Posts by category: Giving
March 6th, 2010 | Children, Donations, Giving, Kids
Each month there are thousands of kids whose birthdays pass without any recognition. Our hope is that we can change that through people like you who are willing to make a commitment to provide a birthday gift bag for one, five or ten children each month. Recurring donations occur automatically each month via PayPal. You decide when they stop. Each $10 donated provides a toy-filled birthday gift bag for one child on their special day.
Your commitment will ensure that economically disadvantaged families get to celebrate their children’s lives. Commit now!
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March 1st, 2010 | Giving, Volunteers
by Marilee Tuite
Minnesota has been an important pioneer in establishing women’s shelters as well as helping families celebrate children’s birthdays. With March as women’s history month, Cheerful Givers recognizes some of the local women’s shelters that have participated in the birthday gift bag program.
In 1974 the nation’s first shelter to open was Women’s Advocates in St. Paul. Since then, the shelter has assisted more than 30,000 women and children, for a yearly average of 1,000. The 15-bedroom facility now serves as average of 45 women and children daily.
In 1979 the B. Robert Lewis House opened in Eagan. It was named after Senator Lewis who made many efforts to help women experiencing domestic violence, such as funding for a statewide program. In 1990 the Lewis House expanded by opening a second house. Now located in Hastings, the second Lewis House reaches families in rural communities. The shelters serve approximately 500 women and children each year with an average stay of 14 days. Women can stay as long as necessary to be safe and access the support and resources they need to get into a safe living situation.
“The birthday bags are a great resource for children and those in the community who would otherwise not have access to the supplies to celebrate their special day,” said Jennifer Lind, marketing strategy specialist for Lewis House.
More information about donating birthday bags to these shelters.
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February 21st, 2010 | Children, Donations, Family, Giving, Kids
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!
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January 18th, 2010 | Birthdays, Giving, Holidays, Volunteers
Staff at Jewish Family and Children’s Service of Minneapolis celebrated Martin Luther King Jr. Day by assembling 50 birthday bags which were then delivered to the STEP food shelf for parents to give to their children.
Debra Savitt commented “It went really fast and the staff enjoyed it as well. I hope we can do this again. I am talking it up to everyone I know as the best volunteer opportunity.”
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December 29th, 2009 | Birthdays, Children, Donations, Giving, News
Was an amazing day today as our Cheerful Givers volunteers partnered with the Minnesota Vikings to fill 300 birthday gift bags at their Winter Park facility!
While players had returned home at 4 am from their previous nights’ game in Chicago, they managed to be wide awake and willing to help at 10 am. KARE 11 news captured a bit of the event on their 6 pm news tonight and Fox Sports will be broadcasting the event on Sunday when Cheerful Givers will be honored with a “Hometown Hero” award during the Vikings game with the NY Giants.
Read more on the Vikings website or watch this short video. We have a set of photos on Flickr too. Go Vikes! Continue reading »
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December 2nd, 2009 | Donations, Giving
Looking for something simple that your family, co-workers, school, scout, civic or church group can do to help less fortunate kids? How about collecting some new boxes of crayons and sending them to Cheerful Givers? We had a generous donation of coloring books and would be nice to include a box of crayons into each birthday bag.
Send to: Cheerful Givers, 1287 Berry Ridge Road, Eagan, MN 55123 and know that you have made a difference!
