Health & Fitness
Wiley students out to make birthday wishes come true at Grace Centers of Hope
After touring shelter, Wiley girls scouts make plans for an April birthday celebration
A group of Wiley Elementary students are making it their personal mission to make sure other kids have a happy birthday.
A Wiley Girls Scout troop will be making birthday wishes come true this April for children at Grace Centers of Hope, a Pontiac-based homeless shelter.
"We are hoping the kids will have fun, feel appreciated and know that people care about them," said member Kaitlyn Gailey.
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Junior Troop #30523 recently took a trip to Grace Center as a service project and met with children who celebrate their birthday by picking out an uwrapped gift from a closet.
There are no magicians. No clowns. No cake.
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It was then that they knew they had to do something.
"It really made us feel sad," said Heather Hayes. "We get to have birthday parties. There are a lot of kids who never had a party."
The Wiley fourth and fifth-graders brainstormed places they could write to help put together a party for the children at Grace Hope Centers. They were even featured on radio station WMUZ, bringing more interest and help.
The Wiley students are receiving gift suggestions from the children at Grace Centers of Hope, and the guests will gather for a large celebration in their honor on April 27 the Grace Gospel Fellowship Church in Pontiac.
The attention and support Wiley students are receiving has made them feel "good inside," said Sofia Stout. "We are not the only ones who care. Other people really want to help."
Members of the troop are: Haley Dupuis, Kaitlyn Gailey, Heather Hayes, Lindsey Killian, Brooklyn McLaren, Elizabeth Mulvaine, Tori Ottenbacher, Sofia Stout and Dianna Wilson. Troop leaders are Holly Hayes and Julia Mulvaine.
To help support the troop, contact Holly Hayes at sunshine12902@yahoo.com or Julia Mulvaine at Juliamulvaine@att.net. Donations can include party supplies (decorations, plates, forks, napkins, etc, party games (Pin the tail on the donkey,a pull string piniata, ect), goodie bags for each child or monetary donations for gifts.
