First allow me to apologize for not keeping in touch . . .we've been a little busy. :o ) Busy is a good thing. At least for me it is.
We have been open one year and one month! We have served the families of 64 children over the past 13 months. We could not have do it without YOU! We have been open long enough that some of our babies have "aged" out of our program. Some of them no longer need us, which is a wonderful feeling. Our intention has only ever been to be a helping hand, not a crutch.
I for one have enjoyed watching the babies grow. 1st smiles, 1st teeth, toddling, walking and jabbering, it's been fun to see their little selves emerge. So often when they're very little they come to us fast asleep, then soon a bit more awake, then ready to jump into our arms upon their arrival. We look forward to their smiling faces.
Right now everyone's bundled up due to the chilly weather.
As we look to the new year we know we will be purchasing diapers, those size 4s just keep jumping off the shelf (it appears to be our most popular size). Perhaps we can find another outlet for bulk purchases - we hope. We were again blessed by a donation of diapers and formula from the fine folks at BB&T, we thank them for thinking of us in lieu of their usual Christmas gift exchange - they even delivered! Yay! We still have our ever-faithful drop off donations from Ben Franklin in Broadway - those folks never seem to forget us.
Today is Christmas Eve, a fine day to reflect upon the many blessings you have sent our way this past year or so. Please journey with us into our second year, there are more children in our very own back yard that need our help - with your continued support we'll be there for them!
Christmas Blessings to all,
A Small Hand - Plains District
Bev
Monday, December 24, 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Time flies . . .
It's been more than a month since I last gave an update and a lot has happened. . .On September 22nd, 100 of our faithful friends came to our Longaberger Basket Bingo at The Auction House in Broadway. Under the guidance of our very own Longaberger Bingo Queen, aka Debbie Miller, we raised $3,115.50 to help support our pantry.
We need to thank Debbie for all her efforts - she literally asks nothing of us until the night before the bingo, with the exception of seeking out those of us willing to donate the baskets she's so diligently shopped for over the past year. And she is quite the shopper! She had some awesome baskets this year. She doesn't just buy baskets, she buys liners, protectors and some how, always manages to fill them! (I do believe she's already on the hunt for next year's treasures.) We also need to thank Jim and Shirley Bushong for allowing us to hold the bingo in The Auction House - we know how difficult it is for them to "squeeze us in" since auction season is in full swing.
We now have 58 little ones enrolled in our program, we had 23 of them visit during September's pantry night. The little ones are growing. Some are growing right out of our program, but we're happy to have been able to help them as long as we did.
Next month, November, we will celebrate our 1st birthday. We'd like to thank you for helping us maintain the services we offer to the little ones in our area. When we started, we started with a lot of faith and quite a few doubters, but the Pantry has evolved to be exactly what we wanted - A Small Hand. Our families don't rely upon us month after month, they just come to see us when they need us.
We've also come to realize that when they can, they help us. Just last month we had a Dad drop off several boxes of baby cereal, he told our Pastor that we had helped his family and they wanted to help us. That, my friends, is evidence of this program going full circle.
Since finding out we can no longer purchase diapers by the pallet-full we know we have to adhere to our original guidelines - we can only supply diapers and wipes to our little ones until they reach their second birthday. We had hoped to find a new source, thus far, nothing has materialized.
We are distributing more than 300 jars of baby food each month - which reminds me, it's time to place another order (that's always fun - 300+ jars of baby food rolling around the back of my car. Walmart makes their clerks put each and every jar through their cash register, so we have a lot of jars here, there and everywhere. I don't understand why, but . . .I feel so bad for the clerk that gets stuck with me. (Think of the poor soul that gets behind me in line, too!) I might have to try a laundry basket on my next trip to kind of rein them in!
Oh, before I forget; thanks to the Broadway-Timberville Ruritans for supporting our Pantry, their donation of $150 will be spent wisely. We are just about through all the formula BB&T donated to us, they were kind enough to supplement their formula donation with cases of baby wipes. Yay! We are always pleased when another church, business or community group lends us a hand, it reinforces that we're not the only ones trying to help out our community and that's a good feeling.
I know I've said this before, but it needs to be said again and again. We have not been able to help these babies without YOU. Other churches, businesses, Brownie troops, school groups, civic organizations and individuals that kindly slip us a check every now and again, or deliver a trunk full of provisions for our shelves - thank you, thank you, thank you. You have been a blessing to our program. We couldn't do it without you. Thank you for helping us help our community's babies.
