The Story of the Birthday Bag

 She didn’t know how to get involved. Volunteering was risky. Once she said yes, then what else? She liked the women and enjoyed being around them. Listening to them talk, I saw that they had ideas like hers. Or at least as they talked about what they were doing, she had many of the same thoughts. Smiling, she walked away as the clock told her to do the next thing on her list. She learned more weekly, listening intently to conversations that she wouldn’t mind becoming a part of. Still hesitant, she’d leave, making no commitment

Living in a community where agriculture was a way of life, there were many families making a modest living. Social services were also an integral part of the community. They needed these services to survive because their money just wouldn’t stretch that far. This was evident in their shopping carts.

Wandering through the aisles one afternoon she couldn’t help but notice a mother looking at items for a child’s birthday party. The mother was struggling with her composure. She ran into the same woman in the toy section. As she watched the mother pick up a toy, checked the price, and then return it to the shelf. Again, with tears in her eyes she pushed her cart away from the area. Not in the budget for her child. Dried beans, canned vegetables, milk, and bread were the only items in her cart.

That scene left the woman empty. This must have been the nudge she needed. Just couldn’t shake the image as she went to sleep that night. She began thinking, “what if?”

Sunday came around and again she found herself listening to that group of women and deciding she had nothing to lose, so she shared her story. One of the women asked her if she was available and could they have coffee and talk about it. “Yes” came out of her mouth before the woman had finished. They met, well actually, when she got to the coffee shop there were three women there ready to listen. So, they schemed about the “what if’s” of the situation. Along the way, she was invited to a UWF meeting so she could share her idea.

It happened to be a business meeting which gave her a sense of what this group was all about, and it was a comfortable fit. When it got to new business, she presented her idea. By the look on their faces, they were ready to run with it. So, this is how the whole idea started.

One of the UWF there had a connection with the local food bank. The plan was hatched. A call went out. “We need cake mixes, frosting, candles, napkins, plates, cups, a modest toy or two, balloons, maybe a table covering, and a large gift bag to hold the items.”

Two weeks later, on a Saturday morning, this was the program. Assemble “birthday bags” for children. As the women arrived at the meeting with sacks of items, the assembly line began. Through a lot of laughter, 30 bags were created for children ages 4-10.

Monday morning the woman delivered the bags to the food bank. The workers were excited about this wonderful addition to their stock. Pictures were taken, hugs given, and bags distributed to mothers who could not have honored their child on their special day.

Stell Wallace, Vice-President
PNW Conference
United Women in Faith