Local pantry spreads joy with birthday bags for kids in need
WAUKESHA, Wis (CBS58) — We all know how special birthdays can be but for some families facing tough times, celebrating might not be possible.
That’s where the Food Pantry Serving Waukesha County steps in.
"We serve about 8,900 individuals in 2024. Those are people in the Waukesha community experiencing food insecurity," said Lyndsay Johnson Executive Director of The Food Pantry Serving Waukesha County.
Hundreds of pounds of food and basic needs are brought in to be distributed to folks when they need it most.
"We get it from the community so its individual donations or food drives will result in about 171,000 pounds of food," said Johnson.
In one backroom, volunteers are busy filling canvas bags.
These bags are for a special occasion, inside are all the essentials a family needs to make happy birthday memories with their little ones.
"It's the birthday cake, it's the frosting, it's some birthday supplies to try to make their day special," said Johnson.
Executive Director of the Food Pantry Serving Waukesha County, Lyndsay Johnson, says it's a highlight of what they are able to offer clients.
"We all have these positive memories as a child of mom making a cake, blowing out candles, it's a fond memory of people singing happy birthday, so we are wanting that experience for our clients as well," said Johnson.
The pantry primarily serves as a safe haven for families in need providing basics like diapers, canned goods and other shelf-stable products. The birthday bags are a bright spot on the shelves.
"We've got kids that aged 12 and under that are able to get a birthday bag so during their birthday month they can pick up a birthday bag so they are able to celebrate their birthday as we all fondly remember celebrating.
Volunteers Kelli and Carla are helping out at the pantry for the summer.
"I try to pack them as soon as possible so we can get them out there to the clients," said Carla.
They fill these canvas bags with streamers, candles, and party hats.
"When I've volunteered I've given out about five birthday bags in the time that I've been here," said Kelli
They know exactly how much they mean to the kids that are about to receive them.
"I was seven years old and my sister was 10 years old and we came to the food pantry when we needed them the most and we got birthday bags. We made the cakes, my mom made it a really special time, we blew the balloons and put on the birthday hats," said Kelli.
Now they’re giving back to the community that once gave to them.
"Knowing that someone gave me the privilege to get one and now I can give one other kids and other people to have a birthday and have a birthday bag," said Kelli.
Johnson says the need in the community has continued to grow.
"This is an area of concern for us because back in 2021 we were spending about 81 thousand dollars on food last year we spent about 381 thousand. This is an area of significant growth and its growing because of the number of the number of clients we are serving," said Johnson.
Since more families turning to the pantry for help, the birthday bags are more meaningful than ever.
"A third of our clients are children so the number of children ages 12 and under is about 1,217 so that's about the number of birthday bags we would need a year," said Johnson.
For Kelli and Carla, it's more than just packing a bag it's a chance to pass along memories that meant the world to them.
"I remember when I a little boy was about to turn seven he was so happy when he opened a birthday bag to see flash cards and a little race car I had put in here for him he was so happy and his mom was so grateful," said Kelli.