DAY 15 MARY'S SHELTER

WEEK THREE  DAY 15

 I normally list the next seven charities here but it will have to wait until tomorrow 

Family time beckons

But today I am featuring a incredible charity that has yielded some incredible results.

I want  you to think back on ,or forward to , or look around you right now to see  those blessings in your life called children.  They could be yours or someone else's  but they are sweet ,sweet blessings.  Sometimes blessings hide behind the hardness of  life . Mary's Shelter is a place for blessing to be brought forth when life rears its ugly head. A safe place for homeless pregnant women. Mary's shelter provides a clean living environment that supports medical  care to both baby and mother. Women are able to continue their education, learn valuable job and parenting skills and receive counseling. 

After the birth of the baby transitional housing is provided until the women find jobs with a sustainable living wage.  Mary's Shelter has beautiful stories of love and hope . Check them out here.

Now that you have gone through a box of Kleenex after reading these stories, its time to get in the back of your closets and search for maternity clothes and those put up baby clothes. Unless it is a  passed down heirloom let me encourage you to just give it away. It can't bless anyone sitting in the back of your closet. It will bring more hope to someone receiving it  than sitting in the bottom of that hope chest.

Gather it up and give me a call.

Check out their need list that includes some miscellaneous items you might have on hand like baby hangers, stationary, greeting cards or bed linens.  

We all have something to simply give so others may simply live.

If you have a charity dear to your heart that you would like me to feature please let me know

Alison Hill 251-463-3511 Text or call

alison_hill@bellsouth.net

DAY 14: RANSOM CAFE

We are at the 2 week mark! I have just had the best time researching the needs of our area and talking with people! I am also exciting about those of you who have contacted me with donations. Please keep spreading  the word and giving. It takes so little to bless so much! That is just how God works. He's cool like that.

Today I am featuring a great organization called Ransom Cafe`  

It had me at Cafe`. I do love to go out to eat. As a mom it just tickles me to have someone else refill my ice tea. I am a great tipper because  basically getting my tea refilled is a spa day for me. So with food and drink in mind get into your kitchen. The most used room in your house. Time to start going through drawers and cabinets and that pantry!!  I have got a place for you that needs your grits and at least one of your 4 cheese graters. The Ransom Cafe` all about service. Service to others in need. 
The Armbruster family that runs Ransom does so with their whole heart.

The Armbruster Family

Check out the blog post here to understand how deep their affection runs for others. Ransom Café offers multiple locations throughout Baldwin and Mobile counties and operates like a restaurant but with no set menus or set prices. They have  an ever changing menu dependent on donations and foods that are able to be purchased at little to no cost. 

Ransom believes some can pay more and some may not be able to pay as much and if someone can’t afford to donate monetarily, then they can donate their time or products, or produce to be used in the preparation of the meals.  Therefore promoting  the ideal of a hand up not a hand out. They are open for lunch 11 am until 2 pm and the second Friday night of each month for dinner using theme and guest chef nights. A complete list of locations with hours of operation can be found on the home page. 

 Ransom Café  desire is to give to the community, by not only providing a basic need, but also  a mentoring program to help people learn valuable skills in order to obtain and keep employment. Cooking classes are offered for all ages and backgrounds. They also oversee two community gardens and operate The Clean Machine, a portable laundry , shower and restroom facility.  The regular needs of Ransom Cafe` are listed here and at the end of the month I will be donating my extra kitchen equipment along with fresh food items that are needed. When I head that way I will let you know. In the meantime I am going to check out the volunteer opportunities for me and my family. It is a great place to get all members of your family involved in serving others.

So with that motivation in mind, head to that kitchen and tackle it one drawer at a time. Putting just 15 minutes a day away to de clutter and moving as fast as you can in that time will produce enormous results of freeing yourself from the bondage of "stuff" and blessing it forward.

Now go,  you have important work to do!!!

DAY 10: SOUTHERN SPIRIT

It’s Thursday!! Yeah.  I know so many of you are posting your throw back Thursday pics. Many of them are before digital days and the backgrounds are filled with “life”, which is code for “all the messes before cropping came along”. Speaking of throw backs and messes, I’ve got a perfect challenge to intertwine both. 

