--- title: My 5-Year-Old Feeds 85 Other Kids by Katie Kimball description: My 5-Year-Old Feeds 85 Other Kids by Katie Kimball --- [![catholic-mom-logo-v2](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/images/catholic-mom-logo-v2.svg "catholic-mom-logo-v2")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) [![search-icon](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/search-icon.svg)](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/07/28/my-5-year-old-feeds-85-other-kids-by-katie-kimball#) # My 5-Year-Old Feeds 85 Other Kids by Katie Kimball Jul 28, 2010 1:00:39 PM  |  by [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) What five-year-old doesn't love toys? My son is no exception, but he made us burst with pride when he accepted service over self-indulgence for his own birthday. **We actually told other kids not to bring presents.** Someone asked at my [last post](http://catholicmom.com/2010/07/14/why-my-5-year-old-had-no-toys-at-his-birthday-party-by-katie-kimball/) whose idea the act of service was, and if it was hard to convince our son. It was my idea, and we were careful and sensitive about how we brought it up. I wanted to show you the results of a birthday party with no toys: For my son's fifth birthday, we wanted to give him a "kids" party but didn't want to deal with all the toys he didn't need. He decided it would be okay to forego the toys and ask his friends to bring donations to a local organization, [Kids Food Basket](http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/). I used to work with KFB back when I taught third grade, and they've been providing sack dinners for schoolchildren who might not otherwise have their third square meal of the day for almost 10 years. The guests at the party brought cards for my son instead, and most of them went all out creating handmade masterpieces. ![](https://static.hsstatic.net/BlogImporterAssetsUI/ex/missing-image.png "birthdaypartyopeningcards") I don't think anyone missed the presents... [![birthday party sharing cards](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/birthdaypartysharingcards_thumb.jpg?width=516&height=388&name=birthdaypartysharingcards_thumb.jpg "birthday party sharing cards")](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/birthdaypartysharingcards.jpg) ...and yes, most of my son's friends are girls. He happens to like older women! I was blessed to know many Catholic friends having children around the same time as me, and most of them happened to have girls. He's grown up with these lovely ladies! Aren't birthday parties mostly about the playtime and the CAKE anyway? [![blowing out the candles](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/blowingoutthecandles_thumb.jpg?width=516&height=388&name=blowingoutthecandles_thumb.jpg "blowing out the candles")](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/blowingoutthecandles.jpg) [![Paul with food to donate](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Paulwithfoodtodonate_thumb.jpg?width=388&height=516&name=Paulwithfoodtodonate_thumb.jpg "Paul with food to donate")](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Imported_Blog_Media/Paulwithfoodtodonate.jpg) Here's his birthday "loot". We took him down to Kids Food Basket to donate the food himself, and we volunteered to help make sandwiches and pack some bags while we were there. It was the [best thing I did all week](http://catholicmom.com/2010/07/14/why-my-5-year-old-had-no-toys-at-his-birthday-party-by-katie-kimball/)! ***Copyright 2010 Katie Kimball*** ### Share this article [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F28%2Fmy-5-year-old-feeds-85-other-kids-by-katie-kimball%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F28%2Fmy-5-year-old-feeds-85-other-kids-by-katie-kimball%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F28%2Fmy-5-year-old-feeds-85-other-kids-by-katie-kimball%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=My%205-Year-Old%20Feeds%2085%20Other%20Kids%20by%20Katie%20Kimball) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F28%2Fmy-5-year-old-feeds-85-other-kids-by-katie-kimball%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.catholicmom.com%2Farticles%2F2010%2F07%2F28%2Fmy-5-year-old-feeds-85-other-kids-by-katie-kimball%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) ** #### About the Author ![Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/Profile%203.jpg) ### [Guest](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/author/guest) We welcome guest contributors who graciously volunteer their writing for our readers. Please support our guest writers by visiting their sites, purchasing their work, and leaving comments to thank them for sharing their gifts here on CatholicMom.com. To inquire about serving as a guest contributor, contact editor@CatholicMom.com. ## Related Blog Articles [ Why My 5-Year-Old had no Toys at his Birthday Party by Katie Kimball Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2010/07/14/why-my-5-year-old-had-no-toys-at-his-birthday-party-by-katie-kimball) [ How to Raise Kids to be Committed Christians Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2016/02/29/raise-kids-committed-christians) [ Respect Life by Katie Kimball Read ](https://www.catholicmom.com/articles/2009/09/23/respect-life-by-katie-kimball) ## Comments ## Donate now [![Support Catholic Mom](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/275132/10016573-1c5c-4aa5-baba-c2ac91fe7545) [![CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)](https://www.catholicmom.com/hs-fs/hubfs/CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png?width=1806&height=731&name=CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c%20(002).png "CatholicMom_hcfm_logo1_pos_871c_2728c (002)")](https://www.catholicmom.com/) ##### Subscribe to Catholic Momcast on iTunes or Spotify [![itunes-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/itunes-logo-black.svg)](https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/catholic-momcast/id1362352357)[![spotify-logo-black](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/logos/spotify-logo-black.svg)](https://open.spotify.com/show/15CoipHL7z61IDcYErV0b8?si=hqaQJSxDQgq7S1hxCwsoxQ) ##### CatholicMom on Social Networks [![facebook](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-facebook.svg)](http://www.facebook.com/CatholicMomCommunity) [![twitter](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-twitter.svg)](http://twitter.com/CatholicMomCom) [![instagram](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-instagram.svg)](http://instagram.com/catholicmomcommunity) [![youtube](https://www.catholicmom.com/hubfs/_catholicmom/icons/social-icon-youtube.svg)](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCAuUqHCVPDzyMgSMaMZxxug?view_as=subscriber) ##### About Catholic Mom [Who We Are](https://www.catholicmom.com/about-us) [Contact Us](https://www.catholicmom.com/contact) [Support CatholicMom.com](https://www.catholicmom.com/support-us)   ##### Associated Links [Holy Cross Family Ministries](https://www.hcfm.org/) [Family Rosary](https://www.familyrosary.org/) [Family Theater Productions](https://www.familytheater.org/) [Congregation of the Holy Cross](https://www.holycrossusa.org/) [Father Patrick Peyton, C.S.C.](https://www.fatherpeyton.org/) [The Peyton Institute for Domestic Church Life](https://www.peytonfamilyinstitute.org/) ### **Stay connected!** Don’t miss a thing! Sign up to receive our free daily digest email. Copyright © 2026 CatholicMom.com. All Rights Reserved.