By Allison Peck
Listen to the full interview on our Kubota Podcast
North Platte resident Grace Sarabia believes every child deserves a birthday cake.
That's the idea behind Wish Upon a Cake, a community effort she launched in April to provide free birthday cakes to children whose families may be struggling financially or facing difficult circumstances.
Originally from Las Cruces, New Mexico, Sarabia moved to North Platte in August and said the idea had been on her heart for some time before she finally decided to act.
The final push came around her own birthday in April.
Sarabia said she realized she hadn't received a birthday cake that year, a small disappointment that reminded her how meaningful even simple celebrations can be. Within days, she decided to launch Wish Upon a Cake.
"God put it on my heart," she said. "I've been thinking about doing it, and I just never went for it. Well, in April, I'm like, 'You know what? I'm going to just do it.'"
Sarabia, a mother of five, said her love of baking and her own childhood experiences inspired the project.
"There were hard times," she said. "My parents did the best they could, and I just don't want any parent to ever feel bad about not being able to provide their kids with a cake."
Her goal is simple: make sure children have something special to celebrate on their birthdays, regardless of their family's circumstances.
"I think every child should get a birthday cake," she said. "When you wake up on your birthday, a cake is just a fun way to celebrate."
Through Wish Upon a Cake, families can request a free birthday cake by contacting Sarabia through Facebook. She asks only for basic information such as the child's favorite flavors and interests and does not require families to explain their circumstances.
"All I need to know is your child needs a cake, the flavor, and what they like," she said.
While the effort originally began with simple cakes in mind, Sarabia said she quickly found herself wanting to make each one unique.
"What I do now is I'll ask the parent what's the kid's theme, what do they like," she said. "I want them to see the cake and say, 'Wow, this is specially made just for me.'"
The project has also become a family effort. Sarabia said her children help create birthday cards to accompany the cakes, giving them an opportunity to learn the importance of helping others.
"For me, it's teaching my kids to have a giving heart and to do something for somebody other than yourself," she said.
One of the most rewarding moments so far, Sarabia said, has been seeing the reactions from families picking up cakes.
"I had someone recently that picked up a cake, and her face, she was so happy," she said. "It kind of was like, wow, it's something that I'm doing to put a smile on the person's and, of course, the kid's face."
One of the biggest surprises, she said, has been the support from the North Platte community.
"The outpouring of support I have gotten is mind-boggling," she said. "I've had more people offer to donate items than I've had ask for a cake."
Sarabia accepts donations of baking supplies such as cake mix, oil and disposable pans and also maintains an Amazon wish list for those who would like to help support the effort. She does not accept monetary donations.
Although the original focus was children ages 1 to 18, Sarabia said she hopes to eventually expand the program to include senior citizens and local shelters.