It's estimated more than 60,000 children are homeless in the LA area, but only one shelter on Skid Row allows children and their families to stay there. Once a month, the rooftop at the Union Rescue Mission turns into a celebration for those children thanks to a charity called "Worthy of Love."
There's a dance floor, a DJ and even a unicorn standing by.
"It's an actual unicorn!" squeal the children, as they pet the small white pony wearing a single horn.
This magical celebration is the brainchild of Mary Davis. After suffering a miscarriage 6 years ago, she and her husband Ari wanted to transform that loss and turn it into something special for others.
"In her grief, she came up with this phenomenal idea that kids need to have fun," explains Kitty Davis-Walker, Vice President of Public Relations for the Union Rescue Mission in Los Angeles. "And so, she came up with this idea to give a birthday party to the kids that were staying here, and at that time, it was only about 15."
But in a heart breaking sign of the times, the number of children living on the streets has exploded.
"These kids, they are deserving, and they are invisible to Los Angles right now," says Mary Davis, co-founder of Worthy of Love. "LA doesn't even know that Skid Row has over 250 kids tonight, on Skid Row."
But every four weeks, they get to come together and celebrate everyone who has a birthday that month, some of whom have never had a birthday party.
"My favorite part has to be the unicorn," says Macaila Gutierrez, who just turned 9. She usually gets to celebrate with just a cake, but this party is something special. It has everything from glow in the dark party favors, a photo booth and glitter tattoos to personalized baseball caps, expertly airbrushed for each child here.
"Every time we come here, we see the smiles on these children's faces," says Ari Kaden, co-founder of Worthy of Love. "That gleam in their eyes that they are truly enjoying themselves."
With the help of dozens of volunteers and generous donors, Davis and Kaden create an unforgettable birthday bash, every month. Each party ends with the group forming a circle with the birthday kids in the middle--singing together, and sharing love, laughter and the possibility of even better times ahead.
If you’d like to volunteer your time or donate to Worthy of Love—here's a link to their website: www.worthyoflove.net
