Our first email

My Dear Friends,

We need your help. Our family has embarked on a service adventure, spearheading a series of fantastic charity projects to benefit children. In case you couldn’t tell, I really love children and this year I want my children to serve side by side with Dave and me and our friends and neighbors as we proactively assist some wonderful organizations to serve children in need.

I know many of you already volunteer in a number of ways, and we think that’s awesome. We hope you will have the time and/or money to join with us, and that at the very least, you will spread the word to your friends, sports teams, churches, and to anyone who can help. No volunteers will be turned away, but in order to keep our efforts coordinated, please keep us updated on how you’ve chosen to help.

So what’s on the Wilson Family Charity agenda so far?

May 6th-7th: Wilson Family Charity Great American Bake Sale held at the Steeple Run Walgreens (6S235 Steeple Run Drive, Naperville, Illinois 60540), 2-7 PM Friday, and 9-4 PM Saturday

• Our children are so blessed, yet nearly 1 in 4 kids in America faces hunger. Share our Strength is working to change that. Read more about it here: http://gabs.strength.org/

• How you can help: spread the word, solicit local businesses for donated goods, bake goods yourself or with your children, work the sale, purchase from the sale, spread the word online (as we will have an online donation page sending calorie-free virtual cupcakes!) and pray for good weather and for those giving and receiving.

• All money raised will go directly to Share our Strength to aid them in the work of feeding hungry children in America.

Late summer-early September: Wilson Family Charity School Kits Drive

• Our children have an abundance of the tools needed for learning, yet so many children have a great desire to learn and don’t even own a pencil. LDS Philanthropies collects humanitarian aid supplies and school kits to help those in such a circumstance. See page 5 for school kit guidelines: http://www.ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian-services/patterns/service-project-guidelines.pdf

• How you can help: spread the word, purchase school supplies according to the guidelines (we’ve targeted the timeline of back-to-school sales), donate fabric for the bags, help sew the bags, aid in assembling the kits, and pray for those donating and receiving.

• All completed kits will be donated to LDS Philanthropies for distribution around the world, primarily to schools and orphanages and also as part of disaster relief upon occasion. One thing I love about LDS Philanthropies is that it is a volunteer organization with all costs covered by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. Monetary and in kind donations are used 100% for relief of those in need.

November 12th 2-4 PM: Feed My Starving Children session reserved for Wilson Family Charity

• According to the website: Feed My Starving Children is a Christian organization committed to “Feeding God’s Starving Children Hungry in Body and Spirit.” If you have ever been to help, you have felt of the great spirit of this organization as they seek out hungry children across the world and feed them, one little bagged meal at a time. To learn more, visit: http://www.fmsc.org/

• How you can help: spread the word, let me know that you would like to volunteer (as we can take the first 85 to respond), donate to the organization and/or collect donations, and pray for those both giving and receiving.

• All monetary donations for the event will go to Feed My Starving Children. Each volunteer will pack approximately $52 worth of food. I would love for us to cover as much of that as we can ourselves and we would be happy to take along any donations you have collected even if you cannot attend.

Time and place TBD: Wilson Family Charity Talent Show and Book Drive

• More information to follow.

Last month I was privileged to volunteer again at Feed My Starving Children where I learned that FMSC will host your birthday party group. That sounds like a fabulous party to me! Unfortunately I was too late to book a party for my birthday next month, but the thought snowballed for me as I realized that I will turn 33. This was the age of our Savior Jesus Christ when he completed his mortal ministry and took upon himself the sins and sorrows of the world. He was crucified and resurrected and I know He lives. And I feel compelled to follow His example in a bigger way this year. He taught, “Suffer [or allow] the little children to come unto me, and forbid them not: for of such is the kingdom of God” (Mark 10:14). How can I better serve Him than to take care of his children and invite others to join me?

Though we volunteer as Christians, we believe that good works are good works regardless of religious beliefs or affiliations. We welcome all volunteers. We hope and pray that you will consider these projects and determine how you can help us bring relief to wonderful children who need us.

Warmly,

Dave and Kristin Wilson and Family

PS I will be sending future emails to this list about these projects (though I promise not to clutter your inbox). If you would not like to be included in future emails please let me know. Also, if you know of someone who would like to be added to the list, please send me their email address.