HANOVER COUNTY, Va. -- At an age when most boys and girls focus on themselves, Kiara Weatherless can’t stop thinking of others. Although the tiny tot stands just a few feet tall the pint-sized first grader walks around with a generous heart that is bigger than most.
“It made me feel really good,” says Kiara.
A few weeks ago, just days before her seventh birthday, she said wanted only one wish granted. No presents or Frozen dolls for her. The Hanover girl wants to stamp out hunger in her community.
“We have a hard time saying get something for yourself, but she says ‘no.’” She always wants to get something else for someone else,” says Maurice Weatherless.
“Instead of getting presents you should help people,” says Kiara.
“I was like, ‘WOW’. That is a great idea,” says Kiara’s mother, Hattie. “She said rather than get gifts and celebrate that is what I want to do this year.”
“Kiara is a special young lady.”
At Greater Nazarene Baptist’s small food pantry demand is up while supplies were down.
"So, Kiara requested cans from the congregation,” says Greater Nazarene’s Sunday School teacher, Almon Hall.
Kiara’s birthday wish came true. A flood of canned goods came pouring in. Ninety-two cans of food along with peanut butter and pasta.
“I wanted food for the pantry so that everyone that is poor can get their food,” says Kiara.
“I think that the lesson we can learn from Kiara is that not to be so self-centered,” says Hall.
Last year Kiara spearheaded a church fundraiser to help underprivileged children at the Children’s Home of Virginia Baptists in Chesterfield.
They say apples don’t fall far from the trees.
“I’m trying to show Kiara and I think a lot of parents need to do the same thing,” says Maurice Weatherless. “Do as I say do but also do as I do.”
Kiara as an infant
The spirit of selflessness runs deep in Kiara’s household.
“It does something for me to help another child or family. I just love it,” says Hattie Weatherless.
Her parents Hattie and Maurice have fostered eight children over the years. Kiara was the ninth they adopted months after she was born in 2008.
“When she came into our lives we couldn’t let her go. It was love at first sight,” says Maurice.
People who know her call Kiara an old soul. Beyond her years.
“She thinks of other people all of the time,” says Hattie.
To her parents, she really is the gift that keeps on giving.
“I know that with the heart she is going to get to make sure people are taken care of as she gets older. She will always look out for others.”
If you know of a person you would like to see featured in my “Heroes Among Us” segment email Greg McQuade, here.
