Bryleigh Rushing, pictured here with her little sister Alyse was recently interviewed by Frenship Today, a local newspaper for the Lubbock Texas area. Although Bryleigh never was a Hill Country resident her Mom Brooke was for almost half her life before moving to the High Plains.

The following story was recently posted by Karen Michael on September 12th, 2013 at FrenshipToday.com.

Bryleigh Rushing has asked for donations for various causes for her birthdays in the past. This year, she chose to help other students.

Bryleigh, a third-grader at Crestview Elementary School, went to kindergarten three years ago at Willow Bend Elementary, where her mother was then a teacher. Brooke Rushing is now a stay-at-home mom.

Last year, Bryleigh asked the children invited to her birthday over the summer to bring items for the South Plains Food Bank. This year, she asked for school supplies to be donated to Willow Bend.

Willow Bend Principal Denise Stewart knows Bryleigh, having been assistant principal at Crestview until this year.

Although Bryleigh comes across as very quiet, Stewart said she is also “very sweet, very kind and very generous.”

Stewart said it is the first time in her own history as an educator that a student has foregone getting more toys for her birthday in order to obtain school supplies for other students.

“This is very unique. We loved it. I just thought, what a great act by her. What great character! She knew that she had plenty of toys and wanted to help others in need,” Stewart said.

Willow Bend always has students in need of school supplies, Stewart said.

Brooke Rushing said she called and asked if Crestview or Willow Bend would need school supplies, and she said she was told there was a greater need at Willow Bend.

As for Bryleigh, she said donating the school supplies made her “happy.”

“I wanted to help the kids who don’t have any,” she said.

She said she likes Crestview, but she also enjoyed her time as a kindergarten student at Willow Bend.