Christmas donations for homeless teens, from FR4x4

[Pathrat]

Hello everyone,
for the past two years, various members of Front Range 4x4 have generously assisted me and Hugh in our pet holiday project. We have provided gifts in the form of hoodies, coats, and filled Christmas socks to the teen residents at Urban Peak's live-in shelter. Urban Peak provides services to homeless kids ages 14 to 24. This underserved population include 18 year olds who have "graduated" from foster care and are turned out of their former foster 'parent's' houses (this so pisses me off, first the kids are victimized by their birth families, then further penalized for turning 18 when services are yanked. Mercifully the laws are changing and much needed services for this group are being put into place but I digress) those running away from abuse, kids with substance abuse and mental health issues, kids who are kicked out of their homes because they are ***, and most have encountered abuse. Urban Peak provides not only food and shelter, but assistance with the following: housing, education, job placement, getting an ID, showers, laundry and food at the drop-in location, medical care, mental health evals, etc. I am so glad this place exists. Can you imagine being 18 and on the street with nothing? Clearly they are one of the many worthy charities seeking your donation dollars during the holiday season.

I am posting to again ask for donations this year. The shelter has 40 beds, and when at critical capacity, can serve 44 kids. So far I have 44 of the following: gift bags, candy canes filled with m&m's reeses, etc, candy canes, and 2012 planners. I have 26 chapsticks and need more. I want to include a hat and pair of gloves to each resident. I have already spent about $200 and will likely spend another $100. I will do this on my own, but can do a lot more with help.

I am asking everyone who can help to send donations to my paypal. Email me your address and I will send you the receipt for what I buy with your donation. If you want to buy something directly, again, email me and we can set something up. I want to have everything purchased in the next few weeks. Right now the planned delivery date is Dec 24.

pathologyrat@yahoo.com (email and paypal address)

Thank you, and I hope that again this year, as a group, we can provide for a population that is often forgotten.
-Stephanie

[Chris]

I liked that we brought coats last year, is that in the plan?

[Beefy]

PayPal sent. :)

[Jackie]

PayPal Sent. THANK YOU!:)

[Pathrat]

Chris: Last year was $7.00 hoodies. The year before that, WalMart had $7.00 coats; that was when we all bought 42 coats for the residents. The best I have seen is women's fleece, 2 pack, for 10.00, and a single Hanes mens' sweatshirt for $7.00. Both are at Wal-Mart. (If anyone has seen a better deal, let me know) Right now, I don't have the money for it, even with keeping everything I bought, save the candy canes, to a dollar an item. I did splurge on the gift bags by purchasing Christmas themed reusable grocery-type bags so the recipients could use them again.

I should be more clear: to get 22 fleece sweatshirts for girls and 22 regular cotton sweatshirts for guys, the total needed is: $274 not including tax.

Thank you Jackie and Beefy!

[Pathrat]

Update: If I can get another $120, we can supply the fleece/hoodies for the residents. I will pony up another hundred.

[Popsgarage]

Will PayPal you as soon as I can.

[Chris]

Oh yeah, I remember better when someone else remembers.

$75 towards the hoodies.

[Jackie]

Yeah! This is a good cause. Thank you Stephanie for heading it up.:thumb:

[Patrolman]

For those who are new, Stephanie does a great job of putting this together each year! Thanks for your effort towards this and will see what we can do to contribute.

[Pathrat]

Yeah! This is a good cause. Thank you Stephanie for heading it up.:thumb:

Thank you for your support Jackie and for helping kick off the drive! :2thumbup:

[Pathrat]

For those who are new, Stephanie does a great job of putting this together each year! Thanks for your effort towards this and will see what we can do to contribute.

You are the Turkey Run Guy who helps the homeless adults, I am the one who helps the younger set. It is a good set up. Thanks for vouching for me.

[Pathrat]

Oh yeah, I remember better when someone else remembers.

$75 towards the hoodies.

Thank you! You and Barb have been great supporting the drive to provide presents for these kids. :2thumbup:

[Pathrat]

I am really grateful to see people jump on this so quickly. Thanks Jeff, aka Beefy, for leading with the first donation. We still need a bit more to provide the rest of the hoodies, but I will start ordering the goods now, as I believe others will come through will more donations.

