If ... "it only takes a spark to get a fire going."
Here's to hoping for a four alarm blaze!!
I think that every experience we have shapes us into who we are and with that in mind I hope to raise my boys to see the world in a different way. I am so tired of the what you have is who you are attitudes I encounter everyday. In the past few months I have made big and small changes in my life and I am trying to get involved with projects that can make a difference to someone, anyone, especially with kids.
My children are basically my entire world. I spend all of my time with them and love to see how they are growing and maturing everyday.
Throughout the month of December I started a tradition of doing 25 random acts of kindness with them. They love this project and look forward to it. This year I wanted to do something else, something more.
The boys are getting older and can talk to me about things like are there really kids who can't afford shoes, or clothes or (gasp!) toys?? They can understand what that means and they want to help. I love that we sat down together and this idea came from my 5 year old. He wanted to get 'blankies' for all the kids who didn't have one, a light bulb went off for me!
All 3 of my boys have 'blankies'. Some use them more than others but they still all have that one soft lovable thing that says home to them when they are away. While talking about others who are less fortunate A said, "wait mom, you mean the kids with no toys might not even have a 'blankie'?" I told him that sometimes there are people who can't afford things like 'blankies' and he was mortified. (A is my boy that was like Linus from the Peanuts, he never went anywhere without that blanket, I am fairly confident the woman he marries is going to need to love 'blankie' if she wants him). My oldest, B, was talking about children in other countries and around the world who are in need and then we started talking about the fact that there are kids not only in our state but in our county that can not afford basic needs. The boys unanimously agreed that we could get together with our friends and family and help people who are right here in our city, Pittsburgh, PA.
So without further ado I present :
Project Blankie
We are collecting new or gently used lap or child sized blankets, stuffed animals or small books and reusable fabric shopping bags. Our goal is to be able to fill each shopping bag with a nice, clean and fresh blanket, and lovable item to bring comfort to children who are dealing with dramatic changes in their lives and becoming a part of the Children and Youth Services system. Sometimes these kids are a part of the system for a long time and others are just a part of it while their families sort things out, either way we are talking about a child pulled out of the life they know and dropped with strangers, this is something most of us would call a nightmare as an adult let alone trying to come to terms with this as a child!!
I don't know how many bags we can fill or how many kids can be helped but I know that one person can make a difference to another and that is where we will start this journey. Wish us luck and keep checking back for an update and photos as we begin our collection!! Want to participate? Send us an email, it's just my three stooges and me for now but I hope that it can be more very soon!
projectblankie@gmail.com
Thanks so much for taking the time to read my post and please forward this to anyone you think can help us to make a difference.
