Birthday Blessings filled nearly 100 requests from Bates, Benton, Henry and St. Clair County foster kids in 2024. Focusing on providing needed resources to kids in care, the non-profit will be holding an annual Birthday Bash Donor Match Event March 28-April 1. An anonymous business will match up to $5,000 in donations during this event.
“Our Birthday Bash is a huge opportunity for people to double their impact in the lives of at-risk children,” said Shannon VonAllmen, Executive Director of the 501(c)3 organization. “The cost of operations is increasing, and grant funding opportunities are decreasing. This event will help us continue to meet needs in the foster community.”
Last year Birthday Blessings filled more than 2,200 requests from kids in 30 Missouri counties. This included birthday party bags with gifts targeting physical and emotional needs, care packages for struggling teens, bedding sets, household goods, baby care items, graduation celebration bags and Easter baskets.
“Kids in care aren’t used to people doing special things for them. Many have never owned new items or received a gift of any kind. When we send new bedding to promote healthy sleep, we are also letting children know we value their existence. When we send a birthday party bag with supplies to bake a cake, we are letting kids know we celebrate them. Our donors become part of that support team.”
Birthday Blessings is supported in part by the Truman Lake Area Community Foundation. Warsaw Christian Church hosts a monthly volunteer event led by Marie Bowman that serves kids in the Truman Lake area.
To take advantage of this event, online donations can be made at birthday-blessings.org. Checks can be mailed to Birthday Blessings, 429 Aid Ave, West Plains MO 65775. For more information about this campaign or how to support foster children year-round, contact VonAllmen at (417) 372-5306.
