff because I’ve got tons of stuff,” said McCandlish I was thinking of different things, what I can do, instead of getting presents, and I thought of doing it for Christ’s Table, and I told people to bring food for Christ’s Table, and that’s what I did.”

McCandlish became familiar with the organization after volunteering to serve meals at the Downtown Zanesville facility with his church, First Christian Church.

“I try to go every single month, not just the one where every single kid goes,” said McCandlish. “I like to do it because I like helping people, and I think it’s a really good idea, so I just like to do it, and it’s fun. I like to wait people.”

When McCandlish heard his charity of choice was running low on food, he took it to heart without even telling his mother of his own plans.

Christina McCandlish said she heard second-hand from a friend who had been asking him what she could get him for his birthday. 

“She was like, alright, last chance. What do you want? And that’s when he was like, you know what? You could just bring canned food for Christ’s Table,” said McCandlish’s mother. 

That request left McCandlish’s friends and family with questions.

“They asked, ‘why are you doing this?’ And a couple of grown-ups were like… they were kind of curious why I did this, and I told them why,” said McCandlish. “I told them that they can come and volunteer with me.”

McCandlish’s mother wasn’t as surprised by her son’s birthday wish the way some of their friends were because it’s just his nature. 

“He’s the kid that when somebody doesn’t have someone to play with, he’ll go play with them,” said Christina McCandlish. “James has volunteered at the Miracle League and been Tyler’s (James’ friend) buddy and pushes him around bases in his wheelchair for like the past four years.”

When guests arrived to McCandlish’s party over the weekend, they fulfilled his wish.

“I loved it, and I was super grateful that a lot of people brung food, like my friend gave like these really big canned green beans and corn from Sam’s Club, and my other friend cleaned out their cabinet, and my grandma and grandpa got some like fruits and vegetables, canned food, and I got tons of canned food and tons of stuff,” said McCandlish.

McCandlish said receiving canned food for his birthday was just as good as presents. 

When he delivered his collection to Christ’s Table on his birthday Tuesday, the gesture was well-received. 

“They said that is wonderful, and they kept saying thank you, thank you,” said McCandlish. 

Candi Jones, the office manager at Christ’s Table, said the organization appreciates the donation which will provide meals for strangers McCandlish doesn’t even know. 

“It’s warming to see the youth being so active in the community and knowing that there’s a greater need, and he put the needs of others over his own wants,” said Jones. “It’s just very heartwarming to know that our youth are learning to give back at an early age.”

McCandlish’s generosity doesn’t stop with his birthday. 

He is already making plans with his school to organize a food drive and fundraiser for Christ’s Table this fall. 

“I’m thinking of the whole school, it doesn’t have to be everybody, but some people can bring in money and food or whatever they want to bring,” said McCandlish. “Whatever class gets the most stuff will win a pizza party or something.”

Although nothing has been solidified, McCandlish has already been in contact with his principal, school PTO, Domino’s Pizza and Christ’s Table.