A local 5th-grader is doing her part to support those in need.

Aleah Johnson, a student at Irmo Elementary, decided that instead of receiving presents for her birthday she would collect food to give to the Harvest Hope Food Bank.

It is a mission that she started 4 years ago. She came up with the idea after talking to her grandmother about families who don’t have enough to eat.

“This process started as Aleah wanted to help others,” Irmo Elementary principal Shannon Fincannon said. “She saw a need and took action.”

“Aleah is just a bright light to all that she meets. We always talk about servant leadership at Irmo Elementary because that is what we believe in. She has put that style of leadership into perfect action.”

Aleah and her family advertise the food drive through fliers distributed throughout the community.

This year they donated 1,196 pounds of food.

“I made a promise to this world that I would help others, and I am not going to stop,” Johnson said.

“This is going to keep happening, and we are going to keep filling up trucks. I am going to reach China if I have to!”