One birthday brings hundreds of smiles for local foster children

CAPE GIRARDEAU, Mo. (KBSI) – For many children, summer camp is a place of laughter and new friends but for children in the foster care system, those moments can be harder to come by. That’s why organizers with Restore the Wonder summer camp say they are working to ensure that every child feels safe included, and a place to just be a kid but they say they can’t do it alone.

Philip Wellin is a Director at Restore the Wonder Ministry. He shares their four-day camp is located in Piedmont Missouri and made possible through donations, sponsors, volunteers and faith. The camp is for children currently in the foster care system. Each year during summer camp organizers give every child a birthday experience, many children in foster care get moved so much they don’t often get a real birthday, and this day allows for them to feel celebrated says Wellin.

“There’s nothing quite as special as them having their own birthday cake. Their name being called out as we sing them happy birthday and just to be celebrated and so we host a birthday party every year at camp. It’s the biggest night. We all wear shirts that say best day ever” says Wellin.

To make this day possible Restore the Wonder needs more donations. You can find an Amazon wish list and other ways to donate on the Restore the Wonder webpage. Birthday gifts are needed to give a foster child gift of their very own. Birthday donations are needed by August 1st, 2026. 

“One of the things that we try to allow everybody the opportunity to participate in such a great day, like the best day ever. We allow them the opportunity to help sponsor the birthday gifts. Every night after the birthday party is over, they go back to their room, and they’ve got age-appropriate gifts waiting for them on the bed. It’s just a great opportunity for the community to come together to support celebrating a birthday for these children that have had, less than a desirable upbringing, you might say” says Wellin.

Wellin shares that the camp is designed to give children locally a safe space where they can forget about their troubles and just simply enjoy being a child.

“So, for four days, they just get to be a kid, and they have a mom and dad, a big brother, a big sister in the form of a counselor that can just help them know that they’re seen, valued and loved.”

To help with ‘Birthday Day’ you can go here-Birthday Party — Restore The Wonder