A seven-year-old girl is setting an example for her peers and parents by sharing her good fortune with children in need and is our inspiring Albertan this week.

Salem Keogh just had a birthday and wanted to do something a little different to celebrate.

She invited her friends to a party and asked them to bring presents that she could then use to pack shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child.

“I wanted to help kids in need so they would be happy,” said Salem.

Her mother Michelle says Salem showed her charitable side at a very early age.

“When she was two and she heard that there were kids in other parts of the world that didn’t have toys or a toothbrush or school supplies she dumped her piggy bank and was like I’m gonna fill four shoeboxes,” said Michelle.

Since then the number of shoeboxes has increased every year.

This year, Michelle thought maybe they should do 250 boxes but when she checked with Salem she was in for a surprise.

“Salem tell mommy, like how many do you really want to do? And then she said a hundred times a hundred and I was like, that's ten thousand, and she was like I know. And I’m like, oh my word, and I was a little overwhelmed at first but I knew I needed to encourage her.”

Salem’s dad, Patrick, says when he first heard the number he was a bit shocked too but he's inspired by his daughter's generosity.

“To be able to, you know, think of others when there's new things in front of you, again that's another thing that's very inspiring, her immediate focus is to help other kids that may not have it,” said Patrick.

Salem has taken to social media to help make her dream come true and there have been donations from as far away as France and Australia.

For her, it's all about sharing with those less fortunate. “Cause I don’t need so much toys and they should have toys too.”

For showing us all the true spirit of giving, Salem Keogh is our Inspiring Albertan this week.

For more information on Salem’s initiative, visit her Facebook page or website HERE.

(With files from Darrel Janz)