Innisfail's less fortunate children are guaranteed to have a proper and memorable birthday in 2016.
Thanks to the ongoing dedicated mission by local Girl Guides of the Golden Poplar District, which represents young girls from Innisfail, Spruce View and Delburne, dozens of families facing hard times can contact the Innisfail and District Food Bank to get a special birthday box.
Last fall, the Girl Guides' Pathfinders group, representing girls 12 to 14 years old, issued a challenge to all the district's 80 Innisfail Girl Guides to collect as many birthday boxes as possible for the community's needy.
The goal was to present them to the food bank for the Feb. 22 birthday of their founder, Lord Robert Baden-Powell. That day is also Thinking Day for Girl Guides across the world to reflect on their shared sisterhood in Guiding. As well, the national organization has created a special theme, Connect with Guiding, on the same day to encourage Girl Guides across the country to explore the many connections that unite them.
“Because a large part of our program is doing community service and volunteering, it was a good way for the girls to see how they could make a difference in the community,” said Judy Purcell, contact guider for the local Pathfinders. “So if any family could not afford a birthday, they could go to the food bank and pick up a birthday box so their child could have something for their birthday.”
She said the local Girl Guides, some as young as five and six in the Sparks unit, were creative in their pursuit to collect birthday boxes.
“Some of the groups used old cookie box cases to make birthday boxes, Co-op grocery store donated paper bags to make boxes, whatever they could find,” said Purcell, adding Jackson's Pharmasave also donated materials to the Girl Guides to help them with their project.
And when the day came to hand them over to the food bank, the girls had managed to create a total of 56 birthday boxes for Innisfailian parents who otherwise might not have the opportunity to give their child a nice birthday.
“In the box there was everything you would need for a birthday party,” said Carole Sim, coordinator for the food bank. “There are invitations, party hats, candles, cake mix and icing. In many of them there is even a little gift for the birthday person.
“When somebody tells us they have a child who is about to have a birthday the birthday box is part of their hamper,” added Sim, who is grateful for the Girl Guides' dedication to the annual program. “I think it is wonderful that these young people are involved with something that is unique and special.”
For any citizen that would like to have a birthday box with their hamper from the food bank, call 403-227-3960.
Judy Purcell
"Because a large part of our program is doing community service and volunteering, it was a good way for the girls to see how they could make a difference in the community."