Next Thursday we'll get to see them again. We'll get to see how much they've grown, who's gotten their first tooth, who can roll over, who's walking, drinking from a cup, hear how potty training is progressing, etc. Yep, we'll get to see your babies!
Bev
We need to thank Debbie for all her efforts - she literally asks nothing of us until the night before the bingo, with the exception of seeking out those of us willing to donate the baskets she's so diligently shopped for over the past year. And she is quite the shopper! She had some awesome baskets this year. She doesn't just buy baskets, she buys liners, protectors and some how, always manages to fill them! (I do believe she's already on the hunt for next year's treasures.) We also need to thank Jim and Shirley Bushong for allowing us to hold the bingo in The Auction House - we know how difficult it is for them to "squeeze us in" since auction season is in full swing.
We now have 58 little ones enrolled in our program, we had 23 of them visit during September's pantry night. The little ones are growing. Some are growing right out of our program, but we're happy to have been able to help them as long as we did.
Next month, November, we will celebrate our 1st birthday. We'd like to thank you for helping us maintain the services we offer to the little ones in our area. When we started, we started with a lot of faith and quite a few doubters, but the Pantry has evolved to be exactly what we wanted - A Small Hand. Our families don't rely upon us month after month, they just come to see us when they need us.
We've also come to realize that when they can, they help us. Just last month we had a Dad drop off several boxes of baby cereal, he told our Pastor that we had helped his family and they wanted to help us. That, my friends, is evidence of this program going full circle.
Since finding out we can no longer purchase diapers by the pallet-full we know we have to adhere to our original guidelines - we can only supply diapers and wipes to our little ones until they reach their second birthday. We had hoped to find a new source, thus far, nothing has materialized.
We are distributing more than 300 jars of baby food each month - which reminds me, it's time to place another order (that's always fun - 300+ jars of baby food rolling around the back of my car. Walmart makes their clerks put each and every jar through their cash register, so we have a lot of jars here, there and everywhere. I don't understand why, but . . .I feel so bad for the clerk that gets stuck with me. (Think of the poor soul that gets behind me in line, too!) I might have to try a laundry basket on my next trip to kind of rein them in!
Oh, before I forget; thanks to the Broadway-Timberville Ruritans for supporting our Pantry, their donation of $150 will be spent wisely. We are just about through all the formula BB&T donated to us, they were kind enough to supplement their formula donation with cases of baby wipes. Yay! We are always pleased when another church, business or community group lends us a hand, it reinforces that we're not the only ones trying to help out our community and that's a good feeling.
I know I've said this before, but it needs to be said again and again. We have not been able to help these babies without YOU. Other churches, businesses, Brownie troops, school groups, civic organizations and individuals that kindly slip us a check every now and again, or deliver a trunk full of provisions for our shelves - thank you, thank you, thank you. You have been a blessing to our program. We couldn't do it without you. Thank you for helping us help our community's babies.
Next Thursday we'll get to see them again. We'll get to see how much they've grown, who's gotten their first tooth, who can roll over, who's walking, drinking from a cup, hear how potty training is progressing, etc. Yep, we'll get to see your babies!
Bev
Tuesday, August 28, 2012
The good, the bad and the not so bad. . .
The good news is we have 56 little ones enrolled in our pantry program. More good news, we have plenty of gently used clothing and will not be accepting anymore summer clothing until next spring, we simply do not have the storage. For now, winter clothes are what will be needed, especially for little boys.
We were recently showered with all kinds of goodies thanks to the thoughtfullness of Kelly Lineweaver's friends and family. Kelly asked that her friends and family shower A Small Hand-Plains District in lieu of a baby shower for her little girl, Mya. We sincerely thank her and her husband, family and friends for supporting our program, for sharing this happy time in their lives with us! Our thanks and congratulations go to the Lineweaver Family. So cool, with the arrival of Mya, they are now a FAMILY!
The bad news is we are no longer able to purchase diapers by the pallet. Goods360 hasn't had diapers available for bulk purchase for the past several months and has no idea if they'll have them available in the future. This means we will have to purchase diapers retail. Fortunately, we have some stealth shoppers, but our cost for diapers will now more than double. Not the end of the world, it just means our funds won't carry us nearly as far. But, just like last year, we're moving forward with faith, we know we have the community's support and we'll manage.
Speaking of community support, please mark your calendar for Saturday, September 22nd. We will be holding our second annual Longaberger Basket Bingo @ the Auction House in Broadway. Debbie Miller has been working hard to organize this event. I don't know if you remember, but last year's bingo provided us with the money we needed to open our pantry doors. This year's event will help us to keep those doors open.
