Photo by RR Best
Nine-year-old Shalyn Hunter decided to instead of capitalize on her Christmas Eve birthday to donate her presents to the local Secret Santa group. Pictured, from left to right, are Sullivan police chief and Secret Santa organizer John Love, Hunter, and fellow Secret Santa organizer Janet Dirks along with a few of the gifts Hunter donated Sunday.

December 24, 2014

9-year-old donates gifts to Secret Santa

by Ariana Cherry

Arthur/Sullivan Reporter

For nine year-old gymnist, Shalyn Hunter, she just isn’t flexible with her gymnastics routines-she is also very flexible with what she is doing with her birthday presents this year. In fact, you could say, she was bending the rules when it comes to tradition.

“I wanted other kids that don’t have presents to have presents,” said Hunter.

“She’s always had a soft heart and has been sweet,” her mother Siovhan stated.

Hunter did something quite extraordinary with her birthday gifts this year. With her birthday being on Christmas Eve, she wanted to make a difference in other children’s lives for the holidays. Hunter asked that all her guests bring a gift for both girls and boys in the following age groups: two to four, four to six and six to eight. They hoped to collect at least 12 to 13 gifts total. After her birthday party celebration this past Sunday at the gymnastics academy that was to include plenty of tumbling tricks, they loaded all the gifts and delivered them to the Secret Santa Program in Sullivan. Hunter admitted to feeling a bit like Santa Claus because she, too, was delivering presents to children.

    Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.