Cradles to Crayons’ Post

On Day 9 of our #12DaysOfGiving, we will spotlight our unique clothing program. Each week, our clients get more than meals and food boxes; they enjoy a personalized 'shopping' experience in our clothing room, choosing from a variety of seasonal items like hoodies, shirts, pants, hats, and shoes - all of which we get from in-kind donations, partnerships, or purchase ourselves. Here's Why It Matters: Choice & Autonomy: Consistently offering choice and control throughout many of our interactions is at the root of trauma-informed care. It helps empower those we serve. The Joy of Fresh Clothes: New outfits not only uplift spirits, but this shared ‘shopping’ experience fosters positive interactions and stronger relationships between client and counselor. Holistic Support: Our clients leave our sessions carrying more than just physical items; they feel heard, supported, and valued. Your donations expand our support beyond the basics, offering a world where we’re not just present to help our clients survive but to truly thrive and build outstanding lives for themselves. Be a part of this change: https://lnkd.in/gkUCt6gB

Have you seen the giving machines? I’ve gone to one of these machines for the last couple of years and went again last week with my nephew. These are a great example of metric-based giving and a fun giving experience. The machines are set up at different locations around the world, usually in shopping malls, and look just like vending machines. You go to the machine and you buy an item. The item is just a piece of cardboard that drops when you make a purchase, but it represents some impact. For example, you can buy a goat, chicken, piglet, blanket, hygiene kit, half day of respite for a family caring for someone with disabilities, and lots more. I love how tangible this makes giving back and that it gives a specific measurement of impact with your donation. You know that your $75 is providing one goat and $25 provides 2 chickens. This is the kind of transparency we need a lot more of. What do you think, should we do a vending machine for people to fund the collection of ocean-bound plastic? Learn more about the giving machines here.👇 https://lnkd.in/gK-aQDi7

This month, we are inviting our supporters to join us in our Spring Clean campaign. Here's how you can get involved: 🌟Donate Hygiene Products: Help us stock our shelves by donating essential hygiene items such as hand sanitiser, shampoo, toothpaste, deodorant, and cleaning products. 🌟Spread the Word: Share our message on social media, in your workplace, or with friends and family. 🌟Organise a Fundraiser: Whether it's a bake sale, a sponsored walk, or a virtual fitness challenge, there are endless possibilities to get creative and make a positive impact. 🌟Volunteer Your Time: Your time and dedication are invaluable in helping us distribute basic hygiene products to those who can't afford them. Together, we can make a difference and ensure that everyone has access to the basic hygiene necessities they need to thrive. 💛

For those unfamiliar with the endeavors Drew and I have embarked on over the past year and a half, let me share our journey. We initiated a program called Closet Share, initially conceived as a hobby centered around accepting clothing donations and redistributing them freely within the community. Soon, the demand escalated significantly, prompting us to form an exceptional Board of Directors and incorporate as a Not-For-Profit Organization in January of the previous year. Our days became a constant cycle of receiving donations into our family home, meticulously washing, sorting, and photographing each item—with the invaluable assistance of our children and local volunteers. We were distributing hundreds of pieces of clothing weekly, aiding numerous families. Collaborations with local organizations allowed us to extend support to the homeless, vulnerable individuals, those reentering society from prison, refugees, newcomers to Canada, struggling students, and those facing emergencies like house fires or divorces. Working from 6 am to 10-11:00 pm, we transformed unsuitable clothing into Bags of Rags, generating income by selling them to local businesses. Despite our tireless efforts, we haven't secured substantial funding or grants, primarily because we lack a specific niche, focusing on helping everyone in our community. Our biggest hurdle lies in finding a warehouse for the hundreds of thousands of clothing pieces crowding our family home. While we've devised a concept to provide low-cost clothing and keep donations in our community, the challenge now is turning this plan into reality. Every day, we witness numerous people seeking help and clothing, yet the products sit in our basement, awaiting processing. Although our aim is to continue offering free clothing to organizations and low-income families, we require the necessary support and guidance. It's disheartening to know we possess the resources to make a significant impact, yet face obstacles in bringing this program to fruition. We appeal to the community, requesting your kindness in sharing our post and making it well-known that we have a solution to various issues, from saving our landfills from textile waste to providing the community with good quality, clean clothing. With your support, we can make Greater Sudbury a better place. If you'd like more information or wish to discuss this further, please don't hesitate to reach out! info@closetshare.ca closetshare.ca

What Sets Compassion Coalition Apart from Most Nonprofits? One defining characteristic that sets Compassion Coalition apart from most nonprofits is our ongoing self-sustaining model. Self-sustaining means we operate without relying on continuous grants or external funding. Instead, we generate our own resources to support our mission. This approach ensures that our assistance remains consistent and reliable, no matter the economic climate or changes in external funding. Each week, we give away over a million dollars' worth of essential goods.. These goods include desperately needed products such as clothing for missions and the homeless, footwear for children who otherwise wouldn't be able to afford it, personal hygiene items, and diapers for single moms. The range of items we provide—from personal hygiene products and paper goods to clothing and furniture—are all given away without any ongoing grants. Our ability to sustain this level of support is a testament to our innovative and self-sustaining model. By being self-sustaining, we can consistently make a significant impact on our community, ensuring that essential support is always available to those who need it most.

