Kids and parents sometimes start planning birthday parties months in advance of a child’s special day, coming up with themes, decorations, activities, and guest lists.
For families living in shelters, however, celebrating a child on their birthday can be a challenge.
Chris Spahn and Shannon Avery are working to change that through their nonprofit Birthday Dreams. The organization has hosted birthday celebrations for nearly 17,000 children living in King, Pierce and Snohomish County shelters.
The idea for Birthday Dreams came in 2009, when Spahn and Avery were considering how they could better support children in their community. Birthdays were near and dear to both founders. In fact, Spahn, who believes all children deserve to be celebrated, had just planned a large party for her daughter that year. But while many organizations focused on giving Christmas gifts, no one was doing anything about birthdays.
The two began gathering in-kind donations from neighbors and friends, and putting together birthday party packages. They contacted local shelters and began reaching out to companies like Microsoft and Boeing to procure donations.
Today, Birthday Dreams partners with more than 80 shelters to make sure kids feel cherished on their big day, regardless of their family’s circumstances. Shelters can host one large party on site or throw their own festivities along with residents, with all the food and supplies provided by Birthday Dreams. Or, individual children may receive a “Birthday in a Box” — cake, decorations, party games, gifts, napkins, and plates, all around a theme chosen by the child.
Volunteers are a large part of making it all happen, from wrapping gifts to delivering parties.
Whenever possible, says Birthday Dreams Program Manager Robbie Green, “Our goal is to make sure that the parents can still be the hero. That is everything for a parent.”
For Green, the work of Birthday Dreams is personal. She was placed at Birthday Dreams in 2018 through the Department of Social and Health Services’ career pathways program, while her family was living in a shelter. When parents call, panicking about their circumstances, Green offers reassurance.
“We’re the village for people sometimes,” Green says. “We all have pretty much a story of utilizing the services prior to being an employee here, which helps us put the love back into the community.”
Learn more: visit birthdaydreams.org
