It’s here! Summer (the 1st “official” day of Summer, that is) is finally here!
Yippeeeee! Summer!
In addition to school nearly being over for the year, Jake’s excited about all the donations he’s been getting!
We received an email from Supervisor John Cook‘s office on Monday telling us that the collection box had some items in it and a note! How mysterious!!
Thank YOU, Jeanette!
We headed over to Kings Park Library (where Supervisor Cook’s office is located) to pick up the items and the note. The note was from “neighbor and friend” Jeanette, who thanked Jake for his role in helping kids in foster care in our community by supporting Comfort Cases.
Jeanette, we are thankful for generous friends and neighbors like yourself!!
I’m making a change to my work-life balance …. less work and more balance … well, that’s the plan in any event!
After a great deal of mulling it over, I’ve decided to spend less time working “outside the home” and spend more time taking care of myself and by extension, my family.
I’m trading in my position as a PEATC employee to become an “independent contractor” with Understood.org this week.
My new endeavor …
… contract support for Understood.org
And since we couldn’t quite bear to say “adios” completely, I will also be providing support to PEATC in a small contract role.
How can I say goodbye to PEATC?
Lovely, thoughtful gifts …
… and cake!
I’m experiencing that nervous excitement that often accompanies the first day (back) to school as I head into a new and uncharted career waters.
The school year is winding down and summer is revving up … and Jake has an additional spot for you to drop off toiletries for his Comfort Cases collection project!
Dropping off a collection box
In the Braddock District Supervisor’s office
Located inside Kings Park Library!
You can drop NEW toiletry items at the office of Braddock District Supervisor John Cook in Burke, VA; his office is open from 9:00 am – 5:00 pm, Monday – Friday (excluding holidays) and is located in the Kings Park Library at 9002 Burke Lake Road, Burke, VA 22015.
Jake is happy to report that he has already received some donations to his project, both monetary and supplies! Jake wishes to thank all his generous friends: Ms. Laura, Ms. Martha, and Ms. Gwendolyn for the donations made directly to Comfort Cases; Ms. Suzanne and Ms. Courtney at PEATC, for their recent contribution of toiletries; and Ms. Tina for the toiletries she saved from a recent trip!
Thanks, Ms. Tina!
Thank you, Ms. Suzanne at PEATC!
Thanks, Ms. Courtney at PEATC!
Jake is really forward to sorting all the toiletries collected so far! But, please keep collecting them as you travel this summer … he’ll be in collecting mode through early September!
Earlier this year the PEATC Youth Group started the Pop Tab Collection community service project. The project supports the Ronald McDonald House’s efforts in providing a home away from home setting for families of chronically ill children. In three months the group collected almost 80lbs of aluminum pop tabs. A few PEATC Youth representatives were able […]
Jake is pleased to announce that he has secured a toiletries drop-off location in Fairfax, Virginia.
Jake at the Fairfax County Government Center in Fairfax, VA
Earlier today, Jake delivered an empty box to the offices of the Fairfax County Government Center; he has every hope that the box will be FULL before too long!
Jake with Fairfax County Board of Supervisors Chairman Sharon Bulova
Jake hopes to add some more drop-off sites before summer kicks into high gear. But, for now, we hope local folks will bring donations to Chairman Sharon Bulova’s office in the Fairfax County Government Center between 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday:
People interested in donating can also contact me via the comments, Facebook, or Twitter. You can also contact Comfort Cases and tell them Jake sent you!
Inside Chairman Bulova’s office
Drop off your donations here!
Many thanks and a special #ShoutOut to Clayton Medford, Chairman Bulova’s Chief of Staff for assisting Jake in this request.
Jake knows summer is coming and he knows that means vacation and traveling for many folks. And for some of you, it might mean a hotel stay. And if you are a Washington Redskins player, like Jake’s buddy Nick Sundberg, it means an extended hotel stay while you are at training camp!!
You end up with a lot of toiletries after you attend training camp!!
Jake also knows that people often travel for work. He knows that many of my PEATC colleagues travel to various locations across Virginia to train parents of children with Special Needs and/or children receiving Special Education services.
If your plans in the near future involve a hotel stay, for business or pleasure, Jake would like you to save your toiletry items for him.
Why does a 12-year-old with Autism & ADHD need toiletries? Well, they are not for Jake, but for Comfort Cases!
Comfort Cases is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization that provides children ages 0-18 who are in the foster care system with a bag filled with essential needs as well as comfort items.
So … back to toiletries!!!
If you are familiar with Jake, you may be aware that he is a fan of logos, branding, and graphics. He also likes sorting, counting, and categorizing. When given a big bag of toiletries, he loves nothing better than looking at what hotel chain they came from and then sorting into categories by type. It is a task that appeals to his sense of order and structure, not to mention the visual elements.
Sooooooo … all this to say … Jake would love it if you’d save those toiletries that you were more than likely stuff into *that* drawer in your home and forget about … and give them to Jake as part of his collection project for Comfort Cases.
