SPARTA, Mich. — This holiday season, a 9-year-old girl in Sparta is spreading joy far beyond her years. Finleigh Barnick, a third grader, has raised more than $1,000 to help children in need through the Toys for Tots program. But her journey to giving back started with a simple idea: To make sure no child goes without a Christmas gift.
"It makes my heart really happy when I know that other kids are happy when they get something they might deserve, because sometimes Santa misses kids," Finleigh said. "And I know that sometimes he's gonna need help."
Finleigh's inspiration to help others comes from her family. She’s been involved in the Toys for Tots drive for at least two years, following in the footsteps of her cousins and older sister, who started participating in the program eight years ago. This year, Finleigh set a personal goal of raising $1,000 to buy toys for local children.
To reach her goal, Finleigh collected and returned pop cans throughout the year, using the money to fund her mission. She also received donations from family and friends, ultimately surpassing her target.
“When I got in the car after school, my parents told me we were going shopping for Toys for Tots," Finleigh recalled. "I asked, 'How much more do I need to get to 1,000?' And my mom said, 'We don’t need any more.' I was like, 'Wait, we’re over 1,000?' I was so excited!”
In total, Finleigh collected 85 toys, which she personally delivered to the Toys for Tots drive at the Sparta Chevy dealership. The volunteers who helped load the donations were amazed by her effort.
“We went to her house, picked up the toys, took two vehicles to get them back here, and Finleigh told us what she had done. I was astonished. It’s the selflessness this little girl has,” said Gary Waybill, Used Cars Sales Manager.
Looking ahead, Finleigh’s goal for next year has already grown. "Next year, my goal is $1,200,” she said. "If I reach it, my family is going to give me some extra money to buy even more toys."
Finleigh is quick to credit her success to the support of her friends and family, who helped make her dream a reality.
“I couldn’t have done it without them,” she said. "I’m so grateful to give back this holiday season."
Finleigh’s heartwarming story is a reminder that kindness can come from anyone, regardless of age. As Christmas approaches, her efforts ensure that even more children will have a reason to smile.