Roughly one month ago, Love County 4-H member and Marietta High School Student Emily Faulkenberry began a service project for which she asked help from the public.
After seeing that birthdays aren’t always special days for kids, Faulkenberry decided to being her “Everyone Deserves a Party” project, which is intended to bring birthday bags for students in Marietta Public Schools who receive services from the district’s food pantry.
Each bag includes items like cake mixes, frosting, birthday candles, plates, cups, and napkins – items that make a birthday special, but many students don’t have on their special day. Her original plan was to fill enough bags for students in MPS and then branch out to other community and county organizations.
Faulkenberry asked the public for donations to help fill the bags, and in the intervening month, she has filled and delivered 20 bags to the elementary school and almost that many to high school and middle school students. She’s close to finished in her school.
Next is an organization called Sara’s Project.
“They provide a safe space for kids who are going through tough times with their families,” Faulkenberry explained. “Sometimes it’s divorce or abuse, but they have a house where kids can stay, and I am going to make some bags to deliver there so that if someone has a birthday while they are there, they can still celebrate.”
After Sara’s Project, her next focus will be on foster children in Love County.
But there’s one thing that’s slowing Faulkenberry down: donations, which started out strong, have slowed down, and she’s currently waiting on supplies to finish filling up bags for high school students.
“We had a slowdown, but things are picking up a little,” she said. “Right now we need cake mixes and frosting and plates and napkins in neutral colors for older kids.”
Donations may be dropped off at the Marietta High School office or the Love County OSU Extension Office in the courthouse basement. And if you don’t have time to pick up birthday items, you may drop off a cash donation and Faulkenberry will do your shopping for you.
“I’m very proud of her,” said mom and 4-H leader Amanda Faulkenberry. “To see the excitement she has when she’s working on this makes me proud as a mom and a 4-H leader. She is setting an example for younger members and for her little sister that it’s a good thing to help others.
“I love that there is no end in sight to her project. There are so many avenues that she can take and let the birthday bags bring job to so many kids.”