Birthday Box Celebrates Continued Generosity of the Community

The Birthday Box, a non-profit organization initiated by Westfield moms Stacy Bergerman and Jennifer Wilner, aims to anonymously provide children with exciting birthday experiences regardless of their family’s financial situation.

Since their start, Bergerman stated that the charity has gained a great deal of support from other local organizations, as well as schools in Westfield and the surrounding towns. Franklin Elementary recently conducted a Birthday Box drive, and the same individuals and families continue to donate, according to Bergerman.

“Awareness has expanded a lot,” she stated. “Some children have donated their birthday presents from parties; they tell their friends to bring gifts and then donate them… that is like, huge for us… for a kid to understand to give to others…that’s the most important expansion.”

All of the toys that are donated are kept in the Birthday Box’s “Toy Room,” explained Bergerman. She added that some kids have been curious to see where the toys that they donated ended up, so they allow them to actually come see the room. “We feel like this at least shows them something… that [the toys] are actually going somewhere,” she said.

The boxes, which are filled with a cake, a present and decorations are assembled by Bergerman and Wilner and then given to organizations including The Elizabeth Coalition to House the Homeless, the Westfield Neighborhood Council, the Homefirst Interfaith Housing and Family Service and the Emmanuel Cancer Foundation. The organizations then provide the boxes to children who are in need of them. Additionally, a division of The Birthday Box is being set up in the Baltimore area. 

According to Bergerman, they have donated over 400 boxes so far. 

Bergerman expressed the organization’s gratitude for all of the donations, and said that they are still looking to partner with more organizations and perhaps a local supermarket or bakery to help financially with purchasing the baked goods.

Said Bergerman: “It’s really great giving to all these kids… Expanding as much as we can is our biggest goal. We work closely and have great relationships with the organizations, but could provide more if we had more connections.” 

For more information or to get involved, visit www.thebirthdaybox.org, or contact Stacy Bergerman at stacy@thebirthdaybox.org or Jennifer Wilner at jenn@thebirthdaybox.org.