In our December newsletter we let you know that your neighbor, Joanne Austin, was organizing a gift drive for the children who live at the Lilac Meadows Family Shelter. Foster-Powell stepped up and answered the call! Here is an email update we recently received from Joanne —
When Scott Sorenson and I embarked on this ambitious project to provide Xmas stockings and wish list gifts to ALL 102 children living at the Lilac Meadows family shelter only three short weeks ago, I really had no idea whether we would be able to find enough neighbors willing to help make this a reality. I shouldn’t have doubted, as it was apparent after only a few days of fielding inquiries from SO many of you that we would easily reach our goal. Thanks to your abundant generosity, I can happily report that every child at Lilac Meadows will be receiving every gift they dared to request, as well as fully stuffed stockings full of extra goodies and practical necessities. This is ALL due to each of you stepping up in big and small ways. This was a true effort that spanned many neighborhoods, and many of you went above and beyond any reasonable expectations! My basement and Scott’s garage are now FULL of gifts and stockings, ready for delivery to Lilac Meadows on Wednesday evening. (See sample pics).
This project has restored my own faith in humanity and has been a complete joy for me to be a part of, and I look forward to repeating it again next year since (sadly), I’m sure the need will still be there.
Humbly and gratefully yours, Joanne Austin
Many thanks to everyone who helped make this effort a reality. The biggest thanks go to Joanne and Scott for organizing and doing so much of the work!
Would you like to help families in need? Kellogg Middle School recently sent this note out to families in a weekly newsletter:
One of the main goals of the Kellogg SUN Community School is to work with school staff and the school community to help stabilize Kellogg families with needs that are identified by the families themselves.
When Kellogg was designed and built, the school district built in a special space for a Food Pantry and a Clothing Closet so that we can work to support families who have food and/or clothing needs.
At this time, we are working to build up both the Kellogg Food Pantry and the Kellogg Clothing Closet from scratch and we need your help! Up until December 14th, Kellogg Middle School will be collecting the items listed below.
Fill the Kellogg Food Pantry
Shelf-stable items requested are:
loaves of bread
PB & J
Tomato sauce
Pasta/mac & cheese
Shelf stable milk
Ramen/noodle soup
Rice
Granola bars
Breakfast bars
Canned chicken/tuna
Cereal
Beans (pinto/black)
Tortillas
Cooking oil
Fill the Kellogg Clothing Closet
New or gently-used items requested are:
Socks: all genders (new only please)
Winter gear: hats, gloves, scarves, etc: all genders (new and gently loved)
Winter jackets: various sizes, all genders (new and gently loved)
Shoes: various sizes, all genders (new and gently loved)