It started all those years ago when Mum was working and Dad dragged me around local junkyards.
It was my birthday but felt just like a normal ole day. In fact worse.
I made a promise to myself that if I ever had children their birthday would be SPECIAL!
I am now the proud Mum of 3 young children.
(photo August 2009)
Every year, I bake them a cake for their birthday party (see sidebar photo album for examples of cakes I've made), sometimes two (we also follow the McClune tradition of a chocolate log on your birthday). They have a party each year and they are made a fuss of on their actual day. They are made to feel extra special for at least one day of every year. Their day.
Then early in 2012 my sister and I were talking as we were at another family birthday party about how lucky our children are. How they get a cake every year. We talked about how some kids do not get such a luxury. And often don't get presents or even the memory of their day being special.
I started to think. What could I do? How could I help make birthday's or anniversary's special for people who are not able to themselves?
I think it was my sisters idea - 'let's make cakes for kids who normally wouldn't get one'....
And that was it. It took several months of thinking, emailing, working out and speaking with people. But now I have started.
The first cake was made in August 2012 for a special lady who needed to know she was remembered and thought about on her birthday.
And the idea continued to grow.
I'm now working with a company who works with families who have a parent in jail. They work with the children to break the cycle. And they are amazing.
I (and my clever friends) deliver between 1-10 cakes a month to them for their wonderful, cherished, special kids.
But I am still wanting to make this work for MORE families.
Because the families I want to reach are often in crisis, it is this crisis that is the most important thing to work on. And time is limited so working out treats isn't a priority.
But I've got the idea, the will and desire to help make kids feel important if only for one day a year.
So here's my thing.....
If you are a charity who would like this type of help. Who would welcome a cake for your children/parents who need to feel special on their one day of the year (or any special time), then contact me.
If you're a person who can make cakes for the people I am working with, contact me.
My email is: trinamcclune@xtra.co.nz
I will co-ordinate and we'll share the baking.
Let's make this work.
One child.
One Parent.
One cake at a time.
Because if a person can remember that feeling of "I'm special" and hold onto that hope..... It provides a basis to carry on. To feel strong. To change things.
Join me in my journey.
For everyone should know:
You is kind. You is smart. You is Important - Kathleen Stockett, The Help.
