How it works
Sending smiles is this easy – it only takes three steps to brighten a child’s birthday
Nominate
Go to the Nominate Page.
Click
Fill in the form and click submit.
Hurray!
Watch their birthday shine brighter.
How it works (birthday magic + fine print, minus the yawns)
Sending a Birthday Sidekick card is easy, and it all starts with a simple act: letting us know a child deserves a little extra celebration. From there, our small family team takes care of the rest, turning your nomination into a tangible reminder of joy, kindness, and connection that arrives right in the mailbox. It’s simple, heartfelt, and designed to make birthdays a little brighter.
Each birthday card is personalized with a simple, handwritten message inside. Holly and her sister Abby will sign most of them, and sometimes a grown-up hand may help out if there are lots of birthdays close together. Either way, the heart behind every card is the same: to make a child feel celebrated, valued, and remembered.
There are no strings attached and no cost to receiving a card. You don’t need to post on social media, send us photos, or send us a card in return. That said, we love to see the joy these cards bring! If you’d like, share your child’s happy moment with the hashtag #BirthdaySidekick or send us a photo or video. When you share directly with us, please let us know if we can post it publicly on our website or social media, or if you’d like it to stay between your family and ours.
Once you fill out the nomination form, our little team does its best to send a birthday card in time for the big day. Because we’re a small family project powered mostly by Holly’s efforts collecting returnables and the occasional donations of generous supporters, there may be times when we can’t keep up with the volume of requests. If we aren’t able to get a card to every child, please know it’s never for lack of care, just the reality of our size and resources.
Every card we send is a small spark of joy for a child – a reminder that someone is thinking of them, and a moment of connection that can brighten their day. While we may be a small team, each thoughtful gesture adds up, showing kids they matter and bringing a little extra happiness to their birthdays. By nominating a child, you’re joining us in spreading kindness and smiles, creating little moments of delight that can leave a lasting impact.
Have questions? We have answers.
Who can be nominated?
Birthday Sidekick sends cards to children in Canada who could use a little extra birthday cheer. We focus on school-aged kids, roughly 4 to 19 years old. Military families deployed abroad can use a Canadian Forces Post Office (CFPO) or Fleet Mail Office (FMO) address as a Canadian mailing address. Sorry adults – this one’s for the kids!
Who can submit a nomination?
Anyone who cares about a child can nominate them. Parents, grandparents, teachers, coaches, social workers … if you know a child who could use some extra attention on their birthday, you’re the perfect person to submit a nomination.
Can I nominate more than one child?
Yes! If you know more than one child who could use a little extra birthday cheer, you can nominate them all. Just remember to fill out a separate form for each child so every card can be personalized and arrive on time.
Can I nominate the same child again next year?
Absolutely. Birthdays happen every year, and so can your nominations!
When should I submit a nomination?
The earlier the better! We recommend at least a month before the birthday. That gives us the best chance of getting the card to their mailbox in time.
When will the card arrive?
We do our best to send cards so they arrive close to the child’s birthday. That’s why we ask for nominations at least a month in advance. Because Birthday Sidekick is a small family project with limited time and resources, not every child will receive a card. If we aren’t able to send one, we’ll let you know by email. Either way, every card we send is handwritten with care and kindness.
What if I make a mistake on the form?
No problem! Just reach out through our contact page and we’ll update the details for you.
How many cards does Birthday Sidekick send?
Our goal is one card a day! Birthday Sidekick is powered by Holly (with a little family backup), so the pace depends on her energy and our resources. Some days that means a single special card, and other times a few extras. However many go out, each one is filled with the same joy, kindness, and care.
What if my child has accessibility needs?
There’s a spot in the nomination form to mention accessibility needs. Let us know what the child needs, and we’ll do our best to accommodate – every child needs to feel valued and included! If we need to follow up with you to clarify those needs, we’ll send you an email.
How much does it cost to nominate a child?
Nothing at all! Birthday Sidekick is a free project powered by Holly’s big heart and a little family teamwork. You’ll never be asked to send a card in return or take on any obligations. If you’d like to support the project, spreading the word or pitching in for postage and supplies is always welcome, but never required.
Can I choose the card or message?
All of our cards are handwritten with warmth and joy, but we aren’t able to take custom requests at this time. Part of the magic is in the surprise. Every card is carefully chosen, handwritten, and packed with kindness. Just like any birthday, the person sending the card chooses the card … and that’s part of what makes it special!
Will my child’s name or photo appear online?
Your child’s privacy always comes first. We never share names, details, or photos without a parent or guardian’s permission (and never surnames). Some families choose to send us a picture of their child with their card, and if they give us the green light, we may feature it in our gallery or social media to celebrate connection. That’s always optional, and if you’d rather keep things private, your child will still be celebrated with just as much joy and care.
How is my information used?
We only use the details from the nomination form to confirm eligibility, send the birthday card, and understand who is nominating children so we can improve and focus our efforts. Your information will never be sold, traded, or shared outside the Birthday Sidekick team. We delete nomination details once the card has been sent and confirmed received, or after six months, whichever comes first. We take privacy seriously, and you can read more in our Privacy Policy.
How can I help support the project if I don’t have a child to nominate?
Even if you don’t have a child to nominate, you can still spread birthday joy! The best way to help is by sharing Birthday Sidekick with your friends, family, and community so more kids can be celebrated. If you’d like to go a step further, we also welcome donations to help cover postage and card supplies. Every bit of support helps Holly keep her mission going … one card, one smile, one birthday at a time.
Can I volunteer to help?
At the moment, Holly and Abby handle the card writing. You can still help by sharing the project, donating, or even volunteering to write blog posts about joy, kindness, and connection. Just contact us first so we can make a plan together! In the future, if we have volunteer opportunities become available, we’ll be sure to announce it and post it on our website.
Can I send Holly and Abby mail?
Holly and Abby both love hearing from supporters! If you’d like to send them a note of encouragement or photos, check out our Contact page for the mailing address and email. For everyone’s safety, all mail (postal and electronic) is screened by an adult before Holly or Abby sees it. After that, every card, photo, or message is treasured as part of the joy and connection this project is all about.
Now that you know how it works, let the birthday magic begin!
Nominate a ChildUnwrapping joy: stories from happy hearts
We have no stories to share just yet, but yours could be the first! Once your child opens their Birthday Sidekick card, we’d love to hear how it made them smile, or feel extra special. Share your moment and inspire others to spread joy, kindness, and connection, too – because every story adds to the magic!