We are still working in those really “off” limits to the public places in our homes, pulling out things from the laundry room and the garage. Yes the garage that place that was built to house your vehicles but instead provides a residence for everything you ever purchased but don’t know what to do with.  I need you to get in there and go through that pile of sports equipment.  It should be easier now that you have pulled out those old bikes, leftover dog food and various art objects.  I want you to dig deep for softball gloves, bats and balls.  

We start ‘em young at the Hill house so we have just about every size glove, cleat, ball, bat and face mask you can imagine.  Our youngest is now taller than me, so it is safe to let it all go and give it to Southern Spirit.

 

Southern Spirit is  a non-profit, amateur youth sports organization that provides elite level training to athletes of all backgrounds and abilities.  Believing that every athlete should  have  the opportunity to fulfill their dreams on and off the field, the organization offers free coaching and training services to area high schools and city leagues. The Hill girls have worked with Southern Spirit coaches and they are a top notch set of professionals with passion to give all athletes a great future. Often times an athlete or area does not have the necessary equipment to develop their God given abilities. This is where you and I come in.

Gloves and catcher’s gear are the most need items.  No matter how old or beat up your gloves are they can be refurbished to almost new.  According to head coach Coby Makin  “We can take the worst shape glove, strip it down to the laces and recreate a great piece of equipment for an athlete that might not have access to any.”  Southern Spirit will host area camps in June where refurbished equipment will be given away.  Collecting everything by the end of April will be perfect timing to rework the equipment in time for the camps. Check out your inventory.  I bet you have a few throwbacks in your mess that you can donate.  Pass this on to any coaches or players  and check out Southern Spirit at

www.trainatthefieldhouse.com

 

Or their FB page: Southern Spirit

Let me know if you need a pick up

Alison Hill

251-463-3511

alison_hill@bellsouth.net

DAY 9: FAMILY PROMISEo

I can't believe it is day 9 already.  I have talked to some really great people that run great organizations. I have received some great donations and am scheduled to pick more up soon!

As I am cleaning out my home and researching the needs of my local area I realize that the very act of walking through my house and gathering my possessions to give away  is a reality that many in our community do not have.  I was shocked to learn that over half of the homeless are women and children and that families are the fastest growing segment of the homeless population.

 The Baldwin County School System counted 642 homeless school age children last year.  This was a shock to me, The homeless are our neighbors and there are many wonderful ways to help them. 

Family Promise , an Interfaith Hospitality Network, has  a community response to the issue of homelessness in Baldwin County, specifically homeless families with children. Working with local

churches, Family Promise provide over night lodging, meals and hospitality to assist families in regaining their housing, their independence and their dignity.  More host churches are needed. Please consider speaking to your pastor or board about being involved.  Participation doesn't require the pastor to take anything on but rather a coordinator from the  members to help organize the use of the church facilities. 

When I called Family Promise to see what their most immediate need outside of host churches was I  was surprised at it's simplicity.  It's laundry detergent. Families have an opportunity to wash their clothing while lodging and laundry detergent is in great demand.  How easy and yet how effective.  We all want to be dressed in fresh clean clothes. 

 Got any leftover laundry detergent that the kids didn't like? Hubby couldn't handle the Lavender scented gain. I've got a perfect place for that. Next time your at Target, Publix or Sam's buy an extra.

One for your family one for another family. Counponers take this on as a challenge! How many free laundry detergents can you donate this week?  As always I'll be glad to pick it up (even if it's the Sam's 50 pounder)  

Together we can do this.

Ready, Set, Bless!

Check out Family Promise to donate, tell you church about or even help a family register for help

at www.familypromisebc.org .

They are located at 20511 County Road 36 Summerdale, AL  251-947-5641

You know how to find me

Alison Hill

251-463-3511

alison_hill@bellsouth.net

Share and comment please

DAY 8: THE RIDDEN WORD and WEEK 2 of the 30 DAY CHALLENGE

Wow!! What a week. I just got another donation last night for Emily's closet!  I just knew I lived among a bunch of generous people!  Keep it coming. I am hoping to have to post a "Calling all trucks"  plea at the end of April to get all the donations to their various spots.

