My daughter Jordan Chappelle, a 27-year-old single mother, is teaching her 4-year-old son Levi that giving is better than receiving.

In lieu of gifts for his birthday in October, he does a fundraiser for a local community. At 2 years old, he donated $600 to the New London Firefighters Burn Foundation; at 3, he gave $800 to the same organization.

This year, she chose a donation that he could be more involved in, so together as a family we will be making 150 “Blessing Bags” that my grandson will distribute to the less fortunate at the New London Community Meal Center sometime after his birthday.

At this point we are requesting donations from people and business and raising money to buy essentials for the bags.

Among the items requested are travel-size toothbrushes, toothpaste, floss, shampoo, body wash, deodorants, Band-Aids, baby wipes, tissues, female hygiene products, combs, hand warmers, gloves, hats, socks, scarves and first-aid kits.

So far Levi has dropped the fundraiser letter at Sheffield Industries, hoping to get toothpaste donated. He also stopped at the Holiday Inn where the front desk manager was very receptive and told him to stop by to get a donation of individual toiletries. He will be going to other hotels in the New London/Groton area as well.

To contribute, email Jordan at jchappelle23@gmail.com or Judi at jcox3131@gmail.com.

Judi Cox is a loan specialist for the City of New London Office of Development and Planning.

Kindness in Real Life is a regular feature in which we encourage writers to tell about kind acts being done in the community. To submit your own story, email Lee Howard at l.howard@theday.com.