FREMONT — In 2019, Andrea Gibson and her husband welcomed two nieces and a nephew to their home for what they believe to be a two-week stay.
Three years later, the girls are still living with them and are now an integral part of their family. The unexpected but welcome addition to the family, which includes Gibson’s three birth children, opened Gibson’s eyes to the reality of children living apart from their parents.
She learned that these children sometimes come from families where they lacked normal life experiences like birthday parties, and that the relatives and foster parents who now care for them sometimes cannot afford the celebrations. As she planned her nieces’ very first birthday parties, she thought of the many children in relatives and foster families whose birthdays went unrecognized and uncelebrated.
Life has changed drastically
“I thought there must be a lot of kids who don’t celebrate birthdays and whose lives have changed drastically, and about the caregivers whose lives have changed drastically. These are people who want to bring the kids home but can’t afford it,” Gibson said.
At the time, Gibson was on the board of directors of Sandusky County Young Professionals, a group she co-founded in 2017. With the help of the group, she launched Giving Birthdays in January 2021. Giving Birthdays is a non-profit LLC that provides birthday boxes to relatives and foster parents ages 1 to 21. Each customized ‘Party in a Box’ is packaged in a tote bag or backpack and contains a cake, candles, icing, party plates, napkins, Happy Birthday banner and gifts selected from each child’s wish list. Recently, local resident Selina Muniz from Piñatas by Selina started donating pinatas for each crate.
Depending on their wishes, the young people receive toys, clothing, vouchers or other gifts. Older youth who are ready to age out of the care system are often given practical items such as towels, cutlery and cleaning supplies.
“We wanted to make sure the older kids have things they need when they start looking for a place to live,” Gibson said.
Cooperation with children’s charities
Gibson is working with Sandusky County Children’s Services in conjunction with family specialist Lisa Mullholand to distribute the birthday packages to local youth.
“Lisa works with all clerks. I give Lisa the boxes and she gives them to the social workers to take to the kids before their birthdays,” Gibson said. “It’s good for the children and a relief for the carers. Some of the young people are accommodated in residential groups. We must show them the greatest support. We need to let them know we want to see them thrive.”
Mullholand said gift giving on birthdays has a big impact on children and caregivers.
“I can’t tell you how lucky it is. Just seeing the faces of the children is wonderful. Andrea is the best. She makes sure the kids like the gifts,” Mullholand said. “The financial burden on the family is reduced and the children learn how important their birthdays are.”
Gibson provided 53 birthday boxes for Sandusky County youth in 2021. This year, she expanded the program to Wood County through a partnership with Wood County Children’s Services and has already provided 77 boxes. This means that 130 children, whose birthdays may have gone unnoticed, were celebrated with cake, decorations and gifts.
But Gibson needs help to keep the parties going.
Need sponsors
She is looking for individual and corporate sponsors to fund birthday boxes for children. Donors wishing to sponsor individual youth will be sent a wish list detailing the youth’s gender, age and gift preferences. The children’s identities are not shared.
If a donor does not wish to shop for the child, monetary donations are welcome and Gibson will do the shopping for them. The cost of sponsoring a birthday box is around $75-$100.
“The community has really gotten involved and helped, and we received a grant from the Sandusky County Community Foundation, but our funds are dwindling,” Gibson said.
Donations can be made by contacting Andrea Gibson at givebirthdays@gmail.com or through the Giving Birthdays Facebook, TikTok or Instagram accounts.
Contact correspondent Sheri Trusty at sheritrusty4@gmail.com.