MONROE — When Rebecca Bordner, SSM Health Communications Consultant, was planning her daughter’s first birthday, she came across TikTok videos where people created birthday kits. They were small, practical bundles of party essentials designed for families in need, and the concept stuck with her.
“Growing up, there were many holidays and celebrations that would not have been the same without the help of others, and now that I’m fortunate to be in a position where I can pay that forward, it’s important for me to seek out acts of kindness opportunities,” shared Bordner.
A few months later when Monroe’s Ministry Action Team opened applications for staff-led community service grants, she knew exactly what she wanted to bring to her community.
Her proposal was a plan to create 200 birthday kits, each one packaged with everything needed for a small party including a cake mix, frosting, a can of Sprite (which can replace perishable liquid ingredients), candles, balloons, streamers, plates, stickers, temporary tattoos, a birthday button, a bracelet, and a birthday card. The kits, once complete, would then be divided evenly with Green Cares Food Pantry in Monticello and Green County Food Pantry in Monroe, to ensure that families who rely on these services throughout the county could benefit.
The grant review committee saw how meaningful these kits could be and awarded Bordner with a grant. Moving the project from concept to ready-to-package wasn’t seamless. One of the biggest challenges was simply acquiring the supplies, especially the cake mixes and frosting.
“You can’t just walk into a grocery store and load your cart up with 200 of each,” Bordner explained.
The bulk order proved more complicated than expected until contacting Campbell’s Piggy Wiggly in Brodhead. Their team helped coordinate the bulk cake mix and frosting order, turning what felt like a roadblock into an easy solution.
“I’m very thankful for Campbell’s Piggly Wiggly being willing to take on my order that truly allowed this project to happen,” she said.
Once all the supplies were compiled, a packaging day open to all SSM Health staff was coordinated for late January. Approximately 20 individuals volunteered over the lunch hour to assemble the kits that made what could have been a tedious assembly line into a room full of cheerful, collaborative effort.
“Everyone jumped in, found a rhythm in their part, and made adjustments to make it a really smooth process where all 200 kits were packaged in just over an hour,” said Bordner. “Then right away that afternoon Green Cares Food Pantry was onsite to pick theirs up and away the kits went to start bringing birthday joy.”
For the families receiving these kits, they are more than just supplies. They are offering a less stressful way that they can make their child’s birthday special.
“When families come in with kids who have birthdays that month, the kids get excited and the parents get excited to see these birthday kits,” shared Bob Voss, Green Cares Food Pantry volunteer. “Because a lot of times they don’t have much to make a cake and celebrate. So when they see these, the kids get excited and the parents are just so happy.”
