Making Birthdays Happy: How A Cedar City Community Group Is Filling The Need

I'll admit it, birthdays, and birthday parties don't mean as much to me as they did when I was a kid. Back in the day, the gathering, the games, the presents, and of course the cake really made my day. Today my celebrations are a little more sedate – although there better be a cake for me on the day (or maybe a cupcake).

But imagine celebrating a birthday for a child without a cake and a celebration. Thanks to the folks at CAIFA – the Cedar Area Interfaith Alliance – some 350 young people (and maybe a few older folks) will be able to have a birthday celebration.

We've talked on the radio and written here on needs in the community, and how the community finds a way to meet those needs. Time and time again, I have been amazed at how we respond and try to ease the burdens of those facing food insecurity and homelessness. I know, there's more work to be done, but, by in large, there is a spirit of giving and helpfulness in this community that I consider to be exceptional.

While we work at providing basic food and shelter, sometimes we need to step outside the basic needs and see if there are things we can contribute that will also provide a little cheerfulness and gaiety into a life facing struggles.

Enter CAIFA. They saw a need to provide a little birthday magic to those who might not be able to give the birthday celebration they desired for a child or other loved one. So CAIFA came up with the idea of putting together “birthday kits” to help bring a day of joy to someone whose birthday might have been dismal.

CAIFA put out the call to the community. I actually found out about it through my wife who had been contacted by a neighbor. My wife said she would be glad to contribute some cake making mixes and we went up yesterday to the drop off location at the Christ the King Catholic Church up on Leigh Hill. I was amazed at the activity and pure happiness I witnessed as the volunteers (and there were many) put together these kits.

In an email I received from LaShelle Endly, who is the secretary for the organization, some 300 kits were put together during the day on Thursday, and they expect they will put together another 50 or so going in to next week.

Eventually, those kits will be distributed to the Iron County Care and Share. In addition the group will place kits with the Youth Futures organization, the Hope Pantry on the campus of Southern Utah University, along with the pantries in the Iron County School District schools.

The mission of the Cedar Area Interfaith Alliance is “Religious Community in Unity.” I think that is exceptional. There is no reason why differing faith traditions cannot work together to provide support and relief to the community as a whole, and especially to those who are in need of a helping hand.

Yesterday, I saw a group of people who even with different ideas on theology worked together to bring happiness to others. If you want to see what really works to lift a community, don't look to the mandates of government. Look to community groups like CAIFA, who see a need, roll up their sleeves, and get the work done.