For the last five years or so, Lynnea Montgomery has been saving her pennies to give to the homeless.
She’s 7.
This fall, she donated $313.50 to Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church’s homeless ministry — money scrimped from allowances and birthdays to buy socks, hats, mittens and hand sanitizer.
The church packed those essentials with others — snacks, hygiene items and even dog food — to hand out at a park on Thanksgiving morning.
All of it is important, Lynnea says. Even the dog food.
“Just imagine how sad,” says Lynnea, a second-grader at Christ Community Church's Family Life Academy. “What if they don’t have a lot of family near them and can’t really see and care for them, and they care for their dog a lot and that’s a part of their life, and if the dog isn’t healthy and passes away, imagine how sad they have already been, and that just makes them sadder.”
That is Lynnea’s heart — one of compassion.
The church put together about 300 packs this year, and this wasn't the first year Lynnea helped with the distribution.
“I feel like others are needy,” Lynnea says. “We’re not needy because we are rich as in we’re rich in God, so I know everything will come to me as God pleases, and I want that to come to others, and so I wanted to help others.”
Vivian Montgomery, who is Lynnea's grandmother by birth but adopted the girl with her husband, says Lynnea has always had a volunteer’s heart. That’s why Vivian and her husband, Randy Montgomery, began encouraging Lynnea to save her money for a good cause. They have raised her as their daughter since the beginning, Randy says.
“We would see people on the corner and she would tell Papa, ‘Why can’t we stop?’ and he would explain to her that we donate to things every year where those people can go if they need help, but she didn’t like that,” Vivian says. “She wants to give it to them right there and then on the streets, and she still does … That’s why she started the savings."
After using Lynnea’s money to purchase the necessary items, the church brought everything back for her and her family to prepare. Socks needed pairing and tags needed removing.
“She did it all by herself,” Vivian says. “The lady brought it for us to help her, but she didn’t allow us to help. She wanted to do it by herself, so she did.”
Not that she loved all of it. Pairing the socks “felt like torture,” she says, groaning.
She has a big heart, but she's still 7.
Earlier this year, the church honored her as Youth of the Month. For her donation to the homeless ministry, the church presented her with an Outstanding Volunteer Award.
"She's like a little missionary to me," says the Rev. Amos Lewis, senior pastor of Rising Star Missionary Baptist Church. "She is selfless and always thinking about others and has a servant's heart and a good spirit. When we gave her the award, she was like, 'What is this for?'"
It was a church leadership team that nominated Lynnea for the Outstanding Volunteer Award in the youth category, Lewis says.
“We’re trying to teach her to be a more grateful person, and letting her be a part of everything and not treating her like she’s a kid,” Vivian says.
“But I am a kid!” Lynnea interjects.
“And stay a kid as long as you can, because there’s no going back,” Randy counters.
Vivian continues.
“Most kids are like ‘I want to go play or do something else,’ but she just loved being part of it with the women’s group. She just hangs out and becomes part of the Bible study. I didn’t know she would be so embracing of everything.”
And when Vivian says everything, she means everything.
At church, Lynnea participates in two kinds of dance — step and praise dance — as well as drama and the children’s choir. Most of it culminated with a Christmas performance. That's a lot of rehearsals.
“As soon as the holidays are over, we’re like, ‘Thank you,’” Lynnea says. “Lord have mercy.”
“That’s in addition to school and taekwondo,” Randy adds.
“I’m a green belt. Been doing it a little over a year,” Lynnea says.
“She’s good, too,” Vivian says.
“Really good,” Lynnea adds.
“Now singing?” Vivian says.
“Eh,” Randy replies, laughing as Lynnea leans across the kitchen counter toward him, voice rising.
“Oh my goodness, Papa! I can’t believe you betrayed me!”
Now all three are laughing.
“It’s all about your heart and what your intention is,” Randy says, delighted by his daughter’s mock fury. “The Bible says make a joyful noise!” He throws his hands up. “It’s all in fun, baby.”
When the holidays end, so too will all of the rehearsals. But Lynnea’s generosity isn’t going anywhere.
“I finally get to help people,” she says. “I’m not too young.”
Actually, she never has been, Vivian says.
“When she was little, she loved being carried in a basket,” Vivian adds. “She would sing and clap, and I would look at her and say, ‘This one is different.’”
About this series
These stories feature Tucsonans 25 and younger who make us hopeful about the future.
