Restoring Dignity #33
Saturday, June 22nd, 2019
Somewhere along the way, we must learn that there is nothing greater than to do something for others.
-Martin Luther King Jr.
Sign-up to donate items here.
Sign-up to volunteer here.
Sing-up to financially support this project here.
Their Story
Seven years ago, a Karen family of 7 came to the United States after living in a refugee camp for over 20 years. The mom of the family was just a baby when her parents fled the violence of the Civil War in Burma, and the only life she knew was a life behind fences. When she and her husband and children were chosen to be resettled to another country, they dreamed of a new life where they could rebuild a safe and comfortable life for their family. They were first brought to Wisconsin, but that was not a good fit. So their family moved to Omaha in 2013, as they had heard a strong Karen community was developing in Nebraska. They stayed with friends for a year before moving into an apartment of their own. Life in America was not as easy as they thought it would be. The only work the dad of the family could get was meat packing in a factory at odd hours of the day. Finding another job was just an impossibility, due the language barrier. Neither the mom nor the dad had ever been given the gift of education, and learning English has been a formidable wall. From the day they were born until today, they have never had the opportunity to go to school. Back in the camps, they learned how to work whatever jobs were needed to survive. In America, they are doing the same. Currently, mom and dad are both working any hours they can get in meatpacking, but soon the mom’s sister won’t be able to watch their two toddlers, and the dad will be staying home to watch the kids. Money has always been an issue since day one, and the family has struggled to make ends meet. Purchasing household items has been a significant challenge: all of the mattresses the family currently owns were ones they found in dumpsters. They couldn’t afford to purchase new ones. Restoring Dignity was asked to meet with this family, as the person referring thought a home-makeover would greatly help this family’s situation, both tangibly and for moral support. The family is on-board and excited about the upcoming home-makeover that will transform there apartment into a home where they can thrive. Join us on Saturday, June 22nd, 2019, as we aim to bring household items and hope to this family!The Pictures
The Solution We are taking action on Saturday, June 22nd, 2019 from 10am-4pm, to provide this family with much-needed household, cleaning and organizational items. Come join us as we bring hope and encouragement to them!Supplies Needed
Please sign-up for items you will donate on our donation sign-up page. If you would like to financially contribute towards this project, click here and write in the description: “Restoring Dignity #33” KITCHENPlatesBowlsCupsSilverware- Decorations
- Tupperware (new only)
- Saran wrap
- Aluminum foil
- SOS pads
Kitchen towels- Drawer liners
- Trash bags (kitchen-size)
Kitchen tableKitchen chairs- Microwave (medium size)
- Rack for drying dishes
- Rice cooker (new only)
- Dawn dish soap
Couch- Bookshelf
- Coffee table
- TV Stand
Computer chairComputer deskRecliner chair- Decorations
- Pictures
- Twin mattress (for bunk bed)
Twin bed bug coverTwin comforterTwin sheets- Full mattress (for bunk bed…family’s current mattress was taken from the dumpster and is sunken down in the middle)
Full comforterFull sheetsFull bed bug cover(2) new pillowsFloor lampCurtainsCurtain rod- Office supplies (notebooks, pens, pencils, etc)
- Paper organizer (to store important mail and documents)
- Toy chest/toy organizer
(2) Hanging shoe racks (bedrooms)
- (2) twin mattresses
- (1) twin box spring
- (1) twin bed frame
(3) twin bed bug covers(4) new pillows(2) twin comforters(2) twin sheetsDresser- Night stand
Table lampLightbulbs- Decorations for 16 y/o boy and 13 y/o boy
Hangers
- Shower curtain
- Shower liner
- Towels
- Hand towels
Body soapShampooLotionToothbrushesToothpasteBath rug- Decorations/pictures
- Toilet paper
Paper towels- Baby soap/shampoo
- Feminine pads
- Hand soap (in a pump bottle)
- (1) twin mattress
- (1) twin box spring
- (1) twin frame
- (2) twin comforters
(2) twin sheets(4) twin bed bug coversNightstandTable lampDresser- Decorations/pictures (for mom and 10 y/o girl)
- Mop
- Mop bucket
- Multi-purpose cleaner
- Bathroom cleaner
- Degreaser for stove
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Toilet bowl brush
- Windex
- Magic erasers
- Broom
- Dust pan
- Vacuum (family’s is broken)
- Vinegar
- Kitchen Degreaser (non- ammonia)
BleachMr. Clean (non-ammonia)- Bathroom cleaner
- SOS pads
- Oven cleaner (surface and inside of oven)
- Toilet bowl cleaner
- Windex
- Magic erasers
- Extra-large trash bags
- Disposable gloves for volunteers (need size medium)
- 2 year old boy: stuffed animals and toddler books
- 3 year old boy: big lego blocks (mega blocks) and toddler books
- 10 year old girl: 3rd/4th grade level books, journal, jewelry, barbies
- 13 year old boy: soccer ball, books
- 16 year old boy: books
- Lunch for afternoon and all-day volunteers (pizza, sandwiches, etc.), served at 12pm
Bottled water for volunteers (30-40 bottles)- Mops (ours have gotten old and are falling apart over the years)
Map of Restoring Dignity Storage Unit
Volunteers Needed
Please sign-up to volunteer via our sign-up page.- Saturday, June 15th, 2019 Pre-Shift: 2:00pm-4:00pm, at the Restoring Dignity Storage Unit: This shift involves getting donations ready for the project date. At the Restoring Dignity Storage Unit.
- Saturday, June 22nd, 2019
- Transportation: 8am-10am: This shift involves loading items onto trucks at the storage unit, and unloading them at the family’s home. We will provide a U-Haul truck.
- Shift one: 10am-12pm: This shift is for people who want to help with cleaning, organizing clothes, steaming and fixing items.
- Shift two: 12pm-2pm: This shift is for people who want to help with cleaning, organizing clothes, steaming and building items.
- Shift three: 2pm-4pm: This shift is for those who can help move furniture into the apartment, build and decorate.
- Half Day: 10am-2pm: This shift is for someone who would like to have a Restoring Dignity immersion and/or be a project leader.
- Half Day: 12pm-4pm: This shift is for someone who would like to have a Restoring Dignity immersion and/or be a project leader.
- Full Day: 10am-4pm: This shift is for someone who is looking for a full-immersion with Restoring Dignity and/or wants to be a project leader.
- Handyperson shifts: This shift is for a person who is skilled with tools, can help fix broken items in the home, can assemble beds and other furniture, and can hang pictures.
How to Get Involved:
- Donate items:
- Volunteer:
- Donate financially
- Spread the word:
