As most of you know we love adoption! We are involved in a group called Families Supporting Adoption. We have met some incredible people through this organization and want to do something to give back to this beautiful community that we have come to love so dearly! If you think you may want to donate an item, you can contact me at sunshineinmysoul_33(at) yahoo(dot) com
I will be happy to answer your questions, or let you know where to send your donations.
This year, Families Supporting Adoption will be hosting a service project at the annual conference. Collection baskets will be set up for conference participants to have the opportunity to serve two great organizations in collecting items that they are in need of.
The first organization we will be collecting items for is Birth Mother Baskets.
Birth Mother Baskets is a non-profit organization started by Gina Crotts. Gina is a birth mother and refers to the daughter she placed as her "little butterfly." In an effort to give back to the adoption community and serve other women who have placed and may need some additional love, Gina created Birth Mother Baskets. Donated items are arranged into beautiful baskets and sent to birth mothers in need. We are honored to be part of her cause this year.
Items that we would love to collect for Birth Mother Baskets include:
- Journals
- Lotions
- Bath Salts
- Bath Bubbles
- Movies
- Jewelry
- 8 x 10 or 5 x 7 photo frames
- Music CD's
- Inspirational Books
- Hair Products
- Make-Up
- Fingernail Polish
- Manicure/Pedicure Sets
- Photo Albums
- Magazines
- Small Blankets
- Slippers
- Stuffed Animals
- Gift Certificates (massages, spa treatments, pedicure, manicure, movies or book store, etc.)
- Large Baskets (Gina recommends laundry sized wicker baskets at Wal-Mart for only $4.00)
- Tissue Paper
- Ribbon
- Candles
We will also be collecting school supplies for The Christmas Box International.
The friendly environment of the Christmas Box Houses are unique. Children are brought into the shelter program after being removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect, or abandonment. Instead of spending the night in less comfortable circumstances, they are able to arrive at the House were the staff is immediately available to talk to children and explain what is happening, what will happen, and why. The House staff provides a sense of caring, warmth and continuity at a very difficult time in a child's life.
Currently there are three Christmas Box Houses located in the state of Utah in Salt Lake, Ogden and Moab. The Houses all have the basic concept of a child-friendly, calm, home-like atmosphere and have added programs and services to meet the unique needs of the children in the communities they serve.
School supplies that we would love to collect for The Christmas Box House include:
- #2 Pencils
- Glue Sticks
- Backpacks
- Boxes of Tissue
- Pink Erasers
- Broad Tip Markers
- Scissors
- Pencil Cases
- Wide-Ruled Spiral Bound Notebooks
- Pocket Folders
- Crayons
- Packages of Wide Ruled Loose Leaf Paper
Call me selfish, because I think it does more good for the giver than it does even for the receiver to reach out and serve those in need.