Given the fact that we're not going to be able to purchase diapers by the pallet anymore and that baby food costs have increased in excess of 10% we're going to have to rely even more on the generosity of others.
During the past year, we have been blessed with a helping hand from many of you, whether from your church, your Girl Scout Troop, FCCLA at J. Frank Hillyard Middle School and from so many individuals that sent us a check every now and again. We could not have served these children without your help. Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!
The not so bad news is this is what YOU've helped us do over the past ten months:
217 infants/toddlers served
147 cans of formula was distributed
1606 jars of baby food was distributed
44 boxes of baby cereal was distributed
8,568 diapers were distributed
217 packages of wipes were distributed
On November 15th we will celebrate the start of our second year. Not that there will be any momentous ceremony or a cake, but, we will rejoice in the fact that we were able to serve these children. Children right here in our own back yard. Children we've watch grow from month to month. Of course, some of the children we no longer see, and we're really happy about that - their families no longer need us, YAY! That's exactly what we wanted. Just to help them out when they needed us most.
Thanks for giving us A Small Hand. . .
Bev
We were recently showered with all kinds of goodies thanks to the thoughtfullness of Kelly Lineweaver's friends and family. Kelly asked that her friends and family shower A Small Hand-Plains District in lieu of a baby shower for her little girl, Mya. We sincerely thank her and her husband, family and friends for supporting our program, for sharing this happy time in their lives with us! Our thanks and congratulations go to the Lineweaver Family. So cool, with the arrival of Mya, they are now a FAMILY!
The bad news is we are no longer able to purchase diapers by the pallet. Goods360 hasn't had diapers available for bulk purchase for the past several months and has no idea if they'll have them available in the future. This means we will have to purchase diapers retail. Fortunately, we have some stealth shoppers, but our cost for diapers will now more than double. Not the end of the world, it just means our funds won't carry us nearly as far. But, just like last year, we're moving forward with faith, we know we have the community's support and we'll manage.
Speaking of community support, please mark your calendar for Saturday, September 22nd. We will be holding our second annual Longaberger Basket Bingo @ the Auction House in Broadway. Debbie Miller has been working hard to organize this event. I don't know if you remember, but last year's bingo provided us with the money we needed to open our pantry doors. This year's event will help us to keep those doors open.
Given the fact that we're not going to be able to purchase diapers by the pallet anymore and that baby food costs have increased in excess of 10% we're going to have to rely even more on the generosity of others.
During the past year, we have been blessed with a helping hand from many of you, whether from your church, your Girl Scout Troop, FCCLA at J. Frank Hillyard Middle School and from so many individuals that sent us a check every now and again. We could not have served these children without your help. Thank you! Thank You! Thank You!
The not so bad news is this is what YOU've helped us do over the past ten months:
217 infants/toddlers served
147 cans of formula was distributed
1606 jars of baby food was distributed
44 boxes of baby cereal was distributed
8,568 diapers were distributed
217 packages of wipes were distributed
On November 15th we will celebrate the start of our second year. Not that there will be any momentous ceremony or a cake, but, we will rejoice in the fact that we were able to serve these children. Children right here in our own back yard. Children we've watch grow from month to month. Of course, some of the children we no longer see, and we're really happy about that - their families no longer need us, YAY! That's exactly what we wanted. Just to help them out when they needed us most.
Thanks for giving us A Small Hand. . .
Bev
A Small Hand
- Plains District
Open October 18th, 2012 5-7 PM
Rader
Lutheran Church
Those in need of assistance should
bring their WIC and/or SNAP documents along with photo identification. You must
also bring your infant.
Our pantry assists families with
infants thru toddlers age 2 with age appropriate formula, baby food, diapers and
wipes.
We also have gently used clothing
available sizes newborn thru 2 T.
For additional information, contact
Bev London 540-578-0779 (evenings please) or Meg Clem 540-896-1408.
Tuesday, July 31, 2012
54 babies!
We now have 54 little ones on our roles. Some of the children we'd started with are outgrowing our program, as they've reached their 2nd birthday. We are happy to have been able to help their families for a little while. Each month we see a few new faces.
Speaking of faces, Tom Brower (photographer extraordinaire) has been visiting us each month to take some really cute pictures of the little ones. We thank Tom for helping us give the families just a little something extra. (The photos are provided to the families by an anonymous gift, no ASH funds are used -just a few 5X7s and a few wallets.) These babies are growing up so fast!
