Birthday Girl Builds Tradition of Giving

Katelyn Much, 7, smiles while delivering cake-making kits for other children on her birthday. Submitted.

7-year-old gives 28 cake kits to others on her birthday

Katelyn Much, a 7-year-old St. John Bosco Catholic School student, has built a birthday tradition of giving to others.

On March 22, the first-grader delivered 14 cake-making kits to Help of Door County. and 14 more to St. Vincent de Paul/St. Joseph Conference, which schedules home visits to support families in need.

“I think she was extremely sweet, caring and giving to think of doing something for other kids for her birthday,” said Moriah Turk, Interim Director at Help, which provides mental health services as well as a safe, visitation room, when necessary, for clients to make visits in a supervised setting with their children.

The birthday girl collected Funfetti cake mixes, frosting cans, candles, balloons, unicorn napkins and sprinkles and then spent an evening assembling “Celebrate with Cake” kits for other children in Door County, said her mom, Jenn Much.

Katelyn’s dad, Corey, and mom still gave her gifts. But, she’ll start brainstorming again soon about what to give to others on her special day.

“I wanted to make cake kits because I wanted to make kids happy and wanted to make sure they got a cake,” Katelyn said.

First-grade teacher Lisa Mueller said Katelyn gave each of her classmates a lanyard, an invitation to a party and a list of supplies that she wanted them to buy instead of giving her presents. She invited them all to bring items to the party at the cinema, with Kung fu Panda 4 playing.

Vincentian volunteer Chris Jagermann McCarthy said Katelyn’s generosity was right on target. She said the 300 families the Vincentians serve – such as one grandmother raising six children – more than likely could not afford to throw a birthday party.

She also said parents sometimes feel looked-down-upon by grocery shoppers if they use Wisconsin FoodShare to buy any frills or even cake mix.

In two previous years, Katelyn collected cleaning supplies, food, toys and beds for a pet shelter one year and stuffed animals for The Children’s Hospital of Wisconsin the next.