Two year-olds through kindergarten age children who participate in the Sunday School program at Maple Grove Evangelical Free Church earned their own money by doing chores, sacrificing a trip to McDonalds and saving their allowance to purchase birthday gifts which filled 62 birthday bags.  One young girl even used her own birthday money.  Bre Pilon, who organized the event, said “The response is amazing even at such a young age.  Thank you for giving us this opportunity to teach our children to think beyond themselves…”

“The next time your family comes together for a day at the lake or a barbecue in the backyard, why not take an hour to discuss your estate and how your family can make an impact on the things that are most meaningful to all of you?”

To help you start the discussion, they provide some topics and questions to post to your “kitchen table philanthropists.”    Read full article.

We are most grateful for a wonderful donation of these amazing toys!

The Steele family recently enjoyed filling birthday bags and Sonja Steele had this to say about their experience – “My family had a good time shopping for children’s gift items and putting the birthday bags together.  I have sent information to all my friends and posted our Birthday Bag event on Facebook in order to help you serve more children in need.  We enjoyed participating in your program and would like to do it again in the future.”    Thank you Steele family!

We’re looking for more groups (corporate, civic, school or church) as well as families to join our “Dedicated Volunteers” who want to fill birthday bags on a monthly or quarterly basis. Contact karen@cheerfulgivers.org for more information.

Thanks to Jenny Friedman, Executive Director of Doing Good Together for promoting our need for crayons to go along with a large donation of coloring books we received. She simply said:

“Looking for something simple that your family, co-workers, school, scout, civic or church group can do to help kids? How about collecting new boxes of crayons and sending them to Cheerful Givers?  Any age can help shop and donate. Very little time commitment needed.”

Kristen Marsan used the opportunity to teach her kids about helping others and she commented: “The poor Wal-Mart clerk had to maneuver huge piles of quarters and dimes.  I’m praying that even those little boxes of crayons (and all the rest that you do) are used to encourage other people, both big and small!”

Note: We still need lots of crayons!

By Kate Smith

The Robert Lewis House is one of the local women’s shelters that receive Cheerful Givers birthday bags for the children that stay there. This month, however, we are shifting the focus from birthdays to Thanksgiving and learning a little bit about how the Robert Lewis House residents celebrate during this special holiday.

The activities that take place on Thanksgiving all depend on how many people are at the shelter that day, according to Support Worker, Sexual Assault Advocate and Safe at Home Application Assistant, Kelli.  

“A lot of times the women go to their families’ houses,” she explained. “But the staff will try to make some type of dinner or help residents cook dinner if anyone is there.”

Kelli recalled a memorable experience cooking a Thanksgiving dinner together with one resident who did not have anyone to visit on Thanksgiving, as her abuser had isolated her from her family. “She was so thankful to have someone help her even though I didn’t know how to cook! She was laughing and teaching me what to do. It was great having that one-on-one interaction and knowing we were making her holiday a little better.”

In addition to the staff helping to prepare Thanksgiving dinner for residents, Kelli stated that sometimes various volunteer groups come in to cook a meal for the residents as well. If you are interested in volunteering this Thanksgiving at the Robert Lewis House in Eagan, visit their website at www.communityactioncouncil.org.

There are many ways Cheerful Givers makes an impact in children’s lives every day, and this month we would like to spotlight just how much of a difference your efforts are making at the Eagan Resource Center — one of the many places where birthday bags are distributed.

The Eagan Resource Center has been receiving Cheerful Givers birthday bags for several years, and the distribution process is simple yet effective. Each month when families come to the center they are asked if any of their children will be celebrating a birthday that month, and then bags are given as needed.

Maureen Wilson, Service Coordinator, explains the impact the birthday bags can have on recipients. “I was working one day and a mother came in and was very stressed and didn’t know about the birthday bags,” she said. “She almost started to cry because she had nothing for her daughter for her birthday the next day. We then gave her a birthday bag from Cheerful Givers, and she was elated! She thanked us many times and was so grateful for these gifts. It was very powerful!”

Wilson also stated that the need for bags is going up since the number of families being served by the center is going up every month, and she appreciates the caring efforts made by Cheerful Givers’ volunteers. “They [volunteers] have a wonderful purpose and are fulfilling a very important mission. The families that receive these birthday bags can feel the love that went into making and donating these bags. They can have one less thing to have to worry about in their difficult lives. It is a blessing to them.”

For more information on the Eagan Resource Center and the birthday bag program, visit their website.

In a few months, my younger sister will be getting married. As Maid of Honor, one of the many things I have been helping my sister with is choosing a song for her father/daughter dance, which got me started thinking about what it means to be a good father. So, in honor of Father’s Day, I have compiled a list of a few ways Dads play a special role in their children’s lives.

Building Connections from a Young Age
Sharing responsibilities from the baby’s birth helps foster the father and child’s connection and provides essential building blocks for the relationship as the child gets older. Changing diapers, singing and reading to the infant are all ways fathers bond at this early stage.

Sharing Activities and Hobbies
A wonderful way fathers continue to bond with their children as they grow is by participating in shared interests or hobbies. Childbirth Educator Brenda Lane stresses children need a strong male role model more than ever during their middle school years, and that fathers should engage their young teens during this significant time.

Provide a Different Perspective
As the child grows into a young adult, his or her father plays an important role by providing advice and wisdom gained from his own life experiences.

Photo by apdk