I am writing today with a different purpose.  Usually I attempt to mildly entertain you with corny jokes and half-wit or inspire you to take a class or participate in a goofy contest.  However today's note is on a more urgent topic - helping our community.  Many of you have been gracious enough in the past to help with our efforts to "STUFF the Bus" sponsored by the Flagler County Education Foundation.  "STUFF the Bus" provides underprivileged school children in Flager County with much needed school supplies, clothes, shoes, & basic care items.  Many of you have have donated your time, talents, and energy to this fabulous project.  For this, I thank you from the bottom of my heart.

Now, I find myself needing to reach out to you again for support.  Pictured you can see many of the items - clothes, pillowcases, headbands, scarves, and hats - that have been made by loving hands in our community.  We are looking for donations of fleece, yarn, or fabric that can be used to make any of these items.  If you have extra from a project, we can definitely find a good home.  Additionally, if are looking for a project for a worthy cause, we would love to have your help - constructing garments, sewing blankets, knitting or crocheting hats, scarves, mittens, or blankets.  We will also accept any new socks, underwear, toiletries, school supplies, and the like for the "STUFF the Bus" program.

We have received many questions in the past inquiring if the "bus" took used items of clothing still in good serviceable condition.  Unfortunately, they cannot; however, we learned of "The Sheltering Tree" earlier this week.  We have found a need in Flagler County for any blankets, jeans, shirts, hoodies, sweatshirts, sneakers, underwear, socks, toiletries, & etc (mostly adult sizes; please no sweaters, they are to difficult to launder) in good serviceable condition.  The Sheltering Tree is a component of the Flagler County Family Assistance Center; they are responsible for the Cold Weather Shelter & the Food Pantry.  So, it's time to enact those New Year's Resolutions, clean out the closet, relieve yourself of the extra clothes clutter, and help those in need in our community.  Beginning immediately, we will be accepting donations of clothing, shoes, school supplies, non-perishable food items, & toiletries for both The Sheltering Tree & STUFF the Bus.  In advance, I would like to thank you for your generosity, kindness, and support.