"C'mon everyone! Don't you want to help someone in need?"

The crowds of people walked on by, not listening to the tiny little girl in overalls with a santa hat on. She was clapping her hands, jumping up and down and shouting. Her and her mother were sitting outside of the grocery store, a small table covered in red felt. The edges were trimmed with white puffy cotton. There was a box in front of the table with a sign that said "Food Bank Donations" Minny was standing next to the box, trying to get people's attention. Minny's mother Maya was sitting behind the table with a clipboard and paper, ready to take stock of anything that is donated.

She had insisted that they start that very day after signing up. Since it was winter, and there weren't really any plants to take care of, her mother had agreed that there was enough free time to start.

Minny jumped up and down again, shouting "Help out the Food bank! Donate something today!" But still no one did more than cast a glance at the brown haired girl before walking into the store, or leaving toward their cars.

She sighed, puffing her bangs out of her way. Maya smiled and looked up from her book, saying "It's alright Minny. Sometimes people can't afford to help others." Minny stomped her foot, the white bauble on the end of the hat bouncing. She should be swimming in donations right now! Who can deny a kid?

Just then, her brother Joshua appeared from around the corner, carrying a bag with at least ten cans in it. Her mouth gaped as he put it in the box, grinning while his mother counted and recorded the peas, corn and soup cans. She asked where the people that donated were so that she could give them a receipt but Josh shook his head, saying that they didn't want one. "How did you do that!?" Minny complained loudly, looking at the lone bag in the box.

"It's all about how you ask." he said, winking. "Your a kid, you gotta be cute and they will give you stuff! And don't go for the ones leaving. They already bought stuff and they prolly didn't get extra."

Minny pondered this, shifting her weight from foot to foot. After a minute or two, a couple came up towards the store front. Minny walked up to them and looked up into their eyes, saying sweetly "Excuse me, I'm tryin to help people without homes have Christmas dinner. Can you help me?"

The woman's eyes warmed, and she looked at Minny then to her partner. He smiled and bent down, saying "Sure we can help. Just wait a few minutes till we are done shopping, ok? We'll grab a couple cans extra."

Minny jumped up and down, squealing. "Oh thank you!" before running back to her mom to tell her the good news. The couple walked inside and, true to their word, returned later with three cans, just for Minny. She put them lovingly into the box and waved to the couple, shouting "Merry Christmas!" after them. Then her gaze returned to the cans that were hers, and she smiled.

Three down, a zillion more to go!

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