Restoring Dignity #9

Saturday, January 11th, 2014

“Seek justice, relieve the oppressed, defend orphans, plead for the widow.”

(Isaiah 1:16b)

****BEFORE & AFTER VIDEO IS AT THE BOTTOM OF THIS PAGE****

Their Story

Six months ago, a widowed Karen father and his two young children came to the United States after living in a refugee camp in Thailand for 20 years. Two months after the youngest child was born, the mother passed away suddenly, leaving her husband to raise their two boys, now ages 4 and 6, by himself. In the short six months that he has been in America, the father has acquired an apartment and full-time employment at a local factory. However, the financial strain of only one income, coupled with the struggles of raising two young boys by himself, has made it impossible for him to provide his family with basic household items. Being a widow in a new country, with a new language, and a new set of cultural expectations, has placed an immense burden on the shoulders of the father. We hope to alleviate some of this burden, and help to restore hope into this family’s life. Join us on Saturday, January 11th, 2014.

The Pictures

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The Solution

We are taking action on Saturday, January 11th, 2014 from 10am-8pm, to provide this family with much needed household items, organization, and to teach them how to use cleaning supplies. Come join us to help bring hope, encouragement, and blessings to this family!

Supplies Needed

Kitchen

• Large rice cooker
• Tupperware
• Microwave
• Dishes
• Cups
• Silverware
• Clock
• Kitchen towels
• Wash rags
• Broom w/ dust pan
• Large plastic air-tight container  (to store rice in)
• Plastic storage bags (quart size bags, freezer gallon bags, sandwich bags)
• Garbage bags
• Saran wrap, aluminum foil
• Cutting board
• Mop
• Mop bucket
• Drawer and cupboard liners
• Dishwasher

Bathroom

• Towels (full, hand, and face)
• (3) toothbrushes
• Toothpaste (adult and child)
• Toilet paper
• Hand soap
• Shampoo
• Children’s soap
• Bath toys
• Lotion
• Bath rug
• Shower curtain & liner
• (3) loofahs
• Shower head organizer
• Deodorant
• Toilet brush

Bedrooms

• (1) twin/full bunk bed frame (twin top bunk, full bottom bunk)
• (1) twin mattress
• (1) Full mattress (firm preferred)
• (1) full size zippered plastic mattress covers to help with bed bugs, twin
• (6) new pillows ($3 at Target or Walmart)
• (6) Pillow cases (used or new)
• (2) dressers
• Hangers
• Organization containers for closet
• Hanging shoe rack
• Laundry hamper
• Curtains and curtain rods for all windows
• Blinds for windows, sizes: 34 inches (2 needed)
• Pictures for the rooms/decorations (boy themes for young children)
• Sheets (twin & full)
• (1) twin bedspread (boy themed) (1) full size bedspread
• New socks and underwear (Father: size small, 6 year old boy: small (4-6 size boys) 4 year old boy: 4T).

Living Room

• (1) couch
• Decorations (pictures, figurines, picture frames)
• Hanging shelves
• (1) Book shelf
• (1) computer chair
• (1) paper organizer (for bills)
• Vacuum with attachment
• Curtains & curtain rods (90 inch rod needed)
• Blinds for windows: 47 inches (2 needed)
• (2) pole lamps
• Small dining room table
• Light bulbs
• Coffee table

For the children:

• Children’s picture books
• Double stroller or wagon (The father and the boys have to walk next to busy Saddle Creek Road to go to the laundry mat. A stroller or wagon would help keep the kids safer along the street).
• Legos or building blocks
• Toy chest/toy box
• Bookshelf
• Toys
• Pre-K & Kindergarten age DVDs
• Age-appropriate posters
• Child-safety locks for cupboards in bathroom and kitchen

Cleaning Supplies

• Degreaser (Mr. Clean)
• Bathroom cleaner
• Bleach
• Chemical spray bottle
• Gloves (disposable and non-disposable)
• Cleaning rags
• Sponges
• Paper towels
• Windex
• Dawn dish soap
• Toilet bowl cleaner
• Carpet cleaning solution

Drop-Off:

All items can be dropped off at:

3505 Hawthorne Avenue, Omaha, NE 68131

If no one is home, please leave the items on the porch. We sort all of our donations here, and then transfer them to the family’s house on the weekend of action.

Schedule of the Weekend:

Saturday, January 11th, 2014

10:00am-8:00pm

There are multiple shifts available:

• Shift one: 10am-1pm : This shift is for people who want to help with cleaning, organizing clothes, steaming, carpet cleaning, & fixing items.
• Shift two: 1pm-4pm: This shift is for people who want to help with cleaning, organizing clothes, steaming, carpet cleaning, and building items.
• Shift three: 4pm-7pm: This shift is for those who can help move furniture into the apartment, build, & decorate.
• Shift four: 5pm-8pm: This shift is for those who would like to help decorate, arrange furniture, hang pictures, etc.
• Half-Day: 10am-4pm: This shift is for someone who would like to have a Restoring Dignity immersion.
• Half-Day: 2pm-8pm: This shift is for someone who would like to have a Restoring Dignity immersion.
• Full Day: 10am-8pm: This shift is for someone who is looking for a full-immersion with Restoring Dignity.

Sign up for shifts can be found at the Restoring Dignity Sign-Up Page.

How to Get Involved:

• Donate items:

We could not do these projects without our donors! They are the heart of these projects! Please let us know what you can donate, and we will take the items off of the list above. If someone would like to “adopt” a member of this family or a room in the apartment, by fulfilling the donations needed for that area, let us know. Otherwise, if you have any items in your house that you no longer need or use, please consider donating it to these projects. Your donations truly do make a direct impact on families in need.

• Donate Gift Cards

On the day of our projects, we often run low on basic cleaning supplies, hardware for hanging curtains, light bulbs, paper towels, toilet paper, and plastic bed wraps to keep down bed bug populations, among other items. Gift cards to major home stores or hardware stores (Target, Walmart, Lowes, Home Depot, etc) are greatly appreciated and help to bridge the supply gap on project days. Contact Hannah (restoringdignity@live.com) or (402) 305-8139, if you are interested in donating a gift card. If you would like to mail a gift card, please address it to: Hannah Wyble, 3505 Hawthorne Avenue, Omaha, NE, 68131.

• Volunteer:

For this project, we need a minimum of 25 volunteers, ideally 35 volunteers, spaced out over the course of the day. Our volunteers will clean, organize, steam bed bugs in mattresses and in corners, and decorate. The more volunteers, the faster we can accomplish our goals. We would love to have you join our team! Please visit our Restoring Dignity Sign-Up Page to add yourself to one of our three hour shifts. If you would like to help for a half or full-day, that option is also available.

• Spread the word:

Tell your friends and family about this project! They might have an extra lamp or a bunk bed frame that is no longer in use. Re-post this blog on your Facebook, or email it. The more people that know about these projects, the more donations and volunteers.

FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK:

Restoring Dignity has a Facebook Group that is regularly updated. Please join our group: Restoring Dignity Omaha Facebook Group.

Contact us: