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Sponsor Update
If you currently sponsor a child and want to include something extra with their Christmas Gift Event, please email us to get sizes and wish list items. All gifts must be at the ministry center by December 1 to be included in the Gift Event.
Less than one-third of the children we serve benefit from sponsorship. We need your help! If you are interested in sponsoring a child please click here for information. Remember, $1.15 per day is all it takes to change the life of a child in need.
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We've Reached Our Pillow Goal!
Thanks to a generous donation of 493 pillows we reached our goal if 1,000 pillows for the pillow drive. Bedgear is a leading manufacturer of performance bedding essentials located on the east coast. They learned of My Joyful Heart's pillow drive, contacted us, and are donating the balance of the pillows to Chicagoland's children in need!
If you collected pillows to donate but haven't had the chance to bring them to the ministry center, we still need them. New children are enrolled in the program regularly, so your donation will be used for new enrollees throughout the year. And, we are still accepting donations of standard size pillow cases. Any help you can give is appreciated.
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We're in Need of Supplies
Will you help us? We need:
- batteries - AA, AAA, and 9 volt
- copy paper - white and colored
- brown grocery bags
You can drop off these items at our ministry center located at 9981 W. 190th Street, Suite I, Mokena.
Thank you in advance for your help. If you have questions, email or call us at 815.806.1700.
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How Your Support Helps!
We received a very special phone call the other day. One of our former enrollees called to give us an update on the progress he's made over the past several years. He told us that My Joyful Heart pointed him "in the right direction" and we "changed his life." He has found employment and lives in his own apartment.
Without the help and support from people like you, this would not be possible. Thank you for making a difference in the life of a child! |
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Remember, There are Three Easy Ways to Help...
1) Purchase a 2016 Golden Opportunities Coupon Book
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2) Purchase Gifts From Yankee Candle
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3) Buy Manna Express Gift Cards
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Don't Want That Leftover Candy?
If you don't want leftover Halloween candy around the house, please consider donating it to My Joyful Heart - we will be happy to take it for our program children. We are especially interested in receiving candies wrapped in bright, beautiful foils for the fall season. Thank you in advance for helping us to provide treats for the kids.
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Shopping on Amazon? You could be helping My Joyful Heart!
If you shop on Amazon, you can now help Amazon send a donation of 0.5% of the price of eligible purchases to My Joyful Heart. Simply go to smile.amazon.com and log in as usual to your Amazon account.
You will then be able to select "My Joyful Heart Nfp" as your charity to support. Then shop away as you normally do on Amazon! That's it!! |
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My Joyful Heart's mission is:
Nurturing disadvantaged children with the love of Jesus Christ by providing life's essentials so they thrive!
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All That Jazz was great fun and a huge success! The evening would not have been possible without your support and we are very grateful. The contribution you made by attending the event, donating, purchasing raffle tickets, bidding on auction items, or volunteering will allow us to continue to give hope to Chicagoland's children in need - we thank you, and they thank you.
This year's event included some exciting additions to the evening like the Chicago Blackhawks logo painting by Elliott From, cellular bidding, and a live band - we hope you enjoyed and would be delighted to hear your feedback. Any information you'd like to share will help us in planning future events, so please feel free to email us with your comments.
One of my favorite parts of the evening is presenting the Dontrell Award. The Dontrell Award was established by My Joyful Heart to honor one of the first children we served. Dontrell was in special education, lived in extreme poverty, and was neglected. He had a hard time understanding why someone who he did not know would help him. His situation, his innocence, and his gratitude remind us daily of the significance of our work. The Dontrell Award annually recognizes a My Joyful Heart supporter whose service exemplifies the importance of personal commitment to Chicagoland's underprivileged children. The Award also recognizes the importance of providing support without knowing the outcome - simply helping because he/she can.
This year, the prestigious award went to one of our valued volunteers, Jean Toberman. Jean has been volunteering at My Joyful Heart since 2010 as a lead packer and donation sorter. She comes to the ministry center twice a week and she also takes work home with her! She cleans donated toys and dolls, she launders clothing, and she is an amazing seamstress. We can depend on Jean to come in for special assignments and to volunteer for special events. Every time she's with us, she's smiling, happy, and eager to contribute. Her acts of kindness are truly selfless; we are blessed to have her as part of the team.
Below is a picture of Jean accepting her award. To see more photos from the event, please click here.
"Volunteers do not necessarily have the time; they just have the heart." - Elizabeth Andrew
For the children we serve,
Diane Carroll
Founder and Executive Director
Diane Carroll
Founder & Executive Director
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Have a "Hard To Buy For Person" on Your Christmas List?
We have the solution - by participating in our fundraisers you can get great gifts for family and friends while giving hope to children in need!
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My Joyful Heart
Ministry Center
9981 West 190th Street
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