Community gives back: the first Thanksgiving family has been adopted! Please help!

Contributor: mysecretcollection mysecretcollection
It was difficult to handle my emotions when I first noticed in the forum that EdenFantasys was interested in sponsoring families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they were reaching out to the EF community to find those families. Projects such as this are dear to my heart, and I have my parents to thank for that.

I grew up in a home that was middle class, not rich, and not poor; we always had what we needed, and usually what we wanted as well.

With each holiday, our family would give up some of what we would have so that others could have something. It wasn’t always a lot that we gave, but it was a blessing none the less.

My hands trembled while I called a local shelter and asked if we were too late to adopt a family. My heart fluttered when Ms. Melissa, the Volunteer Coordinator, on the other end of the phone informed me that there were still families in need of help.

I told her that we wanted to make a big impact, and she told me about a family that sounds absolutely wonderful, and more than deserving for help.

You see, Ms. Melissa works at Family Violence Prevention Services, Inc. (FVPS). Even at first glance, the organization sounds like a wonderful cause; as if preventing family violence was not enough, they also offer other programs for families, women, and youth.
Programs offered include:

•Counseling Services for Women, Men, and Children
•Children’s Services Program developed for the specific emotional and social needs of children
•Violence Intervention Program teaching men and women who have abused their partners to change their behavior
•Transitional Housing Program
•P.O.W.E.R. Program (Providing Options With Educational Resources) offering GED, ESL, Computer Literacy, and Banking Basics Education
•Youth Substance Abuse Intervention Program serving juvenile court and school-referred adolescents and their families
•Community Based Counseling Program providing individual counseling services to residents of all San Antonio homeless shelters
•Legal Services Program providing free legal assistance to income-eligible victims of domestic violence.
•Court Liaison Program linking victims involved with the legal system to professional intervention, and helping families work with the Court.

How could we not give back to an organization like this by supporting a family? They help so many people in the San Antonio, Texas area, and I am happy to announce that we will be helping them, by helping a great family!
The family that I have picked is a large family of ten people; yes, you read that correct, TEN! The family started out with the mom and dad, happy together, and not able to have children. So, to start a family, they began with adopting. To date, they have adopted seven children who are all 13 and younger. Just over three years ago, the big family was blessed with a miracle when mom and dad gave birth to a baby they thought they could never have on their own. This little miracle was born with Cerebral Palsy. Mom now stays home to take care of the children, and to be the primary care giver for their youngest child’s special needs. Dad is the bread winner of the home; he supports his family by driving a bus for a local school.

FVPS received the request for help from the oldest child. He is a 13 year old teen who is currently enrolled in the organization’s Youth Substance Abuse Intervention Program. His request for help was simply written, but contained a lot of love for his family.

I cry as I write this, because I am both empathetic to this family’s struggles while being overjoyed that we, as a community, are going to be able to bless this family for this Thanksgiving.

I will be keeping everyone updated as I go shopping for the family, and through the entire process. I will be enlisting the help of my husband, and handing him a camera so that I can document as many events as I am able to (I am not sure if the family will allow photos, but if they will, those will be included as well.)

Thank you to EF for all you do in the community, and a special “thank you” on behalf of the FVPS in San Antonio, as well as the family!
11/01/2010
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Contributor: Victoria Victoria
This is so moving. I am so excited about helping this family! And a BIG THANK YOU to MySecretCollection for being an ambassador and representative of this community!

So, Eden is starting this family out with $200 for groceries... but we can do MORE as a community! Let's raise some points for these people and help them have a great Thanksgiving.

Anyone who would like to help can donate EdenPoints (which Eden will match 50 cents on the "dollar", meaning that if you donate 20.00 in EdenPoints, we will donate $10.00 in cash on your behalf. All you have to do is cash in your points and email me the amount and the code. (victoria@edenfantasys .com) It's that simple! To keep it timely, you must to have your donations in by the end of Thursday night (November 4th). We will tally all of the donations on Friday morning and cut the check so MySecretCollection can go shopping for this awesome family! (Do not post your cashed-in points code here! You can post what amount you donated though )

We still have time for 2 more families for Thanksgiving (for details, see the general giving back thread here)- if anyone would like to volunteer to be a Community Rep and find an agency to get connected with a family in need, please do! We will also fund you for the basics and do a points fund-raiser for you too!

Thank you to everyone in this amazing community!
11/01/2010
Contributor: gone77 gone77
Wow! I am so glad we were able to do this! I'll definitely be cashing in my EdenPoints. It's not a lot, but I know every little bit helps.

MySecretCollection: Thanks for letting us know about this family and for representing the EF community!
11/01/2010
Contributor: LicentiouslyYours LicentiouslyYours
Quote:
Originally posted by mysecretcollection
It was difficult to handle my emotions when I first noticed in the forum that EdenFantasys was interested in sponsoring families for Thanksgiving and Christmas, and they were reaching out to the EF community to find those families. Projects such as ... more
This is so awesome. It brightened my Monday morning considerably. Thank you for stepping up and making these arrangements. I am so excited we are going to be helping this family.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Selective Sensualist Selective Sensualist
This post moved me so deeply.

I have been trying to contact local organizations. One organization I contacted doesn't have an "adopt a family" program, per se. Instead, they take donations and set up a co-op to allow families to come in and pick items/food of their choosing. I'm not sure if this is the type of program that EF is looking to support (instead of adopting a specific family)?