We have been very fortunate this summer to have been granted $1,500 worth of formula and wipes from our local
BB&T offices. What a wonderful surprise, they even did the shopping! They held a "baby shower" for us, too. Wow! We received baby food, diapers, baby clothes and an array of non-food baby goodies. They also had a group of volunteers that helped us on Pantry night in May and then more came to pack diapers with us. 10,000+ diapers! If you've ever heard the old saying "Many hands makes the work light", their help did just that.
The kids from J. Frank Hillyard Middle School's FCCLA worked through the school year and came through with $1,000 for us at the end of the school year. What a great bunch of kids! Their $1,000 will be put to good use, as it's soon time to stock up on diapers!
This past weekend we received some very special gifts from a very special Mom-to-be, Kelly Lineweaver. Kelly's due to have her very own little one in the next couple of weeks. Kelly's friends and family surprised us with baby shower for ASH - a car load of infant goodies, along with some cash donations, too. We are so touched to have been thought of in this very kind way. We wish Kelly and her husband all the best. As she has blessed us, we hope that God continues to bless them and their soon-to-be family.
Debbie Miller, our fundraising chair, is busy working on the details for our annual Longaberger Basket Bingo. More details will follow. We were very fortunate last year to have held a successful Bingo--which was how we amassed our "seed" money. Many of you have helped us to maintain our funding by sending us those occassional checks and we are sincerely grateful.
Just a fun fact: we now have two sets of twins and a set of triplets! Woo Hoo, what fun! There never seems to be a lack of welcoming arms on pantry night, either. We enjoy watching the little ones grow from month to month.
We are pleased that some of our families no longer need our help, proof that we are exactly what we intended to be, A Small Hand. As we continue our little outreach ministry we want to thank you for your continued support. Whether you're one of the angels that leaves us goodies at J&B's Country Store each month, the ladies at Senior Citizens crocheting and knitting, the folks from Shenandoah Valley Quilters Guild, or just someone popping a check in the mail or dropping off a jar of change or diapers at the church. We couldn't do this without your help. God Bless you all!
Speaking of faces, Tom Brower (photographer extraordinaire) has been visiting us each month to take some really cute pictures of the little ones. We thank Tom for helping us give the families just a little something extra. (The photos are provided to the families by an anonymous gift, no ASH funds are used -just a few 5X7s and a few wallets.) These babies are growing up so fast!
We have been very fortunate this summer to have been granted $1,500 worth of formula and wipes from our local
BB&T offices. What a wonderful surprise, they even did the shopping! They held a "baby shower" for us, too. Wow! We received baby food, diapers, baby clothes and an array of non-food baby goodies. They also had a group of volunteers that helped us on Pantry night in May and then more came to pack diapers with us. 10,000+ diapers! If you've ever heard the old saying "Many hands makes the work light", their help did just that.
The kids from J. Frank Hillyard Middle School's FCCLA worked through the school year and came through with $1,000 for us at the end of the school year. What a great bunch of kids! Their $1,000 will be put to good use, as it's soon time to stock up on diapers!
This past weekend we received some very special gifts from a very special Mom-to-be, Kelly Lineweaver. Kelly's due to have her very own little one in the next couple of weeks. Kelly's friends and family surprised us with baby shower for ASH - a car load of infant goodies, along with some cash donations, too. We are so touched to have been thought of in this very kind way. We wish Kelly and her husband all the best. As she has blessed us, we hope that God continues to bless them and their soon-to-be family.
Debbie Miller, our fundraising chair, is busy working on the details for our annual Longaberger Basket Bingo. More details will follow. We were very fortunate last year to have held a successful Bingo--which was how we amassed our "seed" money. Many of you have helped us to maintain our funding by sending us those occassional checks and we are sincerely grateful.
Just a fun fact: we now have two sets of twins and a set of triplets! Woo Hoo, what fun! There never seems to be a lack of welcoming arms on pantry night, either. We enjoy watching the little ones grow from month to month.
We are pleased that some of our families no longer need our help, proof that we are exactly what we intended to be, A Small Hand. As we continue our little outreach ministry we want to thank you for your continued support. Whether you're one of the angels that leaves us goodies at J&B's Country Store each month, the ladies at Senior Citizens crocheting and knitting, the folks from Shenandoah Valley Quilters Guild, or just someone popping a check in the mail or dropping off a jar of change or diapers at the church. We couldn't do this without your help. God Bless you all!
August Pantry
A Small Hand - Plains District
Open August 16, 2012 5-7 PM
Rader Lutheran Church
Those in need of assistance should bring their WIC and/or SNAP documents along with photo identification. You must also bring your infant.
Our pantry assists families with infants thru toddlers age 2 with age appropriate formula, baby food, diapers and wipes.
