Merry Christmas

As it happens each year, the last week of school is mass chaos!  This year was no different.  Our sweet boy came down with the flu with made some aspects of Bear Necessities a little crazier than usual.  I normally plan for my family to pack and deliver bags on the last week of a quarter so that I have an opportunity to see everyone at school and say thank you for their help in our mission to serve the kids.  Alas, my desire to NOT share the flu was greater than my desire to pack the bags as a family.  So, we depended upon the wonderful people in this community to come through for us and you did!  Thank you to Jen and Jack for packing two weeks worth of food for us!!!  

While Jen and Jack were packing bags I was working in another area of the basement and that allowed me to be blessed even more than usual.  About half way through their packing session, I over heard this:

Jack:  I love you Mom.  

Jen:  I love you too Buddy!

My heart just melted as I was reminded of one of the most important things that was laid upon my heart when Bear Necessities began; we were created to serve one another and when we do, God's love overflows from us.  Even the littlest of us have that need and when it is fulfilled in them, the result is the same.  

If you have not served with your child, whether at Bear Necessities or somewhere else, I absolutely encourage you to do it.  Yes, they may whine a little and yes, you will have to encourage them and remind them of why you're doing it but I promise you, it will be worth it!

THANK YOU to everyone who comes through for this mission week after week.  During December we provided gifts for 18 of our students, had one family completely adopted by another, provided food for the remainder of the weekends in 2012 and collected for the first week of 2013!  It has been glorious and I literally cannot tell you how many times I have walked away from the door, in awe of the PILE of stuff on the porch, singing praises to the ONE who provides for us all.  (I'm sure glad that you all can envision my singing to sound like that of the angels and that no one actually overheard the reality of that singing!) 

May each of you enjoy a safe, blessed and Merry Christmas!

The LAST needs list for 2012

Who's behind on their shopping?  Oh, please say it's not just me!  If you're one of those "Everything's wrapped and under the tree" people, please just don't tell me!  PART of the shopping is finished... at least the Bear Necessities' Christmas Blessings shopping anyway!  

Today I delivered almost all of the gifts to the school.  There are two items that are being delivered on Friday.  It is such a blessing to be able to help so many wonderful families in our community!  

Some Girl Scouts came by last night to pack the bags for this week:

It's always a pleasure to have a scout group come together and learn about why we do Bear Necessities!

As for next week, which is the last week we will collect for 2012, we need the following items:

14 ravioli
41 easy mac envelopes
25 chili
4 peas

That's it!  Two bags will go home with each child next week to cover the weekend that falls over break.  How exciting to be finishing up the calendar year by sharing blessings with  others!

Christmas update and Food for next week

We received a couple of new items for the Christmas Blessings list.  We have half of our list spoken for at this point so, if you were hoping to bless a John Weldon child, you still can.  Please check below and text me with what you would like to purchase:

1. Remote Controlled Truck
2. Star Wars or Lord of the Rings Legos
3. Duct Tape Craft Kit
4. Computer or Xbox game to help with reading or other educational emphasis
5. Monster High Voice Activated Personal Journal
6. Orange or Black Nike Hoodie in a medium
7. Santa Express Train (Not Wooden) at CVS
8. My Little Pony Wedding Princess Candance  at Target
9. My Little Pony Glimmer Wings Rainbow Dash or My Little Pony Crystal Pony
10. Legos Ninjago Lloyd (Green Ninja) or Lego Ninjago Jay's Storm Fighter
11. Madagascar 3 DVD 
12. Nike school shoe size 8 ½ blue and white (adult male)
13. Nike school shoe size 3 blue and white (boy)  
14. iTunes gift card
15. Anything Justin Bieber
16. iTunes gift card or Claire's gift card.  

If you told me in person that you wanted to purchase an item that has not been marked off, please send me a text (314-540-4718)to remind me and I will remove it from the list.  Gifts need to be delivered by 12/11 gift wrapped with a post-it note telling me what item is inside.  


Our weeks of doubling up to cover the break are mostly over, so our list this week is back to a more normal list with the exception of a few items that are still low:

40 ritz cracker sleeves
18 peanut butter 
2 soy nut butter or almond butter
16 jelly
22 green beans
42 applesauce
25 fruit cups
9 soup
11 corn

We will have Girl Scouts packing our bags THIS WEDNESDAY, so tuesday night will be our deadline again this week.  So, food and Christmas Blessings are due by Tuesday, 12/11.   Thank you to everyone that helps out!

