If your family is like mine, you spend a lot of money on birthday gifts for friends' kids. I'm sure most kids do what ours do -- play with the gifts for a month or so then throw them into the toy basket.

So I was intrigued when I heard how brothers Jackson and William Oakley of North Raleigh are celebrating their combined birthday next month. Instead of gifts, guests have been asked to bring supplies for dogs and cats. The kids will donate the supplies to the SPCA of Wake County.

I asked Jackson, 6, why he is doing this, and he said: "So the poor dogs that don't have any food and they may die and I'm going to give them some food because I have lots of toys."

It was their mom Elaine's idea, but she said the boys readily agreed. "I thought it was nice that two young kids are willing to give up presents for a cause," she said.

Well, most presents; William, 5, described his motivations just as eloquently as his brother, then added: "But we're going to have some presents at home."

Mom and Dad are giving them gifts. Kids will be kids.

Still, it's nice to use a party as a lesson in altruism. And it's even nicer for it to produce more than just a few more toys.