A young East Belfast boy has been praised after asking friends to bring donations for a local hostel to his birthday party instead of presents.
Harry McAlpin, who is due to turn 12 on July 26, made the gesture in order to support the Hosford Homeless Project run by the East Belfast Mission as he wanted to help others who are struggling or going through difficult times.
Speaking to Belfast live, Harry said that when he was planning his birthday party this year he felt that it would be a good idea to get everyone attending to create a supply pack for the hostel so that he could use the occasion to give others some support.
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He said: "When it comes round to Christmas or my birthday each year I always find myself thinking about what things I might actually want as a present because thankfully I have a very good life and there is not really anything that I really need.
"So I thought that it would be a good idea to ask people coming to my party this year to do something to help the Hosford Hostel instead of bringing presents that could end up sitting in the corner.
"All of my friends thought that it was a great idea and have said that it is something that they would do in the future too.
"In the end we managed to collect 26 packages full of toiletries and towels and I hope that they will be able to help everyone who needs the support at the hostel."
Harry's parents Jonathan and Mags McAlpin said that she was very proud of her son and that he has always been very kind and considerate of others and that he and his nine-year-old sister Amelia are always looking for ways that they can help people.
This includes buying food for the homeless, taking part in shoebox appeals and donating to worthwhile causes whenever they can.
Mags said: "I am very proud of Harry and the way that he is always looking to help others and treats everyone with such compassion. He has a wonderful sense of empathy and is very good at thinking about what it would be like for others going through tough times and wanting to help them.
"A lot of kids in his generation are very good at this and it is great to see our young people wanting to do what they can to help those who are vulnerable."
Brian Anderson from the East Belfast Mission said that Harry's kind donation was hugely appriciated and that they were all hugely impressed by his kindness.
He said: "Harry is a wee inspiration and you could tell how passionate he was about helping people when he came to the mission to drop off his donations. He knew exactly why he wanted to do it and we had a great conversation about his drive for helping others.
"You couldn't help but be impressed by him and I understand why others would rally around and support him.
"The donations will be very helpful for everyone here at the hostel, particularly as they have thought of some of the small details that can go along way in helping people that are sometimes forgotten about such as new toothbrushes and toothpaste.
"We would just like to say a big thank you to Harry and his friends for all of their support."
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