This very sad photo of a teen alone on her birthday is going viral, and you can help!

Birthday parties should be exciting affairs with lots
of people, balloons, and delicious cake, especially
when you’re a teenager. But Hallee Sorenson from
Maine turned 18 last year and invited her friends to
her party, where there were balloons and cake, but
not a single friend showed up. Hallee’s cousin
Rebecca Lyn took a photo of Hallee anxiously
waiting for her friends, entirely alone at the party
venue. She posted it on Tuesday and it quickly
went viral. The photo is heartbreaking, to say the
least. No one should have to eat birthday cake by
themselves.
In the Facebook post, Rebecca included that Hallee
has autism, and that she’s “a beautiful young
woman both inside-and-out.” More than that, she
“lights up a room with her smile.” Understandably,
Hallee was deeply affected by the birthday incident.
BUT the good news is that Hallee’s 19th birthday is
coming up in July, and Rebecca wants to make up
for lost time and give Hallee something she will
remember forever! She has asked if people could
participate by making Hallee a special celebratory
card, and mailing it to this address:
Hallee Sorenson
34 Wellesley Way
Bangor, ME 04401
Rebecca explained in her message, “Hal loves
getting mail. This would be the best birthday gift
she could ask for. If you could find it in your heart
to take a few mins out of your day and send her a
card, I would be forever grateful.” Her post on June
7th with the message and photo have been shared
over 100,000 times, so it seems like people are
taking notice.
We hope that Hallee’s photo continues to make the
viral rounds, that she enjoys a fantastic 19th
birthday, and that the unhappy memories of last
year’s failed shindig are soon buried under happier
ones — plus mailbags full of awesome birthday
cards from friendly strangers!