No one showed up to his birthday party. Then his community stepped up
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IDAHO FALLS — First responders and community members helped make a birthday party for a 7-year-old boy one he’ll never forget.
Jackson Carl, who has autism, hoped to celebrate his 7th birthday at Papa Tom’s Pizza on Monday with friends. He invited 20 of his classmates to attend. When he arrived, no one showed up.
Jackson’s mom, Brittany, tells EastIdahoNews.com her son was devastated.
“He was feeling down and crying on dad’s shoulder,” Brittany says.
Brittany expressed her grievances on Facebook. She made a post on the Life in Idaho Falls Facebook page inviting anyone around his age to come and have some cake and ice cream.
Within minutes, Brittany says random people started showing up with gifts.
“He got money, a monster truck RC car, dinosaurs, blocks, stuffed animals, an art set,” says Brittany.
Rad Ray’s Karts, an indoor mini go-kart raceway in Idaho Falls, gave him a free go-kart ride. Lindsay Ray, who owns the business with her husband, Kyle, says Jackson came in Monday and had a great time.
About an hour later, they got a response they never expected. The Idaho Falls Police Department showed up. The fire department and deputies from the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office eventually arrived as well.
Brittany says Jackson got to sit in a fire truck and a police car and play with the lights and the sirens.
“That made his day! He climbed in the back of a cop car. He was a brave soul for (doing) that,” Brittany says, laughing.
Idaho Falls Fire Department spokeswoman Hayli Egbert says firefighters from Station 1 and Station 4 made a spontaneous decision to stop by and surprise Jackson after hearing about the situation.
She says it was a pleasure to “help make his birthday a little brighter.”
“We hope he felt celebrated and was reminded that his community cares about him,” Egbert says.
Sgt. Bryan Lovell with the Bonneville County Sheriff’s Office says, “it’s always nice when we’re able to help brighten someone’s day, especially when it’s a kid and it’s their birthday.”
“It definitely brightens our day as well,” Lovell says.
Jackson is at school now and unavailable for comment, but Brittany says she asked him how his day was when the party was over. His reply, according to her, was: “Great!”
Brittany says she is grateful to those who wished her son a happy birthday, even if they couldn’t make it to his party. She’s especially grateful to first responders and community members for helping to make Jackson’s birthday so memorable.
“I just appreciate everybody!” she says.
