Kids in homeless shelters celebrate happy birthdays
(The Patriot Ledger, December 11-12, 2004)

Karen Yahara felt more than ridiculous when, while volunteering at a homeless shelter, a little boy staying there told her his birthday was the next day. Yahara enthusiastically asked what he was going to do.

"The words were out before I realized he wasn't going to be doing anything," said Yahara, who lives in Waltham. "He was at a homeless shelter and his family didn't have money for cake or presents.

"And here I was, planning my son's birthday party six months out and going crazy."

Yahara and two friends, Lisa Vasiloff and Carol Zwanger, eventually created Birthday Wishes, a nonprofit organization that helps children in homeless shelters celebrate their birthdays, with the assistance of a private business coach, Marilyn Edelson. Volunteers travel once a month to local shelters with carton loads of juice boxes and cakes big enough to feed everyone at the shelter. All the birthday children receive gifts and balloons.

"When we first had the idea, we couldn't believe someone wasn't already doing it," Yahara said.

In the four years since Birthday Wishes was created, Yahara estimates 250 children a year in homeless shelters have celebrated their birthdays.

Every month volunteers get a list of children in shelters who have birthdays. Volunteers usually talk to the moms to help determine what their children would like and what they need.

Stephanie Maggiore, director of Mary's House, a family shelter in Waltham, said she is moved by the celebrations as she watches children and parents together.

"They've done birthdays for newborns up to teenagers, and even their parents," Maggiore said. "They show up with a cake and hats and party favors, the whole nine years."

"Maybe they'll give a gift certificate to Target or a calling card to an adult."

Yahara said the parties are morale boosters for all the residents staying in a shelter.

The organization works with up to 11 shelters in the area and is seeking to expand into the South Shore.

"A lot of our volunteers are from there and we know there's a need," Yahara said.

There's also a need for party supplies. The list includes:

Crayons, markers and colored pencils
Disposable helium tanks (sold at party stores)
Film — Polaroid 600 packs
Juice boxes

Birthday Wishes will pick up donations if necessary. To make a donation or for more information, call 781-891-4767 or see www.birthdaywishes.org.

© 2004, The Patriot Ledger.