"You've restored my faith": Community shows up for lonely birthday boy
One dad's desperate plea has "restored" his faith after his local community showed up for his son's third birthday party.
Pre-schooler William Buck and his dad Steven sat patiently on a beach in Wellington, waiting for his friends to arrive and begin the celebrations for his third birthday party.
As time passed, William and his dad grew more hopeless, and they worried about the fate of the celebrations.
"He kept asking where everyone was, and we were like 'they’re coming soon'," Steven Buck told Stuff.
Steven felt "guilty" that none of his son's mates had come to the party, especially given how excited his son had been for this birthday, as he had been talking about the celebration for weeks.
In a last ditch effort to make William's day special, Steven turned to social media for help.
Steven posted an image of the pair online and invited any locals wanting "some sun and sand" to join them.
"William would love some friends to play with. He has Hot Wheels, sand toys, dinos, and we have some snacks and drinks. Any and all welcome," he wrote.
Amazingly, locals responded in their thousands, wishing William a 'Happy Birthday' while many others joined the three-year-old and his parents.
"Going there. See you soon," one local wrote, before arriving with her family.
The partygoers arrived with bubbles and inflatables, parking themselves down on beach chairs ready to celebrate the sunny day with William.
"Thank you so much everyone for the birthday wishes and support," Steven wrote online after the day. "Wellington you always restore my faith in humanity!"
Image credits: Facebook