HUNTSVILLE, Ala. — As a kid many are used to going to parties, eating cake and ice cream and not having a care in the world. But for some families, it's a wish come true if their kids get the opportunity to experience that.
One Simple Wish, a national nonprofit, grants wishes for children in foster care through an easy online platform.
Nikki Quinn, the program manager for One Simple Wish explains, "we have probably about 400 to 500 wishes on our site right now."
Each wish is individualized to what the young person is asking for, "so you might see a bike for Johnny on the site. But what you don't see is that that bike was chosen by Johnny, and we have the direct link to the exact bike that he wants, and that's what's ordered and shipped to the young person," Quinn said.
One Simple Wish partners with child service organizations throughout the country to grant wishes for children in foster care.
A local support group, 'Grandparents As Parents,' within Alabama Foster and Adoptive Parent Association, teamed up with One Simple Wish to host a 'Wish Party.'
Multiple kinship families came together Saturday afternoon, supporting one another as their kids got their faces painted, played in a bounce house and ate ice cream.
Edie Lowhorne, with Grandparens As Parents, says, "there are lots of kids being raised by another relative right now. And the kids need to realize that it's okay."
Sabrina and Brandon, who are the caregivers of their niece Joziah, share, "she's been with us for a little over a year."
But the transition for this new family is, "not always easy…"
"She's been diagnosed with the reactive attachment disorder," Sabrina said.
A condition stemming from emotional neglect at an early age, "she's been very, very traumatized and she's come a long way in a year. She's got a long way to go," Sabrina said.
But an enironment like this one is a jump in the right direction, "we pride ourselves on letting them choose what they want because as a child, you don't get to choose very often," Quinn said.