We also have gently used clothing available sizes newborn thru 2 T.
For additional information, contact Bev London 540-578-0779 (evenings please) or Meg Clem 540-896-1408.
Tuesday, July 10, 2012
July Pantry
A Small Hand - Plains District
Open July 19, 2012 5-7 PM
Rader Lutheran Church
Those in need of assistance should bring their WIC and/or SNAP documents along with photo identification. You must also bring your infant.
Our pantry assists families with infants thru toddlers age 2 with age appropriate formula, baby food, diapers and wipes.
We also have gently used clothing available sizes newborn thru 2 T.
For additional information, contact Bev London 540-578-0779 (evenings please) or Meg Clem 540-896-1408.
Wednesday, May 23, 2012
My, how times flies . . .
Can you believe seven months have passed since our Pantry opened its doors? (I apologize for not keeping you more up to date these past few months, it just seems time flies by before I know it. And we have been so busy!)
We have watched the babies we serve grow and it has been wonderful. We have learned a lot and have lots of other odds and ends to tell you:
Bev
PS I'll promise to try to do better at keeping in touch in the coming weeks and months.
Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' "
We have watched the babies we serve grow and it has been wonderful. We have learned a lot and have lots of other odds and ends to tell you:
- Our families do not come to us every month. Some months are better for them than others. This allows us to stretch our finances just that much farther. Of the 15 children we served the first night our pantry was open only five came to see us this month. However, we now have 40 children on our roles. Six of them came to see us for the first time just this month.
- Those that come only take what they truly need. So if anyone was concerned about the Pantry being taken advantage of. . . I think it's safe to say that's not happening. If they only need diapers and wipes one month, that's all they take. Diapers and wipes. Since formula is our single largest expenditure, we breathe a little sigh of relief. :o )
- We have been able to supply our families with a limited amount of gently used baby clothes, which they, in turn, bring back to us when their baby has outgrown them! We are in need of clothes for little boys, though. For some reason we have had very few pieces of clothing for little boys to distribute. We have a good supply of Newborn - 9 months of clothing for little girls, sizes 12 months and up are a bit sparse for both boys and girls, but especially for boys! Think of A Small Hand when you're out at the Yard Sales Saturday mornings.
- We are a community of very caring people. You have dropped off goodies for us at J & B's Country Store in Broadway, you have held showers for us at your church or organization, you have sent us random checks in the mail with notes of encouragement. Each one of these gestures does not go unappreciated!
- A Small Hand (@ Edinburg Christian Church) has allowed us to partner with them to make bulk purchases of diapers, which has saved us huge amounts of money!
- Unfortunately, baby food has jumped more than 13% in a month. What we bought for 44 cents in November, we're now buying for 50 cents. It doesn't sound like a lot of money until you start doing the math.
- Our volunteers! Where would we be without our volunteers? We have a dependable force of "regular" volunteers. This month we had three lovely women join us from BB &T, they were a delight to have with us and dug right in. (Given this is the time of year some of our regulars need to sneak in a little time away for one reason or another. . .they were a welcome sight.) Just this past Pantry we had two Moms express a desire to volunteer to help out on a Pantry night or when we're packing diapers. We are very blessed.
- Through BB&T's "Lighthouse Project" we were recently gifted a $1000 of infant formula and this week they're hosting a "shower" for us. We are so pleased they selected us to be one of their projects! They have volunteers that will be joining us to package diapers next month, too. When you go into BB&T, feel free to thank them for their support of our community.
- We are planning another Fund Raising BINGO this fall, so be on the look out for that upcoming announcement. Not sure where or when, but we know Debbie Miller is hard at work conjuring up a night of fun and fellowship for a good cause for all of us!
Bev
PS I'll promise to try to do better at keeping in touch in the coming weeks and months.
Matthew 25:40 "The King will reply, 'Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.' "
Friday, February 10, 2012
Pantry Open Thursday, June 21st, 2012
A Small Hand - Plains District will be open, Thursday evening, June 21st
Hours 5 - 7 PM
If you did not bring your child, your WIC or SNAP documentation and photo ID in May you must bring them to the next pantry you attend in order to continue to receive assistance.
The pantry serves infants in need in the Plains District of Rockingham County -
Broadway area school district
Lacey Spring, John C. Myers, Fulks Run, Plains and Linville-Edom Elementary Schools. We regret, we are unable to help families outside of our service area.
Diapers and wipes are available for toddlers to age 2!
We are located at Rader Lutheran Church, 17072 Raders Church Road, Timberville
Please call Bev London for directions and/or additional information 578-3658
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