Our parents were the most philanthropic people we’ve ever met. Even after they had passed we learned more about how they had a scholarship set up here, they had regular donations to this organization, things they were quiet about. The things we knew about we thought were fantastic and then finding extras made us feel like that was a true calling within our family.
There are so many children in foster care, so many children who are placed so quickly, with very little coming with them. One of the organizations that we support has a foster care closet where kids in foster care can shop so that they have access to the necessities and also to things that make them feel good that other kids have. Especially when they are facing the beginning of that foster care situation where there might be a lot of uncertainty, just to know, “well I’ve got my pair of sneakers ready to go for school tomorrow.” Something as simple as that. We, through the donations of goods that we get, can share in that and then also through the monetary donations that we are able to give to our organizations.
Another one that is an issue that we weren’t aware of before starting Heart & Soul’d is aging out men and women that when they turn 18, if they don’t have a family they have to have an apartment or someplace to live. We will allow them to come here and shop for free for the necessities: the plates, and the bowls, and the pots and pans. Things that we get so many generous donations of that we have more than enough to go around. And meeting these young men and women when they come in to shop, and seeing their faces, “really? It’s okay to bring this to our new apartment?” Yes! And send us pictures because we want to see how beautiful your new apartment is!
It has been one of the most rewarding things but also one of the most important things that I think we have been able to give back as an organization.
There are so many children in foster care, so many children who are placed so quickly, with very little coming with them. One of the organizations that we support has a foster care closet where kids in foster care can shop so that they have access to the necessities and also to things that make them feel good that other kids have. Especially when they are facing the beginning of that foster care situation where there might be a lot of uncertainty, just to know, “well I’ve got my pair of sneakers ready to go for school tomorrow.” Something as simple as that. We, through the donations of goods that we get, can share in that and then also through the monetary donations that we are able to give to our organizations.
Another one that is an issue that we weren’t aware of before starting Heart & Soul’d is aging out men and women that when they turn 18, if they don’t have a family they have to have an apartment or someplace to live. We will allow them to come here and shop for free for the necessities: the plates, and the bowls, and the pots and pans. Things that we get so many generous donations of that we have more than enough to go around. And meeting these young men and women when they come in to shop, and seeing their faces, “really? It’s okay to bring this to our new apartment?” Yes! And send us pictures because we want to see how beautiful your new apartment is!
It has been one of the most rewarding things but also one of the most important things that I think we have been able to give back as an organization.