Anyone who knows me knows that I'm a fanatic when it comes to party planning, especially for my kid's birthday parties. Yes, I am one of those mothers. I choose a theme and go all out and over the top and I refuse to apologize for it! I love doing it and I enjoy treating our kids and our guests to a unique celebration.
That being said, I am also keenly aware that there are plenty of children in this world who do not have the means to celebrate their birthdays, even in a small way. I recently found an organization based in Seattle, WA called Child Haven. It is a non-profit organization that counsels, heals, and nurtures children who have been victims of severe neglect and abuse in a therapeutic setting. One of the volunteer opportunities they offer is to participate in the Brighter Birthday Program: basically supply a child's birthday wish list that they would otherwise not receive. It immediately spoke to me since birthdays are such important milestones to me, and it broke my heart to think of a child who would have nothing to mark his/her special day. I signed up as a sponsor and in a couple of days I was contacted by Child Haven with a wish list for a little girl who is turning 2 years old on September 29.
The wish list consisted of: 2 outfits (pants, tops, socks), a pair of shoes, a toy phone and a toy that plays music. Happily I put together the birthday gift.
I took Cruz shopping with me and he helped select the toys. I explained to him where they were going and that there are some kids whose mommies and daddies don't have money to buy them birthday presents, have a party or even have a cake. I told him that he is very lucky to not be in that situation because not everyone is as fortunate. Together we packaged the items and shipped them off to Seattle.
Although I will never meet this child, I am comforted knowing that even for one day, her 2nd birthday, she will get to feel like a normal kid and be celebrated as she deserves.
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