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Date: 1/26/2021
EASTHAMPTON – Every year, the Easthampton Community Center (ECC) hosts a holiday celebration, distributing toys, puzzles, books, games and more, to children in need. Typically, any leftover items and additional donations that arrive after the holidays are saved for an Easter egg hunt.
Unfortunately, the pandemic has cancelled this year’s event, leaving the ECC with an abundance of children’s pieces.
Rather than tossing away these extra items, the ECC decided that everything could be saved and recycled for a brand-new event – a birthday bash.
Robin Bialecki, food pantry/kitchen coordinator for the ECC, said this idea was formulated on the understanding that children are missing out on birthday celebrations this year.
“Kids can’t celebrate at school or even with their friends. They can’t have a bowling party or even a party in their backyards. We want to give them a special birthday treat,” said Bialecki.
As a result, volunteers at the ECC have created birthday treats in an individualized goody bag. Each bag varies based on the child’s wish, and includes a type of toy, a cake or brownie mix, and some frosting to bake their treats at home.
Bialecki also asks each person what they would like to have for a special birthday dinner.
“Recently, one kid chose spaghetti and meatballs, and another chose chicken nuggets and french fries,” Bialecki said. All ingredients and items needed to prepare these meals come directly from the community center.
To top it off with a personal touch, each bag contains a unique card that was created from local school children and volunteers of the ECC.
Bialecki informed Reminder Publishing that there are about 850 children in the ECC program. To keep track of each and every child’s birthday, they have a documented chart.
When a parent comes into the food pantry, the ECC will inform them of the birthday bash, and will ask them to pick the items up a few days before, or on their child’s birthday.
To practice safe interaction and exchange, Bialecki said that the parents will either come to the back door, or a volunteer will deliver the items to their car.
Bialecki claimed that everyone has been “wonderful” about donating. The ECC is currently looking for and accepting donations, such as cake mixes, frosting, sprinkles, sealed plates, and napkins.
So far, Bialecki said there have not been too many birthdays in the month of January. In the upcoming weeks and into February, Bialecki observed that there will be a rapid increase to almost one birthday every day.
In the close of a holiday season, amid the pandemic, families are struggling financially. To eliminate any more stress and worry, Bialecki and the entire ECC hope to help as much as they can during these trying times.
“I hope that the kids are enjoying this as much as we are,” stated Bialecki.
For additional information, visit the easthamptoncommunitycenter.org.