Gentry spends her birthday collecting for food bank

MARYSVILLE — Last year, Fallyn Gentry decided to celebrate her 10th birthday by asking her family and friends to give gifts to those facing greater needs then herself, and her birthday party at the Marysville Community Food Bank generated 459 pounds of food and an estimated $100 in cash for the local nonprofit charity.

By Kirk Boxleitner • March 20, 2014 5:03 am
Fallyn Gentry collects for the Marysville Community Food Bank at the Dues Produce Barn on March 15.
Fallyn Gentry collects for the Marysville Community Food Bank at the Dues Produce Barn on March 15.

MARYSVILLE — Last year, Fallyn Gentry decided to celebrate her 10th birthday by asking her family and friends to give gifts to those facing greater needs then herself, and her birthday party at the Marysville Community Food Bank generated 459 pounds of food and an estimated $100 in cash for the local nonprofit charity.

As Fallyn’s March 15 birthday rolled around again this year, this time on a Saturday, she decided to support the Food Bank by teaming up with the Dues Produce Barn in Marysville, where she collected food and money during its “Spring Fling” that day.

For her 11th birthday, Fallyn collected 209 pounds of food and $470 in cash donations, although her mom, Rhesa Gentry, pointed out that this was her daughter’s second donation drive for the Food Bank at Dues, since Fallyn collected 300 pounds of food and 37 toys at the local produce barn during the winter holidays last year.

“She’s always wanted to help others,” Rhesa Gentry said of Fallyn. “She doesn’t like being hungry, and she knows that others are going without food, so she thinks that’s wrong.”

Fallyn is already planning another food drive for the coming months, and expects to return to the Dues Produce Barn in March of 2015 for her 12th birthday.

“By now, we feel like members of the family of volunteers at the Marysville Community Food Bank,” Rhesa Gentry said. “We just wish we had more time to spend helping out there, but we still do so whenever our schedules allow us. Fallyn really wants to get in there and help out with all the work that goes into supporting the families in need in our community.”

Rhesa Gentry was especially effusive in thanking the Dues Produce Barn, and Becky Due in particular, for all their assistance and encouragement.

“Hopefully, Fallyn’s next drive at Dues will be loaded with local vegetables, so that those in need can have some fresh veggies,” Rhesa Gentry said. “Fallyn has always talked about wanting to help people of the world in any way she can. She has a big heart, and seems to think about others much more than most people. Her dad and I are very proud that Fallyn puts the needs of others before herself. I know neither of us were doing this kind of community service at her age. We will continue to encourage her to do great things.”