Fresno State student Jasmine Castillo has an unusual plan for her 21st birthday.

Instead of receiving gifts and going out with her friends, Castillo hopes to raise funds for the Poverello House in Fresno to help those less fortunate on her birthday, April 13.

“Every year on my birthday people would ask me what I want, and I would say I don’t need anything,” Castillo said.

“Since I don’t need anything, why not help those who need something?”

Castillo’s original plan was to go to different restaurants and collect free meals for her birthday. She wanted to take the meals and donate them to Poverello House.

“But then, as I spoke to my co-worker, she suggested it would be best to buy things like toiletries — something they actually need,” Castillo said.

With only a few weeks before her birthday, Castillo set up an account on gofundme.com hoping to raise money for toiletry items, which she will purchase and deliver in person to the Poverello House on her special day.

Her goal was raise to at least $150, but Castillo has already raised $350.

Castillo said donations of toiletries can also be dropped off at the Jan and Bud Richter Center for Community Engagement and Service Learning in Thomas Administration Building Room 107.

Her funding account can be found at http://www.gofundme.com/jazbirthdaywish. She expects to receive donations through her birthday.