ADAMS TWP — Charity begins in the heart, even if that heart has only been beating for six years.

Lisa Vactor of Adams Township said she and her family watched the movie “Letters to God” a few weeks ago, and the sad ending in which a child dies of cancer significantly affected her young son, Ethan, 6.

She said the movie character wrote letters to God every day and was teased and picked on at school because his treatments had caused him to lose his hair.

“Ethan was so upset,” Lisa Vactor said. “He just couldn't comprehend it. The next day, he said he wanted to do something to make (children with cancer) happy.”

Ethan called Vactor Family Chiropractic in Seven Fields, which is owned and operated by his father, Michael.

He spoke to the office manager, Theresa Olin.

“He was so upset,” Olin said. “He wanted to make the children happy, not sad.”

She suggested a toy drive, which Ethan embraced with an adultlike fervor.

Olin and the Vactors contacted UPMC Children's Hospital in Pittsburgh with the idea, and Ethan's Toy Drive was born.

Olin explained that new, unwrapped toys can be dropped off at Vactor Family Chiropractic or at the Starbucks in Cranberry Commons. Items for children ranging in age from infants to teens will be accepted.

Toys brought in by students will also be collected at Ethan's school, Mars Primary Center, from Dec. 3 to 6.

Primary Center Principal Elizabeth McMahon called Ethan, a “primary center kindergartner and little boy with a big heart and great idea.”

McMahon said it is very common for young children to have a giving spirit.

“At this age, it is in their nature to help,” McMahon said, “whether it's taking the attendance to the office or helping other children. It's nice to see they're always willing to help.”

Come Dec. 9, the toys will be gathered and taken by the Vactors to the Child Life Department at UPMC Children's, where they will be wrapped and distributed among the hospital's young cancer patients.

Olin and the Vactors were shocked and horrified to learn that when the toy drive began, UPMC Children's Hospital had 275 youths in the cancer care ward. They hope to collect enough toys to give a gift to each child in the hospital being treated for cancer.

Olin stressed that donated items need not be expensive toys. She said coloring books and markers from the dollar store would go a long way toward easing the burden of a sick child.

Gift cards also will be accepted, as will monetary donations. The latter can be dropped off at Vactor Family Chiropractic or mailed there to Dr. Michael Vactor, 673 Castle Creek Drive Ext., Suite 106, Seven Fields, PA 16046. Checks can be made out to Ethan's Toy Drive or UPMC-Children's Child Life Department.

Olin remains amazed at her shy young friend's determination to raise the spirits of children stricken by cancer, and she feels his new charitable attitude will continue.

“This is going to change Ethan's life when he sees that one 6-year-old kid can make a difference, and he's going to keep going,” Olin said.

Ethan's mother said while he's a rough-and-tumble boy, Ethan has always had a big heart. She said Ethan and his sister have already bought one toy each for the drive.

“It has made a mother proud that he wanted to do something like this,” Vactor said.

Asked his motives for the toy drive, Ethan sums his efforts up easily.

“I want to make the kids happy.”

Those interested in more information on Ethan's Toy Drive can call Vactor Family Chiropractic at 724-742-2700.