Birthday party an exercise in charity for Sonoma County kids

In many ways, Liberty Wiseman’s 10th birthday party was pretty typical.

There were cupcakes and presents and singing and birthday hats.

But the guest list for Liberty’s party included folks who don’t typically get to share in such festivities.

The Village Elementary School student and a group of friends from church spent her birthday party serving meals to the homeless at the St. Vincent de Paul kitchen in Santa Rosa’s Railroad Square on Saturday.

Liberty and her friends decorated the dining hall with brightly colored streamers, passed out birthday hats and served hot meals with a smile to people in need.

“This is so sweet of her to share her birthday with us,” said Isabel Sell, who wore a birthday hat over her wool cap.

Sell, who said she’s been homeless since she was abandoned as a child in her native Guatemala, said she was touched by the gesture.

“This is a very special moment. It shows love and humanity,” Sell said.

Liberty has been volunteering at the kitchen regularly since she was 6, said her mother, Shannon Wiseman. So when party ideas came up, Liberty didn’t hesitate to include folks from the kitchen, many of whom have seen her for years and know her by name, she said.

Liberty and her friends stayed up late the night before baking cookies, brownies and apple crisp that they served Saturday. Liberty greeted guests, many of whom had spent the rainy night outdoors, at the door with a smile. She offered each a birthday hat while her friends served up trays of hot food.

Whenever she sees people down on their luck, “It feels sad, but then it feels good to cheer them up,” Liberty said.

When her two sons were invited to the party, Windsor resident Jen Galovich was initially conflicted about it, she said. As a mom, her first instinct is to make sure her children are safe. But she also wants to teach them about compassion and gratitude and service, she said.

“They need to start putting that into action, and I think they’re at the perfect age to start doing that,” Galovich said.

You can reach Staff Writer Kevin?McCallum at 521-5207 or kevin.mccallum@pressdemocrat.com. On Twitter?@srcitybeat.