Selfless 10-year-old is 'Rockin' the House'

Most ordinary 10-year-old boys spend their free time playing video games, goofing off on the Internet or watching television. They need to be told to wash their hands, or clean their rooms or quit picking on their sister. Most ordinary 10-year-old-boys can't even spell the word "selfless," let alone practice it on a daily basis.

Riley Moran is no ordinary 10-year-old boy. 

When the Ridgeview Elementary School fifth-grader was 8, he listened to a sermon at church about using your gifts to help others and announced to his parents that he wanted to open a soup kitchen. He didn't mean when he grows up. He meant right then, on that very day.

Riley's mom and dad, Andy and Barbra Moran of Peoria, were touched but had to say no to the soup kitchen, at least for the time being.

"I told him that was a very ambitious goal, but not likely to happen right away," said Barbra Moran. "But he insisted, so we called around to various charities in the area to see if he could do something to help them out. None were interested because he was so young."

Barbra and Riley then contacted Neighborhood House in Peoria and to their surprise the leaders there said yes.

"Riley is just an extraordinary child," said Amy Jansen, interim executive director for Neighborhood House. "We first met him two years ago, when he was 8 years old. Not only is that unusual, but I can't think of anyone that young who has done what Riley has done."

Riley started out hand decorating lids for the meal containers used by Neighborhood House's Meals on Wheels program, which delivers nutritious meals to elderly shut-ins.

"He did a fantastic job," Jansen said. "Our seniors absolutely loved them. They were just charmed."

"I'm really fortunate," Riley said. "And it made me feel good to help. But I wanted to do more."

So he did. Within months, he had helped organize an annual toy drive at Christmas to help needy children. But that didn't feel like enough, either.

"He's the most passionate person I have ever met," Jansen said. "And yet he's so quiet and soft spoken. He's a very special boy."

Riley and his mom had been doing ballroom dance for a couple of years and last year Riley had an idea. "I wanted to do a charity dance competition. It sounded like it would be fun."

So he organized the first Rockin' the House Family Dance Party at the Northminster Presbyterian Church gymnasium. It raised $1,700 for Neighborhood House.

He currently is working hard on the second annual "Rockin' the House Family House Party." His goal this year is $2,000.

While his parents do help, the responsibilities are all Riley's.

"We write letters to each vendor, such as bakeries and restaurants and stores, asking for their help in providing food and items for our raffles. Riley takes the letters personally and delivers them. It's his responsibility to do the work," Barbra Moran said.

"Mom drives me," Riley adds solemnly, "because I can't drive yet."

Clearly one doesn't have to drive to go places. Riley spends more than 10 hours a week volunteering. Jansen estimates the child has donated more than 160 hours of his time to the agency over the past year. He is working several hours a week on this year's dance competition, provided he gets his homework done first.

Riley must know what he's doing, judging by this year's raffle prizes. They include an American Doll basket with accessories, three Nintendo DS 3D baskets that includes three games and a case, "A week with no cooking" featuring gift certificates from various Peoria-area restaurants, a gift certificate from Pottstown Deli and Meats, and much more.

"Honestly, there might not be another child in the country that does what Riley Moran does," Jansen said. "He's one of a kind."

Want to meet Riley and his family? All you have to do is show up.

The second annual Rockin' the House Family Dance Party will be from 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Saturday, March 23, at Northminster Presbyterian Church, 10720 N. Knoxville Ave., Peoria. Entertainment will include a competition of all manner of dance, salsa lessons by Ed and Beverly Caballero, Flynn's Irish Dancers and the Flag Team from Dunlap Middle School. Audience members will select the winner of the competition by voting with their spare change.

All ages are welcome. Tickets are $5 in advance and $7 at the door. Desserts and beverages will be served. All proceeds benefit Neighborhood House. For tickets, please email rockinthehouse2013@yahoo.com.

About the Author

Terry Towery is a novelist, political hack, former union boss and newspaper editor. He’s also a treasure hunter. He might also be a pirate. We’re not sure. But there are two things we are sure about: 1) he’s cynical in the most awesome way, and 2) he’s married to the cutest roller derby skater you’ll find anywhere.