Meals Provided

9,346 Meals & As Many Snacks Provided in 39 Months

Sunday, November 6, 2016

Christmas 2016 for Children in Need & Help in General :)

Christmas is just around the corner.  It is time for the planning to begin and to ask for everyone's help once more.  :)  This will be the third Christmas made for some of the children at Outer Limit Preschool.  :)


My goal again is to make Christmas for each of the 20 Munchkins that are in my "Food Blessings in a Backpack" program this year. These children are all from families in need and it would be so wonderful to help out the parents a little in this way and to surprise the lil' ones at the same time.  :)  Plus it makes the heart feel good to imagine their cute faces when they open their presents at Christmas.  :)

I need to send this out already to find out how much support, financially and physically, I will receive for this project again this year and if it is okay to proceed.  Please feel free to share this blog with anyone and in any way you can to get the word out for help.  :)  The more the better.  :)  Each and everyone's support is so needed and so appreciated.  :)

At this point I have put together and holding onto a blank Wish List for the parents to fill out for each Munchkin, asking their sizes for clothes, shoes, also toys, movies or gifts they are asking Santa for this year.  And I am working on getting donations for books. 

Last year each child received brand new shoes, clothes, and PJs, along with toys and other gifts too. And each family received a complete Christmas dinner to cook themselves.  If you scroll down on my blog  http://Karins-Backpacks.blogspot.com  to Christmas 2014 and 2015 you can see many photos of the Christmas parties we had with the Munchkins during those years, and of Christmas Day when they opened their gifts at home.  :)

It would also be nice to have home baked cookies for the Munchkins and other little surprises again, like candy, etc.  So if anyone would like to volunteer some baking when it gets closer, that would be so welcome once more.  :)  I have freezer space if you need to bake them before they are needed.

When it gets closer, I will also need some volunteers to help with the wrapping of the presents. Sunday afternoon, December 18th, at 2 P.M., is the designated wrapping day at my home.

Since I am stuffing 20 backpacks now every week, which adds up to 80 meals each weekend, I also need more help with donations of food and or funds to keep up with this. 
It costs about $8.00 per child per weekend for four meals, fruit, veggies, milk and snacks, etc., which is around $640.00 a month for just the food.  And of course there are always a few other expenses, like gas, backpacks, etc. The Munchkins ages are from 2 to 10, and all so need the nourishment each weekend.  I go through an incredible amount of food every week. In the past 29 months we have provided over 7,000 meals.   :)

I am struggling along, but I do have some incredible Angels who help out regularly. :) During the year I always could use more help though.  :)  It is really hard for me to ask for help, but it is so needed.  Everything, money or food, that comes in goes directly into the Backpack Program. There is no overhead and I don't keep anything for myself. I don't believe in that.  

For those of you who would like to use your donations as a Tax Credit for both Federal and State too, Bill Berk, the owner of Outer Limits Preschool, has offered that if you make the check out to "Early Childhood Development Group" you can run it through and claim both credits for up to $800.00 this year. Bill will then in turn give me the money. 

Please share your thoughts with me on this and please help out whichever way you feel you can.  :)  It is also helpful if you share this blog entry with people you know to help spread the word.

Sending a great big Hug and many Blessings to each and everyone of you !!  :)
I am always very grateful for your help for the children !!   :)

Karin

LKarinElliott@aol.com
http://Karins-Backpacks.blogspot.com
520-326-2236

L. Karin Elliott
3364 E. Popinac Loop
Tucson, AZ 85716