On behalf of the Board of Okicyap, we would like to extend our heartfelt thanks to everyone who contributed to the quilt auction, which produced over $10,000 in donations! We could hardly believe our eyes every time we came her to check on the funds raised.
To the Daily Kos Quilt Guild, what can we say, you started all of this with that amazingly beautiful quilt. We were really touched by all of the work and skill that went into the project.
To the donors who bid the quilt, up and up and up and up. Thank you for your donations. Even the small ones added up quickly. You have no idea what you are doing for our community by ensuring that we are on stable financial footing. We ordered a new truckload of food in the middle of the fundraiser because of it, and it is set to arrive on Friday, April 19th. In addition to that we are planning new activities, and we'll let you know more about that when they are more firm.
To the group from Native American Netroots and affiliated donors who donated for that large match. Your efforts really put it all over the top. Your donations, and the extra ones they inspired will have us on firm footing for months to come. Thank you for your dedication.
One More Thing....
Because this fundraiser was so successful in inspiring people to donate not only money, but also clothing and other things, the pantry is actually filled to the brim with donations, particularly clothing. So, generous donors, thank you so much! We'd like you to hold off on sending any more clothing though because we just don't have anywhere to put it, even with our new storage room! We are so blessed to have this support at a time when another pantry in our area had to close because of lack of funds, and we'll let you know when we have room for more clothes.
New Extension for Storage Under Construction
March 2013 update: Okiciyap is putting an extension onto the trailer this month for storage. This was made possible by a small grant from the tribal community fund.
Parenting Classes Now being Held
Common Sense Parenting classes are now being held at the pantry.
Here are the dates and times: Feb. 9 (all done) Feb. 18: 5:30 pm Feb. 21: 5:00 pm Feb. 28: 5:00 pm Mar. 16: 2:00 pm (final class of the series).
It DID Amount to a Hill of Beans!
We are very excited to report that all the donation activity on the Daily Kos this holiday season inspired a man from Oregon to undertake his own donation project, which we think will have a large impact on hunger in Isabel the rest of this winter.
Daily Kos blogger Tom Richmond decided that Okiciyap should also have the lentil-bean chili mix that the pantry in his county had developed with a discount from a local supplier. The rest is history. All this has meant that on January 17th, Okiciyap received 2000 pounds of beans and spice mix, packed into one pound bags accompanied by the spice mix. We are in awe of this effort. Here's an excerpt from local coverage of Tom's efforts. The entire story is here.
"When Richmond approached the group a few months ago with his idea of helping the Okiciyap, he was directed to Camas Country Mill, a farm that supplies materials for FOOD for Lane County’s chili packages. The Eugene-based mill gave Richmond the same price break that FOOD for Lane County receives for its own packages. Another Eugene-based business, GloryBee Foods, supplied its Aunt Patty’s spice mix to Richmond at a similar price break. It is not the first time Richmond has lent a helping hand to others in need, but he acknowledges that this is probably the biggest project he has spearheaded. The Isabel community is one of the poorest in the country, he said, so he wanted to help the budding food pantry there."
We imagine that 2000 pounds of chili will have a significant impact on hunger in Isabel this winter. One person CAN make a huge impact on people's lives. Thank you Tom from the bottom of our hearts.
Progress Thanks to Generous Donors
Because of many generous donors, mostly from the Daily Kos community, the pantry is now on firm footing and was able to expand the number of people it served during the Christmas season.
Last year, we had a large Christmas dinner that included gift time for the children. This year, in our founder Georgia Little Shield's absence, it was less well attended but still a success because we were able to go around the community like many Santas giving gifts to dozens of houses, gifts that included toys and clothing that we bought with your donations, and the coats, gloves, scarves (including some beautiful homemade ones) that donors sent directly to us. We were also able to have adults come to pick up a lot of the gently used clothing that we received. There were many grateful parents and grandparents this year, who, again, could not have provided these things for their families.
Additionally, the pantry volunteers were very thankful to have the gift cards the Daily Kos community also sent us as Christmas presents from that blogging community. Many young people were among those receiving the cards, since many of our volunteers are teenagers, and even under. We extend our hearty thanks to you, the donor community, for making all of this possible. We know that Georgia is smiling down on all of this, her dream now come true because of all of this wonderful generosity. The spirit of the holiday season has truly been realized.
