Couple donates ‘birthday in a box’ to remember twin sons
By Izzy Fonfara Drewel
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OMAHA, Nebraska (KETV) — Seven years ago, Jeff and Laura Evans suffered an unimaginable loss.
“In 2019, we lost our sons, Jude and Everett,” Jeff said. “Everett was stillborn, and Jude was born, and he lived for three days before he passed.”
Years later, they’ve turned that loss into a kid’s dream come true.
“A birthday party in a box, it’s got birthday cake mix, frosting, applesauce you can use instead of vegetable oil, balloons, napkins, plates and candles,” Jeff said. “Everything you need for a kid’s birthday party.”
Birthday Grins from the Evans Twins started when the twins turned 2 after Laura’s friend was struggling to throw her own child’s party.
“They couldn’t even get a cake mix, and so I just put the two ideas together and then it just kind of blossomed into this,” Laura said.
They gather donations for the kits throughout October, and then the boxes go to dozens of organizations across Omaha. Throughout the last five years, the effort has grown, and the Evanses said they’ve been overwhelmed by the support.
“There’s just bags on bags on bags full of stuff,” Jeff said. “It’s amazing. It makes you almost cry; you well up with tears because you’re so excited that people want to be a part of it.”
“You guys are very strong people,” Kisha Ford with Girls Inc. said to Jeff and Laura. “I couldn’t imagine going on my kids’ birthday and delivering stuff.”
Ford said the kids at Girls Inc. look forward to delivery day every year.
“[They’re] trying to find the best one and which one they like. They kind of, not necessarily fight over them, but they kind of go crazy over them,” Ford said.
On Nov. 4, the Evans delivered 1,104 kits. Nov. 4 is the same day that Jude and Everett entered the world.
“We would be spending the time and the money making our own children’s birthday party if they were still here on Earth, so we’re just doing that to hopefully help out any families that are in need,” Laura said.
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