Just visited a womens/childrens shelter with DS.

[Jaimee]

I posted last week about gathering 6 bags of too small clothes from DS 5's room. I took some to a consignment shop and they weren't taking many more winter clothes at this time, so we came home with most of it. I called around to some shelters today and found one in need of kids things. DS and I just dropped it off and I think it was a great experience. We're by no means well off, I'm a single mom and basically *just* keeping up with the bills. I felt it would be great if he could come along with me so I could explain where his stuff was going. When we got there there was a mom with 2 young kids checking in for the night (it's below 0 here today). DS went to one of the boxes and pulled out his Fisher Price school bus and gave it to the little girl (about 2) and sat down and played with her. The director had DS fill out a sheet with his name and address so she could send him a thank you note On the way home he asked lots of questions. He wanted to know where the family's car was and I explained they didn't have one, he said right away it's too cold to walk! He suggested that we bring his coat when it gets to small and his old wagon so the mom could pull the kids instead of making them walk. It was a really great experience. I think we're going to bring his things there rather that doing garage sales in the future. It felt a little more personal that dropping stuff off a Goodwill (of course that's great too) but here I felt that our things would actually be put to use right away. I encourage everyone to do this if possible!

 

[pumba]

grow to be just like you........you are right.......your son is learning and this is the age to let them suck in as much as they can learn.......hugs to you both

 

[Dan Murphy]

Originally posted by Jaimee
............DS went to one of the boxes and pulled out his Fisher Price school bus and gave it to the little girl (about 2) and sat down and played with her........

I think I could just see Isaiah doing that, Jamiee, that is super. A real gentleman, learning from a neat mom. Makes your insides warm, eh?? Thanks for sharing.

 

[debster812]

Jaimee--

That is great!!! There is a local outreach agency that has an emergency safe house for women and their children who are escaping abusive situations. This is where I bring all of our stuff. The last time we were there, was right after Halloween, and we took about 2/3 of DS' candy, plus our leftovers, and made up about 20 goody bags, and dropped them off. I have 3 copy paper boxes full of stuff ready to go, I just need to call, to see when someone will be around to take it.

This is a great lesson that you are teaching your son.

Debbie

 

[dmslush]

I work in a domestic violence shelter and donations like yours are what keeps us going. Grants pay most of our bills and salaries, but it is donations of food, clothes, and furniture that make it possible for us to set women up in apartments after they leave the shelter. Most of the people that come to the shelter only have the clothes on their backs and have no way to get more clothes and such except for our donation room.


Also, I know that many times people balk at donating cash because they 'don't know what it will be spent on'. During Christmas we had way more toys donated than we would ever be able to give out. We were told several different times that people would rather go out and buy toys as give cash to the shelter "because we don't know how it will be spent". Many times, cash donations are used to pay the first months rent and utilities in our ladies apartments when they leave the shelter.