The 10/20 Project

Nights in Little Rock are still cold.  Days are warmer, but still only in the 40′s.    Ron has been giving out coats all week, a few here and a couple there.    He has given out coats to a few men on the street.  One of Ron’s homeless friends told him about a man who could use a coat and told Ron that he usually hung out at a certain bus stop.  Ron drove down, found the man, and gave him a warm coat.    Today,  a man came into the clinic to deliver the annual phone book.  The man was wearing a couple of sweatshirts, but not a coat.  Ron asked if he had a heavy coat, and the man replied, “no, not really.”  Ron walked outside with him, went over to his trunk and gave him a warm coat.  As they stood outside talking,  Ron learned that the man had a wife and two children.  Before the end of the conversation, each member of the family had a “new” warm coat.

People are positively impacted because of your generosity and a small amount of time.  The $10/20 project continues to provide immediate needs of food, clothing, shelter, and medication to those who need it.  Thanks to all of you who have donated.

As Ron and I have worked on what we refer to as “our $10/20 project”, we are consistently impressed with the fact that small donations of money and/or time can and do make a difference in the life of an individual. And, as many of you know, we are working on obtaining non-profit status.

Many people have become involved in the spirit of $10/20 within the spheres of their own individual lives. From friends, family members and complete strangers, from all over the country, we have received donations of at least $10. We have received checks in the mail and donations through pay-pal. Sometimes these donations are $10. Sometimes they are $200. Your generous donations have bought life-saving medication (which range from $4-$12), meals for hungry people, helped pay utility bills, bought gloves, and met numerous individual needs. The donations have met immediate needs. And because of your generosity, we’ve been able to meet immediate needs, well…immediately.

People have donated their time and talent to their communities and often to complete strangers. A woman in Florida took coffee on a Saturday morning into a waiting room full of family members as their loved one received needed cancer treatment. An eight-year old boy in Nebraska donated a coat to a complete stranger. His entire family shipped us a box of coats for Ron’s trunk inventory. A lady in California found a great coat deal online and sent us twelve brand new, heavy coats. A young man in Las Vegas went and served at a homeless shelter. Another young couple in Florida organized and collected holiday cards from people they work with, and sent over 300 cards to St. Jude’s Ranch. These are but a few of the many stories we have heard. All are a result of our $10/20 project. For Ron and I, each time we hear where or how someone has contributed, it is a gift to us.

As Ron volunteered at the Nathaniel Hill Emergency Shelter in Little Rock, he was impressed with the spirit of the guests. They organized themselves and began giving back to the shelter. They cleaned, swept, and raked leaves. They helped other guests. As they cleaned and gave their temporary shelter order, they created a temporary home. On the street, Ron has encountered individuals who have turned down a coat or pair of gloves because they have what they need. Several times individuals have referred him to other people in need. Because of their referrals, a pregnant woman has now been seen by a doctor, and many people have received coats, gloves, blankets or food. Everyone has something to give. It might be $10. It might be 20 minutes. It might be a word. Whatever “it” is, the impact is positive and immediate.

We have struggled to encapsulate a slogan or a tag-line that identifies the mission of $10/20. The heart of our $10/20 project is that each individual has the capacity to give something to another individual. And that “something”, although not wrapped in lovely paper and with a beautiful bow, is always wrapped with love. And that “something” becomes a gift. Humble or grandiose, a gift always impacts an individual life. That is the heart of our $10/20 project. Look around your world today and give away $10 or 20 minutes. You’ll receive more than you ever will give.

When Ron was working at the temporary shelter last week he met a man named Joe. Joe is a warm and friendly individual, and he and Ron became friends quickly. As Ron got to know more about Joe, he learned that Joe is diabetic, and Ron was able to refer him to Harmony Health Clinic. Many of you know that Ron is an Americorp VISTA, and works at Harmony Health Clinic in Little Rock. Harmony Clinic provides free medical and dental services to the under-insured and uninsured in Central Arkansas.

Ron also learned that Joe is a proud man with an unusual situation. He owns a home and his home is heated with natural gas. Unfortunately he hasn’t been able to use his gas heat for over a year, due to a leak. The gas at his house has been turned off for over a year. Repairing the leak entails employing a plumber. Because he is unable to find work, paying utility bills, and buying food is challenging–paying a plumber is not even an option. Joe has been using an electric blanket to stay warm this winter. When the temperatures were in the single digits, an electric blanket simply wasn’t enough to stay warm, and so, Joe was a guest at the shelter.