[Popsgarage]

You are the Turkey Run Guy who helps the homeless adults,

More families this year than I've seen down there in a long time.

[Pathrat]

More families this year than I've seen down there in a long time.

I don't doubt it. Sad.

Thanks for promising a donation too! :)

[Pathrat]

I have the young women's fleeces ordered. You all put up the cash, I will deliver on my promise.


Walmart.com
Order #2677830-702240
Item Order Status & Delivery Date
2 Fleece Crew
(Grey Heather S)

2 Fleece Crew
(Grey Heather M)

2 Fleece Crew
(Grey Heather L)

2 Fleece Crew
(Grey Heather XL)

2 Fleece Crew
(Lip Gloss Heather L)

2 Fleece Crew
(Ribbon Blue Heather XL)

2 Fleece Crew
(Spring Green Heather S)

2 Fleece Crew
(Ribbon Blue Heather L)

2 Fleece Crew
(Spring Green Heather M)

2 Fleece Crew
(Spring Green Heather L)

2 Fleece Crew
(Spring Green Heather XL)

Your order is being processed. It is estimated to arrive between Wednesday, 11/30/2011 and Monday, 12/05/2011.

[Pathrat]

Hello again. The boxes of women's fleece sweatshirts arrived at my house today. I don't have enough, yet, to buy the guy's their sweatshirts.

At least three people have said they will be donating, and that is great news for the kids. This drive has gotten off to a great start, but I don't want to see it fizzle so BUMP :)

[Patrolman]

Stephanie, how close are we to having what we need? Thanks again for the effort!

[Jackie]

You've got mail...

:D

[Pathrat]

Thanks Jeff. :)

We are not far, given that people have agreed to help out.

The total needed is being revised upwards by about $20.00. I found out I need to pay tax on walmart.com purchases. I have $150 sitting in my paypal account ready to order the sweatshirts, one more donation covers tax and shipping. $20 more covers the cost of rest of the Chapsticks.

I was hesitant to answer your question at first because I don't want anyone to read this and think, 'oh, it's ok, someone else is taking care of it'. However, everyone who wants to know should know what we are buying with what money.) If we raise more money, I will keep going, just like last year. The more we donate, the more I can put in those teen's Christmas bags. If I got another $58, I would go to Target and buy handwarmer packs. If I got another hundred, everyone would get gloves or hats in their bags. Urban Peak isn't the only worthy population in town, but a few of us here have been supporting those kids for the past few years and I want to make it one of our traditions, like the Turkey Run.

IN addition to cash, if anyone wants to buy or donate new travel sized toiletries or hats/gloves, I will take them down to the shelter on delivery day, to donate to the normal, everyday needs supply. (hint hint, I make a run there every quarter to drop off donations).

Done being all beggy. Thank you all.

[Jackie]

Steph - I don't think you saw my post. Check your paypal account.

[Pathrat]

You've got mail...

:D

You effing ROCK!!!!!

I will order the sweatshirts.

To everyone else who is or is going to be sending donations, you will be adding to the Christmas bags!!!! I am so excited at the prospect of seeing that each resident has a bag of Christmas treats, and more importantly, knows people out there DO care about them, specifically those at Front Range!!!

:frontrange4x4:

[Patrolman]

You've got mail...

:D

Ding.... You've got more mail. ;)

[Pathrat]

I did not see your post Jackie, until I was done writing the one in green. Thanks to you, Jeff and Heather, I just finished ordering all the guys' sweatshirts. I will give the total cash and gift and thanks yous in the next post

item shipping method est delivery date price
3 Hanes® Men's Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - Black XL Standard Thursday 12/08/2011 - Monday 12/12/2011 $22.47
3 Hanes® Men's Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - Black XXL Standard Thursday 12/08/2011 - Monday 12/12/2011 $28.47
1 Hanes® Men's Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - Charcoal M Standard Thursday 12/08/2011 - Monday 12/12/2011 $7.49
5 Hanes® Men's Crew-Neck Sweatshirt - Charcoal L Standard Thursday 12/08/2011 - Monday 12/12/2011 $37.45
order summary (12 items)
item subtotal: $95.88
promotion discounts:-$19.18
shipping:$26.99
shipping discount:-$26.99
Estimated Tax $8.36
your price: $85.06

