Six-year-old girl gives up birthday party to feed homeless

“It was nice to be nice,” says Armani Crews

Armani Crews, pictured in the tiara, sacrificed a birthday present to instead feed the homeless (Fox 32)

There were no balloons or ice cream at Armani Crews' sixth birthday, because the little girl decided she didn't want a party as she wanted to feed the homeless instead.

Taking the $300 (£245) they would have spent on her big day, her family bought food to hand out to those in need in her local Chicago community.

After Armani mentioned it at their family church, the congregation donated dozens more items to make up complete care packages. In total they fed 125 people.

“It was nice to be nice,” Armani told US broadcaster, ABC News.

Her mother Artesha Crews added that the youngster had been asking for months to be allowed feed the homeless.

Initially, she and her husband Antoine had thought that their little girl was joking.

But Armani had persisted and they had eventually allowed her to hand out some sandwiches.

This wasn't enough for her however and she had demanded they do the same thing on her birthday.

After Antoine had explained the she would have to forfeit a party and presents, she insisted they go ahead.

So the family purchased chicken, fish, spaghetti, corn, green beans, mashed potatoes, rolls, cake, cookies, fruit and water to hand out in the city’s East Garfield Park neighbourhood.

The care packages also included toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant and hand sanitiser.

More than half a million Americans are homeless, according to a Department of Housing and Urban Development report in 2015.