A Note of Thanks…
We are so grateful to all who made our Holiday Toy Drive a success. We provided toys to 7,000+ boys and girls, AND with the outpouring of community support shared our bounty with the Arizona Department of Child Safety. Our friend Toni Simmons wrote us this note of appreciation:
“I wanted to take a moment to thank you for all the great and wonderful toys that you and your team donated to our youth in care this holiday season! Each year, we are humbled by the magnitude of gifts that are given from The Foster Alliance. You surpassed our expectations and donated more than we could have ever expected! We literally had enough toys for all the youth that participated in the event and as a result, our event was a complete success; we could not have done it without you!
Let me recount a moment that touched my heart: a young boy stood in front of the area marked “boys age 6 – 8” with eyes wide and mouth open. He picked up a box that contained 3 large Dinosaurs… then dropped it when he saw a box of Legos… then dropped it when he saw the 2-foot-tall Star Wars Action Figure… then put it down when he saw an inflated colorful soccer ball… then put it down and went back to the box that had the three Dinosaurs. He said, “this one.” I asked him, “are you sure?” to which he nodded. His foster mother said he LOVED Dinosaurs but was so overwhelmed by the fact that he got to choose anything he wanted that he second-guessed his decision. But sometimes, you just have to go with your gut! That little boy walked away cradling his box of Dinosaurs with a smile on his face.
These shimmering moments were saturated in each gift that we gave out. Know that you have made a difference not only in the community, but in our hearts. A quote by Jessy and Bryan Matteo reads, “even the smallest act of caring for another person is like a drop of water. It will make ripples throughout the entire pond.” Surely this was in reference to The Foster Alliance and their great impact on those in society who need a community surrounding them!
This past holiday season, our hope has increased by your giving. We are honored by the love and support of The Foster Alliance and appreciate all that you do for the children and families of Arizona! We look forward to working with you again in the future or on next year’s holiday event!”
Dan Shufelt is the President & CEO of The Foster Alliance, the largest provider of basic needs to Arizona’s children in foster care. Learn more about the Organization at www.azhelpinghands.org and contact Dan at dshufelt@azhelpinghands.org.
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