Earlier today Ron learned that Joe’s electric bill was past-due and would be shut off today. Thankfully, the temperatures are not in the teens and an electric blanket is enough to keep him warm. Because many of you have donated at least $10, the $10/20 project had enough to cover the $160 electric bill. The phone call to the electric company took Ron less than 20 minutes. Isn’t it heartwarming to see how small donations make such a powerful impact?

Several of you have inquired about sending relief to those in Haiti through the $10/20 project.  Because we currently do not have non-profit status, we have encouraged everyone to give to the charity of your choice.  As we have watched this terrible tragedy unfold, we have been impressed with the number of organizations which have encouraged small, $5 or $10 donations.  Anyone who has followed us for the past several months knows our philosophy of how a small donation of time or money can make a positive impact in the lives of individuals.   If you have not yet given, please consider the following excellent service organizations:

This week, Ron was finally able to meet with his contact at the Salvation Army to deliver the $500 check to the Wise Family.  Here is a copy of the letter we sent to Mrs. Wise and her children:

Thank-you all who contributed and made a horrible situation a little more bearable.

Here are a few pictures of the coat inventory in Ron’s car.  These coats and gloves have all been distributed.

Thanks to all who have cleaned out your closets, bought coats, mended coats and donated $10 or more!

It has been a sobering, yet heartwarming week at the Nathaniel Hill Emergency Shelter and an example of the philosophy of $10/20:  how smaller donations of money, time, and talent, can make a positive impact in individual lives.  I read a quote by Margaret Cho this week which seems quite appropriate, “Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways it can change someone’s life forever.”

Below are some pictures of the shelter.  Guests have been sleeping on stretchers.  All of the blankets and pillows have been donated by individuals, service organizations, religious entities, and various other donors.

Below is a picture of Ron and Little Rock Mayor, Mark Stodola.

Several barbers came down and donated their time and services to the guests.

Here are the duffel bags that will be used in the distribution tomorrow morning.  Guests will be given clothing, boots, coats, toiletries, and other essential items.

The shelter will close on Wednesday, but the challenges homeless people confront remain.  Thank you for your ongoing support to our $10/20 project.

The Nathanial Hill Emergency Shelter has come together beautifully this week.  I’ve been on the “outside looking in” and listening to Ron each day as he has talked about the way things have come together seamlessly.  He has been impressed with the sincere support and outpouring of care and concern.

In an short period of time, a coalition of individuals, service organizations, religious entities, Little Rock city officials, and local businesses have provided a warm place to sleep to over 100 people.  Guests have received hot meals, clothing, coats, gloves, socks, toiletries, medical care, hot showers, and countless other services in the past five days.  People have donated various items including tv’s, movies, games, books, food and medications.  One group of kids came in to sing and play with other children.  Some girls came in and gave the women manicures, washed their feet, and gave them pedicures.  The center will be open until Wednesday of next week when temperatures are expected to rise.  For more details and pics, here is a link from Libby Delay,  one of the main coordinators this week:

libbydelay.wordpress.com

We would like to help one of the guests who has been staying at the shelter.  Ron has interacted with this gentleman on several occasions.  He is a diabetic and Ron has coordinated free medical treatment through Harmony Health Clinic.  He is at risk of diabetic foot sores which can lead to amputation.  Diabetic shoes can prevent this situation.  These shoes cost around $100.

Wednesday, as people are leaving the shelter there will be a distribution of clothing, jeans, sweatshirts, and winter boots.   These individuals have unique needs and unique challenges.  It is never easy for anybody to see people carrying all of their belongings on their back; much less in a trash bag.  There has been some discussion about providing duffel bags and they can run about $20 each.

Since the beginning of the $10/20 project, both Ron and I have been impressed with how small donations can make a positive impact in individual lives.  We have heard from so many of our friends, family members, and even people we don’t know who have volunteered a small amount of time, and received much more than the time they invested.  Many of you have read our postings, followed us on facebook, and have contributed more more than $10.  You’ve seen the power of how your donations (individually and collectively) have positively impacted individuals.   This week, at the Nathaniel Hill Emergency Shelter many people have seen the power of investing something small and watching the positive impact it has on individuals.

Because of the bitter cold, the City of Little Rock and countless volunteers have opened an emergency shelter to provide shelter to those who need it.  Ron is volunteering tonight and between his car and his distinguished bald head, he is becoming well known among the homeless in LR.  I’m not sure this is a good thing, but it is what it is.  He sent a text message earlier and said there are approximately 30 people who have taken advantage of the emergency shelter tonight.  In his text he said he was impressed with the number of people who declined things (clothing, blankets, gloves, or food) because they “had enough” and wanted to make sure other people had what they needed to stay warm and fed.

