This time of year people tend to be a little more giving, spreading some holiday cheer but for 11-year-old Sha'Miyae Hinton-Knight that's something she does all year round. She focuses on giving back to the people of Baltimore City through her charity, Gifted Hearts.
"It's important because people don't really have anything," said Hinton-Knight. She's been shopping for gifts for children in the city to give away on Saturday, December 19. Every year she does this Christmas gift giveaway partnering withLet's Thrive Baltimore. This year she's also linked up with R.I.C.H Foundation.
"We expanded this year because we understood about the pandemic and we understand that not everybody can afford and people lost their jobs," said Sherwanda Knight, Sha'Miyae's mom. She's been helping Sha'Miyae bring her vision to reality over the years.
Sherwanda said, "she’s trying to make a difference in a city that no one, pretty much everyone gave up on so I’m excited for a child to come to you and say mom this is what I want to do but didn’t know how to start it."
Sha'Miyae started Gifted Hearts three years ago, when she was just eight-year-old. "I do liturgical dancing at the churches and they give me a donation. I spend it towards the people who’ve lost their parents through violence and children in Baltimore City."
That's what her charity started as and that's her focus but she is constantly doing different things for the community. Last time WMAR-2 News caught up with her she was giving homemade sandwiches to homeless in the city. When we asked her why she continues to spend her time helping others... she said, "because I wanna make people happy."
If you want a gift for your child, there are two pickup locations in the city on Saturday, December 19. 2401 Bel Air Road from 2 p.m. until 5 p.m. and 1916 North Payson Street from 4-7. Your child does have to be there to get the gift but everything is wrapped so they can still wait until Christmas to open it!