About Birthday Buddies
As a society we often take advantage of the privileges we are given. In general, we consider many aspects of our life as rights rather than privileges. One of those aspects is birthday parties. Most people see birthdays parties as a right of passage, as something they are entitled to as they have completed another revolution around the sun. However, for some people this privilege does not come so easily. Members of the homeless community often can't afford to throw their children birthday parties because their money has to be spent on more important things like food or shelter. As this fact became noticed the Birthday Buddies program was created. Birthday Buddies is a program that began at Homeless Solutions, a homeless shelter in Northern New Jersey. The main focus of this program is to give homeless children the opportunity to enjoy a privilege that most people take for granted. Each month a different group or organization goes to the shelter and throws a birthday party for all the kids with birthdays during that month. The volunteers cover everything from the music to the activities played. Both the parents and the kids look forward to the parties with great anticipation.