Operation Backpack Children’s Foundation
2010 Year-end Summary
We continue to supply backpacks to a Child's Place at Mercy at the growing rate of 100 per month. It still astounds us what goes on in our own back yard, and that is why we continue to do what we do!
April is of course National Child Abuse Awareness month and our project this year was to help with something the staff at A Child's Place at Mercy has been working on and now completed. We underwrote the expense to print and laminate cards with special instructions for law enforcement and the 500 CYF caseworkers in Allegheny County to use when responding to extreme cases of child abuse. The cards provide carefully worded language advising what to say to these very scared and confused children when being removed from their homes,
In June of this year we forged a wonderful relationship with Storehouse for Teachers that was brought about by our good friend Kathy Slencak who has an uncanny ability for being able to look from the inside out and see how different organizations can not only benefit from each other, but allows them to help a larger number of individuals in a greater way! Storehouse provides a myriad of things to teachers, students and the community at large, learn more at www.storehouseforteachers.org, they do great things.
August 9 we hosted our 5th Annual Ladies golf outing at a brand new venue, Indian Lake Golf Course in Somerset County and it turned out to be a huge hit! We had a smaller field, but with less expenses and our dedicated sponsors we managed to surpass our fundraising goal for this event. It was a wonderful event and the staff at Indian Lake could not have been any better, so a big thank you to them!
August 13 the annual Family Links picnic where we supplied back to school backpacks to 30 girls and 30 boys. We also donated numerous backpacks to The Child Advocacy Centers in 6 surrounding counties.
The month of November was ushered in with wonderful PSA radio ads sponsored by Lexus of North Hills, and personally and professionally done by Kevin Mullen, the VP and General Manager. The Public Service Announcement asked that people bring in new backpacks, they would fill them with toys and books for the holidays and in return get a free VIP carwash. Needless to say it was a great success! Thank you Lexus of North Hills, Kevin and all your employees for being a great friend to OBP.
Which led to….November 22 another Backpack stuffing party! This is how the numbers went! Backpacks for 125 girls ages 2-5, 125 for boys ages 2-5, 100 for infant girls, 100 infant boys, 250 for Storehouse for Teachers, 60 with Christmas gifts for Family Links, 200 candy jars for Prevention of Youth Violence, 50 stockings for the girls at Prevention for Youth Violence, and finally 100 shoeboxes stuffed for the Haiti project! Pretty impressive, but not quite as impressive as the awesome volunteers that showed up and worked for 5 long hours! Our volunteers are truly the best!
December always a very busy month with many, many last minute requests, and so far we've never had to say no! Thanks to all who continue to support us!
We supplied gift bags to 6 area shelters, and joined with Storehouse for Teachers on December 16 and 17 to aid in fulfilling their supplies to several Pittsburgh Area Public Schools. You can read more about those events at http://www.popcitymedia.com/forgood/storehouseforteachers121510.aspx .
We had several requests from area churches and Boys and Girls Clubs for Christmas gifts for families they identified as being extremely in need, and were able to get everything done in time for Santa to deliver.
Again, a huge thank you to all our loyal supporters, we could not do it without you!