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Rapids City boy forsakes birthday gifts, gives to needy

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By Tom Saul | Wednesday, August 29, 2007 |

Walter Eggers, 9, counts money that was concealed in a tissue box as friend Madison Haskins helps on Sunday during his birthday party. (Contributed photo)

For his ninth birthday party Sunday, Walter Eggers of Rapids City, Ill., probably could have made out pretty well for himself.

But, after reading a newspaper headline and having a talk with his mom, instead of raking in gifts from his friends, the young boy asked that they donate money to help pay for meals for the area’s hungry.

Sunday’s party collected $175, all of which will be donated to Kings Harvest, a food ministry at 824 W. 3rd St., Davenport. It offers sack lunches twice a week to the needy, including many who were served by the former Cafe John Lewis, which closed Aug. 14. The ministry also serves a Saturday breakfast.

“Some people don’t get food and things like we get,” the boy said. “This will help buy lunches for people who can’t afford to buy their own.”

The idea came to him as he and his mother, Mary Beth Eggers, discussed what he should do for his first birthday party with friends, Mary Beth Eggers said. Walter’s initial idea was to simply accept gifts. Then she reminded him about the newspaper headline and article he had read, she said.

“It said, ‘What would Walter do?’ ” Mary Beth Eggers said of an Aug. 12 editorial in the uad-City Times that referred to the late Dr. Walter Neiswanger, who quietly gave financial support to John Lewis. “It was kind of a gentle reminder, and then he told me he wanted to do the sandwiches for the needy.”

Walter is an only child, and he wants for very little, his mother said. She is involved in charitable work and, as he has grown up, she has tried to take him along to meetings and events. He was also inspired by acquaintances who held a party to raise money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

“I think that planted the seed,” Eggers said.

Walter is expected to deliver the money today, when he will also volunteer and eat lunch with those who go to Kings Harvest for the noon meal, his mother said.

Terri Gleize, of Kings Harvest, said the money will be used to buy food to continue offering noon meals on Wednesdays and Fridays.

Tom Saul can be contacted at (563) 383-2453 or tsaul@qctimes.com.

HOW TO HELP

Kings Harvest food ministry provides sack lunches from noon to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays and Fridays at 824 W. 3rd St., Davenport. For more information about donating food, money or time, call Terri Gleize at (563) 570-4536.