This year, I’m trading birthday presents for purpose.

After helping my uncle, Spiros Bozikis, assemble blessing baskets at our local church and seeing the grave need in our community, I couldn’t shake the thought: “How many children are heading back to school without the essentials they need to learn and thrive?”

With my birthday today, I realized — I never need anything. (Truthfully, I’m the worst person to gift because anything I want, I buy… in multiple colours, ahaha). But this year, God placed it on my heart to turn the celebration outward.

We’re putting together 50 fully-packed Back-to-School Blessing Kits for children in need, complete with backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles, notebooks, pencils, and personalized faith bookmarks — because every child deserves to start the school year prepared, encouraged, and loved.

The need is real:

Students without proper supplies are 20–30% less likely to meet provincial math and literacy standards.

For many struggling households, back-to-school shopping is an impossible expense.

A child’s confidence, attendance and performance can dramatically improve with something as simple as having the right tools for class.

If you feel led to give, you’re not just filling backpacks — you’re filling hearts, planting seeds of hope and letting God’s light shine through you.

This project is guided by my favourite verse, Matthew 5:16 —

"Let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven."

Thank you for being part of this birthday blessing! If you can’t give, you can still make an impact by sharing this page, spreading the word, and inspiring someone else to help a student start the school year strong.

God bless,

Vasiliki

FAQS

1. Why is the beneficiary listed as Vasiliki Belegrinis?

Because this project is personal. For my birthday, I purchased all the backpacks, lunch bags, water bottles, notebooks, pencils, and other essentials upfront. Every single item has already been bought, packed, and prepared with love—these aren’t just cash donations disappearing into a mystery fund. Your support simply helps offset the cost of what I’ve already joyfully invested into blessing students in need. Think of it as joining me in a birthday gift that’s already wrapped and ready to deliver.

2. Where are the blessing baskets going?

They will be gifted directly to children in our local Greek Orthodox parish, supporting families in our immediate community. The rest will be delivered to the Salvation Army in our area, ensuring they reach students who need them most right before school begins.

3. I can’t donate right now, how else can I help?

Your impact doesn’t have to be financial. You can share this GoFundMe with friends, family, and your community. You can also offer your skills: a photographer could take free first-day-of-school photos, a math whiz could provide tutoring through a local church, or a crafter could make personalized pencil cases. Even the smallest act of kindness can plant seeds that last a lifetime.

4. How many students will this help?

50 fully packed backpacks and 80 lunch bags will be going out this year— each one a direct blessing to a child who might otherwise start school without the tools they need to thrive.

5. Why are you doing this for your birthday?

Because I truly don’t need anything for myself. Instead, I wanted to celebrate by giving, not getting. This project was inspired by seeing the very real need in our community and knowing that something as simple as a backpack can change a child’s confidence, focus and joy in starting school.