Ron gave out 16 coats today, 13 pairs of gloves, and 2 scarves.   He will re-stock his trunk in the morning with the remaining coats we have received.  Walmart had gloves for $5 a pair, so I bought ten pairs tonight.  Standing at the checkout I was thinking about so many of you who have donated $10.  That $10 bought 2 pairs of gloves-and will protect two individuals from the bitter cold.  Collectively, $50 bought ten pairs of gloves-which positively impacts ten individuals.

If you need a place for you or your family to volunteer, call a local shelter or a Salvation Army in your area and ask what they need tomorrow.  Ron said one woman and her three little kids  gathered up every spare blanket, even the “baby blankets”  in their house and took them down to the emergency shelter tonight.  Other people brought food, blankets, towels, toiletries, books, and pillows.

$10 bought 2 pairs of gloves today.  And, the woman and her three children were not at the emergency shelter longer than 20 minutes, but their donation helped keep someone warm tonight.   What innovative thing can you do with $10 or 20 minutes to positively impact someone’s life tomorrow?

WOW!!  We have received 24 coats in 24 hours!  The doorbell rang last night and when Ron got to the door, the UPS man was driving away.  Andrea found a great deal online and bought 14 new coats and had them shipped to us!

Susan and her family cleaned out closets, and she also collected coats from a few others.  Today, we received a huge bag with 10 coats inside!  They are heavy coats and ready to go to those who need them.

On Sunday, Ron gave out all the coats he had in his trunk and about a dozen pair of gloves.

As with most of the country, the weather is below normal and frigid.   Today was only 29 and tonight will be down in the upper-teens.  It is projected that the temperature will dip down into single digits in the next few days.   The city of LR is exploring the possibility of opening an emergency shelter during these days and nights of extreme weather.   We are planning to volunteer with this effort and will keep you posted.  We challenge each of you to clean out your closets and take the warm coats, gloves, and clothing you no longer need to a shelter or Salvation Army near you.  You can also receive a tax donation for 2010.

A big thank-you to Andrea and Phil,  and Susan and Paul.  Because of your efforts, 24 individuals will be protected from the bitter cold.  Another example of how a small donation can make a generous impact and positively influence individual lives.  The concept of the $10/20 project is that a small donation, whether it is time, or money, or effort can make a positive contribution in an individual life.  Everyone has something to give!

Small donations have made a big difference in 2009.

Ron and I wish each of you a happy and healthy 2010.  We are pleased at the positive impact of the $10/20 project and I thought you might like to read a synopsis of what has been accomplished since June 2009:

• 48 people have donated at least $10.  Many of you donate on a regular basis.  Many of you donate more than $10 at a time.
• We have received donations from people living in 8 different states.
• 14 people have donated at least 20 minutes to an individual or organization.
• We have a website, facebook page, and a twitter account.

Because of your donations the $10/20 project:

• was able to help a family with their rent.  Four months ago, a couple and their two young children risked eviction.  They  just celebrated their second holiday season in their home.
• was able to purchase clothes for a man who was living in a homeless shelter.  The man had a job interview and didn’t have anything appropriate to wear to an interview with an insurance company.  He and Ron walked out of the store with enough clothes to wear for two job interviews.
• purchased medication, coats, gloves, and blankets for those in need.
• generously donated to the Wise Family,  as they face what no family should have to face.

Many of you have cleaned out your closets, or even gone and bought new coats and gloves.  Several of you have sent us coats from your closets or coats you have purchased online.   Ron gives these out as fast as we receive them.  Your donations of time and money do matter.  In 2009, they made a positive difference in the lives of others.

Small donations will make a big difference in 2010!

What an amazing week!  We have received messages and donations from people from all over the country for the Wise family.  Thanks to all who helped us get out the word.  You are an amazing and resourceful group!   Some of you posted on your facebook page to help us get the word out.  Some of you challenged friends to donate.  Some of you emailed your entire contact list. Some of you did that old-fashioned thing and just told other people about our website.  To each of you, we are sincerely grateful.  Because you took a few minutes to write something and get the word out, we received more donations for this family.   Tonight, I composed a letter to the family and included first names, cities, and the messages you wanted passed along.   The letter and a beautiful card will be delivered to the family this weekend, along with a check for $500!   I will post a copy of the letter and all those who contributed after it has been delivered to the family.

Thanks to all of you who have participated in the $10/20 project this week.  This is one more example of how $10 (or more!) and a few minutes of time has positively impacted a young family.

A quick update to let everyone know we have received $330 in donations so far this week for the Wise family.  We have received donations from people from all over the country!   Any donation we receive for the remainder of the week will be given directly to the Wise family.  Please spread the word and I’ll keep you updated.