Christmas Blessings and Next Week's Needs

As promised, I just got the list for Christmas gifts today and am ready to share it with you all but before everyone chooses what they want to purchase, let me give a few guidelines to make this go smoothly.  

1. Scroll to the bottom of this post.  
2. You'll see the comments.  If no comments have been made then it will simply be the words "No Comments" in blue.   
3. Once you read the list, check the comments, choose an item and record in the comments which item you want to buy. 

Ok.  For some reason, not everyone can post in comments and I have no idea why.  Please text me (314-540-4718) with what you would like to purchase off of the Christmas list and I'll update the blog regularly.  Thanks!


This will keep multiple people from purchasing the same items.  So, here's the current Christmas Blessings list:

1. Remote Controlled Truck
2. Star Wars or Lord of the Rings Legos
3. Duct Tape Craft Kit
4. Computer or Xbox game to help with reading or other educational emphasis
5. Monster High Voice Activated Personal Journal
6. Orange or Black Nike Hoodie in a medium
7. Santa Express Train (Not Wooden) at CVS
8. My Little Pony Wedding Princess Candance  at Target
9. My Little Pony Glimmer Wings Rainbow Dash or My Little Pony Crystal Pony
10. Legos Ninjago Lloyd (Green Ninja) or Lego Ninjago Jay's Storm Fighter
11. Madagascar 3 DVD

This is obviously not all of our kids but this is the list we currently have and I know that some of you are itching to get shopping.  :)


On a different note, here's what we need to fill the bags for next week's bags AND WE NEED TO RECEIVE EVERYTHING BY WEDNESDAY this week:

50 breakfast bars
23 tuna fish
38 ritz cracker sleeves
35 soup
45 22 corn
21 fruit cups
19 applesauce
22 pudding cups

A HUGE thank you to everyone who checks this week after week and takes the time, money and effort to help take care of the kids in this community!

AH-MAZING!

I literally cannot explain how much I love being a part of this! 

Gavin and Chris carried bags of food to the basement last night after dinner.  I always love to see Gavin try to carry the heaviest of bags to show what a strong man he's growing into.  It makes my heart so happy to see him and his daddy serving others together.

I counted what we had and what we still needed a couple of different times last night and went to bed after making an update on Facebook around 10 p.m.  The porch was bare and the shelves were over half way filled.  
It was a pretty good day.  

As usual, I struggled to get up when the alarm went off this morning but made my way down to my coffee and then to the couch to where the kids call "Mom's quiet place until we get up."  A little while later Chris got up and, in his normal morning routine, took the dog to the front door to let her out.  He opened the door, looked startled and announced "We've got a small grocery store on our front porch!"  

I got up and saw this:

Isn't it beautiful?!  The poor little dog had to be lifted over the bags to get out to the yard to go potty!  I loved it! We celebrated and worshiped the God who provides as we carried the bags inside and again later when the kids helped me carry them to the basement.  It was a great morning.

8:45 rolled around and shoes were being put on along with coats... I grabbed my purse and went on to the car because I refuse to participate in morning arguments while they get themselves out the door.  We pulled out of the garage and my eyes saw it... 

               the porch was full again! 

The kids eyes were huge and I'm sure mine were too.  Down the road and off to school we went.  We worshiped some more on our way.  As I pulled back down my street I chuckled to myself when I found someone else putting more on the porch.  

It was an amazing morning because God is amazing! 

This afternoon some Boy Scouts will come and pack the bags.  We have everything we need for today.  The bags will be full... just like my very full and grateful heart.  

I literally cannot explain how much I love being a part of this! 
  

Thanksgiving and this week

I am so sorry that I failed to give a Thanksgiving update BEFORE Thanksgiving as I should have!  With the hustle and bustle of getting everything to school and then getting my family out of town, I simply failed to do it.  The good news is that we did provide a Thanksgiving Blessing to every family that we serve!  It's just amazing how it all comes together every single time! 

I don't know where everyone in our community stands in relation to Jesus... I know that our we have donors with a variety of beliefs and I'm so thankful that we can all work together to show love to those in need.  For me, I confess that I am totally a believer of Jesus.  I don't just believe that he's the Messiah that was awaited for generations but that he is the one who walks with me through every good and bad day that I have.  It has been nothing short of amazing to see what can only be his hand working in Bear Necessities.  I am handed cash for Bear Necessities when I least expect it... or receive donations from people I didn't know knew about it and aren't in any way related to our school.  How things come in for Bear Necessities varies every.single.week but one thing does not vary;  we always have enough.  

