*Agency policy does not allow pictures of the project to be used outside of the agency.
Community Project
I volunteered to be in charge of securing Christmas donations for the House of Hope in October. The project will be completed no later than December 2g5, 2008.
I first met with the program director to discuss his expectations and to discuss parameters for the project. Following this meeting, I began to formulate of Christmas wish list for the agency. I spoke with the individual case managers, therapists, and TEC staff members. I asked each individual to make a list of items they felt the agency was in need of. Once I received everyone’s suggestions, I was able to compile a master list- The House of Hope Our Christmas Wish list 2008. The list is divided into five sections: children’s gifts, women’s gifts, classroom supplies, office supplies, and miscellaneous supplies. The list also explains that all donations are tax-deductible, as well as cash donations and volunteer services are always welcome.
I also worked with each client to establish a wish list for each individual client and their children. I asked the moms to provide me with a sheet of paper with their family’s clothing sizes and list of needs written on it. This proved to be a difficult part of the project. Many of the moms were forgetful, and I had to remind them to submit their list multiple times. Another problem was greed and humility. The moms were split into two groups: women who thought they “need” and women who refused to acknowledge any needs at all. As a result, when I received a list I would review it to see that all the appropriate information was included, and I spoke with moms about removing any unnecessary information. Overall, I compiled lists for sixteen families. Further into December there will also be several new admits that will need to submit wish lists as well.
Once I had the wish lists, the next step was to find individuals willing to donate. I started by getting the contact information of individuals who had donated items the previous Christmas. I obtained this information from the agency’s program director. I then contacted the individuals by telephone, asking if they would be willing to donate again this year. When I contacted the largest donor from last Christmas, she expressed a great desire for her organization to participate again, but she said she couldn’t promise as many items because of the economic crisis. I became concerned that the agency would receive few donations this year because of the country’s economic situation. I decided to try to include more donors this year to try to ensure the agency received adequate supplies for Christmas and to lighten the load on other donors.
I started looking for donors by contacting religious organizations near the agency. The LDS ward whose membership boundaries include the House of Hope agreed to make it a special project for their members. I was also able to contact another religious organization near the agency that agreed to donate as well. During this time, a former client’s family approached the agency about being involved with the Christmas donations this year. With four community groups committed to the project, I have a solid group of volunteers. Still, I was worried about how much each group would be able to contribute and if it would be enough to meet the needs of the agency.
In order to try to maximize the efforts of the volunteers, I decided to break the wish list back down into individual families. I asked each group how many donations they felt they could collect and then based on their response, I provided them with wish lists for a specific number of families. I felt this would allow each volunteer group to focus on collecting the specific items each family within the agency is most in need of. I sent the family lists out to the volunteers by email. In order to protect client confidentiality, each family was assigned a number (family #1, #2, etc.) Then I have a master list that matches number with the real family name.
I have asked the volunteers to deliver their donations to the House of Hope in Provo, and have instructed them to please call me when they are ready to make a delivery. This allows me to either be at the agency myself or to contact another employee to handle the delivery. The donations are placed in the conference room which remains locked until I make arrangements with the agency’s maintenance worker (Brandon) to move them to Dorm F. The gifts are stored in the old nap room inside the dorm. I have asked that the nap room door be locked in order to prevent clients from stealing the donations; which I was told was a problem last year.
After Thanksgiving, I started making an inventory of the incoming donations. I get the key to the nap room from Brandon and take some time to sort out all of the items. This especially time consuming with the smaller items. For example, last week I counted eighty handmade miniature Christmas tree ornaments. My goal is to use the inventory to keep a clear record of what the agency received and what needs were not met this year. Also, the therapists will use the inventory as they prepare their clients emotionally for Christmas.
In order to allow the moms in our agency to participate in providing Christmas to their children, I will be having them wrap their gifts the week before Christmas. All volunteers have been asked to bring their donations unwrapped no later than December 15, 2008. After wrapping the gifts, the clients will sign thank you cards for the groups who provided the donations. I will be responsible for providing the thank you cards to the clients. After the clients have signed the cards I will be mailing them to the groups. I also plan to contact the leader of each volunteer group to personally thank them for their efforts.
I realize I cannot control the number of items donated for each individual family. One group responsible for family #5 might collect more items than the group in charge of family #6. To prevent jealousy and fighting among the families, I will be sorting the donations out to make sure each family receives an equal number of items. I will also search through the donations for items that may be inappropriate to give to our clients; for example, perfume or lotion with an alcohol content. The completed inventory will allow the clients to have some choose in the items they receive. For example, many clients expressed a need for scarves. Depending on the final number of scarves donated, the clients may be able to choose X number of scarves from the pile.
Working on the Christmas project has been a wonderful experience. Most importantly, the project helped me realize how the community views the House of Hope and our clients. I was surprised when many of the volunteers expressed a deep love for our clients and their strong desire to help give them a second chance. One group donated hand painted tiles and easels for each of the moms to display in their dorms. Painted on the tiles are the words “There is always hope.” The volunteers expressed they wanted to give a gift that would remind the clients that no matter how difficult things may get, there is always someone out there hoping for them to succeed. For me, it was a beautiful reminder of the value of social work and the importance of providing services to vulnerable populations.
*Below is the 2008 agency wishlist , and individual family wishlists.
THE HOUSE OF HOPE
OUR CHRISTMAS WISH LIST 2008
Children’s gifts
Socks, bibs, boots, winter coats, snowsuits, hats, gloves & mittens, baby blankets, toys, games, stuffed toys, soft hand puppets, educational manipulatives, musical instruments
Women’s gifts
Hats, gloves, scarves, socks, robes, slippers, sweatshirts, gift cards (any stores), gift sets, toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, shampoo, lotion,etc.)
