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BAKE A BIRTHDAY CAKE FOR AN UNDERPRIVILEGED CHILD

birthday cake

Birthday cakes offer children the gift of self-esteem.

p> However, in economically challenged homes, birthday cakes are sometimes an unaffordable luxury when compared to competing priorities for medicine, clothes, and rent.  As a result, many children living in poverty do not have birthday parties to celebrate their life. Compounded with other struggles they face, underprivileged children may come to believe that their life is unimportant, which can lead to a victim mentality, apathy, crime, drug abuse, or countless other negative responses to low self-esteem.

Children need experiences in which they are shown that they are valued. When kids see a birthday cake with their name on it, they know that the occasion is just for them. You can help underprivileged children celebrate their life by donating a birthday cake via a youth club, for a whole group to enjoy together.

Your birthday cake could be the beginning example or a confirmation to a child that they are important. The celebrating also provides a good model to other children of how to encourage someone else. These experiences create healthy thought patterns and help children to succeed in life.

Kids birthday cakes are fun to make. Wilton offers birthday cake recipes and cake decorating tips for the beginner or experienced baker. Kraft Foods also offers children's birthday cake recipes and birthday party ideas.

Craft stores such as Michael's offer cake decorating classes. A decorated cake that is wrapped correctly can stay frozen for up to three months. Freeze a frosted cake by putting it in the freezer uncovered until the frosting hardens. Then carefully wrap the cake in plastic wrap and foil and return it to the freezer. A recipient youth club would only need to defrost the cake and add the child's name using a small tube of piping gel (available in the baking aisle of your local grocery store).

By first contacting the director of a children's program, you could either deliver your decorated cake to them to store and use when needed, or you could be given some dates of upcoming birthdays to choose from to donate a birthday cake.

To find recipient organizations for your birthday cakes, check with your local Boys and Girls Club of America or United Way children's program.

After school programs could also be a great place for you to donate a birthday cake for underprivileged children. Or, consult the Afterschool Alliance.

You can also check for interest in children's birthday cakes at local missions, women's shelters, and religious institutions with youth activity groups.