I was talking with my kids this morning about what they have experienced of God and they both said the same thing:  he provides for our needs.  We talked about the story in Genesis 22 where God tested Abraham by asking him to sacrifice Isaac, his beloved son.  Abraham, acting in what has to be one of the greatest examples of faith ever, takes Isaac and heads off to the mountain.  Isaac, being a smart Israelite kid, asked his dad about the missing sacrifice.  I mean, his dad had said they were going to go make a sacrifice to God and they had the wood and the fire but nothing to kill as the actual sacrifice.  Abraham's reply was "God will provide." 

As the story goes, Abraham was just about to sacrifice his son when God stopped him and directed his attention to a ram caught in a thicket... the perfect sacrifice.  God provided.  

Abraham named that place Jehovah-Jireh, which means "God will provide."  I am blessed to say that because of Bear Necessities it is the name of God that my kids know best.  It is said often around our house because each week, in different ways, God always provides. 



Last year we were called to provide gifts for the kids and I hope that you'll be watching for a post about that in the next week.  I am still awaiting the list of what they want to come back from the school but I will get it up here as soon as I receive it.  I am also planning to provide for the weekends that fall over the Christmas break.  So those items will be added throughout the month of December which is why some of our numbers this week look larger than normal.


For this week, we will need:

46 30 individual cereal boxes
25 oatmeal
44 chili
50 22 beefaroni
22 easy mac envelopes
48 35 peas
48 juice boxes


Thank you to each person who is a part of the Bear Necessities community.  You are a huge blessing to so many and I'm so grateful to be a part of it!

18% there

Yesterday I received such an exciting phone call.  One family in our community has offered to provide Thanksgiving dinner for three families through Bear Necessities!  In addition to that, enough has been donated for one other family... which means we're are currently at about 18% of our Thanksgiving Blessing goal.  We still need YOU to step up and help our families!  It doesn't have to be enough for three families.  Every little bit helps!

UPDATE 11/12:  We currently have met 58% of our Thanksgiving goal and most of that was just this morning!  Let's keep it going!!!

For the two weeks before Thanksgiving we still need:

5 peanut butter
13 jelly

25 12 ritz cracker sleeves
26 8 easy mac envelopes
5 green beans
14 4 corn
24 soup
34 6 granola/cereal bars
24 individual cereal boxes

With so many of us having so much to be thankful for, please help us bless these wonderful kids and families in our community!

Only 15 more days to give for Thanksgiving Blessings...

We are still awaiting 25 cans of chili for this week and a few cans of peas but I just keep having Thanksgiving Blessings on my mind!  I keep remembering our exciting trip to the store last year to get all of their yummy Thanksgiving food and how excited and blessed they were to receive it.   I am praying that in the next few days we will have enough donations to get everything together for these families.  I hope that you'll join me in praying for this and that if you feel that helping out is something you'd like to do, I hope you will!

I had forgotten to mention before that donations can be sent to school and brought to the attention to Mr. Marion.  Donations can also be given to me in person or dropped off at the house or mailed to 118 Wimbledon ct., O'Fallon, MO 63368

Remember the deadline is November 16

I've looked at what we'll need for the next two weeks and am posting both week's now as there isn't as much as usual.  This will get us through the week BEFORE Thanksgiving.

17 cans tuna
44 sleeves ritz crackers
13 cans soup
2 soy nut butter or almond butter
5 peanut butter
24 jelly
11 green beans

Blessed and this week's needs

Prasie God our shelves are nearly full!  I have to admit that I'm a bigger worrier than I'd like to be.  Every single week, through members of our community, God provides what we need to fill the bags for our kids.  Not every person who gives actually has a kid at John Weldon or has ever even walked into the building.  Somehow... somewhere they heard someone talking about how we provide food for the weekend for kids who may not have enough food at home and they are moved to do what one donor said they "felt was the right thing to do."  Some faithfully go to the store every single week to get items from the list.  Some only buy a few items each week.  Some make one time financial donations.  Some are more high-tech and have a monthly donation set up through Alice and never have to get out of their jammies to still give. (Seriously, how cool is it to be productive while still in your jammies!) So, there's always enough... but I still worry.

