Kids deserve a reason to feel celebrated, but birthdays and family celebrations can get expensive quickly. Decorations, games, activity stations and party equipment are often purchased for a few hours of use and then stored or thrown away.

Whim & Wonder: The Celebration Library would create a growing collection of reusable celebration items that can be shared with families in the North Chicago/Lake County community, with a special focus on making celebrations more accessible to local military families and families who may not otherwise have room in their budget for the “extras” that make a day feel special.

The library would include reusable party games, backdrops, signs, activity stations, tabletop displays, themed celebration kits and other pieces that can transform an ordinary backyard, community room or living room into a celebration.

Families could borrow a collection for their event rather than having to purchase everything themselves. Items would then return to the library to be cleaned, refreshed and used for another celebration.

I already own and have built several pieces that can become the beginning of the library, including giant games, carts, backdrops and children's activity equipment. This grant wouldn't be starting with just an idea it would help turn what I already have into an organized community resource and expand it with items chosen specifically for sharing.

The goal is simple: make a little bit of wonder reusable. A single $1,000 investment could help create dozens of celebrations, and the same pieces could continue making kids and families feel celebrated for years.

As someone who did not have many birthday celebrations as a child, I have always enjoyed creating those moments when ideas and experiences shape how kiddos can see themselves.