Birthday Blessing throws Christmas party for homeless shelter children

While many kids are making their Christmas lists and writing Santa letters, others are doing neither. Their own birthdays have taken a backseat to just getting by.

Both shortfalls are being filled more every year in DFW, including in McKinney. Birthday Blessing, a nonprofit that provides birthday parties and gifts for families in need, hosted its second annual "Birthday Blessings for Jesus" Christmas party Saturday at the McKinney Performing Arts Center.

New clothes, holiday crafts and some rare cheer made for a heartwarming celebration for dozens living at The Samaritan Inn, the county's only homeless shelter.

"We want them to feel loved, to know that no matter the circumstances they're going through, they're special," said Patricia Morris, Birthday Blessing founder. "We want to bring hope to these families."

There are 74 children, up through teenage years, living at the shelter right now, about double the number from this time last year, Morris said. Those who came to Saturday's party wore their latest wardrobe additions, donated by churches, friends of Birthday Blessing volunteers and community members.

"We had more people come forward than we had kids to sponsor," said Kris Snellgrove, Birthday Blessing co-founder. "Every child gets a brand new outfit, brand new pair of shoes and a Bible. We try to fulfill their birthday wish."

Jesus Christ, the reason many celebrate Christmas, is the focus of Birthday Blessing, as volunteers share the Gospel message at the end of each party. Birthday guests are more open to that message after hours of otherwise unlikely celebration that shows them God's love, said Samara Brennan, who with Snellgrove runs Birthday Blessing's McKinney chapter.

This weekend, attendees received gift bags and made ornaments they could give to someone as a gift, another side of the Christmas spirit for which many wouldn't otherwise get the chance, Snellgrove said. And donning their new digs, they could take a free, professional picture with their families.

"The main thing we wanted to be able to give them when they had these outfits on was a family portrait because they're expensive," Brennan said. "They don't really get to do that very often."

Though the Christmas parties began last year, Birthday Blessing has been sponsoring monthly birthday parties for Samaritan Inn residents for about four years. Susie Jennings' Operation Care International - an organization that contends it hosts "the nation's largest Christmas party for the homeless" each year - inspired Morris to broaden that mission to birthdays and focus it on children.

Operation Care annually provides new clothes, blankets, medical screenings, personal care items and food and drinks. Morris wanted to do something similar, but for children, and remembered birthday parties as some of her best times growing up.

Soon after she and Snellgrove started the nonprofit, Morris' 8-year-old daughter and two friends asked for donations rather than presents for their birthdays. They were able to raise $3,000 for Birthday Blessing, furthering Morris' dedication to the ministry.

Birthday Blessing North Texas partners with The Samaritan Inn, the Boys & Girls Club, McKinney Housing Authority, Community Lifeline and Cornerstone Baptist Church. The all-volunteer organization now has a south Dallas chapter and Fort Worth-area chapter.

Rose Williams, coordinator for the McKinney chapter's teen parties, has been on both sides of the birthday cheer. She and her two children were living at the Samaritan Inn when Birthday Blessing held its first party - one featured on "Good Morning America."

Williams' son, Mason, who says he's yet to have another birthday that means so much, now volunteers at the monthly parties, from the outside looking back in.

"Samaritan Inn was a first step for me, to just humble me and get my attention," said Williams, who now heads birthday parties at Allen Bowl and other teen-friendly venues. "And it connected me with the families I would one day be dealing with. I can relate to them first hand."

Volunteers said that since Birthday Blessing started, they've met numerous kids - including a 12 year old and 15 year old - who had never before had a birthday party. For many, Morris said, their birthday wish is simple: some semblance of a celebration, and maybe a new pair of shoes.

"Sometimes these kids don't know how to express their joy (right away) because they're overwhelmed," said Julie Gutierrez, a Christmas party volunteer. "But when they're leaving, they're telling their parents it's the best day ever."

A little jubilation doesn't need to take a backseat, even in hard times. Not as long as Birthday Blessing is around.

"We are the blessed ones in this ministry," Morris said. "Seeing their smiles every time, that's what keeps us going."

For more information about Birthday Blessing or how to sponsor, visit www.birthdayblessingministries.org.

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