The Pajama Program delivers new, warm sleepwear and books to kids in need. That includes kids in foster care and kids who are runaways or victims of abuse and neglect, living at the Hays Shelter Home.
The winter drive for pajamas and books is on now through Jan. 4.
New pajamas for boys and girls, sizes infant to adult XXL are welcome, along with new books.
Local drop sites include:
Æ Moxie Java branches at 1750 W. State, 1122 S. Vista, 404 E. ParkCenter, 331 N. Milwaukee and 5120 Overland Road in Boise; and 3327 N. Eagle Road, 1551 W. Cherry Lane, 1630 S. Eagle Road and 10650 W. Overland Road in Meridian; and 624 12th Ave. S. and 2201 N. Cassia in Nampa.
Æ Bank of the West branches at 9140 W. Emerald and 827 W. Idaho St. in Boise; 47 E. Riverside Drive in Eagle; 1630 S. Wells Ave. in Meridian; and 1313 Caldwell Blvd. in Nampa
Æ REMAX, 1420 W. Washington, Boise.
A couple of things to keep in mind:
Æ For every pair of pajamas collected at Carter’s stores now through Dec. 19, Scholastic will donate a book to the project. Local Carter’s stores are located at 6968 S. Eisenman Road and 8255 W. Franklin Road.
Æ The Pajama Program has an Amazon wish list for kids books. Click “wish list” at amazon.com, select “find a wish list,” then type: “Idaho-Pajama Program.
To find out more online, link through this column at idahostatesman.com.
FUNDRAISER HELPS PREVENT HOMELESSNESS
The Avenues for Hope Housing Challenge lets donors show their support for 29 nonprofit organizations that provide housing and services in Idaho. The challenge lets those organizations compete for even more grant money.
The Home Partnership Foundation, created by the Idaho Housing and Finance Association, is spearheading the online grass-roots campaign.
Here’s how it works: Donors give online to the organization of their choice through Dec. 31 (find a link in this column at idahostatesman.com).
The organizations that receive the most individual donations of $25 or more are eligible for shares of $45,000 in grants from the foundation. The grants range from $500 to $10,000.
The first Avenues for Hope campaign last year raised nearly $50,000 in individual donations and grants for 22 Idaho nonprofits, said IHFA officials.
The fundraiser began Dec. 4, and donations are coming in at a steady clip. As of this week, about $10,000 had already been raised. Supporters of CATCH Inc., one of the participating organizations, have given about $4,000. Donors can keep track of donations-to-date online.
The grant comes at a key time, when many organizations are struggling to provide services through the end of the year. This is the organization’s sole fundraiser that focuses specifically on groups that help get Idaho families into stable housing.
Participating organizations include Corpus Christi House — STEP UP Education Center; Advocates Against Family Violence Inc. and many others.
CONCERT WILL BENEFIT CHILD FIGHTING CANCER
Supporters of Michaella “Lula” Coe, a 9-year-old Boise girl fighting Stage IV Wilms Tumors in her lungs, are hosting a benefit concert and silent auction at 1 p.m. Saturday at The Venue, 521 W. Broad St. in Boise.
Coe has had a rough year, including chemo, two months of radiation, the removal of a kidney and part of her liver. Doctors are considering a bone marrow transplant.
An account to help Lula and her family is accepting donations at Idadiv Credit Union, P. O. Box 500, Nampa, ID 83653. Please send checks payable to: Idadiv Credit Union, for deposit to account #00004464.
For more information, contact Monique Wilson Zehner at 440-4489.
SHARING THE BOUNTY WITH SEMILLA NUEVA
Semilla Nueva is a non-profit founded by Idahoan Curt Bowen. Over the last three years, the organization has worked with low-income farmers in Guatemala to fight poverty by teaching sustainable farming.
Semilla Nueva hosts Sharing the Bounty, a special evening, 6 to 9 p.m. Thursday at the Red Lion Downtown, Main and 22nd streets in Boise.
Sharing the Bounty will feature local food, wine and beer, plus local music and silent auction items from around the Valley. Attendees will also be able to shop at a market of Guatemalan crafts. One special feature of the evening: 21 Idaho Rotarians will share experiences from their trip to Guatemala in October. Tickets are $20 in advance online. Find a link in this column atidahostatesman.com. For more information, contact info@semillanueva.org.
KIDS NEED COATS
Local efforts are filling the need. Check these out, and donate:
Æ 4th Annual Coats for Kids: On Friday, firefighter Rob Bailey will climb up on the roof of the Caldwell Fire Department, 310 S. 7th Ave., and stay there until the public donates a slew of new and clean, gently used coats, hats and gloves for area children. Bailey aims to get more than 400 coats donated.
The fire department will accept items before and during the event. Questions? Call Rob Bailey or Meredith Dille at the Caldwell Fire Department: 455-3032.
Æ Bruneel Coat Drive for Kids: All six Bruneel Tire Factory locations across the Valley have boxes set up for donations of new and gently used coats, hats and gloves.
At the end of the drive, which continues through Dec. 31, Bruneel will coordinate with local school districts to get the items to the children who need them.
The company has organized this annual drive for the last four years. Last year, it collected and gave away more than 1,500 coats.
Contact Janiel Dawkins at 376-9901 for more.
NICE STORIES THAT HAVE COME MY WAY
Here are a couple of stories that have brightened my email lately. Know of others? Drop me a line: awebb@idahostatesman.com.
Æ Cindy Finch, director of The Children’s School in Boise’s North End, told me about a recent class project that taught a good lesson to very young kids.
The All Day Class is a group of 16 children, ages 3 to 5. A creative series of lessons — learning about how restaurants work, learning about Halloween pumpkins and cooking for the school feast — culminated in a school food drive. Kids collected items to be donated to the Women’s and Children’s Alliance.
The kids loaded the donated food into a wagon and pulled it four blocks to the WCA. Staffers met them there and explained how the food donations would help the residents at the WCA shelter. When they got back to school, said Finch, kids began talking about how they might donate toys, books, markers and paper next time.
“How this curriculum thread continues to unfold remains to be seen, but it is clear to me that these young children are not only helping others but, through these experiences, are laying a foundation of understanding and learning—about generosity — to build on as they grow up,” said Finch.
Æ 13-year-old Charlee Wambolt is the reporter/news correspondent for the Eh Capa 4-H Club. Along with their poultry and horse projects, they also engage in service projects. Recently, club members took part in Rake-Up Boise, sponsored by Neighborhood Housing Services. Close to 30 club members raked more than 15 yards. Kudos, El Capa.
Anna Webb: 377-6431