I learned long ago that the most effective response to my worry is prayer and so that's what I do each week.  I worry and then I pray and let it go.  I worry and then I pray and let it go.  With Thanksgiving coming up and my hoping to be able to bless our families like we did last year, I have worried more.  What if no one donates?  What if there's not enough?   What if everyone stops giving and we have to stop Bear Necessities all together?! (Sadly, yes, my mind is a very scary place.)

This weekend the most awesome thing happened and I couldn't be more excited to share it with you because YOU are Bear Necessities and this was for you to see too!  I received a phone call from Danielle letting me know that some members of the St. Charles Elks Lodge had heard about Bear Necessities and wanted to donate.  This wasn't a Lodge donation but just something that a few members had felt they needed to do.  I was told that it was enough to "cover a table."  Mark brought his truck on Saturday morning and I told Danielle that it was like God opened the storehouses of Heaven!  It covered a table all right, a six foot long table!   Shelves went from totally empty to nearly full and for some items, I had to get a bigger shelf!  

This is how Bear Necessities works!  Everyone gives what they can when they can and somehow, God makes it enough!


There are still a few items that we need for this week just to keep some variety for the kids:

25 chili
5 beefaroni
3 peas

Yep, that's it!  I expect the next couple of weeks to have similar lists.  After looking at the full shelves and praying, what I would ask each of you to do is this:

Whatever you would normally give for the weekly donation, please donate toward blessing our families with Thanksgiving dinner.  What we are going to do is give them gift cards for Honey Baked Ham on Mid Rivers Mall Drive. (185 Mid Rivers Mall Dr, St. Peters, MO  63376) They have a yummy menu of items with everything from turkey, ham, mashed potatoes, green bean casserole and southern pecan pie! 

You can drop off cash or if you're in the area, just grab a gift card at Honey Baked Ham yourself and drop it off. (drop off address:  118 Wimbledon Ct., O'Fallon, MO 63368)  I do ask that you not put cash in the box on the porch for obvious reasons.  I am home most days and do not feel that you're disturbing me so please call 314-540-4718, text or be old fashioned and just knock.  

To the people who give every week or every time they can, THANK YOU!  

To the people who cannot give but pray faithfully for there to be enough, THANK YOU!

To Mark and his friends at the Elk's Lodge, you guys made Saturday morning for my family and we are so thankful to you!

Look at all that food and cute kids to boot! 
(excuse the lovely bed head on the princess as I made her get out of bed so she wouldn't miss the fun!)

Check out the nearly empty shelves in the back while ignoring the rest of the messy basement

Shelves are almost completely full and bookshelf moved over to hold all the ravioli and veggies!

Silly boy!  He makes me giggle. 

Oil Change Day at Calvary Church

Spending money... it's something that can bring great joy if it involves something you've been wanting and saving to get... you know, like those awesome leather riding boots or those oh-so-fabulous heels.  Sometimes, however, it is just downright painful... a broken window, an overflowing washing machine... or maybe nothing's broken at all but you know that if you don't maintain it, it will be... and that is so not as fun as new shoes!  Maybe it's just me but that's how I feel about things like getting the oil changed.  Blah.  Ugh.  Whine!   I mean, I've always said that I couldn't be a gambler and didn't really enjoy Vegas because if I'm handing someone money, I want to walk out the door with a bag full of something I wanted... something pretty, cute or at least useful!  When we my husband takes the car to get the oil changed, there's no bag full of fun stuff!  Alas, I'm so grateful that we CAN get the oil changed because, with two kids, we drive A LOT and i certainly can't walk too far in my new heels if my car breaks down!

Seriously, though, I know that for some, it's not at all lighthearted or silly.  I read an article about something today and it made me wonder how many of our Bear Necessities families might struggle with this.  "Do I buy food for my family or get the oil changed?"  It breaks my heart thinking about it!

So, just in case, I wanted to let you all know that a free oil change IS available to single moms and families who are struggling financially.  Where? you might ask.  Calvary Church, which I have the privilege of calling my church.  Members of the church hold an event twice a year and do 300-375 oil changes FOR FREE to help people in the community.  This weekend the oil changes will be happening out our Mid-Rivers campus. 

If you are needing some help with this, call the church because a reservation DOES have to be made:  636-939-4343

If you aren't needing help with this but you know someone who is, please pass this info on to them!

Thanks!

