Birthday Blessings will hold their Annual Birthday Bash Campaign March 25-27th. This includes an open house at their building in West Plains on the 27th from 9 am – 3 pm. The 501c3 organization provides a variety of resources to foster children in 19 Missouri counties. In Southern Missouri, they serve kids in Carter, Douglas, Howell, Oregon, Shannon, Ozark and Wright Counties.
The organization strives to meet the emotional and physical needs of kids in care. They provide new duffel bags and backpacks, birthday party supplies and gifts, baskets of household goods for teens transitioning to independent living, graduation gifts, and seasonal loneliest child care packages for kids with no family or social ties. They also assist with special needs such as bedding, clothing or items that aren’t covered by other funding sources.
They do this by partnering with child advocacy organizations such as Children’s Divisions and Court Appointed Special Advocates. Staff at these organizations collect information about the needs of foster kids and send it to the non-profit. Birthday Blessings uses these details to put together tailored services for the kids, which they deliver to the advocacy agencies. Staff at the agencies deliver the resources to the kids.
Shawn Bentley is the 37th Circuit Children’s Division manager. She oversees kids in foster care from Carter, Howell, Oregon, and Shannon Counties. She has been working with children in foster care for more than 21 years. Over the course of her career, she has advocated for thousands of children and teens.
“Children in foster care are often traumatized and sometimes they lack joy or happiness. Sometimes our kids come to us and have never had a birthday celebrated. Birthday Blessings allows our children to be celebrated and makes them feel special,” Bentley said. “It allows them to have a birthday with presents, cake, candles, matching cups and plates.”
“We had one youth come into care on the day of their birthday and they didn’t even realize it was their birthday, because their birthday was never celebrated. Can you imagine having that happen on your birthday, but not even knowing it was your birthday? Birthday Blessings stepped up right away and that kiddo had their first celebrated birthday. The child felt joy, love, and felt special,” she added.
Vickie Witthaus has been volunteering with Birthday Blessings for three years. She serves on their ‘wrapping crew’ and sponsored last year’s match event. This year she will offer another dollar-for-dollar match for donations made, up to a total of $5000.
“It’s heartbreaking to know some kids have never known the joy of their own birthday present. Every child is special. Every child deserves to be treated and feel like they are the most important child on earth and will be cared for in that manner. The charity takes time to give them that individual attention,” the sponsor said.
“Volunteers even make sure the bows are at the top of each gift to ensure it looks like new, even though it has been transported! The goal is for the birthday boy or girl to open a perfectly wrapped gift in their favorite-colored paper. That sends the message that they are special!” Witthaus added. “It’s comforting to know there is something like Birthday Blessings making a difference, filling a need for the children in foster care. They are providing a service that lets the child know people truly care about special events such as a birthday or graduation.”
“For the most part, we all have choices on how we spend our money. What can be more rewarding than to know that maybe I had something to do with a child having the best birthday ever? I get to feel good that I made a child feel important,” she finished.
Shannon VonAllmen, who started the organization in 2013, said they expect to serve a record number of kids in 2021 as the number of children entering the foster system is on the rise.
“There are more than 14,000 kids in the Missouri foster system. Obviously, we can’t serve them all. We have a waiting list of counties throughout the state requesting services. We always do our best to reach as many kids as we can,” the executive director said.
“The Annual Birthday Bash is a wonderful opportunity to demonstrate compassion for vulnerable children. You can double the impact of your donated dollars during this event.” VonAllmen said.
There are several ways to make a tax-deductible donation. Donations can be mailed to Birthday Blessings, 429 Aid Ave, West Plains MO 65775. Their Facebook page has a link to their website at www.birthday-blessings.org, which has online payment options. For more information, call 417-372-5306.
