ATHABASCA - There are two big days on every child’s calendar – Christmas and their birthday – but with measures to stop the spread of COVID-19 now firmly in place, a lot of children are missing out on their birthdays and everything that usually entails.
A group of Athabasca residents is making a serious effort to bring the party to the kids though, all while maintaining social distancing protocols, with what are essentially birthday parades.
Organizer Erica Shalapay is calling them birthday parties on wheels and started the Facebook group Athabasca Birthday Parties on Wheels, which has grown to 170 members in its first few days online.
Shalapay said she saw a video posted online by a friend, whose daughter had organized a similar effort in Fort McMurray.
“I just thought it was an awesome idea … I thought I would put it out there how many would be interested in doing this, and it just kind of snowballed from there,” she said.
The requests for the parties on wheels have since been coming in fast, as are the requests to join the Facebook group and to take part.
“I’ve got a bunch lined up for next week and most of those are out of town,” she said, adding she is more than happy to try to accommodate the best she can.
“The more the merrier.”
Members of the group gathered at the Days Inn parking lot March 31 to get their first convoy of birthday well-wishers together for three youngsters celebrating their birthdays that day.
Logan Crosland, 7, Odin Purdy, 4, and Keelan Rysdyk, 9, were all outside in their driveways with their families and were all within a block of each other, when 13 vehicles, many decked out with birthday decorations and signs, drove by each home, honking horns and throwing treats and well-wishes to each of the birthday boys.
“It was cool,” said Keelan, who had his mom, dad, brother and family dog outside waiting with him.
"It was loud and it was awesome, I loved it and I even got some treats," Logan said.
“For these kids, everything has changed for them, and sometimes they have a hard time dealing with their emotions and don’t understand, so trying to make it normal-ish for them is my goal,” said Shalapay.
Parents were impressed and thankful as well.
“That was awesome,” said Odin’s mom Michelle. “It was amazing.”
“I found it very heartwarming to have friends, small business workers and community come together to help celebrate the kids’ birthdays. It brought me to tears to be honest," said Logan’s mom Melanie.
Shalapay said it was better than she even expected.
“I’m very happy with it” she said. “I know that we had three very happy little boys that were very excited they got to have a party of sorts for their birthdays.”
Area residents are welcome to join the Facebook group to let Shalapay know about upcoming birthdays and to keep up on when and where the next party will take place.
“I’m hoping to be able to do this for as long as this lockdown is on, hopefully it’s not forever … Come on out and help celebrate these kids’ birthdays and make them feel special.”
Chris Zwick,TownandCountryToday.com
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