project680.org

Aon is an international company and they have an office located in Sacramento. They approched Project 680 a couple of months ago to discuss partnering with us for their “United Day” where they do outreach in the community. This morning they invited us out for breakfast and to pick up some fantastic health kit bags for local homeless students. These bags will be directed to families within the Folsom Cordova School District through partnership with the District Liaison for Homeless Services. These hygiene / health kits are very relevant and they will promote health among local families in need.

Thank you Aon and Marie & Bonnie for their hard work putting this effort together. See Aon’s website at www.aon.com for details on their company.  Aon employees have been a remarkable example of doing something very practical to meet some basic needs among local homeless students. Bravo!!!

Great work everyone!!!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

Article by Debbie Lewis (photo by Melissa Corker)

One of the things I love about working at the California Department of Education is the desire and opportunity of the staff to collectively make a difference in the world around us. I want to thank everyone for their participation in the April sock drive. CDE raised 512 pairs of socks contributing to the Project680 grand total of 2,725 pairs of socks. I also wanted to share with you a snapshot of a conversation I recently had with Charlene Hunt, Resource Teacher and Homeless Liaison, Folsom Cordova Unified School District (FCUSD).  

Charlene told me a story about one rainy day in the 2003/04 school year when a kid came in and asked for another pair of socks to keep his feet warm. From the top, his shoes looked to be in good condition, from the bottom however, there were holes in his overly worn soles. This too familiar exchange inspired the first community shoe event which consisted of asking friends, family, and local community groups to donate gift cards for shoes.

Subsequent drives for shoes, socks or underwear have been held yearly. “The need for basic essentials is great among these kids. Physical Education teachers have reported that kids will choose poorer grades over the embarrassment of changing clothes revealing their often ill fitted or ragged undergarments. Items donated keep the kids warm and protected so they can focus on academics rather than discomfort and shame. For kids, receiving essentials like socks, underwear and shoes let’s them know that they are cared for, not just equipped with the basics of education.”

The most encouraging part of our discussion was when she shared how liaisons watch over these kids throughout their educational years. In the course of the last 11 years, the academic performances and attentive engagement of hundreds of students have increased. And each year since the program started every single senior with the exception of 2 kids has graduated high school. Our district liaisons stay connected with the kids until they get to college or a vocational school. Clearly intervention makes a difference to help these impoverished yet gifted and talented kids finish school.

When asked for a quote about project680, the catalyst for our CDE sock drive, Charlene spoke of the founder Ryan Lundquist. “He observed the need, listened with his heart and shared the need with friends who listened with their hearts. They simply spread the word and put it out there.” Thank you for listening with your heart CDE.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

We are very pleased to announce that Bicycle’s Plus in Folsom will be providing energy bars, cold water and bottles for all riders who make the trek to Folsom with us on the day of our bike ride on May 8, 2010. As we mentioned previously, there will be two separate rides for our community bike ride – a shorter one (20 minutes or so one way) and a longer one (30 miles round trip).

Thank you to Bicycle’s Plus for letting us meet at your shop for a little break before we turn around back to Hagan Park. Thank you for backing up this ride and quickly coming on board to support us like this.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

My brother recently let me know about someone he heard of named Betty Londergan. Betty inherited some money and she started something called What Gives 365 Project. In short, Betty is giving away $100 every day to causes she chooses. And she’s blogging about it. 

“This is all my money. It comes from what my dad left each one of us kids when he died, and I can’t think of a single thing my mom would have loved more than to see me giving it away to worthy causes. (However, my dad would undoubtedly say that I need to get my head examined.)”

Why am I bringing this up? I am very pleased to announce that Betty donated $100 to Project  680. Awesome news, huh? Read Betty’s post yesterday entitled “Underwear, Socks, Shoes“.

What do you think of this and what Betty is doing?

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

We wanted everyone to know that next month we will begin opening up conversation about our project for the Spring. Let’s be in converation and put our creative minds and hearts together to make a difference in the lives of local students in need. Click play below to hear more.

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!

We are very pleased to announce that the final tally of donations for the Project 680 Shoe Drive is $3,601.51. Can you believe it? Our goal had been $1,500, but together we left that in the dust. Thank you everyone who participated in big and small ways. Thank you to local residents, businesses, churches and organizations that partnered together in this effort.

This project has been all about the kids, and putting new shoes on students that need them. It’s so exciting to think of the joy and dignity these students will have to select a brand new pair of shoes soon. Thank you everyone. We did this as a team!!! Let’s celebrate!!!

If you enjoyed this post, make sure you subscribe to my RSS feed!