Today's charity feature is The Ridden Word along with this weeks list.

Tues (8)- The Ridden Word
Wed- (9)-  Family Promise
Thurs-(10)-Southern Spirit
Fri-(11)-Ransom Cafe
Sat-(12)- The Shoulder
Sun-(13)-BRAG
Mon-(14)-Raise the Roof



Today's challenge might be a bit daunting but you can do it.  The garage. Ahh, the room where unneeded things get to live rent free.  Hmmm... what are those wheeled looking things in the corner underneath the popped pool floats?  Why lo and behold we have bikes. Who knew?  Have I got a place for you: The Ridden Word.

 The Ridden Word is truly a unique organization  that was started in order to meet  specific transportation needs for individuals that are facing  present economic challenges. Many Baldwin County people are homeless, jobless, and losing hope.  That's where the volunteers at Ridden Word come in with the simple gesture of rebuilding a bike and giving it away.  Along with providing a bike, each Wednesday they hold a soup kitchen at 6 p.m. It is open to all people, homeless or not who simply need a hot meal and company. This is offered to any individual to help cut down on expenses related to food and to have a community of others to do life with.

So far Ridden Word has given away 330 bikes!In March they had about 70 bikes and parts stolen , because well people sux sometimes, but not you. There really are only 2 sides: the problem and the solution. We are on the solution side. Ridden Word needs any old bikes you would like to donate. They don't have to be in working order because they specialized in tearing down and rebuilding to make some sweet rides. They can even teach you to be a re builder as a volunteer building up  bikes and people. You could learn a new skill, meet new people, and laugh as you serve. That 's a 4x win!

The literal soup kitchen could always use a few friendly faces and your best soup or soup ingredients. Warm up that crock pot with your best recipe or clean out your garage and donate those bikes your kids haven't touched in a few years.

Ridden Word is located at 22597 Section C HWY 59

Robertsdale, Al   202-WORD (9673)


Drop those unwanted bikes off at my house or call me for a pickup.

Alison Hill
7371 Saluda Blvd
251-463-3511
alison_hill@bellsouth.net  (remember one "l" in alison)

DAY THREE: SFMS UNIFORM CLOSET

Today's assignment might be a little scary, and if you want to wait until the weekend to tackle it , I understand.

I want you to go to your ..........wait.........here  it comes:

Your child's room. 

 I know . I know it is a frightening prospect.  I mean who knows what lives in there. This is especially  true if you have teenagers.  I have three. All donations of sanity and margaritas are accepted.  Oh wait that's a different cause  Sorry I got off track.

Heres my daughter's  closet .See what I have to deal with?   Let's face it I just made you feel better about your situatiob by posting my ( her) dirty laundry . your welcome . 

Go venture into that room and start going through school clothes. How will you know if it's time to let that u inform piece go? Here is a no fail system:

 Check out your sweet one as she heads out the door this morning. Does she look like she is prepared for random flooding?  Is she going frog gigging after school?  If she had a tattoo on her ankle could you clearly see it?  

If you answered yes to any of these questions then it is time to bless a shorter child with those pants.
Come to think of it my  tall amazon children have often had this look.

Spanish Fort Middle School is asking for uniform donations to replenish their Compassion Closet. Clothes in the pantry are given out to children who may need them on any given day and don't have a parent available to help out.   

I want you to take a moment and think back to when you were in middle school. Does anyone, I mean anyone, want to repeat that part of your life?    I personally just shuttered a little.

When you are a gangly , pimple spotted mess of arms and legs that don't work together accidents can happen.  Your legs run into chain link fences, puddles splatter on you at random and heaven help you if your a girl and an uninvited guest shows up to declare your womanhood. ( There  are just not enough jackets you can wrap around your waist)

The sizes of middle school include children, junior and adult sizes. Heck I saw a kid yesterday who was so tall I thought he was a new P.E. coach and in the same hallway I almost asked a wee thing if she  had lost her mama.   We need an abundacne of clothes so the PTA can also provide uniforms for any child whose family is struggling with funds.

