Every year, on the second Thursday in May, the real estate company I am a part of holds their Red Day. Keller Williams agents around the world don red shirts and devote this day to giving back to the communities they live and work in.
This year, the Joplin area KW agents worked to benefit two local organizations that help children in the foster care system.
Bundles of Hope was created in 2012 by Mason and Mackenzie Hymer, who were 9 and 11 at the time. Both were adopted, Mason through foster care, and they wanted to do something to help other children in similar circumstances.
Bundles of Hope launched with a project that gives backpacks to children on their first night with a foster family. The backpacks contain toiletries such as a toothbrush and toothpaste, personal items such as pjs and a blanket, and comforting items such as a stuffed animal, a journal and a Bible.
Since its creation, Bundles of Hope has included two more packages: Car Bundles, bags filled with snacks, drinks and toys, to make the stressful ride to a new foster home a little bit easier. And Age Out Bundles, geared toward 18 year old young adults who are aging out of the foster care system. To make the transition of living on their own easier, this bundle contains cleaning supplies, toiletries, kitchen utensils, dish ware, a blanket, laundry hampers, laundry soap, and a 50 dollar Walmart gift card for a month or so of groceries.
What an inspiring organization, founded by enterprising, compassionate children. For Red Day, my office put together and donated 140 backpacks full of supplies to Bundles of Hope.
Check out Bundles of Hope HERE
My group…the Grill & Chill Team
During each Red Day, we hold a Cookout for a Cause event, pre-selling $5 lunches to area businesses, schools, and organizations. The sack lunches contain a freshly grilled hamburger or hotdog, a bag of chips and a cookie, and include a drink. Agents gathered this morning at The Light, a nondenominational church on 20th Street in Joplin.
The parking lot was filled with grills and grillers, delivery vehicles and drivers, and runners carrying burgers and hotdogs to teams of people inside the church building, prepping the lunches for delivery. Sacks were pre-loaded earlier in the week with chips, buns and cookies. Today the cooked meat was added, drinks collected and out the door the boxes of lunches went.
More than 3,300 meals were prepared and delivered. We worked in teams, all over the building. It takes an incredible amount of planning and organization to pull off such an event. The Joplin KW group, led by Jessica Hubbard, excelled. By noon all lunches were delivered or en route.
The money raised through the Cookout for a Cause was donated to the second organization that we helped this year, Fostering Hope.
Fostering Hope’s mission is to provide hope, support and resources to children in foster care, and their families. They accomplish their mission by partnering with the local Children’s Division and area churches, businesses and organizations to provide for the needs of children in foster care and their families. They believe that coming together as a community has the greatest impact on foster children.
Fostering Hope provides the Caring Closet, in a couple of locations, providing clothing, shoes, toiletries, bedding, toys, and other items that may be needed when children arrive in a fostering home. All items are free to foster families for the children in their care. They also host foster parent support meetings.
Check out Fostering Hope HERE
I am honored to be an agent with a company who gives back so richly to its community. Keller Williams believes in making a difference in the lives of others, including its agents. It touched my heart deeply that the Joplin office chose to offer to two amazing organizations that in turn offer hope and support to foster children and their families.
Keller Williams agents are making life a little more tender, by giving where they live. I was proud to wear the red shirt today.
