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First Pledge

12/28/2011

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With just a few days before we enter a brand New Year, and last weeks bustle behind me, I've taken some time to reflect. It occurs to me that in barely one, very short month, Caroling for Coats has come into its own. 

We have received, and donated, a little over 350 winter wear items as of Thursday, December 15, which was the last day of school before Christmas Break.

All week there were emails from those who cannot get to NSB, so I continued picking up more items from here to Ormond Beach. I stopped by our Drop Off Site, Delicious Nutritious on canal in NSB, to say hello and thank them for all of their kindness and efforts in donating the time and space it takes to help this cause and low and behold, once again, the closet they have donated to us was full! I left with an SUV filled and ready for distribution to more schools when they come back from the break. This project is still going strong, even after Christmas!

The outpouring of generosity from our community has been so very gracious and loving; you would be surprised to know that we have barely made a dent in filling the higher needs our county is currently experiencing, with donations to two local elementary schools; Terry T. Small in Daytona Beach, Chisholm of New Smyrna. Our third and fourth schools so far have been New Smyrna Middle, who will share donations, rotating items of size with New Smyrna High. 

Thanks to the City Manager of New Smyrna, we reached out to the community at Babe James Community Center, hosting a "Day of Giving", distributing coats, blankets, sweatshirts and assorted winter wear items to local members of the community. All of the heavier used times were given to shelters who are seemingly glad to accept anything for our area's homeless adults and families.

The reception is always the same at the schools and shelters, you would think an armored truck was pulling in just for them...everyone is so appreciative. I'm learning so much too, mostly that the need is much greater than we know.

The nurse at one school explains how she and other faculty shop thrift stores because often students have nothing, lacking all articles of clothing, at all times of year. For an adult it is somewhat easier to hold onto clothing and use as long as it serves its purpose, but the need for children is constant, they keep growing...

Some supplementary, personal items aren’t accepted if used, e.g. underwear, so I need to consider a way to reach out for these items as well, again, not realizing the need until enlightened by the schools. 

I’m blown away to know that an employee or teacher within our school system today, should have to pay for anything to help a child  when they are on the salary that they make, yet they do, with oodles of compassion and without any complaint. I have officially put the word out that before any teacher reaches into their own pocket that they contact me with a description of the items needed and I will put the word out to you, my friends.


Caroling for Coats has been one my favorite ideas ever and I'm so glad I rolled with it. Sadly, and at the same time, fortunately, it has opened my eyes to the enormous needs of others even further than I imagined.

It takes some thought and planning to properly and effectively, help the various types of us who are in need. So, everyone, we have a lot of work to do, and I am your vehicle so don't hesitate to call on me.


xox 
Warm Regards,
Elizabeth

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12/14/2011

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BABE JAMES COMMUNITY CENTER
Myrtle Ave. NSB 32168 
Thursday 10 AM..
******."A Day of Giving"****** 

If you would like a gently used coat,
 sweatshirt, sweater, hat or gloves, come by and see us.

 We will be there, but for just one morning... 
until this batch of winter wear is gone xox

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12/7/2011

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My eyes opened to an agreeable chill this lovely December 1st morning. I snuggled in comfy, cotton bedding for a few minutes longer, reminiscent of the days when I lived in New Jersey. Those cold mornings were fight or flight while often getting ready to head out to a frosty car, or hop on a train and head into the wintry sidewalks of NYC, or even just the bitter, nipping winds, of the Jersey shore. 
Still, I am grateful for the refreshing chill here in Central Florida because after our extended, hot, Smyrna summers, it is welcoming... I’d never go back to those subfreezing days again.

Turning on the heat to warm the house for a bit, I coaxed my dog, Sheena onto the bed for body heat keep and returned to my snuggle-fest for a little longer. 



My morning meditations could not help but recall a conversation I had with a friend, Judy Reiker, days before. Being our city's vice mayor, she had a great concern for actions of compassion within our community. We asked each other, "how are we able to expand the ways in which we participate in helping others?" Her special concern that day was for those focused on in an interview by 60 minutes some nights before. She asked me, “Do you know that within our community, we have entire families living in cars and sending children to school and living life from those cars?”

While Sheena and I remained under our cozy, comforter, I thought about those families on this brisk morning…My first thought was of blankets... and then, if these families even had any dogs to keep them warm and safe... and if so, how they managed to feed them, too?


I decided to donate some blankets today… somewhere, anywhere, but next, as I went to the closet to grab a jacket to wear while walking my dog, that’s when it really hit me…I live in Florida and have an entire closet dedicated to coats! I thought it over on our walk and decided to empty that closet and begin this coat drive TODAY.



Let’s just face it, shall we? If we have people living in cars because they cannot afford to get into, or maintain a household, then money to purchase coats, blankets, and winter wear must be just as scarce and in many times, non existent. For the next few months, when we reach the occasional, near or freezing temperatures, many of these people can barely afford to put food on the dashboards. I am sure winter wear will come in very handy.

I figured that while participating in the Second Harvest food drive this month, I would also seal the deal by beginning a drive for winter items for needier people; coats, hats, scarves, mittens, gloves, (even mismatched) and blankets of all shapes and sizes will be very useful and appreciated. The items won’t be sold, but instead, will be donated by our community, to our community, for anyone who shows need and would like to be warm. By the way, the showing need part is simple. (If someone says they need a coat, they get a coat.)
So, break out the boxes and clean out the closets, I’ll be by to pick up weekly, through the end of December. After that, a drop off will be appointed.


See you soon,

Feel free to inquire about Volunteering.
Elizabeth Sullivan (Fellow humanitarian:)) soulivin888@yahoo.com
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12/7/2011

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