Claudia & Michael Cuddyer

228 less fortunate children will have Happy Birthdays thanks to the great support of the Minnesota Twins Wives and players who filled birthday bags following their winning game on July 18th. Special thanks to Claudia and Michael Cuddyer for helping to organize this fun event. 

Watch for some great autographed Minnesota Twins items to be auctioned off  during our Social Summer Online Fundraiser throughout August. 

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 need your help to spread the word across your social networks. We’ll have simple links already set up to promote it on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace and your own website or blog.

More details coming soon. Follow us on Twitter or “Like Us” on Facebook for updates on this and other online campaigns.

Claudia talks about why she and the Minnesota Twins Wives support Cheerful Givers, what impact she thinks the organization is having and why she encourages others to help.

Why do you support Cheerful Givers and what have you done to help?
When I learned about Cheerful Givers, my son, Casey, was just about to turn one. I pictured all of the wonderful gifts he would most likely receive from friends and family and got choked up thinking that there were so many families out there that wouldn’t be able to do the same for their kids…not because they didn’t want to, but because they have fallen on hard times. Every child should have a gift on his/her birthday!

As part of the Minnesota Twins wives organization, I helped organize a birthday bag event last year where we filled 128 birthday bags. As a group, we also donated over $4,000 to Cheerful Givers to help fill more birthday bags! We will have another event this year where we plan to assemble at least 200 bags.

What impact do you think the organization is having?
I believe that helping improve morale of those in need is a great way to strengthen a community. Something as simple as a birthday gift can mean so much to a child living in poverty… AND to the parents who can now provide that for their child. One day, when they can, they will find a way to give back.

Why would you encourage others to help?
There are many wonderful reasons to help with Cheerful Givers. First and foremost, it is going to brighten a child’s day.  Also, it’s so easy! There are so many people out there that WANT to volunteer or give back somehow but just feel like they don’t have the time or money.  A small donation can really make a difference to Cheerful Givers! You can donate now at cheerfulgivers.org

Note from Cheerful Givers: We send our condolences to Claudia and her family on the recent death of her father. Our prayers and thoughts are with you.

Thanks to donations from local businesses and the school’s own fundraising, more than 30 students were able to make 50 birthday bags, the third year in a row the Skyline High School Key Club in Washington has contributed to our cause.

And not content with their successes, the Clubbers are planning on reaching out to their peers at Eastlake High School to stage a bigger event in the near future.

Read article about them in today’s Sammamish Reporter.

The idea behind K.I.D.S. is simple. “One caring response to one child in the crisis of poverty with one donation of a new piece of clothing or shoes, a toy or book of their own or an educational product.  It’s about one gift, to one child at a time that builds hope, self-esteem and an opportunity to succeed.  Our local agency partner network, nearly a thousand agencies strong, represents a broad and diverse range of  organizations, all of which are dedicated to helping the lives of children in poverty and families at risk.”

We are so pleased to have been selected as one of their partners!

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In partnership with GuideStar, Kiva, the Anita Borg Institute for Women and Technology, MADRE, Wider Opportunities for Women, Dress for Success, Women’s Media Center, Women’s News Network, and Women’s Philanthropy—Women’s Issues, this campaign is identifying the top-rated women’s nonprofits  

You can read what others have said about us and add your review  here.

It all started less than 10 years ago, with a local farmer and a 50-lb. sack of potatoes. One Sunday, the farmer approached his pastor after church services and asked if some folks in the congregation might be able to use the extra food. The pastor knew of some families in need, and soon more potatoes and other food began to be dropped off at the church. Recognizing both a need for food among families in the community as well as an organized way to distribute it, members of the congregation formed a Board of Directors, and the Cannon Falls Food Shelf (CFFS) was born.

While still housed in the basement of that same church, the CFFS encompasses the whole community, in those people who volunteer, those who contribute food and financial support, and those clients who use it to meet their food needs. The CFFS offers four (4) regularly scheduled food distributions each month. Clients may visit the food shelf once each month and select their food choices from a menu offering a variety of nutritious options, including healthy proteins and dairy. Each monthly visit provides the client with 5-7 days worth of food for their family size. Emergency food provisions are also stocked and readily available for those clients facing an immediate food crisis. In 2009, approximately 160 families used the food shelf each month, and over 114,000 pounds of food were distributed.

In 2009, the CFFS was pleased to add another item to our client menus, and that was the question Is there a child in your family celebrating a birthday this month? If the client checks Yes, a Cheerful Givers Birthday Bag is packaged with the food order. This meaningful gift allows children in all circumstances to be recognized and celebrated on their special day.  Parents are truly delighted and thankful for the Birthday Bags. The CFFS thanks Cheerful Givers for their support and partnership to make each birthday a special birthday!

Natalie Rumble wanted to do something for her 52nd birthday that allowed her to give back. “The level of generosity from my friends and family who participated was overwhelming and heart warming. It truly is more fun to give than to receive – one of the best birthday’s ever.”

Shannon Thompson, Cheerful Givers board member, said “My children have so much, and others don’t, so it seemed like a great way to celebrate my son’s 2-year birthday by asking my family to bring gifts to make gift bags for Cheerful Givers. Delivering the bags to the food shelf was the best part.  The volunteers were so excited about the beautiful gift bags and it was great knowing that people who needed something extra would be able to have them.”

Stacy Konoa, from Project KIDS, was looking for a way to get  kids involved in the community. “We were excited to know that our donations would stay in our community and decided to go for it!  It was easy to explain what we were doing and why it was important… all of our kids/participants know how great it is to get presents for a birthday.  I hesitated as to whether or not to do the project for fear of lack of donations but discovered that even though we may not be large in manpower, the hearts and generosity of those within our program is huge! Birthday bags are easy.  Costs are low, time is minimal and the very young and older can help. This was a huge success for us and we plan to do it again this summer.”

Melissa Wallraff chose to fill birthday bags because “it was a great way for my children to give something back. I can’t imagine a child not receiving a gift on their birthday. The best part was working together with my daughters and knowing that I would brighten someone’s day – who I didn’t even know.”

Yvonne Schneider began filling bags when her after-school child care group  decided to do a service-learning project.  Every year after that, she chose to ask her family to give supplies for Birthday Bags instead of a gift on her birthday. “I find that the joy created by making the bags far outweighs anything I would receive myself. I am grateful that Cheerful Givers has been a part of my life and that I have had the opportunity to help make someone’s day, especially a birthday, a little brighter.”

Barb Clothier said “The children got so excited about doing the project that they couldn’t wait to start and we finished in no time at all. It is a great mission that can bring all sorts of people together, of all age ranges, for a common good. Thanks to Cheerful Givers for their wonderful website of suggestions and ideas and informing others about this great mission.”

Ra’eesa Motala learned “that there are so many people in our community that need simple resources and we should not take the simple small things in life for granted. This is a great opportunity to help out with a great cause. The feeling of accomplishment and doing good is rewarding.”