A Viriginia children’s author gave north Jefferson County a touching gift while visiting Fultondale Elementary School for their annual Young Author’s Conference.

Kim Norman, author of “Crocodaddy,” “Jack of All Tails” and others, donated her approximately $900 appearance fee to local tornado relief.

Norman was originally scheduled to visit on May 6, but was pushed back because of the storms.

Sherri Wise, a Gardendale Red Cross volunteer that accepted the check from Norman, said the money will stay in the Fultondale area.

Norman was visiting for the school’s annual Young Author’s Conference, which includes a variety of literature activities based around the visiting author’s work.

The school used to attend the Young Author’s Conference at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, but the trip was a little expensive and some students couldn’t attend. The faculty decided three years ago to organize their own school-wide conference.