Classroom supplies
Bulletin boards, paper, beginning readers, phonics, chalkboard paint, books (teach colors, shapes, numbers), movies (educational), arts & craft materials
Misc. supplies
*Diapers (especially sizes 3,4, and 5), *wipes, *hand sanitizers, *tissues, *binkies, *sippy cups, bath products, towels and washcloths, diaper bags, baby spoons, bottles, plastic coat hangers, balloons, Styrofoam stickers, rocking chairs, humidifiers, luggage, backpacks, strollers (single & double), car seats, book shelves (3-4 ft. high), twin sheets & mattress pads, crib sheets & mattress pads, and gift wrapping supplies
Office supplies
3-ring binders, sheet protectors, notebooks, folders, washable markers, batteries, dry erase markers
Cash donations and volunteer services are always welcome
Donations are eligible for tax deduction as allowed by law
*These items are frequently needed
PLEASE CONTACT US IF YOU CAN HELP, AND HAVE A HAPPY HOLIDAY!
House of Hope
1726 Buckley Lane Provo, UT 84606
Family Wish Lists
Family #1
6 mos. baby girl: diapers (size 3), winter coat/snowsuit, winter clothes (size 6-9 mos.), baby shoes (size 6-9 mos.)
Mom: winter hat & gloves (black), pajamas, white tanktops, socks
Pant size: 11-12 long
Shirt size: Large
- would also love framed pictures with uplifting thoughts & messages
Family #2
3 year old boy: needs warm clothes, pajamas, and snow boots
Shoe size: 10-11
Clothing Size: Boys XS (4-5), 6R, 4T
-he loves matchbox cars, thomas the train, & super heroes (the hulk, spiderman), books, snakes, bugs, and anything that glows in the dark
Family #3
4 year old boy: needs socks, underwear, gloves and hat
Pant Size: 4T
Shirt Size: 4T
Shoe Size: size 8
-he likes hotwheels, spiderman and batman, puzzles, books, movies (kung fu panda, horton hears a who), curious george
Mom:
Shoe size: 8
Jean size: 12 (likes flares)
Shirt size: Large
-would like a dayplanner or a bookbag
Family #4
Mom: Shirt size: med/large
Pant size: 10-12
Shoe size: 71/2
-would like pajamas and slippers, black gloves, hat & scarf, snow boots, socks, or a sweat outfit
8 mos. old baby boy: size 9-12 mos., shoe size 2- would like a baby jacket, crib sheets, pajamas, hats/mittens, or a toddler-size car seats
10 year old boy:
Shirt size 14,
Pant size: 14 husky
shoe size: 6
-likes board games, hat and gloves, puzzles, books on animals, yo-yo w/ yo-yo book.
Family #5
Mom: Shirt size: XL
Pants: 14-16
Shoe: 8-9
5 year old boy: size 5T, shoe size 10
-is learning to read, loves superheroes
2 year old girl: size 3T, shoe size 8 1/2
-she would love a baby doll and some doll clothes
Family #6
age 25 with 2 kids boy 7 and girl 4: boy size 8/9 wants hoodies, long sleeve shirts, pants for toys wants legos, nut cracker, superman & villains, superheros, remote control car, gag gifts train set, other cars, crafts, books (early chptr books) army guys, piggy bank - girl size 5 wants hoodies, long sleeve shirt, pants size 10 shoes, barbie car, barbies & clothes, brat dolls crafts, learning toys, dress up clothes, tea set, piggy bk, hair ties and clips. baby dolls & accessories, books.
Mom wants large hoodies, larg long sleeve shirts,sterling silver earings, smelly lotion (non alcohol) gel, hairspray, makeup, 3 ring binder, scrap book stuff, cool pens, towels, hair straightener, defuser, cute jewelry.
Family #7
30 yr old female with newborn girl size 0-3 mo. clothing and a swing. Mom would like lg shirts, size 12 jeans and shoes 8 1/2.
Family #8
Mom age 21 with girl age 3 - size 3T or 4T jeans, shirts, coat, boots size 7 - Mom wants socks, shoes size 9-10, coat large or XL, long jeans size 16-18, long thermals, grey or bl - L or XL gloves and beanies.
family #9
mom and baby age 18 mo. - baby hair brush, socks, hairclips for toddlers, blocks, legos, musical toys formula (enfamil) doll, baby bath, shampoo, diapers size 4 for little girls clothing size 24 mo. Mom would like shoes size 7, socks, makeup for olive complexion, med shirts, long earings, lotion that smells good, nail file and polish, purse, snacks and treats, size 5 or 7 pants
mom and boy: Toddler car seat (red/blue), 2 prs shoes 1 pair red 1 pair light blue size 3 for 11 mo. old, clothes 8-12 mo, 2 coats same size, baby socks, toys, blocks, baby boy blankents for winter.
For Mom is 26: red or light purple purse(med), makeup set and box, bracelets, tennis shoes 8 1/2, long socks, med size book bag (red or lavender-1 strap book bag), pajama sets-L, 1 white or black boat-M, a set of gel pens, a school binder, any school supplies, winter sweat sets-L.
Family #1
mom: pants 5-7, shirt med -lg, shoes 6
Family #2
Baby Girl age 2 mos: size 3-6 mos
-would like socks, coat, infant toys, blankets, hat & gloves
Mom age 24: pants size 9-10
shirt size large or extra large
shoes 9 1/2
-would like bubble bath (non-alcoholic), hairstuff, makeup
Family #3
Boy10 yrs old: size 10-12
-would like new kids on the block cd, cars or trucks
Girl 3 weeks old:
-would like clothes size 3-6 mos, swing, toys, walker
Mom age 30: pants size 11
shirts size med.
shoes: 9
-would like socks, sweatshirts, hairstuff