This year, like every year, Birthday Palooza brought together the Foster Love community for a day where foster kids were reminded that they matter. Volunteering with foster kids is a core part of how we create moments like this, where children feel seen, supported, and celebrated.
To every volunteer who showed up early, stayed late to clean up, and spent the entire day making sure every child felt included, comfortable, and taken care of—this day worked because of you. Thank you for showing up at Birthday Palooza
You are the reason we could change the lives of so many children.
The Moments You Created
There were a lot of activities, a lot of energy, and a lot of excitement. But the moments that stood out most were the private ones shared between volunteers and the children they worked with.
One volunteer shared about a young boy who stayed outside of the celebration for a while.
“He kept watching everything but would not walk up to do anything. When we finally got him to come over, we handed him a piece of cake, and he asked if it was actually for him. When we said yes, he just kind of stood there for a second before smiling this little smile. He tried to hide it but you could tell he was very happy. And that made me happy.”
Another volunteer spent time with siblings who had been placed in separate homes.
“They didn’t really venture out or anything; they just sat at a table together. I heard one of them tell the other, ‘I missed you so much. They’re taking photos, we should be in all of them together.’ It just made me so emotional, their bond. I was glad to give them a memory together.
At one of the birthday stations, a volunteer noticed a little girl who appeared to be frozen in place.
“I think she was overwhelmed. I crouched next to her and asked her if she wanted to go somewhere quieter. She nodded her head, and I took her hand, and we sat under a canopy, and I asked her about her favorite things, if she liked the flowers in the grass near us, about the sandal charms she was wearing, whatever came to mind. She got distracted a bit, I think, because later I saw her running around and playing with the other kids. If I did anything to help make her feel happier like that, I am glad I was a part of it.
These are the moments that define the purpose of the day.
Why Volunteers are the Heart of Our Mission
Foster Love exists to ensure children in foster care feel seen, supported, and valued and that mission does not happen on its own. It happens through people.
Volunteers are the ones who turn programs into real experiences. They are the ones building bikes, packing bags, helping kids pick out clothes, and showing up to events like Birthday Palooza ready to give their time and attention to a child who needs it.
Small moments make a big impact for children: sitting next to a child who looks lost or scared while everyone else is having fun. Encouraging kids to join in instead of sitting on the sidelines. Making sure no one feels left out or forgotten.
Those “small” moments are exactly what this work is built on.
Children in foster care often move through systems, homes, and environments that change quickly. Having consistent, positive interactions with people who choose to be there matters.
Every day, people like our volunteers create environments where kids are acknowledged, included, and given the space to enjoy being kids. Foster Love’s mission is carried out through these experiences. Every interaction, every conversation, and every moment of attention adds up to something bigger.
That is why volunteers are not just part of what we do, they are what make it possible.
Thank You!
We are grateful for every volunteer who helped make Birthday Palooza happen.
You made the day possible, and you made it meaningful for the kids who were there.
Thank you.
How You Can Stay Involved
Birthday Palooza is one of many ways Foster Love creates opportunities for connection and support for children in foster care.
If you want to continue being part of this work, there are always ways to get involved.
And it starts the same way this day did. By showing up.
Check out our upcoming volunteer events like Disney Days and Shopping Sprees, where you can be a part of creating a better experience for children in foster care.
