A birthday ‘party’ honors girl’s father

Fredericksburg | Cathy Dyson
Tori Gregory has big plans for her 12th birthday: food, toys, clothes, rental of a community center.

While there will be some sort of celebration noting the day she came into the world, most of the items brought to her “party” will be for other people.

Tori, who lives in the Partlow area of Spotsylvania County, is planning an event called HOPE, or “Helping Out People Every way.”

Her mother has rented the Berkeley Community Center on Sunday, Aug. 18, and Tori hopes to spend the whole dayâ€"before her 12th birthdayâ€"collecting items for needy people.

She’s trying to get the word out early to encourage others to help.

“I realized I do have a lot, and some kids don’t have as much,” said Tori, who just finished sixth grade at Post Oak Middle School.

Tori has celebrated each of the last five birthdays doing something to help others. She’s also put out collection jars for groups such as the Wounded Warriors or the Children’s Miracle Network at school and church.

Lisa Wollenberg, a youth leader at New Hope Baptist Church in Orange County, which Tori’s family attends, said Tori is always helping with the children’s church and nursery.

“She’s one of the sweetest little girls I know,” Wollenberg said.

Tori’s mother, Helen Dobbins, said Tori has always been the kind of kid who thinks of others.

Her father was the same way.

Albert “Buddy” Gregory died in a car crash in November 2001, when Tori was only 3 months old. He hadn’t registered to be an organ donor, but had mentioned it repeatedly in his last days. After his death, his wife and father signed the paperwork to donate his organs.
______________________________________________________ 
"You have the power to SAVE lives." 
To register as a donor in California: 
www.donateLIFEcalifornia.org | www.doneVIDAcalifornia.org 
Outside California: 
www.organdonor.gov | www.donatelife.net

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