Thank you cards from kids at Sheppard Pratt

                                           Thank you cards from the kids at Sheppard Pratt                                          

(If you haven't read the  previous post about this very important HOAM project, please do.)




These are thank you cards from the kids at Sheppard Pratt. They were so happy to receive the DVD's and games and puzzles and Wii. Here are a few of the comments that were written on the cards.


"Thank you for the puzzles. I enjoyed putting them together. It's a great coping skill for me. I appreciate it a lot!"


"Thank you for the amazing Spider Man Puzzle!!! "


"Thank you very much for the puzzles cause I need them for when I'm angry or bored. I love all the puzzles."


"Thank you for donating the puzzles to our unit. It was very nice and you gave me something to do to pass the time away."


"Thank you. We really needed those games."


This all came about with very little effort - a little communication, a little time and a little compassion. Thank you folks!!!!


Happy New Year,
Donna Rae
Founder HOAM

A Small Holiday Miracle!

                                                     
This photo is a very small representation of the huge haul we made for the residential girls and boys adolescent units at Sheppard Pratt and the Good Shepherd Center (all girls).


Here is a list of the items we collected (some gently used and some new)
*160 DVD's (so many really really great ones like- 
                      Charlie and The Chocolate Factory, 
                       Herbie Fully Loaded, 
                       Spiderman, 
                       The Blind Side)
*30 Videos
*41 Puzzles
*15 Games (including Dominos, Chess, Fruitomenos, Scrabble, Scribblish and more great ones)
*16 Card Games
*8 Books
*1 Brand New Wii


About the unexpected new purchase - Cheryl, our contact at Sheppard Pratt mentioned to Annie Biser that their Wii was broken and the kids really missed it. She said this in passing - not expecting us to replace it. Some folks had emailed me to ask if they could give a monetary donation instead of "stuff". $150 was donated and that is the exact cost of the Wii! My husband Henry purchased it and Annie Biser delivered the Wii to the unit. It was sort of a holiday miracle!


One of the donations came in an envelope that had no return address and the note inside was not signed. The note said, "Thank you for doing this project for Sheppard Pratt. I am happy to donate this money. I was one of the benefactors of that great place and it really helped me." Person - whoever you are, thank you for giving back and for caring.


This project was suggested by my daughter, Sarah Clinton, who after graduating from college worked on the adolescent boys unit at Sheppard Pratt. She said the kids watch the same movies, play the same games and work on the same puzzles over and over again. The staff use these recreational activities as a reward. There is no reward if you have seen the same movie 15 times already.


Just think, because of you - there are some kids on those units really trying their best to behave so they can have a turn on the Wii and see the cool movies we donated!!! Ha!


You can imagine how much the kids (and the staff) are enjoying this little bit of sunshine in their day.


And it took very little effort on our part to make it happen.


Thank you neighbors and friends. Thank you so much.


With every best wish for a happy and healthy new year,


Donna Rae Smith and Annie Biser
(thank you Annie - couldn't have done it without you!)


p.s. If you know of a need in the community, please contact me at donnaraesmith@yahoo.com
In the spring we will have our annual organizational meeting to determine the projects for Sept. 2012-June 2013 - if you would like to participate please join us at that meeting. HOAM projects take some creativity, some communication and VERY LITTLE time.