Nine-year-old birthday boy distributes 363 pizzas to Louisiana flooding victims

Instead of gifts, cake and a party, Carson Boutte spent his ninth birthday distributing over 300 pizzas to locals in Lafayette, La.

The boy was jumping aboard the trending #FloodTheLove movement as neighbours and residents support those whose homes were damaged in the devastating floods that ravaged the state.

At least 13 people died in the flooding that caught southern Louisiana by surprise.

READ MORE: Search for living, dead: Louisiana fights back from flooding

Mom Lanie Boutte told local newspaper The Advertiser that it all started when she asked Carson what he wanted for his birthday.

“He said, ‘Really, I know all the poor people whose houses flooded. What I would really like to do is bring them lunch,’” she said.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "He said, 'Really, I know all the poor people whose houses flooded. What I would really like to do is bring them lunch,'" she said.

Lanie’s husband, Ross, suggested pizza and the family posted their plans on Facebook to see if any of their family members wanted to donate.

“What I’m more shocked about is how many people donated. We thought it was going to be just our family and whenever it got out through Facebook it just looked like the love wanted to be spread all over the area,” Ross told KATC.

READ MORE: Louisiana flooding forces more than 10,000 into shelters

By Saturday, 363 pizzas had been donated and Carson and his friends hit the streets to distribute the pies.

“We’re going to give them lunch so they don’t have to stop what they’re doing. We’re just going to deliver pizzas to neighbourhoods that have flooded,” said Carson.

Tweet This Click to share quote on Twitter: "We're going to give them lunch so they don't have to stop what they're doing. We're just going to deliver pizzas to neighbourhoods that have flooded," said Carson.

Some recipients were moved to tears by the act of kindness.

“For a nine-year-old to even think to help people – it’s amazing,” said Lacey Viator.

“It’s just so humbling especially in today’s time,” said Diane Armstrong. “You don’t see children that young who have such a big giving heart and that says a lot for Carson.”

Lanie Boutte said Carson is confused by the attention he’s receiving.

“He was confused because he said this was making him sound like a hero,” she said. “He didn’t understand why what he wanted to do was special.”

For his part, Carson said he was happy that he got his birthday wish.

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