Birthday Party Charity & A Memory

In the planning stages of Kat's recent 10th Birthday Party, she requested two activities. 1) A Scavenger Hunt in our yard for a "Pot of Gold" 2) A Door to Door Scavenger Hunt to collect items for needy children. (see next post for party details)

I told her I thought her that some of her guests were too young to go on a door to door activity. With a little thought, we had a plan that would still accomplish her desire to collect items for needy children.

In her invitation, we included a note stating "In celebration of Katherine's birthday, she would like to donate items to the Charity, "Wellington Cares", benefiting migrant children living in the Belle Glade area. If you would like to contribute, please bring new or used items in excellent condition. Items most needed at this time are, clothing, books, and school supplies."

She collected several huge bags and boxes full of donations. Enough to fill the entire back and back seat of my Suburban.

We determined that choosing a Charity to serve for each child's birthday will become standard in our family. As the girls get older, they may choose to not have guests bring a gift for them ( I hope). We may have a theme to collect socks, underwear, toothbrushes, etc. An activity at a birthday party for older children can be tying quilts, assembling school supply kits, hygiene kits, etc.

In a society where so many children have way toooo much stuff... there are still many who do not have much "stuff". We need to provide regular opportunities for our children who have so much to serve those who do not.

A quick memory....One I need to repeat!

About four years ago, my son Andrew headed up a major school supply collection in our community as his Eagle Scout Project. He did it "Scouting For Food" style, i.e. one Saturday hanging plastic grocery bags on doors with a note asking the resident to fill the bag with school supplies and place it on the doorstep the following Saturday. The next week, he organized a crew to return to the neighborhoods and collect the donations. The response was overwhelming. Thousands of supplies came in. He was able to take the supplies to a school in Belle Glade where the poverty is overwhelming. The school. which struggles at every level, gets a huge influx of migrant worker children in the winter.

Note to self....

As I was reminded of this project, I realize, I need to make sure it happens in my community again this year.