Happy Birthday to you?

Happy Birthday to you?

Who remembers you?

JATC to the rescue!

It’s easy for us to provide toilet paper, personal hygiene products, and other miscellaneous items.  Cleaning our adopted cottage always cheers us up and is greatly appreciated by the new residents, but birthdays might easily be overlooked when children are living in temporary shelter at the Women’s Crisis Center.   Junior Auxiliary decided to help make things more normal for the kids living there by assisting mothers living there and allowing them to plan and provide a little celebration in the midst of the anxiety and uncertainty their children are experiencing.  WCC lets JA know when a family in residence wants to celebrate a birthday, providing details about the date, time, number of attendees and desired theme.  JA members do the rest.  Plates, napkins, goodie bags, a present and a cake are delivered to the Center so the child’s mother can put on a party.  Ninja turtles on skateboards or a Minecraft scene definitely brighten up the cottage.

While this doesn’t resolve the issues that led to the family’s crisis or make the difference that will allow this mother and child to achieve an independent life, being able to provide a celebration for her child may give a mom a sense of control and normalcy that will help her move forward.  And blowing out the candles and making a wish may provide her child with a much needed glimmer of hope for the future.  That’s the kind of difference the ladies of JA want to make.