Bailey Windmann of Destrehan turns 10 years old on Sept. 24, and she’ll spend that morning in a very non-traditional birthday way – collecting coats.
“I knew that people were probably in need, and I didn’t really want to do a big birthday party because I’m getting older,” Bailey said. “I just don’t want a huge party. I want to do something for other people. It makes me feel good and it puts smile on my face.”
In exchange for a donation of a new or gently used coat, Bailey will be passing out cupcakes to everyone who comes to her birthday coat drive. All size coats are welcome, and the Coats for Cake event will take place from 9 to 11 a.m. in her driveway. Her home is located in the 2300 block of Ormond Boulevard.
Bailey’s mother Ellen Huguenel Windmann said her family has partnered with the non-profit organization Love Your Neighbor NOLA, who will use the donations for a coat distribution event in October.
“She feels no kid or adult should be cold in winter,” Ellen said. “Please help make this birthday wish even bigger than Bailey ever dreamed.”
In fact, the coat collecting has already begun. Bailey shared the idea with her principal, who then allowed her to present her birthday wish to her fifth-grade classmates at Ethel Schoeffner Elementary. The result has been 25 coats collected so far at the school and a school-wide drive that will end with the class that collects the most coats receiving a cupcake party. Ellen said outside of school the family has collected just over 100 coats so far.
Bailey’s idea to help others, Ellen said, is reassuring.
“She has a kind heart. We try our best raising her, and I know she has a lot of positive influences,” Ellen said. “It’s a good reflection of the folks that surround her. She leaves me speechless quite often at the things of she wants to do. She makes me very proud.”
To RSVP to the coat drive – and give Bailey an idea of how many cupcakes to have on hand – search for the Facebook event titled “Coats for Cake.”
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