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Blanketing Arizona 2010

2010 has gone by in a blink and here we are again at the beginning of our collection season for our 4th Annual Blanketing Arizona Chili and Blanket Drive!

Last year we had an amazing turnout of support with volunteers and donations of food, blankets and clothing and we hope for the same for this year. Unfortunately, due to the prevalence of bed bugs across the US, we are going to need to collect only NEW items this year. We are aware that it will cut down on the volume of collections but it’s a necessary step to protect our family, friends, volunteers and the people we serve.

We are also looking for a chili sponsor this year. Last year we had an amazing batch thanks to Scott’s Generations and we hope that they will be able to do the same this year, but we’d like to see if there are others who can help as well, so please let me know if you are in the restaurant business or know someone who is that would like to donate.

This will be the first of several updates to this website and this year, we will start a Facebook fan page where all of you can link in and get your friends (and friends of friends) involved!

We have about 8 weeks till Christmas Eve 2010, so lets get started!

More details are below and in case you are a first timer to our event or communications….

…A LITTLE HISTORY

The Blanketing Arizona idea started in 2006 when our family made its traditional Christmas Eve visit to the homeless shelter to donate bulk groceries for their Christmas service. There are always hundreds of homeless waiting around for the shelter to open and that year, we had many come up to our truck saying they were cold and asking for blankets. We decided the following year we’d do just a little more than usual…and that’s how Blanketing Arizona was born!

WHAT CAN YOU DO TO BE INVOLVED?

• Gather NEW blankets and sleeping bags – use groups like schools, dance, PTA, Boy and Girl Scouts, work, sports and church to garner support and hold blanket drives – even a few blankets help!
• Find us (or become) a Chili Sponsor!
• Donate (or help us locate someone who would be willing to donate) a U-Haul type truck for delivery of blankets. We’d need it from about 12/19 – 12/24 in the afternoon
• Put on your thinking cap around options for a meal if the chili doesn’t work out this year
• Spread the word – forward this mail to family and friends and ask for their support
• Donate supplies like bottled water, chips, utensils, small Styrofoam cups, and carrying trays (like from McDonald’s – flat or with drink holders), for the food service
• Donate the use of long camp tables for the service line
• Gather blankets from the donation sites and deliver them to us for distribution
• Help transport items to the site on Christmas Eve
• Help serve meals and hand out blankets on Christmas Eve morning

WHAT ARE THE NEXT STEPS?

Let me know how you’d like to help

Start gathering blankets as soon as possible. It seems early but Christmas is only 8 weeks from now! Let me know as soon as possible where you have collection sites and what your blanket goals are and keep me posted on progress over the next few weeks. We will need to finalize collections and gather blankets from collection sites no later than Sunday, December 19th. You may drop them off to me until the 22nd.

Let me know what supplies (and how much) you intend to donate. Even small amounts from each person add up to big things so please don’t think you don’t have enough to give. We’ll take it!

Make arrangements with me to drop off – or have us pick up – whatever supply donations you have the first few weeks of December. The week of 12/19, I’ll take a final tally of donations we have received, and then will shop at Costco to fill in the gaps.

On Christmas Eve, we will plan to set up around 7am (depending on what food we’re serving, this may change, but we’ll keep you posted). Last year we had people waiting impatiently for service so as soon as the food is ready and the line is set up we’ll get moving.

We setup at 9th ave and Jackson around 7am.

ABOUT THE BLANKETS

We can use NEW blankets, comforters and sleeping bags. The thicker the better. Sleeping bags and heavy wool blankets were a prized possession over the years!

KEEPING UP TO DATE

There are only 8 weeks until Christmas Eve! Check back regularly @ our website, www.blanketingarizona.org for updates and information and look for an update with our new Facebook Fan Page this week.

As always, you can reach out to me anytime on cell – 602-206-6139 or via e-mail ssalomon@optimaexp.com .

Please let me know how you’d like to get involved and how I can make your efforts easier. I’d also appreciate any feedback or suggestions from those involved in past events to make this year even better.

Together, we will make a big difference at the holidays this year!

Happy collecting -

Shaney