Isabella Rose Miller’s 6th birthday party was held Saturday at MOO-Ville in its play area and petting zoo. A large festive birthday cake with best wishes for a happy birthday and two kinds of ice cream waited on the table to be served when the kids had tried out the playground equipment and talked to the animals.
The gift table was full with teddy bears and stuffed animals, large and small, some colorful, others the traditional teddy bear brown. They weren’t for the birthday girl. Isabella had asked the children who attended her party not to bring her gifts, but to bring a stuffed animal to donate to the Barry County Sheriff’s Office, Plainwell EMS Ambulance and Prairieville and Plainwell fire departments.
The daughter of Bud and Kimberly Miller from Plainwell, and first grader at Delton Kellogg Elementary, Isabella said she got the idea when riding in the car and talking with her mother.
“We’re giving them to the police and ambulances and fire departments to give to kids when they are in danger. Kids are scared then, and they need a bear to snuggle,” she said.
“She loves the idea of giving back to the community,” mom said.
Before the cake was cut and ice cream served, EMT Susan Brunsink thanked Isabelle and the children for the animals that would comfort kids in trauma, gave her a stuffed animal and invited her to ride in their ambulance during the next community parade. Mom and dad did put in a few regular gifts for Isabella. “She has to have something to open,” dad said.
Photos: (upper left) Isabelle Miller shows one of the teddy bears that will be given to a child in distress.
(middle right) Susan Brunsink, EMT with Plainwell Area EMT, thanks Isabella Miller for giving up birthday gifts for stuffed animals for emergency services workers to give to children.
(middle left) Isabella Miller gets a kiss from mom Kimberly Miller at Isabella’s 6th birthday party.
(right) The stuffed animals will be given to children to snuggle when they are frightened.
