The COVID-19 pandemic has cancelled or postponed almost everything. But it hasn’t vanquished the human spirit as we’ve seen often in the days since ‘social distancing’ and ‘self isolation’ have become part of our lexicon.
That was evidenced on Saturday afternoon when a north-end Orillia street was awash in a sea of car-honking, balloons and joy to help a little girl celebrate her eighth birthday.
Lucy Goodman is “one of the most kind, generous, outgoing, little girls,” said Angie Green-Hill, who organized Saturday’s mobile birthday party.
Green-Hill rallied her friends and neighbours through Facebook to give the birthday girl a moment she will not likely forget.
It is fitting, said Green-Hill, who noted Lucy has organized lemonade stands and other fundraisers for The Sharing Place Food Bank in Orillia.
She has created ‘Lucy’s Birthday Boxes’ which she fills with birthday cake mix, frosting, a pan, balloons and candles to ensure any child whose family uses the food bank can have a birthday cake and party for their birthday.
However, as a result of the pandemic, Goodman was feeling a little disappointed that she wasn’t able to have a birthday party of her own this year.
Instead, she got a parade of vehicles bedecked with hand-made birthday signs and balloons. People rolled down their windows as they drove by and shouted birthday greetings; many dropped off presents in her driveway.
"She very much deserved a great party, so the least we could do is provide her with a birthday parade to keep our social distancing," said Green-Hill, adding "Lucy is one amazing kid."
Goodman, and her family, were elated.
Happy birthday Lucy!
