DUNMORE -- Instead of receiving gifts for her birthday, a young girl from Pike County decided to use her special day to give a present to state police.
Nine-year-old Taylor Mercereau of Greentown donated more than $400 to the Pennsylvania State Police Camp Cadet program at the state police barracks in Dunmore on Wednesday.
Taylor's mother says the state police feel like family to them since their uncle, who was a state trooper, was killed.
"Because my mom's Uncle Joe was killed in the line of duty and also I want to go to Camp Cadet when I'm older and I wanted to donate to them," said Taylor Mercereau.
"It was for her ninth birthday. She asked instead of gifts could her friends donate to Camp Cadet and we raised $415. Some of her friends were kind enough to give her a gift, too, which is really sweet," said Jennifer Mercereau, her mother.
Taylor has used her birthday to donate to other organizations including area animal shelters.