Restoring Dignity October 20-21st, 2012

“For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me…Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.”

(Jesus, Matthew 25:35-36,40)

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

THE PROBLEM:

After our last Restoring Dignity project on September 15, 2012, we became aware of a recent immigrant family from Burma.  This family of seven came to the United States last year, and has since had difficulty meeting their own basic needs.  The father has a massive permanent physical disability that occurred right before they came here from Burma.  His disability renders him unable to work.  The mother works full-time, but only makes a little over minimum wage, leaving the family short on income to buy basic supplies (like food and diapers) every month.  The children, ages 16, 14, 10, 5, and 2, are slowly adapting to the language and cultural barriers presented to them here, although none of them are fluent in English yet.  Prior to this week, there was only one twin bed for this family of seven.  The father slept on the bed, while the other six family members slept on the floor.  This week, someone graciously donated two additional twin beds, so the family has three now.  The main problem that we will be helping to solve is two-fold: (1) the family needs to be taught how to clean, how to store food properly, how to get rid of mold, etc.  (2) the family needs basic items to get them on their feet.  In this country of pulling oneself up by the bootstrap, those who have no “boots” need to be given some and then trained how to “lace them up.” That is what we are going to be doing.

THE PICTURES:

*clicking on a picture will open up a gallery which is easy to scroll through.

THE SOLUTION:

On the weekend of October 20-21, 2012, we are going to work together as a community to teach this family how to maintain a clean and healthy environment in their apartment.  In addition, we are going to provide them with their basic needs.  Since their needs are so many, the list of what is needed will be split into different sections.

SUPPLIES NEEDED:

14 year old girl:

• junior 3-5 pants
• junior medium shirts
• new underwear (size medium, juniors)
• new socks
• shoe size 7.5-8.5 women’s
• backpack for school
• school supplies (notebooks, pencils, pens, ruler, calculator, binder, folders, erasers)
• Hair supplies
• Make-up
• cologne
• Face wash
• body wash
• deodorant
• fingernail polish

10 year old girl:

• Size 6 pants and shirts, girls
• shoe size 2-3 youth
• new socks
• new underwear (medium, girls)
• backpack for school
• school supplies (notebooks, pencils, pens, ruler, crayons, markers)
• Hair supplies

2 year old boy:

• shirt and pant size 3T-4T
• size 4 diapers
• toddler underwear
• potty chair
• sippy cups
• toddler silverware
• shoe size 9-10, todder/kids size
• toys
• picture books
• bathtub toys

5 year old boy:

• shoe size 2-3, youth
• XS-S boys size
• new underwear (small)
• new socks
• toys
• books
• electronic game

16 year old boy:

• shoe size 8.5 men’s
• Size small-medium in men’s clothing
• new underwear (small-medium)
• new socks
• cologne
• wallet
• body wash
• deodorant

Mother:

• shoe size 7-7.5
• clothing size 5-6 (small) petite
• new underwear (medium)
• new socks
• body wash
• deodorant
• cologne

Father:

• Clothing size small, men’s
• cologne
• new underwear (small)

Bathroom:

• shower curtain
• towels (full body and face)
• toilet paper
• toothpaste
• 7 new toothbrushes
• floss
• soap
• shampoo
• loofahs (new)
• mouthwash
• lotion
• fingernail clippers
• over-the-toilet organizer
• feminine hygiene (pads only)
• bathroom rug
• non-slip mat for bathtub
• bubble bath for the 2 and 5 year-old

Kitchen:

• pots & pans
• silverware
• tupperware
• ziploc bags
• saran wraps
• tin foil
• cooking utensils
• cutting board
• kitchen knives
• plates
• cups
• bowls
• kitchen trash can
• kitchen towels

Living Room:

• love seat (in good condition)
• two lamps
• 10 lightbulbs
• children’s DVDs
• decorations
• shelving (for movies, books, decorations)
• pictures (for the walls)

Bedrooms:

• (1) BUNK BED
• (3) plastic coverings twin size (for bed bug control)
• (2) plastic coverings full size (for bed bug control)
• (1) 0new pillows
• (14) plastic coverings for pillows
• Full and twin size comforters
• Full and twin size sheets
• clothes hangers
• closet organizers
• plastic organizers
• document organizers
• any type of other organizers