"Nearly Famous Burgers & Hot Dogs" is probably going to have to remove "Nearly" from its name after this story! hashtag #payingitforward This is an incredible story from The Dallas Morning News - link to the story is in the comments. The highlights: * A customer donated $500 to Jeremy Lowe, the owner, to help feed people in need this holiday season. * Jeremy's solution - create a board with "pre-paid meal receipts." Anyone can take down a receipt to receive a meal - no questions asked. * The idea sparked even more guests to participate. * Already, more customers are paying it forward with over $2500 meals on the board, donated to help those in need! WHY IT MATTERS: >>> The simplicity in the execution was brilliant. >>> The guest that started it all wants to remain anonymous, not looking for any attention, just wanting to help others in need. >>> The joy of giving is contagious. #journeybacktojoy

🎁 Elevate Your Corporate Gifting Game with a Handcrafted Charcuterie Board! 🎁 In the world of business, building strong connections is key. What better way to show your appreciation to clients, partners, and employees than with a beautifully curated charcuterie board? At LLD Gifts, we believe every gift has the power to create lasting memories and strengthen relationships. Our handcrafted personalized charcuterie boards are a token of gratitude and a symbol of appreciation. Why choose a charcuterie board from LLD Gifts? ✨ **Handmade with Love**: Each board is carefully engraved to make a lasting impression. ✨ **Personalized Touch**: We customize each board to suit your preferences, and market your brand ✨ **Supporting a Cause**: With every purchase, you're not just giving a gift; you're also supporting our mission to give back to charities and make a positive impact in the lives of children with disabilities. Make your next corporate gift unforgettable. Show your clients and colleagues how much you value them with a charcuterie board from LLD Gifts. Let's create lasting connections. 🔗 www.lldgifts.com #CorporateGifts #CharcuterieBoard #Handcrafted #LLDGifts #ClientAppreciation #BusinessGifts #GiftGiving #SupportLocal #MakeADifference

Spring cleaning got you overwhelmed? Break it down with these two easy tips! 1. Donate unworn clothes: Out with the old, in with the fresh! Donate clothes you didn't wear last season to free up space and give them a new life. 2. Seasonal refresh: Swap out your throw pillows, blankets, and artwork for lighter, spring-inspired pieces. It's a simple way to bring a new feel to your space! Which one are you most likely to tackle in the next 5 days? Let me know in the comments! ⬇ P.S. Wanna take your decluttering further? 📌 Join my upcoming challenge which kicks off on the 23rd of April. Mark your 🗓 calendars and stay tuned for more details‼️ #LifeDoulaInc #MyLifeDoula #DoulaMyLife #springcleaning #springvibes #homemakeover #declutter #declutteringchallenge #homeorganization

Non-profits need a business model. How about a self-sustaining model that does not rely on continuous grants or external funding? One that generates its own resources to support its mission? One that ensures the organization's ability to provide consistent and reliable assistance no matter the economic climate or changes in external funding? Well done, Mike Servello and Compassion Coalition (Utica) team! Keep slinging and sustainaing hope. We need it!

De-cluttering and organizing old belongings can be daunting yet rewarding. 🧹Have you or someone you know been meaning to tackle that closet filled with childhood memories and forgotten toys? 🧸📦 The secret to tackling this project is to break it down into manageable steps. ✅ Sort through the items to decide what to keep, donate, or discard. Then, invest in matching storage bins to neatly categorize and preserve those sentimental treasures. 🎁 Not only will this help reclaim valuable space in your home, but it will also allow you to rediscover and cherish those meaningful keepsakes from the past. 🏡 Plus, properly storing them protects those precious memories for years to come. 🕰️🛡️ Ready to breathe new life into your closet of nostalgia? 🌟 Grab some bins and get started - your future self will thank you! 📦 🌎 www.genuinelyorganized.com 📞 (386) 299-8403 📩 rekita@genuinelyorganized.com #professionalorganizer #smallbusiness #genuinelyorganized #declutter #packingboxes #declutterchallenge #decluttering #declutteryourlife #packingandunpacking #homeorganisation #homeorganizer #homeorganizing #jacksonville #stjohns #staugustine