Creating a Meaningful Celebration
By Kathleen Owens, President of Ballard Food Bank’s Board of Directors
Did you know that in Thailand, birthdays are marked by serving your community? In Greece, one tradition is for the person celebrating the birthday to be the one to delight their friends. These and other traditions tap into the truth that giving is a wholehearted, uplifting way to celebrate.
One of the joys of being involved with Ballard Food Bank is to witness the many ways people in our community infuse meaning into their events by creating a way to give back. These experiences can be stand-alone, like the law firm who adopted Ballard Food Bank as a cause for their holiday party. Some include a speaker from the food bank and others are capped off by delivering a donation, taking a quick tour, or even rolling up your sleeves for some planned service time. Experiences like these create a connection to the community and leave those involved informed and buoyed.
Kathleen addressing the guests at joint birthday party
The great news is that the team at Ballard Food Bank makes it easy (and fun) to pull this off. My husband and I recently hosted a joint 50th birthday celebration. We hoped that friends from different facets of our lives would attend and have a fun time, meet new and terrific people, and learn about two causes dear to us. We highlighted The American Heart Association and Ballard Food Bank. Rather than bringing presents, we wanted any gifts to support these two wonderful missions.
A close young friend who has a congenital heart defect (and also volunteers at BFB) moved everyone by sharing her story. Friends and family heard from me about the incredible work at the food bank. To support our efforts, Ciara on the BFB team provided a custom donation page, link, and QR code. Staff member Jade designed a gorgeous poster. My husband and I wrote cards for attendees expressing our appreciation for them in our lives. On the back of these cards, we included a QR code for each organization. Tables also had tents with the QR codes available.
Guests left feeling full of food and drinks, having grooved to irresistible tunes, and laughed from the silliness of surprise trivia. Best of all, friends shared a satisfying sense of tapping into something bigger than themselves. Both causes benefited from their generosity.
If you are curious whether there may be a way to add an element of connection and contribution to your next event, reach out to the team at Ballard Food Bank for a fun brainstorm. Meaning making comes in many forms and may be the element that allows the positive vibes of your event to live on.
