Project Christmas 2017 Stats
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Donations collected for the 17 Families consisted of 26 children and 18 adults.
We picked up donations from 113 families across South Jersey. We raised $989 for the families through our GoFundMe, which was used to purchase necessary items for the families and to fulfil wish list items for many of the 26 children! |
Donations were delivered to families-
Dec 22, 23 & 24th, 2017
Dec 22, 23 & 24th, 2017
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In 2017- Kristie went to a local storage facility and rented a 10x10 unit to receive & house all the donations we'd collect. This was the first year we'd started in November (Kristie had major spinal surgery on Dec 7th- complicating much of the season!)- and it was the first year we posted applications, opening our search for families in need.
It didn't take long to realize that one 10x10 storage unit was NOT going to cut it. Shortly after - thanks to the donations of donors- we rented a second storage unit, this one inside and out of the weather, 10'x25'- where we would ultimately sort and organize all the donations, sort & fold all the collected clothing, and where we would spend weeks selecting the clothing and gifts that would be packed for each family.
Once it was organized- we would pack for each family, and the packed boxes would be moved back into the outside unit until they were ultimately picked up or delivered to the families.
By 2017, we'd become a well-oiled machine. We collected and delivered everything from food and household goods, toiletries and we didn't stop there. We collected and distributed EVERYTHING the families needed - Christmas decorations, trees and lights, wrapping paper, gift bags and scotch tape, to piles of gifts for every child - everything. We collected just under $1000 in 2017- which we used to fill in the gaps, to purchase wish-list and needed items for the families that weren't donated. We went to Target and were able to pick up a great amount of paper-products, cleaning products, feminine hygiene items, toiletries and some of the special toys and games that were on children's wish-lists.
One of the other things we did for the first time in 2017, was how we handled the donations that were left at the end of the collection: We contacted the families who were on the waiting-list and asked them to come to the storage unit, and we allowed them to pick up any of the remaining items that they could use.
On December 22, 23 & 24th, 2017, we had SEVENTEEN families - including 26 children - who either picked up, or had items delivered to them. We were able to help more than 44 people have a wonderful holiday season, and we made a lot of dreams come true for children who otherwise would not have had a Christmas.
It didn't take long to realize that one 10x10 storage unit was NOT going to cut it. Shortly after - thanks to the donations of donors- we rented a second storage unit, this one inside and out of the weather, 10'x25'- where we would ultimately sort and organize all the donations, sort & fold all the collected clothing, and where we would spend weeks selecting the clothing and gifts that would be packed for each family.
Once it was organized- we would pack for each family, and the packed boxes would be moved back into the outside unit until they were ultimately picked up or delivered to the families.
By 2017, we'd become a well-oiled machine. We collected and delivered everything from food and household goods, toiletries and we didn't stop there. We collected and distributed EVERYTHING the families needed - Christmas decorations, trees and lights, wrapping paper, gift bags and scotch tape, to piles of gifts for every child - everything. We collected just under $1000 in 2017- which we used to fill in the gaps, to purchase wish-list and needed items for the families that weren't donated. We went to Target and were able to pick up a great amount of paper-products, cleaning products, feminine hygiene items, toiletries and some of the special toys and games that were on children's wish-lists.
One of the other things we did for the first time in 2017, was how we handled the donations that were left at the end of the collection: We contacted the families who were on the waiting-list and asked them to come to the storage unit, and we allowed them to pick up any of the remaining items that they could use.
On December 22, 23 & 24th, 2017, we had SEVENTEEN families - including 26 children - who either picked up, or had items delivered to them. We were able to help more than 44 people have a wonderful holiday season, and we made a lot of dreams come true for children who otherwise would not have had a Christmas.