Thanksgiving Blessings and THIS week

In just over four weeks we will celebrate Thanksgiving.  I can never decide which is my favorite part of the meal.  Is it the stuffing? No!  It's the green bean casserole!  But then I see the pumpkin pie...  I doubt I'll ever be able to decide and so every year I just eat.it.all and then sit with my belly aching from being so stuffed!  I hope that is how Thanksgiving is for you this year.  I wish that's how it was for everyone... but I know it is not.  With food costs higher than last year and nearly 13% of suburban homes being food insecure, it's highly unlikely that everyone will sit back on Thanksgiving night groaning from too much food. 

Last year we were able to provide all the fixings for a yummy Thanksgiving dinner for all the families we served.  This year we are currently serving 18 families at John Weldon.  It's a few more than we were at this time last year but I know that if we all pull together, we can help these families enjoy the holiday and know that they are loved by God and their community.  If you can and feel called to help, please read last year's blog post on how it will work.  Donations will work just like we did last year. 

The deadline for donations this year will be November 16. 

Now, for this week, we need the following items to fill our bags this week:

12 individual cereal boxes
26 cereal bars
24 soup
6 ravioli
23 easy mac envelopes
26 corn
2 raisins
11 applesauce
5 peanut butter crackers
26 pudding cups

Donation Needs by 10/18

I hope that everyone had a great time of fall break.  We had a great time but I am definitely ready to get back into the routine because all that fun wiped me out!  

Here's a list of what we need for this week:

22 individual boxes of cereal
21 peanut butter
2 soy nut OR almond butter
25 jelly
18 sleeves ritz crackers
3 envelopes easy mac
26 green beans
21 fruit cups
24 applesauce

Let me also remind you that you can still sign up to pack &/or deliver bags:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4AAEAA22A64-20122013

10/1 Update

Just a quick update on where we are on our bags that will go out tomorrow and Wednesday for our fall break... we still need the following:



40 individual cereal boxes
18 peanut butter
19 jelly
4 sleeves ritz crackers
16 soup
16 applesauce


Thank you to everyone!

Before Cycle Break Needs

There are soooo many things that I love about getting to be a part of Bear Necessities so today I made a favorites list.  

Top 5 Things I love about being a part of Bear Necessities

1.   No child at John Weldon Elementary has to be hungry
2.  Our kids feel celebrated and special on their birthday
3.  My children are learning to think bigger than themselves
4.  Parents teaching their children to serve by serving WITH them
5.  Every week God provides enough food... EVERY.SINGLE.WEEK

Thank you to the Machado family!

As we move closer to cycle break, we will be sending bags home twice next week so, here's our list of items we need by noon on MONDAY:

40 individual cereal boxes
9 oatmeal envelopes
20 peanut butter (18 oz)
26 jelly
21 ritz cracker sleeves
43 easy mac envelopes
18 cans soup
14 green beans
8 fruit cups
34 applesauce
11 granola bars

Hungry Kate: The Girl With A Belly Ache & This week's needs

 I came across this video by Feeding America and it was such a powerful reminder of why we do what we do!  Please watch this:

 Every single person who donates prayer, time and food for Bear Necessities is helping a "Kate" in our community!  Some weeks I feel like you all just have to get tired of the constant reminders that food is needed...  I mean, I know that I delete some of the emails I get from some places that just seem to NEVER.STOP.ASKING... 

but then I remember the "Kates" and how their little tummies are THEIR constant reminder that food is needed and if we don't make that extra trip to the grocery store... or sacrifice that cup of Starbucks... or cook at home one night instead of eating out... Kate won't get fed.  When I remember that this is about all of the "Kates" in the community... when I remember that "Kate" may sit next to my daughter or son at lunch... or play with them at recess... or even come over to my house at times for playdates... I KNOW that I have to keep sending the reminders! 

Here's our list for this week:

20 individual cereal boxes
28 cans tuna
16 ritz cracker sleeves
28 cans corn
21 fruit cups

‘For I was hungry, and you gave Me something to eat; I was thirsty, and you gave Me something to drink; I was a stranger, and you invited Me in; naked, and you clothed Me; I was sick, and you visited Me; I was in prison, and you came to Me.’ “Then the righteous will answer Him, ‘Lord, when did we see You hungry, and feed You, or thirsty, and give You something to drink? ‘And when did we see You a stranger, and invite You in, or naked, and clothe You? ‘When did we see You sick, or in prison, and come to You?’ “The King will answer and say to them, ‘Truly I say to you, to the extent that you did it to one of these brothers of Mine, even the least of them, you did it to Me.’

