Make a Difference Today

-by Matt Leedham

Hi everyone.  Occasionally, Jaime and I reach out to our readers for help.  And this is one of those times.  I could really use your help, and so can some kids in Northern Virginia.  Please read below and be in touch if you can be of assistance!

The Short Version:

I need your help.  My wife works at an afterschool program for disadvantaged youth and needs arts, sports, and academic supplies.  Take a look at the list below and let me know if you have anything lying around your house that you can contribute.  You are all awesome people and I am eternally grateful for whatever you can give! J

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The Long Version:

For those that don’t know, my wife has recently transitioned full-time from being an entrepreneur  in the unique field of multi-cultural marketing (for 8+ years!) to working with immigrant youth.  This is her passion after dealing with the struggles of assimilating to a new society when she was young.  Immigrant advocacy and education is now her focus and her first stop on this journey is running an afterschool program to better understand the needs and resources available to this demographic.

Her program is called the Culmore Safe Youth Project (CSYP) and is run out of Alternative House, a non-profit that calls itself the “abused and homeless children’s refuge.”   Culmore is near Bailey’s Crossroads and is a predominantly Hispanic immigrant community living in low-income apartment complexes.  Her “center,” if you can call it that, is single room about the size of a typical apartment living room (maybe 25’ x 25’).  She averages 22 kids per day in that small space and tries to provide a safe space for children while creating an atmosphere conducive to studying, physical activity, and socializing.  It’s tough, but she’s really making a difference.

My wife is extraordinarily gifted in working with troubled, disadvantaged youth.  What she can’t do is provide all of these kids with the tools and resources they need to learn and grow.  And so, it has become my personal mission to raise money, awareness, and resources to support her.  I believe this is my strength, and a way for me to contribute.  In fact, I’m in the process of planning a fundraising event in February that will be A LOT of fun, and you will all be invited!

So, my “ask” of you is to review the wishlist below.  Do you have any of these items?  Are any of these things collecting dust in your home?  What about your friends or family members?  Please take a moment to review the list below and let me know what you might have that is either not being used, or that you’d be willing to part with.

I’ve always believed in asking for help.  You just never know who or how someone can help you until you ask.

Can you help?

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CSYP Wishlist

Arts & Crafts

• Paint Sharpees & regular color Sharpees
• Cool coloring project kits
• Colored construction paper
• Regular color marker set
• Lego set
• Miscellaneous arts & craft projects and supplies
• Play Doe
• Paint sets with brushes
• Any other general art supplies

Books

• 3-6th grad level reading books (fiction and non-fiction)
• Educational books
• Coloring books

Electronics

• Computers w/ or w/out monitors (they do not need monitors)
• Just Dance Game 2nd or 3rd version (Wii)
• Other Wii games
• Computer games (strategy and leisure)
• Boombox with CD player
• Computer printer & extra ink cartridges
• Ethernet cable splitter

DVDs

• Educational age-appropriate documentaries
• Discovery DVDs

Outdoor Equipment

• Badminton racquets
• Pogo sticks
• Jump Ropes
• Hoola hoops
• Soccer balls
• Footballs
• Rubber balls for Dodge Ball

Gift Cards / Prizes

• Foot Locker
• Barnes & Noble
• Target
• iTunes

Games

• Non-board games
• Strategy games
• One-player games
• Group games

Activities

• Movie Tickets
• Amusement Park Tickets
• Tickets to anything that would be appropriate for a field trip

*Many people have already told me that they don’t have any of these items, but would like to contribute some money to buy these items for the program.  A number of us (mostly family and close friends) have decided to forgo Christmas gifts this year and pool our money together to support the program.  You are welcome to join us in donating to the pool.  I can’t even imagine the kind of academic/art supply shopping spree we’re going to go on after the holidays!  J