Signal resident Rowan Kologek packs themed birthday party boxes for children served by Signal Mountain Social Services.
Signal resident Rowan Kologek packs themed birthday party boxes for children served by Signal Mountain Social Services.Signal resident and sixth-grader Rowan Kologek, 12, has always loved birthday parties, says her mother, Sarah Kologek. When the family lived in Detroit, she and Rowan would throw birthday parties for children from low-income families.
They recently had another idea: to collect all the items necessary to throw a child’s birthday party, pack them in a box and give it to people with young children who are clients of Signal Mountain Social Services.
“This is much more manageable for both of us,” Sarah Kologek said of giving families a party in a box, as opposed to throwing the parties themselves.
Rowan packs milk boxes from Pruett’s with supplies for a party for eight guests, including paper plates, napkins, straws, cake mix, frosting, candles, cake toppers, goody bags, decorations, invitations and gift cards for pizza. Kologek said many of the items were donated by family friends, and Rowan filled in any gaps with money she earned by pet-sitting.
All the boxes have themes. Past themes range from superheroes and monsters to princesses and Mickey Mouse. Other local groups that have heard about Rowan’s idea have also prepared boxes to donate, Kologek said, including a Boy Scout troop that gathered magic-themed items.
Rowan also includes a gift for the birthday child, such as bubbles, suckers and bottle cap necklaces plus backpack chains she makes herself.
So far, Rowan has delivered 10 party boxes to SMSS and has as many more in the works, but is waiting for Pruett’s to get more boxes in, Kologek said.
SMSS Executive Director Mary Lee Ziebold said when the organization received the first boxes from Rowan a few weeks ago, she called her clients with children who are celebrating birthdays this month to come pick up boxes. The organization serves 50 families with young children who could be offered boxes, she said.
“For most of these folks, birthdays come and go and there are no parties,” said Ziebold. “We’re trying to get the word out to get more people to donate party supplies.”
Kologek said donated party supplies can be new or leftover.
“It doesn’t have to be enough for a party of eight,” she added.
Ziebold said donations can be dropped off on the second floor of SMSS where her office is located, adding that in addition to party supplies, gift cards to businesses such as Wal-Mart, Domino’s or McDonald’s are also welcomed.
“We’d like to keep the focus on Signal Mountain merchants,” she said.
SMSS is at 633 Mississippi Ave.