If you are not in the Spanish Fort Area check with your school to find out their needs or contact Prodisee Pantry that also has a uniform closet. Donations will be accepted right at the schools. 

Alright time to gear up!  You can do this.
Feel free to call/text/email me and let me know how it went and if you need a pick up. If  your entry into the teenage room was especially tramatic then mabey we can go out and work on those donations of sanity andmargaritas.  

Send  the uniforms your child to school or contact me at

Alison Hill
25-1463-3511
alison_hill@bellsouth.net
or drop at
7371 Saluda Blvd

Need more info?

Contact SFMS 625-3271 

DAY ONE : QUILTS OF COMFORT

Here we go.  Here is  this week line up and today's featured charity.

1. Quilts of Comfort: Material, Thread and Batting

2. Under His Wings: Beads and Broken Jewelry

3. Revive Ecuador: Sports Uniform Shirts

4. The Ridden Word: Old Bicycles and Soup

5. Uniform Closet: Girls School Uniforms

6. Emily's Closet: Prom and long formals

7. Ransom Cafe:  Food items (details to follow)

Today's Challenge:

Calling all crafters, moms and Pintrest addicts

Get into your craft closet or laundry room, find all the extra sewing material, thread, and batting and gather it up for  Quilts of Comfort.

Let's face it nothing is getting done here.
Time to bless it forward.

Quilts for Comfort provides quilts for ill or hospitalized children. It was started 15 years ago by SF Family and Consumer Science teacher, Joni Ojard.

This year is especially important  as the project celebrates Mrs. Ojars' successful liver transplant.

Read about Joni's journey here


You know all those "good intention" projects you had planned?
All those sweet baby dresses you were going to make and curtains you were going to sew?
Well the baby is now 16 and your curtain pattern is a decade old.

It is time to FREE yourself
Give it up , move on, and give it to  Quilts of Comfort.
Bless someone with fabric and free yourself from guilt!
All at once!!!

You didn't waste money. You payed it forward!!!

Now go !  Grab those cottons, silks, and chiffon
Dig for those spools of thread and pieces of batting. Gather it all up and give me a call or drop  it at Spanish Fort High School by FRIDAY

If you really can't bear to let it out of your hands  then bring it Saturday as you volunteer to help assemble the quilts.

That way can honestly say that you made that project!!!

You can get a hold of me in one of these ways:

Phone/Text   251-463-3511
email: alison_hill@bellsouth.net
Facebook: Alison Lauer Hill
Address: 7371 Saluda Blvd

Let me know in the comments if you donated.  I  would love to hear about it.

The 30 for 30 Plan

It is almost April!

It time to demand SPRING!!

Many of us will take on the big "Spring Clean"

We are ready to shake off winter in a big way.

But rather than just over-organize, over-schedule , and bark orders out at our family on that "Big Day",   why not tackle it a little at a time and with intention?

So here is a plan with purpose

For 30 days I will post a local charity, from our L.A. (Lower Alabama), 

along with it's  most immediate need.

Head to that area of your house where you keep that item and clean it out.

Contact me to pick them up or drop at my house.

You can do this daily or save it all for the end of the month (just separate by charity please)

You might be asking "Why not just donate it all to one place?"

 Because I want to  challenge you to clean out with care

Don't just throw it out and hope Goodwill can decipher your hoarding system in a box,

let is go where it is specifically needed.

Think how amazing it will me to bless the socks off (or on, if that's what they need) 

of 30 homespun organizations?

Each week I will give you an overview of the charities for the week. 

Then each day I will feature a single charity, it's purpose and its most its immediate need.

You can do 1, 5,30 --whatever.   It is up to you

You can give me donations throughout the month or all at once.

It's an  easy 15 minutes a day that can bless and give hope to others.

It's simple:

Check the Daily Charity

Gather Specific Items

Contact Me to Pick Up

and 

SPREAD THE WORD!!

Easy Peasy!!

You can contact me by

phone: 251-463-3511

email: alison_hill@bellsouth.net

On Facebook

or drop off at 7371 Saluda Blvd, Spanish Fort, AL