For The Soldiers: Email from an Airman!

I just got this email this evening from one of the recipients of our care packages and wanted to share it with you!

Just for the record, I am female although my name is Taylor.  Airman Goff was mistaken in calling me "sir" but that's fine!  I'm just so excited to hear from one of them knowing that our package got there safely and brought smiles to their faces!  Also, I "censored" the name of the teacher who had the kids write letters, just to be safe.

Sir,

I would like to thank you for the package that you sent us. I really means a lot to receive letters and package from the people that care about what we do. We are doing well over here, just hit our 4 month mark the other day, not really sure how much longer we have left, it’s up in the air right now. Sir, please give out sincere thanks to the other small business owners who helped make all of this possible.


Sincerely,

Matthew Goff, SrA. USAF

P.S. If you could I would like Miss. ***’s email address if possible, it is a lot easier than sending letters to the kids, but I would like to send them an email to thank them as well.

Allison Nielsen Auction: Accepting Donations

Collecting donations until Feb 4
Bidding Begins Feb 5

Auction Closes on Feb 15 at 7pm EST


On March 19, 2011, the Nielsen family's lives changed forever. It was any other day, Jacki was preparing lunch, and Allison said "Mommy, my throat hurts".Jacki felt her neck, and found a golfball-sized lymph node. She knew right away something was wrong. Allison was diagnosed with Stage IV high-risk Neuroblastoma, undifferentiated with unfavorable histology on March 24, 2011. She is currently in treatment on the COG protocol. We believe with all of our hearts that Allie will BEAT THIS CANCER!


Verification:Allison's Care Page

Allison's FB Support Page

Next Beneficiary: Allison Nielsen and Family

Thanks to all who voted for our next beneficiary!  We will be accepting donations for Sweet Allison's auction within the week!  Keep an eye out for when we open up!

Help Us Choose Our Next Beneficiary!

Thanks for all the votes.  The decision has been made!  Please follow us at From The Heart Auctions to be a part of our community to help others!

We're having a hard time choosing our next beneficiary, so we're enlisting the help of YOU (our bidders as well as vendors). Pick from one of the following. We'll tallying these up this week and we can start collecting items for the next auction!

• Good Shepherd Manor (http://www.goodshepherdmanor.org/index.htm) - Good Shepherd Manor's Mission is to serve the needs of men with developmental disabilities who are not capable of earning their own livelihood or meeting their basic needs in a non-structured environment. In doing so, Good Shepherd Manor also seeks to serve the needs of the families of these handicapped residents who, in their great concern for their loved ones, are anxious for their happiness and physical and social well-being, especially when the family will no longer be here to provide for them.

• Research for Rosie (http://research4rosie.com/AboutRosie.html): In spite of living with many chronic and life threatening conditions for over half her life Rosie's enthusiasm for living and sharing have never waned. Her contagious smile, infectious laugh and incredible spirit make her who she is today.

• Nichole McGillis and Nick Main  (https://www.facebook.com/nicknicholeandhaiti ) I have known Nick and Nichole for about 9 years now. They are a young engaged couple who have traveled to Haiti the last two years to help with an orphanage and some other projects. The two of them are such remarkable people. They are full of passion and love for helping others in need. They are planning their next trip for Haiti for February or March next year. All their funds to go to Haiti are through fund raisers and donations. Since our last few auctions have been helping others with medical costs and whatnot due to sad incidences, I thought this might be a nice pick-me-up auction where the money goes towards a happy cause.

• Rich South High School Band to the Olympics (www.richsouthband.org) The Rich South High School band had been chosen to perform at the Olympics in London, but they have to raise a LOT of money to get there. The trip is estimated to cost around $4,500 per student, so every donation or sponsorship helps the students achieve this once in a life time dream.

• Nielsen Family: (https://www.facebook.com/pages/Sweet-Allison-vs-Neuroblastoma/192853114108038) Their 3 year old was diagnosed with stage 4 neuroblastoma cancer earlier this year (just before her 3rd brithday) - so far, she is doing very well - and I know they could use the extra help. Thanks! Here is their facebook page to find out more information about the family and updates on Allison

• Riker Dresser (http://rikerstardresser.blogspot.com/p/about.html) Riker Star Dresser was born to Tory and Jon Dresser on February 16, 2011 in Lewiston, Maine. Riker had it rough early on when she was born three weeks premature and required to stay for observation for several days following her birth. Shortly after, she was diagnosed with colic and gastrointestinal complaints, but no one imagined that the real underlying cause of Riker's first difficult days may have been a diagnosis she received on June 5, 2011. Riker had a cough. Everyone assumed it was a common cold, but when her cough seemed to get worse, the Dressers brought little Riker to the Emergency Room. It was there that the doctors picked up on some peculiarities in the infant's condition. At the tender age of three months old, Riker was diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia, a condition rarely diagnosed in infants. Now, Riker is staying at a hospital in New England dedicated to helping this child succeed during the long and difficult road ahead. Her parents are doing everything they can to be with this little girl and to nurse her back to health, but their resources are limited and time off work means their needs are mounting. Meanwhile, Riker's older sibling, 2-year-old Valentine Echo Dresser, keeps asking where her baby

• Sancta Maria House (http://www.sanctamariahouse.org/) Staffed entirely by volunteers, Sancta Maria House is a ten-bed shelter for homeless women situated in the South End of Boston.

For The Soldiers: Care Packages Sent!

With the funds raised in our "For the Soldiers" Auction ($333.48), we were able to purchase requested items from soldiers, airmen, and marines and fill six boxes that were shipped out today!  Here's a recap in pictures!  Enjoy!

I used anysoldier.com to find our random military personnel who would receive the care packages.  Each officer submits their address and several items that they need/want.  I chose several addresses and started making my shopping list.  I sectioned off my list according to the addresses so that I didn't over spend. I used a USPS APO/FPO flat rate box in the store to make sure items for each address would fit into the box.  I got a lot of funny looks while doing this, but at the cash register, I had a line of people behind me that were so happy with what we were doing!  I was able to purchase enough items for FIVE boxes with some money left over for maybe one more box and shipping!

I purchased tube socks, feminine products, facial wash, skin products, Doritos, Cheetos, gummies, Pringles, baby wipes, drink mixes, 5-Hour Energy drinks, protein bars, sunflower seeds, microwave popcorn, beef jerky, stuffed animals (a special request by an all female unit), gum, Tic Tacs, cookies, chocolate candy bars (which they requested in winter months), chips, and much much more.

Receipt from first shopping trip.

Total for first shopping trip: $203.98

I also had my daugther's 3rd grade class write letters to the service men and women to include in the boxes as many of them requested just letters to brighten their day.

I packed the boxes like intricate puzzles making sure to fit as much into them as I possibly could.

After packing all five boxes and calculating the shipping ($12.95 for each box), I figured I could pack one more box!  So I went shopping on last time.

Second shopping trip receipt.

Second shopping trip total: $59.39

With six boxes packed full of necessities and goodies, I went to the post office to ship them all out to our deployed service members ranging from Kuwait to Afghanistan to Asia.

$77.70 all packages were on their way!

Shipping total: $77.70

Customs forms all stamped.

Close up of one of the customs forms.

$203.98 + 59.39 + $77.70= $341.07

(I happily donated the difference to help cover shipping for the last package.)

I am so pleased that we were able to do this service project and so grateful that I was chosen to put it all together.  This has made me very happy, and I can't wait to do it more!

Thanks again to all our vendors who donated items and all our bidders!

~Taylor