Ron was out on the street yesterday and gave out coats and gloves.  People must be starting to recognize his car because once he opened the trunk he said people were coming from all over.  He said the response was amazing and people were overwhelmed and appreciative.  Today we stopped at a Goodwill store in Little Rock and found two heavy coats for $32.  Ron will be back out on the street tomorrow handing out coats and gloves.  Thanks to everyone who is donating and contributing to the $10/20 project.  It is amazing to see the goodness of humanity in action and how small donations are positively impacting individual lives.

Get a tissue.  Really.   You’ll need it.

Ron was talking to a friend tonight on facebook.  His 8-year old son Brandon, asked if he could send Ron one of his coats.  Brandon told his Dad there is a hole under the arm, but that it was better than not having a coat.  Brandon, I promise I’ll sew up the hole before Ron puts it in his car and gives it to someone.  Thank-you for thinking about someone else.  We’re sure your parents are very proud of you.  You are a special person with a good heart and because of you, there will be a boy who is warmer this winter.

A beautiful example of a small donation making a positive impact.

A quick update to let everyone know we have received $220 in donations (so far) for the family of Major Philip Wise.  Major Wise was a homicide victim outside the North Little Rock Salvation Army building on Christmas Eve.  His three young children (ages 4, 6, and 8 ) were with him at the time and witnessed the shooting.  According to the Arkansas Democrat-Gazette, Major Wise and his wife adopted their children 18 months ago.

Any donations we receive this week will go directly to Major Wise’s family.  We will also include a card with a list of names (first names only) of those who have contributed.  Thanks to Jon Eslick for his great idea of donating $10 per child.  Ron and I have donated our $60 dollars, $10 each for Nikki, Jon, Geoff, Daniel, Dustin, and Beata.  We challenge all of you to donate $10 for each of your children, and if you don’t have children donate anyway!  A $10 donation will make a positive impact for the Wise family.

Here is more info on the incident:

http://www.cnn.com/video/#/video/us/2009/12/25/salvation.army.shooting.kark?iref=allsearch

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/news/fulltext/?cid=281271

We’ll keep you updated on the donations we receive this week.

St. Jude’s Ranch has a great program where they collect and recycle the front of greeting cards.  The kids use them each year to make new cards and then they sell the cards with proceeds going to St. Jude’s Ranch.  So, when you clean up your cards this year, tear off the fronts and mail them to St. Jude’s Ranch.  They accept all-occasion donations from November 15, 2009-February 28, 2010.

Mail card fronts to:

St. Jude’s Ranch

Recycled Cards Program

100 St. Jude’s Street

Boulder City, NV  89005

Check out their website for more info at  http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php.

It will take you less than 20 minutes and you’ll put the cards to a great cause to help someone else!

Salvation Army Communities across the nation are grieving because of a tragedy that took place yesterday afternoon outside of the Salvation Army building in North Little Rock, AR.   40-year old Major Phillip Wise was shot and killed on his way into the building.  Major Wise and his three young children (ages 4, 6 and 8 ) were walking into the building to drop off donations when the shooting occurred.  Although we don’t know Major Wise or his family personally, Ron has worked on various projects with Major Harvey Johnson and the Salvation Army in Little Rock.  Earlier today, Ron went down to the Little Rock Salvation Army building and spoke with Major Johnson about the incident and to offer assistance to Major Wises’ wife and children.    Major Johnson explained that the entire Salvation Army community is grieving and that locally, we have lost a man who has positively impacted untold numbers of individuals in his 15 years of service.

For more information, here are a couple of news sites who have run the story:

http://arkansasmatters.com/content/news/fulltext/?cid=281032

http://www.cnn.com/2009/CRIME/12/25/arkansas.salvation.army.slaying/index.html?iref=allsearch

This incident has gripped our hearts and we would like to help them.   For the next week, any contributions we receive through $10/20 will be donated directly to Major Wises’ wife and children.  The Salvation Army is a worthwhile place to donate your time.  Thank-you for your generosity in support of this family.

Right before leaving for LA, we were made aware of a family who needed coats.  Ron came home with a list of coat sizes for a Mom and her four children.  When I left for LA last Monday, I left the paper sitting on our kitchen counter and wasn’t sure when we’d be back or if we’d be able to help this family.  Armed with coupons from JC Penney and Old Navy, I set out this morning to hit the stores and see what I could find.  Everything I found was on sale.  Using a $10 coupon (that is one $10 donation!) at JCPenney I bought a new coat for $5.36!  Equally lucky at Old Navy, I used another $10 coupon (one more $10 donation!), and bought four new coats for $87.61.  Your contributions bought an entire family of five brand new coats for $92.97.  The whole trip took me about 20 minutes at each store and a handful of $10 donations.

