MCB HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- More than 70 teenagers attended the MCB Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay, base swimming pool-hosted "Sweet 16" birthday party Friday.
By the end of the party, though, the birthday girl had received no presents for herself.
The twist on this party was that 16-year-old Michelle Collins didn't want any presents. She asked for non-perishable items, toiletries, clothes, blankets and towels. Sounds like a strange wish list for a 16-year-old, but not so strange for the people who will be receiving these gifts.
Collins plans on turning over her birthday bounty to homeless families through the Institute for Human Services homeless shelter.
"I knew a big crowd would be coming to the party and I just didn't feel that I needed all those presents," she said.
Before her birthday, Collins went to her mother with an idea. She suggested that instead of asking for presents for herself, she would try to help the homeless.
She got in touch with her church leadership and they suggested three charities that would appreciate all the help she could give. Michelle contacted all three of them and decided to work with the Institute for Human Services. The agency expressed great interest in the opportunity and gratitude to Michelle for her thoughtfulness.
The party included a disc jockey, food catered by the Officers' Club, swimming and a lot of fun, according to Collins. "The party was really a lot of fun. It was awesome."
The guests kept pouring in to congratulate the birthday girl and give their gifts for the homeless.
By the end of the night, the gift table was overflowing. Presents were stacked on top of it, underneath it and all around it.
"The number of gifts the kids brought was incredible," said Michelle's mother, Cindy Collins.
The success of the party only goes to show that it doesn't take gifts to make a good birthday party, said Collins. Everyone had fun at the party and will feel better knowing they helped someone else.