Update from Me!

Sorry, I just haven't been with it this week. I do want to report that earlier this week, Brian sent 3 large boxes home with Bob and me! Not sure what the boxes include, as I said, I haven't been with it this week, the boxes are still in the car. :-( In addition to this, a guy Bob works with sent toys home with Bob last week! We're getting there!

Let me know what you think about a corn hole tournament! We need to get some teams together. Right now we have about 3 teams. Not enough, we should try to get at least 10 teams.

Susanne, I think it would be a great idea to get together for lunch! I know you won't be available for the next couple of weeks, but maybe when you're available we can set something up!

As always, keep us posted on your progress!

Have a great weekend!

Crystal

Reminder

Hi! Just wanted to pop in and see how everyone is doing? Any progress?

Please keep in touch!

Crystal

Fund Raiser

Hello! Okay, you've all seen my e-mails, postings, etc. about trying to get stuff together for the Home of the Innocents, well, Bob and I are thinking of hosting a cornhole tournament to benefit the cause. Here's what I'm thinking:

Entry Fee: $10.00 per person

The Donation: $5.00 of your entry fee will go to purchase items from the Home Wish List, the rest will be divided and awarded to 1st, 2nd and 3rd place winners.

Other items: Bob and I are also thinking about buying hot dogs and drinks and selling those at the tournament, so that would be a little more money to go to the benefit.

Let me know what you think! If we can't get but 3 or 4 people, we won't bother, but if we could get 8 to 10 teams, it would definitely be worth the effort!

Please let me know your thoughts!

Giving

You know how it feels to give, it's a great feeling, but, do you know how good it feels to see others feel good about giving?
I am fortunate to work with some terrific people and today I witnessed the warmth and joy come over someone as they handed me the offering of good will.
The best part though was when I asked them to join us on the day we deliver the items to the home! Everyone I've talked to about this plan has been very receptive and has offered to bring in items. Can't wait to make the delivery and, if all goes well, maybe we should think about making it a yearly project.

I was thrilled...

Earlier this year I participated in the Triple Crown of Running in Louisville. During two of the three races we passed the Home Of The Innocents. I had never heard about it before, but I noticed that it was associated with Kosair Children Hospital. That sparked my interest, since we naturally are interested in anything that has to do with Kosair Hospital, ever since our daughter Emily spent her first 4 months at Kosairs. So, I did a little bit of research on the Internet and I felt that it was really something worth supporting.

So, when Crystal told me about her plan to get some people together for "operation hope and happiness", I was thrilled. I hope that we can reach the goal to supply the Home Of The Innocents with a truckload of items they urgently need for the kids that they take care of.

I have already had some feedback from people who told me that they had items to donate and wanted more information about what else they can do.

Maybe we could get together over lunch some time next week with whoever is interested in joining us and talk about some of the details?

Susanne

Support

Well, I just wanted to say that I've gotten very positive support here at work! A few people have already asked if they could bring their stuff in to me! Yeah!

If you have stuff and you want to get it out of your way, I can keep it at the house. Just let me know and I will pick it up as I come through, or I can let you know when I will be home and you can drop it off.

I'm anxious to hear how everyone else is doing!

Please remember, you can post your comments, suggestions, etc. on here so we can keep up with each others progress. Don't be shy!

Crystal

Distribution of Donated Items

I've had a couple of people ask me, "How do I know that the kids are going to benefit from the items I've donated?" I asked Beth (my contact person at the Home) how the donated items are received and distributed, and here's what she said:

Other than our Materials Manager and his assistant, employees of the Home are NEVER allowed access to the items that are donated to us. The area in the building where the items are sorted and distributed is locked, there are cameras in the areas and access to our warehouse is only allowed with our materials manager. When items are needed for the kids, our staff requisitions them from our materials department. As far as I know, we've never had any trouble with employees taking things. I do know that employees have been reprimanded for going through items that had yet to be sorted- not to take things for themselves, but pulling items out for kids before the items had been properly documented and logged.

I also invite you to view our page on the Better Business Bureau website: http://www.bbb.org/charity-reviews/louisville/toc/home-of-the-innocents-inc-in-louisville-ky-6731

We are fully accredited and meet all 20 of the standards the BBB has set for charity accountability.

