Bringing Birthday Joy to Foster Kids
Birthdays are a special time to feel celebrated, loved, and valued. Unfortunately, many children in foster care often miss out on the joy of having their special day recognized. Last week, a team of volunteers from UC San Francisco (UCSF) virtually joined Foster Love for their first-ever team building event, stepping up to make birthdays unforgettable for 14 kids in foster care. Through small group team building with UCSF like this, teams become a part of the Foster Love mission to make a heartfelt difference for kids in foster care.
Special Days Deserves Celebrations
For children in foster care, birthdays are often treated like any other day. Limited resources and constant transitions often mean there’s little opportunity to celebrate milestones. Birthday Boxes help change that narrative. Each box is filled with decorations, small gifts, and party essentials, giving children the tools to create a meaningful celebration. When these boxes arrive, they send a message that the recipient is seen, valued, and deserving of joy. The UCSF team embraced this mission with enthusiasm and creativity, bringing their personal touches to each box.
Celebrating First-Time Volunteers
As first-time volunteers with Foster Love, UC San Francisco made an incredible impact. Their dedication and enthusiasm shone through every step of the process, assembling their birthday party kits and carefully packing everything for shipment. It’s always inspiring to see new groups join Foster Love’s mission and immediately embrace the values of empathy and support for children in foster care!
The Power of Small Group Team Building Activities
One of the beautiful aspects of this project was how it demonstrated the power of small group team building activities. With 14 Birthday Boxes to assemble and decorate, the UCSF team worked collaboratively in a virtual setting, dividing tasks and supporting each other to complete the project efficiently.
Virtual service activities like this one show how small teams can come together, even remotely, to make a tangible difference in the lives of others. The UCSF team strengthened their connections with one another during their activity, while also contributing to a greater cause.
Projects like these are a reminder that every act of kindness counts. Through small group team building activities, organizations like UCSF show that it’s possible to build community and change lives—even from afar. Together, we’re ensuring that no foster child’s birthday goes unnoticed.
Building Memories That Last
The 14 Birthday Boxes crafted by UCSF weren’t just party supplies—they were packages of hope, joy, and recognition. Each one symbolized a moment of celebration for a child who might not otherwise feel special on their birthday. By helping create these boxes, the UCSF team played an important role in making children in foster care feel important, valued, and happy.
Looking Toward the Future
We’re grateful for UCSF’s willingness to try something new with their first virtual volunteer event. Their contributions were invaluable, and we hope this marks the beginning of a long-lasting partnership. Small actions, like decorating Birthday Boxes, ripple outward, creating moments of joy and connection for children who need them most.
