A week ago we celebrated the birthdays of all the homeless guests we serve with our annual Birthday Party for the Homeless! Many of our homeless friends watch as their birthdays pass by year after year, uncelebrated. For others, this is their first year on the streets. For them, a birthday party simply makes life a little more “normal.”
Thanks to the support of local businesses, organizations, and friends like you, the party was awesome! Every man and woman who came in off the streets enjoyed snacks, board games, inflatable basketball, bean bag toss, a letter writing station, dinner, birthday cake, and gifts.
Special thanks to Fred Meyer, Beaverton Toyota, Parties Inc., 104.5 WAY-FM, and A Jesus Church for making this event possible.
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“Everybody is here relaxing and having fun, staying out of the rain,” said Thomas, a homeless guest at the party. “We’re laughing, playing basketball, just having fun. I’m 50 years old, and I still love to kick back and eat cake and ice cream. Even though I’m homeless, it ain’t over for me. I’m living for today.”
Thomas
Several months ago we asked for community members to write a birthday card to let a homeless person know they’re not forgotten this year on their birthday. Well, you all responded in record-breaking fashion! Hundreds and hundreds of cards filled our mailbox in the weeks before the event. Every person at the party got a heart-warming card written with you encouraging words – thank you!
“I loved coming in and seeing all the smiles, the games, the snacks,” said Liana, another guest. “It was so fun. I hadn’t shot hoops in a long time. Oh, and the letter writing to our loved ones. Just being here with all these people. That’s so fulfilling.”