Matthew 25:35-40

Donations and Birthdays

This week's list is pretty short but we are also needing some birthday supplies, so I'm posting those too. 

17 cans chili
15 cans beefaroni
18 cheez its

Birthday Supplies:
Cake Mix and Icing
Classroom Treats (boxes of oreos, rice krispy treats, skittles, etc.)
Birthday plates and napkins
Birthday Gift Bags

While supplying the weekly need for food for these kids is so critical, it is the huge smiles they have when they get their birthday bags that I just love to hear about!  Thanks for helping me make sure that every one of these kids feels special on their big day!

Donation List

Crazy busy here so just a quick list of what we need this Thursday:

23 10 individual boxes of cereal
5 breakfast bars
28 4 cans soup
25 cans ravioli
9 envelopes easy mac
25 14 cans corn
22 9 pudding cups

Updated 9/12

Thanks everyone for your commitment to our kids!

Don't forget to sign up to pack bags:

http://www.signupgenius.com/go/20F0F4AAEAA22A64-20122013

$10 off Thursday is TODAY

Who's ready for a four day weekend!?  Woot!  Woot!  This also means that next Thursday will seem to come much quicker so I wanted to get the list for next week up here because of that AND because 

TODAY IS $10 OFF THURSDAY AT SHOP 'N SAVE!

So, whether you need groceries yourself and can get an extra $10 to give to the kids of Bear Necessities or if you want to spend $40 on our kids and get a free $10, today is the day!

So, here's our list for this week:

2 Almond Butter or Soy Nut Butter
27 Peanut Butter
25 Ritz Cracker Sleeves
10 Easy Mac envelopes
23 cans green beans
28 fruit cups
26 applesauce
12 nutragrain bars

Have a great Labor Day weekend everyone!

NEEDS FOR TOMORROW

 we STILL need the following items by noon TOMORROW:

30 cereal bars

15 10 cans tuna

10 sleeves ritz crackers

23 cans soup

19 cans corn

2 cheese cracker (must be peanut free and not processed in plant with nuts)

22 pudding cups
classroom approved snack bags

Updated 11:33 a.m.

Are we doing better than other counties?

his week i read that child hunger is an issue in every single county in the US.      EVERY.SINGLE.COUNTY.       This made me wonder about my own county.  When we think about hunger... or at least when I do, I think that it's probably worse in the inner city areas and then again in the very rural areas but O'Fallon was just voted one of the top 100 best places to live in the whole country by Money Magazine, so surely it's not too bad here, right?

Well, further investigation shows that while we are slightly better off than the inner city of St. Louis, which has 24.4% of it's children in food insecure homes, and much better than some of Missouri's more rural counties like Reynolds County, which has 31.3% of it's children in food insecure homes, we still have a whopping 17.6% of Saint Charles County children living in food insecure homes.  Take a look at the map below:

You can check out the interactive map yourself at:  

http://feedingamerica.org/hunger-in-america/hunger-studies/map-the-meal-gap.aspx

This is just a great reminder why what we're doing at Bear Necessities is so important.  These kids who are going hungry don't live in some far off land (though it's just as important to care for those kids too!), these kids live right next door to some of us... but they don't HAVE to be hungry!  We can change that and we are!

This week we will, again, be serving about 30 kids and we need the following items:

30 cereal bars

30 cans tuna

10 sleeves ritz crackers

23 cans soup

19 cans corn

14 applesauce

2 cheese cracker (must be peanut free and not processed in plant with nuts)

22 pudding cups
classroom approved snack bags

Our teachers are also noticing that a lot of our BN kids are coming to school without a snack during the day.  Studies show (and we all know it's true) children who do not get enough nutritious food to eat have higher levels of behavioral, emotional and academic problems and that's just not okay.  So, with that, we've also added snacks to the list.... just a few extras that the teachers can keep in their rooms and share at their discretion. 

Finally, I'm in the middle of planning a VERY IMPORTANT birthday party.  This Sunday will mark Bear Necessities ONE YEAR BIRTHDAY!  WOO! HOO! August 26, 2011 was the very first day that we sent food home with kids and we have. not. stopped!  In the next few weeks I am planning to open my home for a dessert celebration but the details will have to follow at a later time, so be sure to check back!