The List

Here's the list of items from the Home website. The list shows items that are needed most at this time, but it does not include items that are needed at other times. So, even if you have clothes you're kids have outgrown, and it's not on the list, it doesn't mean they won't need them another day. List:

Teen Items

CD Walkman
CD Player
CD’s with clean lyrics
Tennis shoe strings (white)
Movie/Restaurant Gift
Men’s and Women’s Wallets
Bath & Body Works items
School Uniforms (all sizes)
Disposable cameras
Journals and diaries
Boys/Men’s Undershirts (white, crew neck, all sizes)
Boys/Men’s Boxer briefs (all sizes)
Girls/Ladies’ panties (all sizes)
Socks (tube, white, size: women’s and men’s)
Tennis shoes (child size 13 up to adult size 12 – girls/boys)


Baby Items

Baby Wipes
Booster seat
Diapers (sizes N, 5, 6)
Pull Ups/Training pants (sizes 1-2T, 2-3T, 3-4T, 4-5T)
Baby Lotion
Baby Bath
Baby Oil
Vaseline
Crib Sheets
Baby Bed
Toddler Bed
Diaper Rash Ointment


Clothing Needs

Girls Clothing (size 7, shirts, shorts, pants)
Girls undergarments (size 2T & 3T)
Girls undergarments (size 16)
Ladies undergarments (Size 5 & 7)
Boys clothing (size 6, shirts, shorts, pants)
Boys clothing (size 7/8 shirts, shorts, pants)
Boys undergarments (size 2T & 3T)
Boys undergarments (size 18-20)



Personal Care Items

Hair detangler
Deoderant (stick) male & female
Feminine Hygiene Products
African American Hair Care Products
Hair Brushes
Adult Body Lotion
Hair Gel
Toothpaste
Lip Balm
Adult tooth brushes
Shampoo
Hair Conditioner
Dental Floss
Toothbrush Holders
Plastic Travel Soap Dish Holders
Kleenex


School Needs (Ongoing)

Pocket dictionary
Flash disks
Back Packs
Calculators
3 or 5 subject notebooks
Mead composition notebooks
Writing tablets (grades 1 & 2)


Arts & Crafts Items

Window clings for all seasons
Construction paper
Liquid Craft paint
Fat crayons
Glitter
Googly eyes in different sizes
Black Sharpie markers
Pom Poms in different colors and sizes
Scrap booking kits
Tape
Stencils
Beads of all shapes and sizes
Fishing Wire
Books and Stories on tape
Washable markers
Pipe Cleaners
Modeling Clay
Model kits

Canteen Items for McGuire’s General Store

Sodas
Individually wrapped snacks
Gum
Microwavable popcorn
Suckers


Household Items

White bath towels
White washcloths
Pots/Pans
Household cleaning supplies
Silverware (forks and spoons)
3 oz. paper, plastic or Styrofoam drinking cups
6 oz. plastic drinking cups
Night Light (plastic plug-in style)
Batteries (all sizes)
Full size sheet set
Twin size sheet set
Satin Pillow cases
Shower curtain & hooks


Program Needs

6 Weather Radios
2 Playstation 2’s
Wii Game system with exercise board
6 large, vinyl covered, bean bags
Seasonal Vinyl tablecloths for 8 small square tables (matching seasonal)
Plastic vases (8 narrow and tall)
8 Twin, Bed-In-A-Bag (teen appropriate for boys)
10 Twin, Bed-In-A-Bag (teen appropriate for girls)
4 area rugs – 8 x 8
4 Large Outdoor Rubbermaid storage containers with lids to store bike helmets, basketballs, etc.
Microwave Oven

Step 1

Now that I have the instroduction out of the way, I've been thinking about how I will organize everything so we can get as much off the list as possible, without duplicating items 10 fold. I think for the 1st step we should get some totes together. Anyone interested in donating a tote, please let me know. Bob and I are good for 2. I will get the totes and label them, baby items, teen items, etc.. From there, we should all look around our house and see what we have that is in great shape (clothes, books, toys, etc. ) that can be donated to one of the categories. Once we get all that together, we can organize it in the totes and check it off the list (if it's a list item). From there, we can see what's left on the list.

Let me know if you have any suggestions on how to get things together and organized!

By the way, I think we should target the first part of September as our Official Delivery Day! What do you think?

Crystal

Welcome To Our Site

As you all know, we're going to work together to help The Home Of The Innocents. As stated before:


As most of you know, I’m not one to give money to charities for fear the money will go mostly to administration, and not to those who are truly in need. Well, for personal reasons that I won't discuss, I have an organization that I'm making my new "drop spot" for things I no longer need or use. Trust me! If I didn't feel these kids were going to benefit 100% from this, I would have nothing to do with it. I would like to ask for "volunteers" to help me put together a truck load of the items the Home is needing. I'm making a truck load my goal and need your help! Let me know if you're interested and what you would like to give from the list! Keep in mind, it can be new or gently used, so it doesn't necessarily have to cost you a dime!


With all that being said, let's work together to get a truckload, or a caravan of loaded cars to take to The Home Of The Innocents! You can use this blog to ask questions, make comments, suggestions, etc. It's Our Project and Our Site to make a difference!

Crystal