Birthdays happen every day.

As you age, you might feel inclined to sweep them under a rug and pretend you aren’t a year older. But when you’re a child, your birthday is a special day all about you.

Mom and Dad decorate, bake cakes and pick out presents — all for you.

But what about the kids whose parents can’t afford to celebrate their child’s birthday? That’s where Redmond’s Briana Keller and Cheerful Givers come into the picture.

Cheerful Givers provides toy-filled birthday bags for less fortunate families so that parents have something to recognize their little one’s big day.

The organization originated in Minnesota. After reading a People article featuring Cheerful Givers, Keller immediately felt inspired. She contacted Karen Kitchel, Cheerful Givers’ only paid employee, asking how to get involved in the Pacific Northwest. When Keller was told that it only existed in Minnesota, she asked to start a branch in Washington state.

“As cheesy as it sounds, I kind of felt called to do it,” Keller said. “I just felt like this is something I need to be doing.”

She went on to explain how important birthdays always were for her growing up, saying her family is all about celebrations. She was sure that Cheerful Givers was a perfect-fit. When she initially contacted Kitchel it was not a good time for expansion.

Keller was persistent, though. When she tried again a few months later, she got the OK to bring Cheerful Givers to Seattle.

This month marks Cheerful Givers’ four-year anniversary in the Seattle area.

During that time, Cheerful Givers’ first expansion pilot project has given 4,693 children a birthday celebration they wouldn’t otherwise have had.

All of this gift giving is completely anonymous as far as the child knows.

“One of the things I have always loved about Cheerful Givers is that it is completely anonymous,” said Keller. “So what happens to these bags is that I deliver them to some sort of social agency that serves families in need. Then the social agency gives the bag to a parent, who can then give the bag to their child.

“Not only does it make the child happy on his or her birthday,” continued Keller, “it allows for parent-child bonding. The kids don’t think the bag is coming from an agency, they think it’s from their parent. Gift giving and recognition is important in that relationship.”

The group recently had a “community blitz” at the Redmond Regional Library. This is when the bags are put together. One hundred volunteers packed the room decked with yellow smiley-face balloons (the organization’s symbol) and snacked on cupcakes while filling 504 birthday bags for deserving kids.

This month’s “blitz” attracted 125 volunteers, which made the process incredibly quick clocking in at about 30 minutes.

Frequent volunteer Amber Sackman said, “Anyone can help, literally: men, women, and children of all ages. A ‘blitz’ takes less than an hour out of your day, and who can honestly say that they don’t have an hour to spare? It’s such a wonderful, easy way to give back to your community.”

“It is good to give,” said Barbara Afanador, who has volunteered with her husband, Joe, for the past three years, “and Cheerful Givers provides many people with a chance to give back beyond just giving a donation. It is a very hands on type of giving.”

The first “blitz” was four years ago this month at the University of Washington Career Center, where Keller works.

As the Puget Sound Coordinator, Keller organizes a big “community blitz” about every three to four months. So what she would like to see happen is that more Cheerful Givers teams are created. She helps the teams plan their event, but the team has the “blitz” on its own and delivers their bags to a social agency.

With more teams come more bags and subsequently more happy birthdays.

“This program is one of those small community efforts that should get more attention,” Afandor said.

For more information on how to get involved with Cheerful Givers e-mail Keller at briana@cheerfulgivers.org or call at (206) 618-5215.

Katie Ormsby is a student in the University of Washington Department of Communication News Laboratory.