2011 event info
The 2011 Blanketing Arizona event is gearing up and as usual, we are asking for your support. Because the bed bug infestation is basically over, we are able to take your gently used blankets again this year. One of the most popular items is, of course, sleeping bags, so we are asking those who make donations to try to include as many sleeping bags as possible.
We are seeking corporate sponsors to donate sleeping bags, tooth brushes, tooth paste, travel sized items such as shampoo, soap and lotions.
If you would like to donate or help out at the event, leave us a message here or send an email to one of the contacts on the contact page.
Stay tuned for further information and thank you to our sponsor, Scott’s Generations deli on 7th St. in Phoenix, AZ.
Filed under 2011 progress, Blanketing Arizona, Event information | Tags: 2011 event info, Event Information, When and Where | Comment (0)Thank you
This year’s BAZ event is coming together quite nicely so far! While blanket donations are down a bit this year, the quality has shot way up since we’ve been getting so many NEW ones! These warm blankets and sleeping bags will be an amazing gift to the people who need them this week! Thank you, thank you!
Filed under 2010 Progress Report, Blanketing Arizona, Event information | Comment (0)Donation Alert – Tooth brushes
DONATION ALERT:
Grand Dental Care and Biltmore Dental have donated HUNDREDS of toothbrushes and toothpaste tubes for us to give away this week. What an amazing gift! Thank you so much to both practices for your generous donations this year!
Thank you Karen Evans, Michelle Forster, Jim McCabe, Debbie Nolan, Kyle Godfrey, Terri Cobb, Jared Amabile, Fourlis Family, Nichols/Lynch Family, Traci Marino, Choate Family, Steve Donovan, MOM’s Club, U-Haul, Marie Callender’s, Scott’s Generations, Grand Dental Care, Biltmore Dental and the many others who I can’t name in a 400-letter post for your yeoman’s effort in helping create an amazing BAZ 2010!
Filed under Blanketing Arizona, Dontations, Thank you | Comment (1)Just 10 days left
Volunteers, donors and friends of Blanketing Arizona…
Just 10 DAYS AND COUNTING!!…till our 4th Annual Blanketing AZ Event! We will be serving again this year at 9th Avenue and Jackson on 12/24 (just look for the U-Haul truck and the big white 5th wheel trailer a little south of Jackson). Volunteers who are coming to hand out blankets and meals should arrive at 7:45 and service starts when the chili is warm (about 8). Volunteers who are coming to help set up tables, coffee and cocoa, etc should be there a little before 7am (we’ll have donuts! J). Please let me when you are planning to be there that morning so I can distribute the workload if needed.
Please also coordinate with me directly for pick up/drop off of your donated items between this Friday, the 17th and next Thursday the 23rd. We really can’t coordinate collection of/accept items on the morning of the 24th — it just makes it too challenging with our small space and number of people there to help. Again, we are happy to come get the items from you if that makes it easier, we just need to do it ahead of time.
Lastly, we have a lot of great people willing to help on the 24th and that’s amazing but it also makes for tight quarters and sometimes more volunteers than positions. Please remember to rotate positions and share duties during the event so everyone has a chance to be involved. I will do my best to point out where we need help but don’t be shy – jump in where ever you see an opening and lend a hand!
This is such an amazing event and we’ve had another extremely positive response this year so I expect there will be lots to do and a bounty to hand out. We are truly fortunate to be able to have so many great folks step up and make this happen so thank you for your donations, volunteerism and support of this little family event that has grown large enough to serve hundreds in need. We couldn’t do it without you!!
I am looking forward to hearing from and seeing each of you soon!
View Blanketing Arizona 2010 Location in a larger map
Bed Bug Infestations Have Us Concerned
Blanketing Arizona is an informal group of families that get together each year to donate blankets and clothing to the homeless in Phoenix. In a typical year, we are able to take in and redistribute used blankets and even some winter clothing like hats, scarves and mittens. This year, 2010 we are a little worried about doing that. Why? Because of these guys…
Image Courtesy: www.wikipedia.com
Meet Cimex lectularius, aka Mr. Bedbug. While bedbugs are generally harmless to humans, an infestation can cost thousands of dollars to treat. Since Blanketing Arizona has no office, when we get a donation, it’s typically kept in someone’s garage until winter time. That means its our personal homes that could get infested. Yuk!.
So for 2010, we are asking for donations of only new blankets so we don’t run into Mr. Bedbug and add to the problems facing our biggest customers, the homeless of Arizona.
Thank you for your understanding!
Filed under Blanketing Arizona, Dontations, Event information | Tags: 2010 donations, bedbugs, new blankets | Comment (0)2010 Sponsors Thank you
A big THANK YOU to those people who make it possible to put on this event every year.
U-Haul – Moving Truck
Frank Miller (General Manager)
Thank you to U-Haul for the generous donation of the moving truck for hauling our piles of blankets! Visit them at…..
20618 N. Cave Creek Rd. in Phoenix
602-765-9600
Scotts Generations – 40 Gallons of Yummy Chili!
Scott Snyder (Owner)
Thank you to Scotts generations deli for a second year of 40 gallons of delicious chili to feed everyone on Christmas Eve. Make sure to stop by for one of their delicious sandwiches or to say thanks for helping us out!
5555 N. 7th St. Suite 108
Marie Calender’s – Cornbread!
Karen Worth (General Manager)
Thank you to Marie Callender’s for their donation of yummy cornbread to accompany the chili. Stop by Marie Callender’s for a great meal or to stick up on your holiday pies!
4573 E. Cactus Rd. (by PV Mall)
602-956-0622
And thank you to:
Thank you to Ted Fourlis for working his tail off to secure all the donations from these companies!
Thank you to Cathy Turchan and Family for generously agreeing to sponsor coffee and hot chocolate for our service!
Filed under 2010 Progress Report, Blanketing Arizona, Event information, Thank you | Tags: 2010, Cathy Turchan, Marie Callendar's, Scott's Generations, sponsors, Ted Fourlis, Thank you, u-haul | Comment (1)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.
The service location will be posted on the website soon!
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
Filed under Blanketing Arizona, Contact Information, Event information | Tags: Event Information, How we got started, When and Where | Comment (0)Logistics Update
Thank you for your interest in Blanketing Arizona. We are happy to have you as a volunteer for our 2010 event. We will be posting event information related to where it will be held and who will be doing what in early December.
Check back often for updates.
Thank you again for your interest.
