No More Forgotten Birthdays

How You Can Help Children in Foster Care Feel Loved

Every child deserves to feel celebrated on their birthday. The balloons. The cake. The excitement of blowing out candles. A gift wrapped just for them. The simple but powerful reminder: you matter here. But for many children in foster care, special milestones may be missed or forgotten in seasons of chaos and crisis.

Sometimes children come into care carrying everything they own in a trash bag. Sometimes they arrive scared, overwhelmed, grieving, and unsure of what comes next.

That’s why small moments of celebration matter so much.

Recently, Sammy and his sister Melanie arrived at their new foster home late at night after their family experienced a crisis. He was exhausted and frightened. Thankfully, the siblings were able to stay together — something not every sibling group gets to experience due to the shortage of foster homes.

After the children had fallen asleep, foster mom Kenzie looked through the paperwork on the table and noticed something heartbreaking: the next day was Sammy’s tenth birthday.

But there were no presents waiting. No party. No plans for cake or candles. Kenzie knew one thing for certain: this little boy would not have a forgotten birthday. So, Kenzie rallied her village and her people stepped in.

Kenzie’s daughter helped create decorations. A neighbor baked a cake. Friends dropped off gifts. What could have been another painful memory instead became a celebration. And for one little boy navigating enormous uncertainty, that birthday became a reminder that he was seen, valued, and deeply cared for.

For children who have experienced trauma, these moments matter more than many people realize. Because every child deserves dignity, joy, and care — especially during difficult seasons.

Right now, across the South Carolina, hundreds of children are in foster care waiting for safe, supportive homes and caring communities. There are currently 3372 children in foster care from South Carolina and a need for 1746 additional foster homes.

These are not just numbers. These are our neighbors. Children sitting in our kids’ classrooms, playing on local playgrounds, sitting in our church pews.

And they need a village.

No Child Should Have a Forgotten Birthday

The truth is, there are many ways to support children in foster care – even if you cannot foster right now. Across South Carolina, churches, neighbors, local businesses, and community members are stepping in to help children feel celebrated and cared for.

Legacy City Church annually creates birthday celebration kits for children in foster care — each one filled with decorations, party supplies, and thoughtful items to help make birthdays special at a moment’s notice.

Belmont Farm has lovingly baked and delivered birthday cakes to children living in Thornwell’s Attachment-Based Residential Program so every child gets to celebrate their special day.

Even children are finding ways to care for other children. For his eighth birthday, a young boy named McGregor asked friends to bring toys and clothing donations for Thornwell’s children instead of gifts for himself.

You Can Be Part of the Village

At Thornwell, we believe every child deserves to know they are valued, remembered, and loved.

You can help make that possible.

Maybe that means opening your home as a foster parent.

Maybe it means supporting a foster family with a meal or an afternoon of babysitting.

Maybe it means donating birthday supplies, gift cards, or essentials for children entering care with very little of their own.

Or maybe it simply means learning more about the needs facing children and families in your community.

Every act of kindness matters. Because together, we can make sure no child experiences another forgotten birthday.