Today we also received a couple of unexpected surprises.  We had some friends call and say that they “had a couple of coats” for us.  When Ron went to meet them, they handed him two brand NEW coats-one for a boy and one for a girl.  Although he usually keeps mens coats in his car, the couple of times he has had a woman’s coat or coats for children, he always seems to come across just the people who need them.   We’ll keep you posted and let you know who receives these special coats.

Shortly after that call, we received an email from my sister Susan, who was spending her time playing around with our $10/20 logo.  After a quick phone call and some additional tweaking on her part, she produced our new logo.  It fits perfectly into the allotted space for facebook and twitter and will also allow us to have some simple cards printed.  Every time I see it, I will be reminded of how she volunteered her time and design talent in support of our $10/20  project.  This will also be important as we move forward with incorporating $10/20 into a non-profit status.  Thank you Sue, we love the logo and we hope you all like it too!

As Ron and I spend more time with this project, we are continually aware of the enormous power of thinking on a smaller scale.  Over and over we discuss how some aspect of this project honestly took about 20-30 minutes.  Or how shopping smarter, we can fill an immediate need for anywhere from $5 – $20.   We received an email and a contribution from a wonderful woman a couple of weeks ago and her words have stayed with me.  She beautifully stated, “It is exciting to see how a small donation can make a big difference.”  Donating $10 or 20 minutes won’t change the world, but it can have a positive impact on an individual.  Today, because of your contributions, five people will be warmer this winter, and a Mom will not have to worry about sending her children, or herself,  into the cold weather.  And, we think that is pretty powerful.

As many of you know, we lost and buried a dear family member last week in LA.  We are back home in Little Rock and have spent the past couple of days resting and transitioning back into daily life.  Your words of support, prayers, love, and contributions in memory of Jean, are beautiful treasures to both Ron and I and we thank-you with sincerity.

For whatever reason, whether it be “The Season”  or getting the kids out, or just having extra time with family and friends and being grateful,  many people are looking for places to volunteer their time or their talent.  Twice today people have asked us for places to volunteer their time.  There is never a shortage of people or places that could use your time and talent.

Here are some ideas to get your creative juices flowing:

• What is your passion?   Do you love to dance, or sing, or play an instrument?  Grab some Santa hats and go to a homeless shelter or to a local nursing home with your kids and family and dance, or sing, or play.  This doesn’t have to be anything fancy–just show up and have fun.
• What do you really love to do when you have time off?  How can you share that love with someone else?   Love to bake?  Take cookies to your doctor or dentist or vet’s office and say thank-you for the great service you have received this year.  Like to play tennis or practice yoga?  Call a local Boys and Girls Club or community organization and offer to teach kids the fundamentals of tennis or offer to lead a 15-minute yoga practice.  The possibilities are endless.
• Where are your  areas of expertise? What do you do professionally?   Offer your services for free to a local non-profit.
• Where do you have training that you can share with someone else or an organization?  A couple of friends of ours teach Dance and Theater at a local university.  They have decided to spend an hour or so at a local family shelter to introduce children to the wonderful worlds of dance and theater.

If you still need some ideas, here are some websites to help you find places to volunteer in your community:

• http://www.volunteermatch.org/
• http://serve.gov/
• http://www.voa.org/

So, we challenge you this week to get out and volunteer! And then post on our website or on our facebook or twitter page where you donated your time and talent.  There are a bazillion (that is a word, isn’t it?) ways to volunteer your time and talent-and it is so true that you always receive more than you give.

All week, we have had amazing support from our friends and our families on this $10/20 project.  I apologize for not posting as much this week.  We are receiving great support and feedback daily on this project and both Ron and I are energized at how we have the opportunity to meet immediate needs, immediately because of your contribution to the $10/20 minute project.

As many of you know, Ron has a family member in LA who is ill.  He fell last Sunday at home and has been in the hospital all week.   This week has been critical and unfortunately, it has not been a week of good news for him or for those who love him.  Ron will be flying to LA tomorrow and we’ll keep you posted.

A quick update:  we have received donations this week with amounts ranging from $10-$100.  Thank you!  We are up to 64 fans on our facebook page and have picked up a few new followers on twitter.  One of the most touching comments we received this week was from a lady who donated and sent a note that the donation was in honor of someone else.  She also told us about a grassroots project she is involved into end hunger in LA.  Her words, “It has been very exciting to see big things happen with little donations!”  YES IT HAS!

Thank you for sharing in the $10/20 project!