Cleaning supplies:

(we will use these to clean and then leave them with the family)

• bleach
• all-purpose cleaner
• windex
• carpet cleaner
• oven cleaner
• dish soap
• laundry detergent
• cleaning gloves (10 pairs)
• non-latex gloves (20 pairs)
• cleaning rags
• cleaning brushes
• cleaning bucket (to mix chemicals in)
• paper towels

Items this family would benefit from being stocked up on:

• paper towels
• toilet paper
• batteries (AAA and AA)
• feminine hygiene (pads)
• toothpaste
• lotion
• lightbulbs
• laundry detergent

Food:

• This family eats the same diet they did in Burma, which consist mainly of rice, beans, and fish.  If you would like to purchase groceries for this family, the best place to shop would be an Asian grocery store that carries Burmese food.  The Asian Family Market off of Saddlecreek (right next to the Quick Trip off of 45th and Hamilton and Saddlecreek Rd) carries Burmese food.

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. Directions: Go to 38th and Cuming Street, turn going North.  Drive two blocks, then take a right (going East).  House is 2 blocks East on Hawthorne Avenue, on the right.  Cream house with lion statues on the porch.

SCHEDULE OF THE WEEKEND:

Saturday, October 20th, 2012

10:00am-6:00pm

clean, organize

Sunday, October 21st, 2012

12:00pm-4:00pm

finish cleaning, bring donated items into the home and arrange and organize.

HOW TO GET INVOLVED:

• Donate items:

We couldn’t do these projects without our donors!  They are the heart of these projects!  Please let me know what you can donate, and I will take it 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 needs for that area, let me 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.

• Volunteer:

For this project, we need a minimum of 12 volunteers each day.  Our volunteers will clean, organize, carpet clean, steam carpet, and decorate.  The more volunteers, the faster we can accomplish our goals.  We are ALWAYS are short on volunteers for every project, so if you can help, PLEASE do.

• Spread the word:

Tell your friends and family about this project!  They might have an extra lamp or some pots and pans that are no longer used.  Re-post this blog on your facebook, or email it.  The more people that know about these projects, the more donations and volunteers.

HOW TO GET SIGNED UP:

You can call, text, email, or facebook Hannah or Sunday, to either donate supplies, volunteer to help, or BOTH! We will give in depth directions to the family’s apartment in North Omaha, to all volunteers who contact us. We appreciate each and every one of you so much! Let’s all work together to bless this family and restore dignity and hope to their life.

Here’s our contact information:

Items Received

(Any items not used for this project WILL be used in the next projects)

• Forks
• 2 sets of brand new beige curtains
• set of 4 containers in descending sizes to store flour, sugar, etc.,
• coffee mugs
• 18-24 month girl clothing
• 2 little kids blanket
• (10) bath towels
• (2) hand towels
• crayons
• sidewalk chalk
• 6 toothbrushes
• Body lotion
• Bubble bath
• Conditioner
• Shampoo
• Toilet bowel cleaner
• Shower gel
• 1 deodorant
• Baby powder
• Notebook paper
• Socks
• Children’s books
• Girls pajama set
• Foam puzzle
• Mirror
• Bath soaps
• Pencils
• Fingernail polish
• Emery boards
• Bangles
• Hand toys
• Fun pads
• Loofah
• Barrettes
• Shampoo for men
• Boy shorts
• T-Shirts
• Boy sweater
• Running suit
• Girl shirt
• Blankets
• Sunglasses
• Razors
• Cream
• Cologne
• Towels
• Baby toys
• Notebook
• Pictures
• Sheets
• 2 kitchen plastic containers
• Hand brooms
• Hat
• Belt organizer
• Pans and pots
• Creams
• Candles
• Laptop bag
• Muffin tin
• Frame
• Teen clothes
• Curtains
• 4 pillows
• Toaster
• Coat rack
• Moving picture frame
• Coffee table
• End tables

BEFORE AND AFTER VIDEO