It started with just 12 birthday bags

Robin Steele  had lived her life like most of us, not realizing the impact she could have in her community. The world’s problems seemed too big for the hands of too few. But she had started to believe that if she had the desire to meet the needs of the world, the way to meet those needs would present itself. Robin was touring a food shelf when she was told about how parents often frantically look for a favorite box of cereal or canned good to give their child as a birthday gift.  The thought of a child’s birthday passing without any real recognition lit a fire in her heart and stirred her to action.

That night she purchased 12 gift bags and  filled them with toys. Nothing earth shaking. 12 birthday bags created with love in the basement of a house by someone who wanted to make a difference. Those 12 birthday bags were dropped off at Trinity Mission on a Sunday night.

Early Monday morning the call came. It was from the Trinity Mission calling to share the heart-warming story of the first birthday bag given out. A woman had come to the food shelf looking for a food item to celebrate the birthday of one of her children. Her anticipation turned to anguish when she realized there wasn’t anything special she could give her child.  But her despair turned to joy when she was presented with a toy-filled birthday bag. Overwhelmed with joy, the woman exclaimed, “The whole way over on the bus I prayed and prayed that there would be something here for me to give my child, but I never dreamed  there would be something so beautiful.” Within hours, all the bags were gone. Prayers had been answered and Robin  had found a place to meet some of the needs of the world. So it began and continues to grow.

After three years of providing birthday bags to the community, Robin started to wonder if she was doing enough. Driven by the desire to meet the needs of her neighbors in need, Robin needed guidance. Now most of us would look to a friend or maybe take a class or seminar in this situation. Not Robin. Robin found herself called to travel to India with hopes of meeting Mother Teresa. She was given an audience with Mother Teresa hours before this pillar of goodness would suffer a heart attack.

Robin came home knowing that we are all hungry- hungry for love. We all want to know that we are special and that our life matters to someone. Cheerful Givers provides more than birthday bags, it celebrates those lives that matter. The lives of the parents who give the gifts. The lives of the volunteers who create the gifts. And the lives of the children who receive the gifts.

Birthday bags are a symbol of the unconditional love that we have for our anonymous neighbors in need and their children.