Showing kids they’re all worthy of love healed Mary’s broken heart
After a devastating loss left Mary Davis griefstricken, she transformed her heartbreak into hope by throwing birthday parties for homeless children— and discovered a whole new world
Mary Davis blinked back tears as she drove through Skid Row in downtown Los Angeles.
I don’t know what to do, she thought, her heart sinking. Just a couple of months before, she’d been effervescently happy and expecting a new baby. But after suffering a miscarriage, she felt so…empty.
Two years earlier, the Atlanta native had moved to L.A., met her husband, Ari, and excitedly set out to fulfill her two callings in life: helping the homeless and becoming a mother. She’d begun by volunteering at the Union Rescue Mission, the only shelter in the area that welcomed children.
But as one dream began, the other had ended in heartache and tears.
Parking her car, Mary walked into the mission and gazed around at the 20 children who called the shelter home.
There are so many here, she thought sadly. How can I help them? Suddenly, she flashed back to a mission trip she’d taken in college with Archbishop Desmond Tutu, and his wise words echoed in her mind: “Treat everyone you meet as your brother or sister, and every child as though they were your own.” And like a bolt of lightening, Mary was struck with an idea.
A celebration of pure love
“I want to do something to brighten the children’s lives,” Mary excitedly told Ari, explaining that most of the families in the mission can’t afford food and shelter, much less birthday parties for their children.
“Why don’t we throw a joint party for all of the kids who have birthdays this month?” she beamed, her eyes alight. “Let’s do it!” Ari cheered. A week later, Mary and Ari arrived at the mission with streamers, party hats and gifts for each child. The children and their parents bubbled with excitement, laughing and dancing.
Later, as the kids played with their new toys, Mary noticed that one girl had gotten a truck and offered to trade it for a doll.
But as the child vigorously shook her head, her eyes shining as she rolled the truck gleefully over the floor. Mary realized that it didn’t matter what the gift was: This little girl was just happy to have it.
And as she hugged the child close, Mary felt something in her begin to shift. I can give these children all the love I couldn’t give to my own baby, Mary realized, hope flooding her heart and joy easing the pain.
The greatest gift of all
Mary and Ari began throwing monthly birthday parties at the mission, but as more and more children began to fill the shelter, Mary realized they would need help to continue hosting the growing bashes. So at the end of 2013, she founded the nonprofit Worthy of Love, and with the help of generous donations and volunteers, the parties have grown to include a DJ, airbrush artist and the organization’s mascot, Skiddy Cat.
“I love that we can play and be ourselves at the parties,” exclaims 10-year-old Dalila. “We get to be free for a night!”
But as each party ends and everyone joins hands to sing “Stand By Me,” Worthy of Love’s traditional closing song, Mary knows that the greatest gift of all is the love and joy of all the children.
“After we lost our second baby to a miscarriage, Ari and I felt the need more than ever to celebrate these precious kids,” Mary shares. “But we just never expected how much joy and healing they were going to bring to us.” And after watching more than 6,000 kids blow out candles at their parties, Mary and Ari were finally blessed with their own beautiful baby girl, Zivah, who turned one this past August.
“In a way, all of these children are ours,” Mary smiles. “They have truly brightened our lives. Being able to remind them that the day they were born is important and that they are worthy of love is just the icing on the cake!”
“I can give these children all the love I couldn’t give my own baby”