Last but not least, thank you to all of our volunteers and donors this week!  Here are just a couple of generous people who help make this possible.  For the record, their beautiful baby sister helped pack bags too but right when we were taking the picture a bug flew by and well, the girl doesn't like bugs!  

Have a blessed week everyone!

Just One

an you imagine a world where every child has enough to eat... that when they walk into the house announcing that they're "starving" every. single. mom. can smile and know that her precious baby is just practicing his dramatics and chuckle to herself, as she reaches into her pantry to get him a snack.  

They might still get sick but they'd recover quicker... less of them needing to be hospitalized... less children would suffer from headaches, stomachaches, colds, ear infections and fatigue. 

Even when I limit my thoughts to just the hungry kids in our country, I can get overwhelmed... I mean, I'm just one mom... How can I make a difference in the 16.2 million kids in America that struggle with hunger?  And then I remember...

Start with just one.

That's exactly what we're doing here at Bear Necessities.  We focus on that one child who sits next to ours at lunch... that one child that plays with ours at recess.  When we remember that one child the most amazing thing happens... we move... we act... and we save more children!

Over the last year we have fed between 9-35 kids every. single. week.  We ARE making a difference in their lives and I'd dare to say in the lives of every one who helps.  I'm hoping in the next few weeks to come up with some stories to tell you JUST how we've made a difference.  

What I'm asking of you is, if Bear Necessities has made a difference to you, your child(ren), &/or your family as either a volunteer, donor or recipient, please send an email to dorinda_peyton@yahoo.com and let me know how.  If you'd prefer to be anonymous, feel free to mail it to: 

Dorinda Peyton

118 Wimbledon Ct.

O'Fallon, MO 63368

Some of our great volunteers

'Cause here's the deal, this one mom didn't do all of this... Nope!  Each and every child that has been fed this last year through Bear Necessities has been because of  YOU, the community, and how we work together to serve God and each other.  In fact, if I weren't here to do my part anymore, I am confident that one of you would take over... it would not end because now you know how it feels to make a difference!

 

Since our sign ups went home last week, we have quickly increased in number and we're definitely serving more than one student.  

The following list is what we will need by next Thursday at noon:

17 individual boxes of cereal

10 oatmeal envelopes

30 cans of chili

30 cans beefaroni

29 cans of peas

22 juice boxes

30 small bags of cheez its

16 nutragrain bars

Thanks to my hubby, we now have permanent shelving and can hold quite a bit more for our kids!

He gave justice and help to the poor and needy,
    and everything went well for him.
Isn’t that what it means to know me?  says the Lord.

Jeremiah 22:16

Needs for week of August 16

Well, week ONE is in the books!  I hope that everyone had a great first few days.  We are getting back into a routine over here and I, for one, couldn't be more excited about it! 

The forms for students to sign up to receive Bear Necessities will go home either today or Monday.  Either way, I'm expecting our numbers to go up next week.  With that, I'm just going to post the items on next week's menu because I don't know for sure how many of each we'll need.  I can tell you that we never went above 33 students last year. 

We also have some school supply needs that need to be filled ASAP!  We have a few students who have been unable to afford what they need to be successful at school this year.  Having been a teacher in the past, I know that our staff will be tempted to go out at purchase these items but I know that we can all pull together to keep the teachers from doing that.  If you are able, please get these items to me as soon as possible:   (UPDATED 8/11:  DONATED ITEMS HAVE LINE THROUGH THEM.  tHANK YOU TO THOSE ALREADY SHOPPING FOR OUR KIDS!!!)

1-3 subject notebook

1-orange folder
1- complete third grade supply list

2- complete fifth grade supply lists

Third Grade List

48 sharpened #2 pencils

Covered pencil sharpener

4 solid color spiral bound notebooks (red, blue, yellow, green)

2 composition notebooks

2 red pens

1 yellow highlighter

16 count box of crayons

1 large eraser

Washable markers

1 large heavy duty zipper pouch

2 large glue sticks

1 box colored pencils

5"-7" scissors

5 two-pocket, three-pronged solid color folders (red, blue, yellow, green, black)

1 personal favorite two-pocket folder

1 package dry erase markers

plastic magazine holder

1 3-ring binder (1-1 1/2 inch)

$5 party money

large box tissues

paper towels

Fifth Grade List

1 large heavy duty zipper pouch

2 packages wide-lined, loose-leaf white notebook paper

1 composition notebook

24 count crayons

3 boxes of #2 pencils

glue stick

scissors

1 box washable markers

3 different color 70-page spiral notebooks

3 folders with brads

3 dry erase markers

2 black sharpies

1 highlighter

1 three subject spiral notebook

calculator

zipper binder

4 folders with holes

$5 party money

Food Needs by NOON on August 16

breakfast bars

ravioli

easy mac envelopes

corn

raisins

applesauce

I know it's a lot of stuff but if we all pray and pull together, I know it will come in!  

