Swaddling Clothes Project
Tax deductible
Three years ago shortly after Christmas, an idea struck me. While most of us give shelter residents old hand-me downs and unwanted items, why should that be? I have had at least three short stints in shelters during my adult life as a result of situations completely out of my control. Many would label me as a "typical loser" as a result. But, time and chance happen in every man's life. If you do not believe me check Ecclesiates 9:11 as written by Solomon.
For those who knew me in my late teens, this would have never been predicted based upon my academic record and bright future. Alas, life happens.
Yet, a blessing exists in each day that we rise. But, this fact is not always obvious for homeless individuals, especially the children. Often, these little tikes are in shelters as a result of an adult's action.
I prayed how can I do the most with what I had at the time for the residents of the Sienna Francis House, especially the little ones during the cold Winter months. In 2008, I saw an adult homeless man lose some of his fingers as a result of frost-bite. I could not bear seeing a child endure this.
Being underemployed, I took the $20 that I could spare at that time, and asked a few family members for a $5, $10, or $20 here and there. I raised a little over $150.00 in a week.
With this I could increase my buying power at the steep after Winter sales in local stores. We purchased over seventy items at local discounters. This included hats, gloves, scarves, warm-up suits, socks, and sweaters. These were mostly children's items.
Over the past couple of years, I have had some support from a local church, and we have raise a little more each year. This year my goal is $500.00. This will roughly meet or exceed any amount raised over the past three Winters.
I am rather frugal myself, and, since I am in my briar patch and have a number of rabbit and fox friends here, I can find great buys. The receipts records for the past few years of purchasng will be available on-line @ www.infogeist.com/swaddlingclothes by 12.25.2016. Since I had initially promised that I would provide these by 12.15.2016, I placed what I could find on my other computer on-line. I will do my best at providing the rest by 12.25.2016. This is such a busy season.
It is amazing what human networks can do. An old highschool football teammate, who played as a "we-back" at UNL and for Oakland plus GreenBay where he won a SuperBowl, helped the effort last year by letting me buy 40 hoodies at his cost, being that he had a online sports-clothing store. It is my goal of finding similar deals this year, especially at the steep Winter sales of 85% or more in late January or early February.
Plus, we must purchase some $1.00 skull caps which I found at a local Dollar Store. They seemed reasonably warm. I missed this opportunity since they were out-of-stock when I went looking for them last year.
It would be nice if we could raise the $500.00 by 01.15.2017. All the receipts from this years purchasing will be placed on-line as the items are bought and devlivered.
All of the proceeds will be made available for purchases that clothe current shelter residents. An administration fee has never and will never be assessed. Saul, who became Paul, said that one should work if able so he not be a burden on the church and its effort. As a result, I will never take a penny from the funds raised for the shelter so I might use them on any personal expense. This includes the cost of fuel related with delivery of the goods plus shopping and etcetera.
If you do not trust a stranger with getting this done, please consider setting aside $10 or $20 for the post-holiday sales and get some warm items for the residents.
Your contribution in support of the swaddling clothes project would mean very much. Not only would it help me increase my fundraising goal for this project during this fourth year. But, it will help the little ones at the shelter know that some "kind-hearted" folks exists in this world. That can be easily forgotten when one experiences homelessness.
I did not ask the shelter's permission for placing this request on-line, but I have worked with them on this since 2013. And, I volunteer a few hours each month at the homeless shelter. It is "great medicine" and gives me a better prespective on life.
For those who knew me in my late teens, this would have never been predicted based upon my academic record and bright future. Alas, life happens.
Yet, a blessing exists in each day that we rise. But, this fact is not always obvious for homeless individuals, especially the children. Often, these little tikes are in shelters as a result of an adult's action.
I prayed how can I do the most with what I had at the time for the residents of the Sienna Francis House, especially the little ones during the cold Winter months. In 2008, I saw an adult homeless man lose some of his fingers as a result of frost-bite. I could not bear seeing a child endure this.
Being underemployed, I took the $20 that I could spare at that time, and asked a few family members for a $5, $10, or $20 here and there. I raised a little over $150.00 in a week.
With this I could increase my buying power at the steep after Winter sales in local stores. We purchased over seventy items at local discounters. This included hats, gloves, scarves, warm-up suits, socks, and sweaters. These were mostly children's items.
Over the past couple of years, I have had some support from a local church, and we have raise a little more each year. This year my goal is $500.00. This will roughly meet or exceed any amount raised over the past three Winters.
I am rather frugal myself, and, since I am in my briar patch and have a number of rabbit and fox friends here, I can find great buys. The receipts records for the past few years of purchasng will be available on-line @ www.infogeist.com/swaddlingclothes by 12.25.2016. Since I had initially promised that I would provide these by 12.15.2016, I placed what I could find on my other computer on-line. I will do my best at providing the rest by 12.25.2016. This is such a busy season.
It is amazing what human networks can do. An old highschool football teammate, who played as a "we-back" at UNL and for Oakland plus GreenBay where he won a SuperBowl, helped the effort last year by letting me buy 40 hoodies at his cost, being that he had a online sports-clothing store. It is my goal of finding similar deals this year, especially at the steep Winter sales of 85% or more in late January or early February.
Plus, we must purchase some $1.00 skull caps which I found at a local Dollar Store. They seemed reasonably warm. I missed this opportunity since they were out-of-stock when I went looking for them last year.
It would be nice if we could raise the $500.00 by 01.15.2017. All the receipts from this years purchasing will be placed on-line as the items are bought and devlivered.
All of the proceeds will be made available for purchases that clothe current shelter residents. An administration fee has never and will never be assessed. Saul, who became Paul, said that one should work if able so he not be a burden on the church and its effort. As a result, I will never take a penny from the funds raised for the shelter so I might use them on any personal expense. This includes the cost of fuel related with delivery of the goods plus shopping and etcetera.
If you do not trust a stranger with getting this done, please consider setting aside $10 or $20 for the post-holiday sales and get some warm items for the residents.
Your contribution in support of the swaddling clothes project would mean very much. Not only would it help me increase my fundraising goal for this project during this fourth year. But, it will help the little ones at the shelter know that some "kind-hearted" folks exists in this world. That can be easily forgotten when one experiences homelessness.
I did not ask the shelter's permission for placing this request on-line, but I have worked with them on this since 2013. And, I volunteer a few hours each month at the homeless shelter. It is "great medicine" and gives me a better prespective on life.
Organizer
Jody Sharpe
Organizer
Omaha, NE
Siena/Francis House
Beneficiary