Rigby girl helps orphanage for birthday, wants your help

Do you remember when you turned 6 years old?

Did you want a pony, Matchbox cars, or a Barbie doll?

A little girl from Rigby would rather trade in her birthday presents to help other little girls in need.

“I’m doing a service project,” said birthday girl Mayci Bigelow, whoturns 6 on Aug. 4.

She’s excited for her birthday, but this year’s she’s celebrating in a different way.

“I found out that girls didn’t have any shoes, and it made me sad,” said Mayci.

Mayci is helping out a girl’s orphanage in Ecuador. The school requires dress shoes for the girls who want to attend. The girls also need undergarments and necklaces.

Ecuador is a long way from Rigby, but the Bigelows found an upper valley man who’s lending a helping hand.

“We found Travis Gugelman up in Rexburg, who takes multiple trips to Ecuador,” said Jessie Bigelow, the birthday girl’s mom. “He does photography, and he takes trips to Ecuador several times a year and brings supplies and helps fundraise. So we joined forces with him, and he’s going to take the shoes and actually hand deliver them.”

Mayci’s goal is to collect 100 pairs of shoes for the orphaned girls.

“I was just so proud of her,” said Jessie. “And the world is such a big place with so many people — it’s so important that my kids that they’re not the only ones here and that they need to take care of those around us.”

Even big brothers Campbell and Carter and little sister Bella are proud of their sister as well. They think Mayci can beat her goal.

“Five hundred,” said Campbell.

“One hundred fifty!” said Carter.

“Three hundred fifty!” said Bella.

But to reach her goal, Mayci is asking you to make her birthday wish come true.

“The orphanage really needs you, so could you bring a pair of shoes?” said Mayci.

If you would like to help Mayci, you can bring gently used or new uniform shoes, undergarments and necklaces to Bujonjos Pizza in Rigby until Aug. 4. And for donating items, Bujonjos of Rigby will give ice cream, because no birthday celebration should go without ice cream.