First Week of School's Need List

Can you even believe that school starts tomorrow?!  This will be our second year at John Weldon and I'm so excited that we get to start serving our kids WEEK ONE! 

This week we need by THURSDAY:

1 oatmeal envelope
5 jelly
9 easy mac envelopes
5 cans green beans
2 cups applesauce

We also need TWO KINDERGARTEN MATS.  I have been unable to find them anywhere.  If you see two, please pick them up and call me.  314-540-4718

Next week our numbers are likely to go up since new enrollment forms will go out soon.  I'm excited to be serving with each of you in our community!

A HUGE THANK YOU to Dawn Turner for taking over everything for me at the drop of a hat last week when I had to unexpectedly leave town!

Next week's needs

Everything came in this week but it was,as usual, right at the last minute! So grateful each week for the faithfulness that you all show to these kids!!! 

Next week we will need the following: 

14 individual boxes of cereal 

18 cans tuna 

15 sleeves Ritz crackers 

18 cans soup 

12 Easy Mac envelopes 

18 cans of corn 

14 fruit cups 

18 pudding 

I know it's a big list but I know that, through you, God will provide! Have a blessed week!

How many days until school?

Hi everyone!  Gavin informed me today that there are 22 days until school starts!  I just can't believe it.  No matter what we do, summer seems to just fly by so fast without ever having enough time to do every fun thing we want to do. 

In the next couple of weeks I will be posting a sign up calendar for the fall semester so be on the look out for that!

There are several things we need for next week:

18 cans soup
18 cans ravioli
9 easy mac envelopes
18 cans corn
16 boxes of raisins
5 pudding cups

Thanks for your continued support and I hope everyone has a blessed week!

Next Week's Needs

Hi Everyone!  Next week we need the following thing by Tuesday July 17:

3 peanut butter
1 jelly
6 ritz cracker sleeves
9 green beans
9 beefaroni
18 fruit cups

Please remember Bear Necessities when you're at the store this weekend!

Next Week's Needs...

This week has been fulfilled and for next week we only need a few things:

8 cans ravioli
9 cans corn
11 boxes of raisins

We need these by Monday of next week please!  Thanks!

End of June needs

EVery May I think "I can't wait until school's out so things can slow down a little."  Never happens!  It always seems that summer is busier than any other time of the year but somehow I always forget.  


This is what we need for this week:

9 peanut butter

9 jelly

9 sleeves ritz crackers

11 cans green beans

Needed by 6/18


We're leaving town next week so I wanted to post the items we'll need for the following week as well:

2 cans soup

5 cans ravioli

12 cans corn

11 raisins

10 puddings

Needed by 6/25

A HUGE Thank you to Danielle Krahl and all the little girls that attended her Girl Scout camp this week.  Each girl brought an item for Bear Necessities every day and stocked some items for the whole summer!   Someone said to me earlier this week, "Kids can make a difference."  SO true!

Donation Update

I'm getting ready to head out to Dardenne Prairie's park to celebrate and I'll post some pictures of that later.  In the mean time I wanted to post our donation list for this week in case anyone is running out to the store.

This week we need:

12 breakfast bars
17 tuna
18 ritz cracker sleeves
17 cans soup
17 cans corn
2 applesauce
18 pudding

We have plenty of apples for the whole summer (I think) so please don't bring any more apples.  If you'd like to donate fruit of another type, that would be great!

Thanks everyone and have a blessed weekend!

Give Generously

So, we got through the first week with abundance!  Yesterday we were headed out to run some errands and found this in the garage:

Isn't it just beautiful?!  All I could think of was the following verse:

Give generously to the poor, not grudgingly, for the LORD your God will bless you in everything you do. Deuteronomy 15:10

This week we will need the following items by the morning of Tuesday June 5 so that bags can be packed for Wednesday morning's delivery. 

18 cans chili

6 beefaroni

12 easy mac envelopes

17 cans peas

17 juice boxes

10 nutragrain bars/granola bars

18 apples

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Have a blessed week everyone!