Supplies Are Ordered

It's my birthday today!  As a gift, my husband took a few hours, sat down with me and shopped around online - figuring out how to maximize our funds for the needed supplies. (Thank you D!)  We have now ordered all the towels, soap, combs, toothbrushes, and toothpaste!  We will be able to make around 150 kits - far surpassing my goal of 35!  (We ended up spending more than we collected in order to round things out on the supplies - donations are still welcome at any time.)

I can't wait to get everything and schedule assembly!!  I'm so happy!  :)




Funds for 2012!

The grand total is in...  The amount donated for the 2012 Humanitarian Project is $550.24!

THANK YOU to everyone to contributed this year!

Unexpected Changes

As I stated previously, our family is preparing to move.  We've known about this change for a while, and were planning on moving in the summer of 2012 after school was out.  Around Thanksgiving we found out that my husband will be needed in our new area sooner than that, so our lives are a little crazier as the preparations for getting our house on the market need to happen now.

Because of these new developments, my project may not be brought to completion by January as I'd originally hoped.  But fear not!  I will see it through to completion before we move, even though it may end up happening on a similar timeline to last year.  (which was completed in March and delivered in April)

Still Collecting...

Many thanks to those who chose to donate to this year's project! 

My husband and I went through our game collection and sorted out 36 games we didn't play, because we are preparing to move.  They were all in great shape, and I had an idea to send an email offering them to my friends for free and asking if they'd also consider donating to my project if they thought the games were worth a few dollars.  All the games were gone within minutes, and I ended up with additional donations!

Because I did this, one of my children's teachers offered to share my project with the families of her students and ask for donations towards my project instead of holiday gifts.  Of course I accepted!  So I did a write up for her, and we'll see if more support comes in from that.  I'll list the grand total once that's over!

Humanitarian Birthday 2012!

Friends and Family,

Last year I began a tradition of doing a humanitarian project every year for my birthday, and ask for help with this project instead of gifts.  The support I received from everyone far surpassed my expectations, and it was a huge success!  To see the documentation of the project, please see earlier posts from January to April 2011.

By the time I collected the donations, placed the orders for the supplies and had the assembly party, it was March!  This year I wanted to start the process earlier, in hopes of assembling/delivering the kits sometime in January - closer to my actual birthday.  :)

Once again, this year I am choosing to assemble LDS Humanitarian Hygiene Kits.  My goal will be to assemble 35 kits, since I will be turning 35.  I know that you all perform services and kindnesses, and have charities that you choose to contribute to – and I am happy for that!  If you choose to join me in supporting this cause as well , thank you!  I appreciated everyone’s support last year, but please know that I don’t hold any kind of expectation for those who contributed once to continue to do so year after year.  Please email me back if you would like to participate, and let me know how you would like to contribute.   For anyone who wishes to help, money would probably go the farthest, because as I looked online at the costs of the items, I found I’ll get the best price if I purchase everything in bulk.  Every dollar makes a difference!  I will document this year’s project on the blog as well, so you can follow it to watch the progress.

I will accept money and item donations until November 22^nd – then I will buy the supplies I need after that.  (maybe I can get some good Black Friday deals!)

You may email me at hhmiracles@gmail.com if you would like to make a donation.

Signed, Sealed, Delivered!

Some friends from church called to tell me they were going up to the Bishops Storehouse and would be willing to drive the kits up and drop them off!  (Thank you L. and V.!)  They came over last night and we loaded the HEAVY boxes into their van.  My husband had a foot injury and my friend had a back injury, so it was up to me, my friend's daughter, and my oldest son to load them up.  (My oldest daughter helped by manning the camera.)  Now the kits will be distributed to those who need them from there.  Once a month a truck from Salt Lake City, UT brings supplies to the Bishops Storehouse, and then they take whatever donations have come in and drive them back to Salt Lake City to be distributed from there to wherever they're needed around the world.  This project has brought so much JOY and fulfillment to my life, and I am excited to continue this tradition. 

If this idea inspires any of you, and you'd like to use it in any way - DO IT!  And please make sure to ask me to contribute to your cause.  :)  Here is a photo slideshow of us loading up the kits. (if you do not see the slideshow in the space below, see sidebar at the top of the page for instructions on how to view it)

Deepest Thanks

As I stated below, we were able to assemble 213 hygiene kits!  Thank you to all those who donated money, supplies, and time.  This was accomplished because people wanted to help, and put their trust in me to organize this effort.  Because the total amount of money donated was so large, (and because my husband put in much time and effort to find places to make the purchases online and figure out the ideal balance in supplies!) we were able to purchase items in bulk for a great price.  This made each dollar go further than it otherwise would have.  Thank you for your faith and trust - every penny made a difference!

It is my goal to do this every year for my birthday, and I hope that others will be as excited as I am about it in the future!