This is a follow-up to my post last week on Adopt-a-Shelter.

For those just joining us, it's a community service event (Mitch Albom's organization is involved) in which we go to two (used to be five) family homeless shelters in Detroit and throw the kids there a Christmas Party.

Before I posted that on the board (and Brian stapled it to an Unverified Voracity), this year's event was looking a bit grim. No one knows quite the reason. It could be that our head wasn't screwed on quite right. I could be, perhaps, that our cash was too tight. But I think that the most likely reason of all, may have been that the economy was two sizes too small.

But, whatever the reason, our head or our wallets, or too much yule lagers, it wouldn't have come off but for MGoBloggers.

Every kid in the shelters, the tall and the small,
might still have been singing, without any presents at all.
But we needn't have worried, YOU CAME THROUGH!
We went from little to plenty, and it was all thanks to you!
MGoBloggers responded, from Detroit to L.A.
Heck, even a Buckeye sent donations our way.

165 clients at Booth Evangeline
Ate pizza and cake and talked Wolverine spleen
The ladies had their nails done, the boys played some ball
And then Santa arrived with presents for all
Though I don't think MGoBlog was really noticed by Mitch
We know why AAS '09 went off without a hitch
(You'll have to take thank-you's from organizer Marci Fitch)
So thank you to everyone who helped in some way.
This blog seriously made those kids' day.

For the other site, well, Ms. Kroflich had these words to say:

Hello Seth,

Could you post this on the MGoBloggers site?  I'll send thank you letters (and receipts) to the people who donated, but we might get an even better turn-out next year if people know what happens (?).  Thank you again for posting this event (it wouldn't have been nearly as successful with MGoBloggers help)!

Thank you to the volunteers and donors who made the Christmas Party at Genesis II House* such a marvelous event!!  

 

We got off to a slow start... but things really picked up from there.  The students in Mrs. Val Tomich's class at Allen Park Community School provided us with the crafts to create decorations for the Christmas tree.  It sparkled with the silver and gold garland and our glittery decorations.  It looked so great that Santa Claus (Lonnie) came to visit, passed out candy, and sat for photos with the children.  Once Santa was safely on his way back to the North Pole, the party started groovin' with Living Energy (248 926-9550).  Rick and his crew gets everyone up and jumpin!  They passed out hats, glasses, bead necklaces, and feather boas which made everyone feel extra festive.  We got funky for about an hour and then did a conga line to the dining room for lunch.  Sandee and Jessica made us a terrific lunch including hamburgers, chicken strips, tater-tots, baked beans, 3 bean casserole, and brownies.  After lunch, we setup a Holiday store with all of the fabulous donations... coats, hat/mitten/scarf sets, clothes, toys, games, stuffed animals, books, make-up kits, toiletry sets, purses, and Payless gift certificates (cash donations were used to purchase gifts).  There were more warm coats and dress clothes than ever this year.  We had enough donations for every lady to receive 2 gifts and each child to receive 8 gifts!  Our bravest volunteers, Kevin and Laura, stayed in the dining room and sang Christmas carols with the children while the rest of us made sure that everyone got the perfect gifts for Christmas! 

 

* For those who may not know, Genesis II House is one of Detroit Rescue Mission Ministries transitional housing shelters.  They provide the ladies and children with a safe and stable environment, focusing on education, job-training, and parenting.  The goal is to help the ladies obtain and keep a home of their own... One of the ladies told us that she would not be at Genesis II for our next party because she got a home of her own.  Now that's a Merry Christmas!

 

 

Thank you all so much for making the Holidays happier!

 

Julie Kroflich

fin.