Hanes - Men's ComfortBlend Fleece Sweatshirt
Color: Deep Royal, Size: XL
5 $7.00
Hanes - Men's ComfortBlend Fleece Sweatshirt
Color: Light Steel, Size: M
4 $7.00
Hanes - Men's ComfortBlend Fleece Sweatshirt
Color: Light Steel, Size: L
2 $7.00
Subtotal ( 11 items )
Free
Shipping
$6.21
Tax
$83.21
Order Total

[Pathrat]

I could not get what I needed at Wallyworld so I tried Target, and I should have gone there first! :rolleyes: 20% off all of the sweatshirts! So, we got a deal, and I got an extra neutral color medium, just in case.

Thanks to Heather, Jeff and Jackie this evening! Your generosity will be appreciated, and way to support your club and teenagers you don't even know. And thank you for making sure I can make this project work. :woot: :2thumbup:

Here is the breakdown so far:

Donation total (including me): $310
Sweatshirt/Fleece expenses: $287
Remaining: $23

I plan to sit on the $23 until more money comes in, then I will post what we can have, my ideas, and see if you all have any suggestions. This is great!!!!!!!!!!!

[Pathrat]

I have an update:

THANK YOU ROB AND MARTY FOR YOUR DONATION!

and your checking account number will come in handy when the Christmas season is over and I resume my usual evil deeds.

[Pathrat]

We have $47 dollars right now. I will wait one more week for more donations. Right now, I would like some suggestions on what we can do. The more we get, the more I put in. Additional donations will prompt me to spend the additional funds on gifts and cover the remaining chapsticks out of my own pocket. Why chapstick you as? Because it is an item on the year-round wish list for the kids, and it is especially needed in the winter.

Suggestions for $50? Suggestions for $75? Remember we need enough for 44 gift bags.

[Aaron]

I bet we could get total donations up to $500. Whatcha think?

[Rob]

your checking account number will come in handy

:lmao: What are you going to with that $23.77?

[Pathrat]

:lmao: What are you going to with that $23.77?

Buy you coffee? No donut though, you don't seem to have enough after my quad grande mocha.

[Pathrat]

I bet we could get total donations up to $500. Whatcha think?

You got us closer, THANK YOU AARON FOR YOUR DONATION! :clap:

[Pathrat]

TOTAL DONATIONS SO FAR: $385!

Unless anyone has a better suggestion, I plan on going to Wallyworld and getting gloves or hats, whatever I can get with the $97 we have now. I know others have offered to donate, so please let me know by Friday, for this next round of shopping for this population of homeless teens.

I will finish out the chapsticks too.

[Pathrat]

Hi everyone,
UPDATE: I am almost done with all the purchasing. Today I got 45 hats and pens (to go with the 2012 planners) I had previously purchased. I still need a few more small items and will take care of that tomorrow. Then, the stuffing of bags begins. Going to be a busy week. Here are a few pictures, more will follow when I have everything out.

This year's haul will be:
one sweatshirt/fleece
one hat
one plastic candy cane filled with brand candy
candy canes
planner with pen
chapstick
all in a reusable bag.

I have not done the exact math, but all this x 44, with a few extra items just in case, has run a little under $600. Not a bad total from the eight people who ponied up to help me with this project. :)

[Pathrat]

Thank you Robyn!!!! :2thumbup: No donation is ever 'late' and I will keep buying as long as people keep donating.

[Pathrat]

Here is what we have done this year:

44 gift bags with a hat, chapstick, pen, calender, candy and a new sweatshirt. Total cost/donated: $570.00

Pictures to follow. The delivery will be on December 24th.

Thank you everyone who participated! :2thumbup: :superhero:

[Pathrat]

The pic with the striped hats are for the girls, but I think you all can figure it out.

[Chris]

Thank you for all your efforts, time and more Stephanie!

:cheers: :cheers: :cheers: :cheers:

[Popsgarage]

Nice job Stephanie!

[Jackie]

Thank you Stephanie! Great job on this great mission to help the teens in need!

[Rob]

Thank you Stephanie! Great job on this great mission to help the teens in need!

X2! :thumb:

[Pathrat]

Thanks everyone! :)