Shampoo & Conditioner
Not traveling but still want to help Jake’s project and Comfort Cases? Well, they are also looking for the following NEW items to supply to kids and youth entering foster care:
Small duffel bags/backpacks
Pajamas/Sleepwear – Sizes Newborn through Adult XXL
Small Blankets – Up to Throw Size (40″ x 60″)
Toothbrushes – Youth & Adult
Stuffed Animals
Coloring Books
Crayons
Journals
Pens & Pencils
Books
If you’d like to learn more about the genesis of Comfort Cases and founder Rob Scheer, please check out his story from his interview on the Today Show:
If you are interested in supporting Jake in his effort to show that kids (even kids with disAbilities) can help other kids, please leave a comment on this post or reach out to me via Facebook,Twitter, or Instagram so we can coordinate pickup/delivery of donations.
We are hoping to arrange some drop off locations, so please stay tuned!
So, Happy Travelling, and remember the kids entering foster care who would take so much comfort in something so simple!
Well, ready or not, the Christmas and Holiday rush is really going to start in earnest now.
So, if you haven’t already, would you please consider helping Jake to make the season a little brighter for kids who are not able to spend the holidays at home? Jake is working hard to collect fleece to make blankets during the Dreams For Kids DC (DFKDC) upcoming
Jake and other DFKDC participants will transform into volunteers during this event, participating in activities (such as assembling blankets) that will benefit others in our community!
To date, Jake has collected about 5 1/2 yards of solid colored fleece and about 22 3/4 yards of printed fleece.
He has enough print fleece to make a single side of 15 blankets (in sizes from toddler to young adult) and enough solid fleece to complete 3 blankets; would need 12 “matching” sizes of solid colors to make 15 total blankets.
Sizes of Printed Fleece
– 8 x 1 1/2 yards (need 7 solid pieces to complete)
– 2 x 1 2/3 yards (need 2 solid pieces to complete)
– 2 x 2 yards (COMPLETE)
– 2 x 1 yards (need 2 solid pieces to complete)
– 1 x 1 1/3 yards (need 1 solid piece to complete)
Picking up fleece at Wal-Mart
$2.67/yard!
Jake will continue to collect fleece (or donations to purchase fleece) through December 16.
Please DM me or contact Glenda Fu if you are interested in donating to this project!
It’s been a while since I updated this blog, and I will need to go back and document a few events from the summer months, but right now, I’m going to write about Jake’s continued commitment to #GivingBack.
As soon as school ended in June, we began talking about what sort of things Jake could do as a community service / community giving project. He told me that he wanted to do it again this year.
Because of his purses and toiletry items last year, he’s gained a reputation as the “travel toiletry kid”; most of my colleagues at PEATC travel extensively throughout Virginia during the summer months conducting special education related training, and they saved their items for Jake. Our family traveled in the summer and Jake’s aide traveled as well, so we added more to Jake’s collection efforts. To top it off, Jake’s pal Nick Sundberg of the Washington Redskins had an extended stay at the Omni in Richmond during Training Camp and saved a shopping bag full of toiletry items for Jake! Jake is thankful for all these items, and these toiletries will be a part of the giving as a result of the Dreams For Kids DC (DFKDC) Holiday Celebration.
Thank you, Nick Sundberg!
But, in talking with DFKDC‘s Executive Director, we came upon another idea of a project that would involve kids “giving back” to other kids!
This year, Jake is collecting fleece to make blankets for the children who are patients at Inova Children’s Hospital.
When we talked about it, Jake liked the idea of making kids feel better. He could relate to the idea that when you are at the hospital you might be missing your home and all the things you are used to having around. So, making something that feels comfortable and cozy seemed like a great idea, and one that DFKDC participants and volunteers can help to make during the DFKDC Holiday Celebration.
The 2016 DFKDC Holiday Celebration isn’t just a party, it’s an opportunity!
During the DFKDC Holiday Celebration, DFKDC participants and their families will be transformed into community givers and volunteers! With the assistance of other DFKDC volunteers, the DFKDC participants will take part in activities such as making holiday cards, assembling gift bags, and wrapping presents. They will also enjoy lunch, entertainment, and I’d be willing to bet, a little dancing!!!
Just as he did last year, Jake wants to demonstrate that DFKDC participants are able and interested in community service and community giving, and, most importantly, that their disAbilities aren’t a barrier to the giving spirit!
Jake excited about helping DFKDC make sure that other kids will have a happy holiday as a result of the event, but he could use your help!
Between now and December 15, 2016, Jake will be collecting fleece (or the means to purchase fleece) to make blankets for pediatric patients at Inova Children’s Hospital.
The fleece blankets can be made for teens, kids, or toddlers; each blanket consists of 2 pieces of fleece, typically a print and a coordinating solid color:
Teen blanket: 2 X 2 yards of fabric
Kids blanket: 2 X 1.5 yards of fabric
Toddler blanket: 2 X 1 yard of fabric
Jake has already received a few contributions to his project, but he could use your assistance to provide the kids at Inova children’s Hospital with something cuddly and cozy to hold.
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