Jessica Johnson | The News
Alex Chapman, 8, gives a Hershey’s Kiss to Amy Slate, owner of Scarlet Begonias. Alex’s mother, Leslie Scott, looks on.
Jessica Johnson | The News
After giving candy to the Mount Airy Museum of Regional History employees, Alex and her mother Leslie stops to admire the museum’s display of vintage valentines.
Alex Chapman, 8, called “Allie Bug” by her family, was asked by her mother, Leslie Scott, what she wanted for Valentine’s Day. Scott received her tax refund and wanted to let her three children decide what they wanted as a Valentine’s Day gift.
Most 8-year-old kids would only think of themselves, but Alex told her mother she wanted a bag of Hershey’s Kisses so she could pass them out to everyone in Mount Airy, wishing them a “Happy Valentine’s Day” and “God Bless.”
Scott, proudly describing her daughter as “a really sweet and special girl” said, “She never thinks of herself; she is always thinking of someone else and how she can help them.”
Alex’s older brother, age 10, wanted a Sylvester Stallone movie, and her oldest daughter, age 13, wanted a haircut, but “Allie Bug” wanted to “spread the love” by passing out the chocolates all around Mount Airy, including Mayberry Mall, downtown Mount Airy and Reeves Community Center.
According to Scott, Alex has always been a selfless person. Last year, the family took a trip to Great Wolf Lodge for Christmas and Alex won a jackpot in the arcade with a prize of 5,000 tickets. Instead of spending all the tickets on items for herself, she wanted her brother and her sister to pick out gifts first, then Alex chose something small with the remaining tickets.
Scott also said that right after Alex was born, she had open heart surgery. Her health is better now, but she and her family are thinking of and praying for Samantha Riggs, daughter of a family friend who is at Duke Children’s Hospital awaiting a heart transplant.
Yesterday afternoon, after Alex was picked up from school, her mother took her downtown to pass out the Hershey’s Kisses to everyone on the street and in the stores.
Alex was dressed in pink, with a special shirt she picked out just for the occasion. She carried a bag full of chocolate candy and had a huge smile on her face as she went into each store, wishing the owners and customers a “Happy Valentine’s Day,” much to the delight of everyone.
Amy Slate, owner of Scarlett Begonias, even gave Alex a gift of Valentine’s Day magnets because she was so touched by her giving spirit.
“We need more of this in the world,” said Alex’s mother, as Alex happily skipped on to the next store.
“She didn’t want anything for herself, she just wanted to make other people happy, and how could I turn that down?”
Reach Jessica Johnson at jessicajohnson@civitasmedia.com or 719-1933.
Post a Comment
