LOCKPORT, N.Y. — There was a celebration at Lockport High School West Tuesday.
"They are happy when they are recognized, and are being honored on that one special day a year and what a difference it makes to them"Geeta Sethi, said. Sethi is part of the Birthday Squad of Buffalo. The mission is simple. They want to help those in Buffalo celebrate their birthdays who might otherwise go without.
Lockport High School West takes pride in celebrating each and every one of their more than 100 student birthdays.
Dr. Bernadette Smith is the Principal of Lockport High School West. She said, "We want to make sure that our students know that they're valued, that they are cared about and that they belong here and that's our goal to make sure that we're creating that environment for them. "
The school is one of six that teams up with the Birthday Squad of Buffalo. They also team up with For Goodness Cakes to make sure everyone can celebrate their special day.
Maria Turner helps make the cupcakes. She said "it's only recently that we became involved through The Birthday Squad with these schools. So, to see the kids and see the excitement is a new experience for me and I'm just over the moon."
"Our motto is, our goal is from no birthday to happy birthday" Seethi explained. She said when it all comes together it's "unbelievable. When you see that happy face and that light in their eyes. It's my day. I am the one everyone is going to come up to and say happy birthday."
Students like Clementine Brown, Ethan Everett, and Maddie Palumbo can all agree. They feel special when receiving their celebration on their birthday.
Palumbo said, "It feels good that a school and community like this cares about me. So, it made me really excited."
Sharon Suchak is on the Board of Directors for the Birthday Squad of Buffalo. She said, she's heard positive things from teachers about the initiative. She explained that "teachers are reporting that students come to school with higher self-esteem, they're happy, there's a greater sense of community at school."
"Buffalo, I'm telling you is the city of good neighbors and we want to continue that by giving back to our community and the children in our community," Sethi said.