Most of us do not think twice about buying our children 4 or 5 new gifts for their birthday. We consider it a time to indulge them, and often spend hundreds of dollars on presents such as clothes, video games and toys. But what if you could not afford to give your child even one birthday gift?

This is the question that led Robin Maynard Steele and her husband Kevin to create the Cheerful Givers charity. Cheerful Givers provides birthday bags filled with  toys to less fortunate children.

One day when Robin Maynard Steele was touring a food shelter she saw several empty shelves labeled “birthday gifts”. Immediately she wondered how children would get presents if the shelves were empty. Upon returning home she went to work and made twelve gift bags with new toys for both boys and girls.  She dropped these bags at the food shelter in her local church. The next day she received a call that all of the bags had been given away and that parents were overjoyed to have been able to give their child a gift  on their birthday.

That was in 1994. Fast forward to 2008 and you will find a bustling non-profit charity – The Cheerful Givers. To date, the charity has given out over 290,000 bags to needy families and has been featured in magazines and TV shows across the US. And the Steele’s are not doing it alone.  She got her friends and neighbors involved to help with the project in the beginning. As the charity grew she realized she needed more help - preferably volunteer help. Once the call went out hundreds of people responded and these volunteers have made it possible to help many families.

You can help the Cheerful Givers by hosting a Birthday Blitz.  Participants at a Birthday Blitz put together birthday bags containing 10 new items for children.  These events are a worthy activity for corporations, families, schools, scouts, church groups and many other organizations.  On a cynical note, charity events such as these can be a great way to generate positive PR for your business,  and gifts and donations may also be tax deductible.  On a more 'feel good' note,  Cheerful Givers points out that getting involved in events such as toy drives can be 'community building',  and help to inspire others.

The Cheerful Givers is located in Minnesota but Birthday Blitzes can be held anywhere. Check the charity’s web site for more information.  Getting involved with charities such as this one are a great way to teach your children about the value of caring for others, as well as instilling in them a sense of gratitude and appreciation for everything that they have.  Toy donations do not have to be big or expensive, and the act of giving is often more important than the value of the gift itself.

Generosity and kindness are traits that can be hard to keep alive in our current society.  Help to encourage these in your children by finding ways to help others in your own neighborhood.