'Birthday in a Box'

Christ UMC Volunteers Give Homeless Children Smiles

BY JAIME INGLE
Belleville News-Democrat

Four-year-old TiShara Perry couldn't wait to turn somersaults on a foam mat. Ten-year-old Charles Webster roared at friends. "I'm a cheetah," said Charles, whose face was painted orange with black spots. Kayanni Perry, 2, licked her lips as she reached for a cupcake on a table lined with frosting tubs. They were having fun at a birthday party recently.

But this wasn't just any birthday party.

Once a month balloons, cupcakes and presents transform a large meeting room at New Life Evangelistic Center, a St. Louis shelter for the homeless, into birthday party headquarters.

"Who has a birthday in August, September or October? Raise your hand," said Jill LeQuatte, one of the party planners. Two hands shot up and waved wildly. "This party is for you!" said Jill.

The honorees? Children living at the homeless shelter. The party planners? Members of Christ United Methodist Church in Shiloh. At this party, all 17 children attending received presents, even if their birthdays were months away.

Making a wish, A.J. Johnson, who turned 8 on Aug. 11, blew out the candles on the tower of cupcakes after a rousing chorus of "Happy Birthday." He made a wish -- just like Brenda O'Connor of Shiloh made a wish a year ago.

Brenda, her husband, Dan, and their children, Kyle, 8, and Katie, 6, moved to Shiloh from Spokane, Wash., about two years ago. Dan is a U.S. Air Force lieutenant colonel stationed at Scott Air Force Base.

"We used to do Meals on Wheels in Spokane," said Brenda, who home-schools their children. "We wanted to do something to help the community and something that would teach our children to serve others." She started talking to Jill, and the idea for Birthday Wishes for Homeless Children was born.

Kyle calls it "birthday in a box." "It's balloons, toys, cake. Everything you need to throw a party," said Kyle, lounging in a chair at home a few days before the party. He had finished his homework and was ready to help Brenda wrap presents.

Birthday party supplies also include juice, napkins, plates, forks, name tags and healthy snacks such as crackers and vegetables for kids to enjoy later in the week.

Kyle knows just what 8-year-old boys like. "Bionic (action figure) toys, puzzles and logic games," said Kyle, who wants to be a genetic engineer.

Katie knows what 6-year-old girls like. "Barbies and Groovy girls (dolls). We got a 4-year-old girl a tiara and a wand and white gloves," she said excitedly.

Planning a party

Ten to 12 church members plan two parties each month at a cost of about $300 each. One party is the first Sunday of the month for children at the Evangelistic Center. It's held the second Sunday if the first Sunday falls on a holiday weekend.

The other party is for children at Belleville's Violence Prevention Center. Brenda, Jill and other volunteers decorate presents and pack all the party supplies in a box and deliver it to the Belleville shelter. They aren't allowed to meet face-to-face with children, but leave the supplies so the shelter can give the party.

Cathy Daesch, children's program director at the Violence Prevention Center, loves to see faces light up at the party. "The moms and kids look forward to it. It's not just a party for the kids who have birthdays that month. It's for everybody. Even the moms get goody bags."

Cathy said it also gives children a sense of stability while their lives are in transition."The moms often have limited funds so they're afraid they won't be able to give their children a party. We try to have some kind of party, but the center has limited funds. This group (Birthday Wishes) makes it possible."

Church families pool their money and have begun getting donated party supplies from two groups on Scott Air Force Base - workers in Transcom headquarters and Scott Air Force Base Homeschoolers.

"In lieu of their own birthdays, some people would rather collect supplies for the parties," said Brenda.

Katie, Kyle, their friend Josie LeQuatte, 7, and other kids at Christ United Methodist help their parents on party days. Moms and dads do the planning. Kids are there to play.

"Tie it up for me?" birthday boy A.J. asked Kyle at last Sunday's party. Kyle tried his best to tie streamers attached to balloons to his friend's wrist. "That's OK," said A.J. before Dan stepped in to tie the strings.

Katie and Josie tumbled on mats. Some children read books in a corner while others decorated cupcakes. Jill also shared a Bible story, a staple of every party.

Nikki Lowe, mother of TiShara, Kayanni and Gregory Perry, 6, watched from the sidelines. She has been at the shelter for eight months as part of a job training program. She is learning clerical skills and plans to earn her GED and become a nurse.

"It's excellent that they come and take time to think about other people," said Nikki.

Suzanne Price was once homeless and hopeless. She now trains women like Nikki with skills to get better jobs and find a place to live. "The key behind all our programs here is that they are God-oriented. There is a spiritual solution to every problem. Our goal is to break the cycle of homelessness."

And she loves seeing children smile. "These people come in and we are truly blessed. Look at all this," Suzanne said, gesturing to the presents, balloons, cupcakes and streamers. God is working through all these people."

Larry Rice, who founded the shelter and its associated ministry programs, couldn't be more pleased. "It's a bridge between men and women on the street and men and women in the pews. It's people from outside (the shelter) telling you your birthday means something, that you make a difference."

Christ Church members wouldn't have it any other way. "It's all been a humbling experience to me," said Antonnette Glenn of Fairview Heights. "Things are going on in your life, and you come here and forget about it."

Church member Dom Scalzitti is the party's official photographer. Dom takes a digital photo of each child at the party. He brings a portable printer so each child can have a snapshot. One of his most memorable shots was of a little girl whose face had been burned and disfigured. He took her picture from the unaffected side of her face and gave it to her mother, who was surprised and hugged her daughter. It was the first time she was able to look at her daughter since the accident," said Don. "It's for all the kids so their parents can capture (pictures) of their children's lives as they grow up."

Party fever is contagious. Dan and Brenda shop at the base commissary and a bagger noticed their large order of food.

"The bagger asked what all the food was for. We told him about the party and he wanted to help," said Brenda. That's just the reaction volunteers want.

Brenda knows her family may have to move again. But she wants the party concept to continue in St. Louis and the metro-east. She would also like groups to adopt other shelters in the metro-east and provide parties there.

"It doesn't have to stop with us. We want other groups to get involved. We're all God's hands and feet."

Want to help Birthday Wishes for Homeless Children?

Donate: Party supplies, toiletries, age-appropriate children's presents and snacks. To make a donation or for more information, call 233-7552.