 | | Faith Focus | "...if it is to encourage, then give encouragement, if it is giving, then give generously; if it is to lead, do it diligently; if it is to show mercy, do it cheerfully."
Romans 12:8 |
 | | Volunteer News | We need event volunteers for the golf outing and the gala. If you are interested, please email or call us today!
We also need a hand (pun intended) writing letters to the kids. Please consider spending an hour or two writing short notes with words of encouragement to the kids in the program. If interested, email us now. |
 | | Sponsor Update | | Check your mailbox! Letters from your sponsored child or children are being mailed this month. If you want to send a letter back to your child(ren) with the Back to School Gift Event, please be sure to send it to us by August 1. Remember, you can also email us your letters (your contact information will be removed before we print it). |
 | | Help Kids with Manna Express | If you'll be attending parties this summer, we have the perfect gift idea for you. Whether it's a wedding, shower, or a hostess gift for that backyard barbeque, gift cards make the perfect gift. Face it; they're never the wrong size or color and everyone can use one!
It's so easy to participate, just click here to see the list of participating vendors. Indicate the cards you want on the form and return it with your payment to My Joyful Heart. The discount amount listed is the percent of the sale that is donated to us. You spend face value, you get face value, and we get a percentage. You are not short one penny.
Orders are due by noon Monday, July 25 and will be available for pickup on July 28. |
 | | Shopping on Amazon? | If you shop on Amazon, you can help My Joyful Heart receive donations. Simply go to https://smile.amazon.com and log in as usual to your Amazon account.
You will be able to select "My Joyful Heart Nfp" as your charity to support, then shop as you normally do. Amazon will send My Joyful Heart a donation of 0.5% of the price of all eligible purchases. There is no additional cost to you, all you need to do is shop Amazon Smile and choose us as your charity - another incredibly easy way to help underprivileged kids in Chicagoland. |
 | | Hours of Operation | | My Joyful Heart is open Monday through Friday from 9:30 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. |
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My Joyful Heart's Mission: Nurturing disadvantaged children with the love of Jesus Christ by providing life's essentials so they thrive!
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Greetings!
Welcome to the July issue of our monthly newsletter. We hope you enjoy reading what's new and about our upcoming events! |
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Reaching New Heights
A Letter from the Founder and Executive Director
 We are celebrating a new look at the ministry center - our inventory has reached new heights. And, we don't mean quantity of items we have, we mean that we're storing boxes on shelves instead of only on the floor. The warehouse, also known as "the store," looks amazing. Last year, we received used pallet racking from Richards Building Supply Co. The racking was perfect, and exactly what we needed, but we also needed wood slats to create shelves. Well, lo and behold, we found out we have very nice neighbors; the lumber division of Schillings donated wood so we could build the shelves. But, the story gets even better - a group of volunteers from Operation Nehemiah came out to help us assemble the racks and build and stock the shelves. We're still in the process of organizing some of the inventory, and it's really shaping up. If you haven't had the chance to see it, please feel free to come out for a tour. Thank you to the Foundations that made it possible for us to purchase a rolling ladder and forklift, to Richards Building Supply Co., to the lumber division of Schillings, and to the volunteers from Operation Nehemiah - you have helped us better provide for the children in the program and we are all so very grateful! For the children we serve, Diane Carroll |
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How Your Support Helps
 Here is an excerpt from a letter from one of the children: "I'm writing you this letter to say thank you for everything you have given me. Every item was so greatly needed. I'm very happy that [an organization] like yours exists, because there are so many people in need. I'm so blessed that my school gave me the opportunity to be on the list. So again, I would like to say thank you." This is for you My Joyful Heart supporters! Because of you we get wonderful letters like this after each gift event. All that you do makes a difference in the lives of children in need. |
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Will They Fill The Truck?
The Junior Board of Directors worked hard on their donation drive in June, and we're waiting to see if they reach their goal to "fill a truck" on July 7. In case you missed it, you can click here to read the details and latest story about this ambitious group of teen volunteers and their quest to help local children in need.
Check our Facebook page for updates. We'll be taking some pictures of the young volunteers loading the truck...will they reach their goal?
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Fundraising Galore!
As a Christian organization, we do not receive any state or federal funding. The children are provided for by you - our supporters. We depend solely on your donations, child sponsorships, and participation in our fundraisers.
And we do try offer you a variety of options to participate in these fundraising programs. In fact, to help underprivileged kids, we've invited you to do things like eat a burger, buy coffee or gift cards, donate an item to help "fill the truck," and even slip on your dancing shoes to attend our annual gala and your support has been amazing - thank you!
To add to the "variety" this year, we're having our first annual golf outing, the Caring for Kids Golf Classic. We are very excited about this event and look forward to spending the afternoon with our friends and supporters at Silver Lake Country Club. If you like to golf, please join us on Monday, September 12 to be part of this inaugural event. If you can't make it for golf, you can still be part of the fun and register for dinner only. Guests can register online by clicking here. If you have questions or need additional information, please feel free to call us at 815.806.1700.
The annual gala will be on November 12. And we've made some exciting changes and additions to this fundraiser. Check this out...we've moved the event from a Friday night to a Saturday night, we're having it at the beautiful Tuscany Falls Banquets and Events facility in Mokena, and last but certainly not least...we've booked Howl at the Moon's dueling pianos for entertainment!
Howl 2-Go's dueling piano show is the ultimate entertainment experience, covering songs from all genres of music. The performers will take your requests so you can sing and dance with them all night long! This is sure to be an exciting event and we're looking forward to seeing you there, so please save the date. Call for more information, or click here.
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A-Tisket, A-Tasket
We need a basket! Okay, we need a lot of baskets.
If you have baskets around the house that you're not using, please consider donating them to us. Or, if you happen to see them at garage sales or thrift stores, pick them up! We need baskets for silent auctions items for our annual gala on November 12, 2016.
If you have an item to donate, in-kind donations are also being accepted. If you own your own business or think your employer would be interested in advertising his/her business to hundreds of event attendees and My Joyful Heart supporters we'd be delighted to hear from you! Please email Kristen, Fundraising/Event Coordinator, or call her at 815.806.1700.
Suggested donations include: Airfare, Artwork, Electronics, Family Friendly Destination Tickets, Gift Certificates, Hotel Stays, Jewelry, Spa Packages, Sports Tickets/Items, Theater Tickets, Travel Packages, and Weekend Getaway Packages.
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