For the kids in S. FL

[mmmcq]

Mon evening- sent our first box out with diapers, wipes, small toys, cards, etc and will collect more for another box later in the week.


PROJECT SUNSHINE

I don't know if any of you saw the AP article on Thurday about the kids of Florida's Gulfcoast who have been left homeless or nearly so and without any toys, books or games to occupy their time. Most of these kids have lost all of their childhood possessions. The article brought me to tears and I resolved to do something. You can read the article at

http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/C/CHARLEY_CHILDREN?SITE=PAYOK&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT

How can you help? Two organizations - the Girl Scouts and Catholic Charities have agreed to distribute anything that might be sent their way to the kids in shelters, temporary day cares, etc.

Physical donations can be sent to Catholic Charities and we suggest small to medium toys, preferably non-violent, to include card games, games with a small number of parts, Barbies, trucks/cars, videos, books, Game Boys/Games, art supplies etc. There is also a need for baby supplies such as: diapers, wipes, bottles, cereal, formula, jars of baby food, clothing etc.

Sister Ann de Nicolo, Project Sunshine, Catholic Charities, 1210 East Oak Street, Arcadia, FL 34266

The Girl Scouts will accept checks made out to the
GSGCF Hurricane Relief Fund and they will also accept gift cards to Wal Mart and Toys R Us in $10-30 denominations. They will distribute the gift cards to families in shelters working with other aid agencies where appropriate for the replenishment of clothing and toys lost during the hurricane.

Jennifer Ourednik, Sunshine Project, The Girls Scouts of Gulfcoast Florida, 2909 Olympic Street, Sarasota, FL 34231

If you can help, please do so. You can be sure that the kids and their families will appreciate it.

Thanks in advance for your support.

Michele/Project Sunshine

 

[floridaminnie]

I know that the kids at ours school are also sending school supplies. They lost everything and need that to start school in a week. Just can't imagine losing everything like that.

 

[mmmcq]

Nor can I imagine that kind of loss. I had heard that there were efforts to replace books and supplies....so I decided to focus on the toys for the kids and the supplies for Arcadia.

I'm just getting started up here and across the US with family and friends. Hopefully by next week we'll have many boxes headed their way.

 

[Microcell]

Worth a bump! I have some Girl Scouts and we will discuss efforts to help at our frist meting.

 

[poohtown]

Originally posted by Microcell
Worth a bump! I have some Girl Scouts and we will discuss efforts to help at our frist meting.

i was thinking the same thing

 

[chrissie123]

WOW you see it on the news .. but actually do not know how to comprehend just how much these people have lost,,, send an address... & i will try to make sure that the people that i work with(primary school) will set up some sort of fund.. whether it be boxes. donations, etc... god bless...we do not return until 7th Sept, though..hope this will not be too late???

 

[Serena]

I heard from the red cross on one of the news shows that trying to distribute everything people send is in itself hard to manage. They suggested sending money instead.

Regardless, I thank you to anyone that sends anything including prayers to those people. It's sorely needed.

And you never know when you might be on the other end.

 

[Microcell]

You hit it on the head Serena!

Do onto others!

 

[Hillbeans]

I do think that everyone can help in some way, even if they live far away. It'd be great to see if a musician does a benefit concert or something along those lines to help even further.

 

[Talking Hands]

Toys, school supplies are already on the way from this area. We know what it was like. It is fresh in our memories even though it was 10 years ago. These kids are not forgotten. But right now the most inportant thing is to get life back to normal and that means getting the schools up and getting them back in school even if it is on a split schedule in what schools are not damaged.

 

[mmmcq]

Sorry to have sounded cranky, but there are hundreds if not thousands of folks who cruise these boards daily. I asssume most are caring human beings. I have a hard time thinking about anyone else BUT the kids/folks in Florida. I haven't even been able to bring myself to schedule our next trip to WDW next summer. I feel selfish doing so knowing others are in distress. I'm a sap.....I know!

Serena, the Red Cross is mainly focusing on the larger issues and they are overwhelmed, which is why I made direct contact with the Girl Scouts who had opened their camps as a temp day care. Jennifer told me what they needed and then later called me to ask if I could send physical supplies to Catholic Charities in Arcadia because they needed it more. The Girl Scouts will concentrate on distributing things within the shelters and the gift cards will be a gesture to families who have lost everything to go out with their kids before schools open and replace some clothes and toys. That's what she and I hope anyway.

If any of the girl scout troops want to get involved Jennifer's address is in my first post. I have her telephone number as well.

Any thing anyone can do would be appreciated. I'm sure there are more locations which need help, but these are two where I've made direct contact and am confident the items will be distributed to those most in need.

Thanks for trying.

 

[Pin Wizard]

At a couple churches I know of, they are asking for donations for hurricane relief funds each weekend. When I lived in FL and there was something that happened, they took collections which were forwarded to Catholic Charities. I'm sure there are many churches doing the same.

 

[Talking Hands]

Pin Wizard my church has people there now. They have from the first day. My church was one destoyed by Andrew and had services in the parking lot for a long time. Helping others who are hurting is easy.

My Tupperware Distributorship is collecting donations for those in Charlette county as well.

 

[Pin Wizard]

Andrew was something else, just as this one was. We were lucky that our area didn't get it. My neighbor across the street in my last neighborhood lived down there when Andrew hit. Lost her home. She ended up taking a dog she found wandering the streets there. Sweetest thing. I'm sure many organizations are doing what they can to help.