10 year old carries on mother's legacy

REYNOLDS, Ind. (WLFI) - This past weekend, NewsChannel 18 brought you the story of a community showing their support  at a North White football game for White County resident Angie Van Voorst and her two year battle with cancer.

On Tuesday evening, Angie passed away leaving behind her daughter just one day before her tenth bithday.

Encouraged by her mother's strength, NeVaeh Van Voorst's birthday wish was not like any other 10-year-old's. As she blows out the candles, she makes her wish.

"My mom's a lot of my inspiration," NeVaeh Van Voorst said. "She was always a very nice lady and wanted to help people out. What I'm trying to do is help people who need food and don't have any."

"She wanted to collect food cans and other non-perishable items to help the other food pantries around the area," NeVaeh's Aunt Tammy Linback said.

As she looked at pictures and told stories of her mother, NeVaeh said the wish will help her carry on her mother's legacy of giving and caring.

She already has a good start as she showed off a very impressive pyramid of cans and other goods she's raised so far.

The Reynolds fire department wants to help make her wish come true in an even bigger way.

They will be collecting cans this weekend during their annual chicken fry at the Reynolds festival for NeVaeh to donate to local food pantries in honor of her mother.

"Angie has to be looking down on us right now and be extremely proud of what her daughter is doing," Reynolds Fire Chief Chad Dahlenburg said. "It's something that I think she instilled in her, her whole family instilled in her and it's obviously shining through in some of the darkest moments that she's having."

If you'd like to get involved and help NeVaeh's wish come true, you can donate canned goods and other non perishable items to the Reynolds fire department this Saturday, Sept. 8, during the Reynolds festival.

Fire Chief Chad Dahlenburg said you can drop off donations from 6:30 a.m. 11:00 p.m. at the fire station.

Donations will earn you a dollar off the chicken fry dinner.