The space on the shelf held boxed birthday cakes when they were available to the food shelf. Today there were no birthday cakes and the shelf sat empty. If a parent came looking for a cake to uplift the spirits of their birthday child, they would go away disappointed. But on this day in September of 1993, the empty shelf would serve as a catalyst for the celebration of children’s birthdays for years to come. On this day, the empty shelf would provide a fullness of blessing for the world.

Robin Maynard and her husband Kevin had lived their lives like most of us, not realizing the impact they could have in their community. The world’s problems seemed too big for the hands of too few. But they had started to believe that if they 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 the barren birthday cake shelf met her. The thought of a child’s birthday passing without recognition lit a fire in her heart and stirred her to action.

12 birthday bags. Nothing earth shaking. 12 birthday bags created with love in the basement of a house by a couple who wanted to make a difference. 12 birthday bags dropped off at Trinity Mission on a Sunday night. 12 birthday bags igniting a spark that would provide warmth for thousands.

Early Monday morning the call came. It was from the Trinity Mission calling to share the heart-warming story of the 12 birthday bags. A woman had come to the food shelf looking for a boxed cake to celebrate the birthday of one of her children. Her anticipation turned to anguish when she was told that there were no birthday cakes available. But her despair turned to joy when she was presented with a birthday bag that she could now give to her child. 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 that there would be something so beautiful!” Within hours, all the bags were gone. Prayers had been answered and Robin and Kevin had found a place to meet 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 neighbor 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.

The birthday bags are a symbol of the unconditional love that we have for our anonymous neighbors in need and their children. The birthday bag warms the heart of the volunteer who made it. And when this gift is met with a parent’s tears of joy, we know that this one little birthday bag is going to warm the world in the hands of a child.