I did finally receive an e-mail from another organization I'd contacted last week that DOES match donors with specific families. They informed me that a representative could talk to me over the phone tonight. I'll e-mail Victoria with the info I receive after I've spoken with the rep.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
SQUEEEE! Go Eden! This is amazing!
11/01/2010
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
I need more points
11/01/2010
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
I need more points
If we win a giftcard, can we also send you that Victoria?
11/01/2010
Contributor: Darling Jen Darling Jen
What an amazing organization you found, mysecretcollection. I am completely impressed with everything they do the for the community. I will be proud to donate some of my points towards the cause. Especially because this is such a large family built on love and inclusion, despite the fact that all but one of their kids is adopted. Simply wonderful. It's enough to bring tears to my eyes.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Darling Jen Darling Jen
Just made my donation for the first family adoption. I can't wait to see what the end total will be.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
Quote:
Originally posted by Selective Sensualist
This post moved me so deeply.

I have been trying to contact local organizations. One organization I contacted doesn't have an "adopt a family" program, per se. Instead, they take donations and set up a co-op to allow families ... more
Awesome, keep me posted!
11/01/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
If we win a giftcard, can we also send you that Victoria?
I'll double-check with the boss and let you know
11/01/2010
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
EF and this wonderful community never cease to amaze me. Makes me feel proud to be a part of it all.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by Victoria
I'll double-check with the boss and let you know
Thank you!
11/01/2010
Contributor: mysecretcollection mysecretcollection
I love all the positive energy and excitement this has brought. We are a wonderful bunch of people.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Illusional Illusional
Quote:
Originally posted by mysecretcollection
I love all the positive energy and excitement this has brought. We are a wonderful bunch of people.
This definitely made my Monday.

I'm sitting here doing applications but I'm feeling pretty good.
11/01/2010
Contributor: ToyTimeTim ToyTimeTim
Yeah! What a great day this is turning out to be.

mysecretcollection, my hat is off to you. Way to go get after it, and finding a family that can benefit greatly from this "wonderful bunch of people". (I liked that, kinda fits real good around here.)
11/01/2010
Contributor: Gary Gary
This is great! Always room for more
11/01/2010
Contributor: mysecretcollection mysecretcollection
So EF community, let me ask you this....

We were given $200 to give this family a Thanksgiving meal. Honestly, with the sales coming up, and my coupon/sale skills, we could feed this entire family for $100. What do you say we take on another family at this location as well, and help even more people out?
11/01/2010
Contributor: Kindred Kindred
Quote:
Originally posted by mysecretcollection
So EF community, let me ask you this....

We were given $200 to give this family a Thanksgiving meal. Honestly, with the sales coming up, and my coupon/sale skills, we could feed this entire family for $100. What do you say we take on another ... more
If I recall, EF was originally going to sponsor 3 families for Thanksgiving, and since the deadline to contribute is this Thursday, maybe you could sponsor another family if EF approves and there are no other families to sponsor? Or maybe the short deadline is just to get the funds to you quickly.

On another note, I want to donate points, but was wondering would it get split evenly between multiple families if we have them? Or do I have to designate a specific family to donate to?

Thanks again myssecretcollection for doing all of this.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Tucker Cummings Tucker Cummings
This is amazing. I'm emailing you all my points codes right now!
11/01/2010
Contributor: mysecretcollection mysecretcollection
Quote:
Originally posted by Kindred
If I recall, EF was originally going to sponsor 3 families for Thanksgiving, and since the deadline to contribute is this Thursday, maybe you could sponsor another family if EF approves and there are no other families to sponsor? Or maybe the short ... more
I actually already contacted EF about it since $200 could just go a lot further than one family. It was suggested that I bring it up to the community to gain some feedback.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Fred Petrenko Fred Petrenko
I emailed my codes
11/01/2010
Contributor: Sir Sir
Quote:
Originally posted by mysecretcollection
I actually already contacted EF about it since $200 could just go a lot further than one family. It was suggested that I bring it up to the community to gain some feedback.
I think that this is a great idea. If you can help out more, then by all means, do it!
11/01/2010
Contributor: mysecretcollection mysecretcollection
Quote:
Originally posted by Sir
I think that this is a great idea. If you can help out more, then by all means, do it!
I was thinking the same thing. I have already scoped out the upcoming sales and I know I can super duper budget shop and still give both families an awesome meal.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
GUESS WHAT?! We're giving MySecretCollection an extra $100 (bringing it to a total of $300 from EF) to take on this second family! And all points donated will go towards helping both families.

Let's raise some points, everyone!
11/01/2010
Contributor: gone77 gone77
Yay! This is so friggin' awesome, guys!! I'm going to add a few more points to my total before I cash them in.

Man, I'm just stoked!
11/01/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
I think everyone is trying to get their points up as high as they can before cashing them in on Thursday night - BUT, remember, you can cash them in whenever you want, so you could send 2 codes if you want to! No worries

The reason we're ending this Point fundraiser on Thursday night is so we give MySecretCollection ample time to get the check and do the shopping. Time goes quickly, and we don't want her stressed out at the last minute. Thanksgiving is really only 3 weeks away! Besides, I am sure these families would like to have the food a few days early so they can start preparing dishes the day before, like many of us do.

If anyone else finds an agency to work with, we can still do one more family for Thanksgiving! And we'll do another Points fundraiser!

For Christmas, we have a few maybes and people getting applications from their local agencies. If you want to volunteer to find a family to adopt, there is still time!

We will be doing a thread for each of those families and an Eden Points fundraiser week for each as well.
11/01/2010
Contributor: Victoria Victoria
Quote:
Originally posted by Illusional
If we win a giftcard, can we also send you that Victoria?
YES - you can donate gift card codes that you won or earned too. We'll match them by 50%, just like the Points (which are essentially like gift card codes too.) Yay, the boss is awesome!
11/01/2010
Contributor: Jul!a Jul!a
Quote:
Originally posted by Victoria
YES - you can donate gift card codes that you won or earned too. We'll match them by 50%, just like the Points (which are essentially like gift card codes too.) Yay, the boss is awesome!
That so rocks!
11/01/2010