This document outlines two students' Christmas donation projects for The Maine Children's Home for Little Wanderers. Shaenen collected winter clothing through a fundraising dinner at a local restaurant that raised enough for warm outfits. Jamie set fundraising goals through social media, collection cans, and businesses, ultimately providing 25 outfits despite challenges. Both reflected on lessons learned around charity work and group efforts.

1. The Christmas
Program
Project
Presented by:
Shaenen Gilpatrick
(Augusta)
Jamie Luczynski
(Rumford)
Hus 325 –
Intervention for
Children and
Families
Patricia Clark

2. Old Idea, New Idea
• Originally wanted to collect winter
coats, boots, hats & gloves for children
who are in need of these items.
• Changed our direction a little bit once
we found out what was needed by the
organization we would be collecting
donations for.

3. Advocacy Statement
According to NCCP 17% (46,403) of children
in Maine live in poor families. We want to
help these children stay warm this winter.
Our goal is to collect brand new warm winter
outfits for The Maine Children’s Home for
Little Wanderers Christmas Program. We are
looking to collect clothes in sizes 2-12 for
children who are part of this program.

4. The holiday Each child receives
season is always a box that contains
busy at the a pair of mittens, a
Maine Children’s pair of Thinsulate
Home. Each gloves, hat, reading
year, more than book, coloring
1,600 needy book, crayons or
children markers, large and
throughout small toy, family
Maine receive game and an outfit
boxes from their of
An example of what’s put in
Christmas their gift boxes clothing, everything
Program. (valued between $92 - $150) is brand new.

5. The Christmas Program Project
My Contribution to our Project
Shaenen Gilpatrick

6. Choosing a Project
For me, The Maine Children’s Home
for Little Wanderers hits close to
home. I have had family and friends
who have been helped by this
organization. Although I understand I
may not make a huge difference, I
also realize that every little bit helps.

7. My Steps Along the Way
Step 1
• I started typing up a letter
explaining my cause and goals.
• Went around to local corporations
and department stores asking for
their help.
• Walmart
• Kmart
• TJ Maxx
• Payless ShoeSource
• JC Penney
• Received the same answer from
all the businesses so decided on
a different plan.

8. Personal Connections
Step 2
• Applebee’s (place of employment)
• Involved in charity and fundraising
• Dine to donate
• Pancake breakfasts
• Total of 2 month wait time start/finish
• I did not have enough time, so had to continue
picking my brain for ideas.

9. GENEROSITY
Step 3
• Amici’s Cucina Italian
Restaurant in Waterville, Me
• Spoke to the owner (privately
owned)
• Submitted formal letter
• Set up a dinner date
• Made flyers to distribute to the
community/family/friends
• Thursday November 8th, 2012
4:30-9:00PM

10. 10% of each bill was donated to help keep
Maine’s children warm this winter.

11. Success
The dinner I set up at Amici’s
Cucina had a great turn out.
This dinner helped me provide
The Maine’s Child Home for
Little Wanderers with warm
winter outfits.

12. Reflection
• By doing this advocacy project I have learned
that so much goes into fundraising & charity
work. It’s a process that requires more than
just asking for money or material objects.
• If I was to do this project again there wouldn’t
be anything I would change but I would like
to be more educated.
• My final reflection is, even though I am may
be only one person the smallest amount can
make a difference for someone.

13. The Christmas Program Project
My Contribution to our Project
Jamie Luczynski

14. Choosing a Project
Every school year my daughter’s school sends
home a letter reminding parents that it is no
longer summer and kids need to come to school
wearing appropriate clothing for the fall/winter.
It always makes me wonder if these children
choose to dress this way or if they just don’t
have the appropriate clothing because their
parents can’t afford it. So I wanted to do
something to help families who can’t provide
their children with warm winter clothing.

15. The Maine Children’s Home for
Little Wanderers
• I was a bit skeptical at first for collecting donations for
The Maine Children’s Home because they seek brand
new items.
• I met with the Development Director of the
organization, Steve Mayberry and the Director of their
Christmas Program, Cristen Sawyer.
• They showed me around and explained how their
program worked I decided this was the organization I
wanted to collect for. Even though I was
skeptical, every child deserves new stuff at Christmas
time.

16. My Steps
Along the
Way
Step 1
• Set up an online
fundraiser through
Facebook.
• Asked for
monetary
donations and new
winter outfits.
• Received $55 and
12 outfits.

17. Business
Donations
Step 2
• Typed up a letter
seeking donations.
• Local businesses
• Banks
• Chain Stores
• Heard back from
only one, didn’t
receive any
donations during
this step.

18. Donation
Can
Step 3
• My husband is in the
Air National Guard.
• During his October
& November drill he
brought a can with
him for me to collect
spare change from
his fellow airmen.
• Total collection
$37.15

19. Success
My original goal was to collect 50
brand new outfits for The Maine’s
Children Home for Little Wanderers.
Unfortunately, I didn’t reach my goal
but through my efforts I am able to
provide the children of their
Christmas Program with 25 warm
winter outfits.

20. 25 Warm
Winter
Outfits
• 12 outfits collected
• $92.15 in monetary
donations
collected, was able
to buy 9 warm
winter outfits with
this collection
• I bought 4 warm
winter outfits to
donate.

21. Reflection
• I was very intimidated by this project. I was worried I
wasn’t going to get any donations and even though I
didn’t reach my goal, still glad that I am able to provide
some children with warm winter clothing.
• I would seek other ways of collecting donations next
time. I would seek an organization that was located in
the town I lived, think this could bring in more
donations.
• I learned to be truly successful in a project like this it
takes more than one person. I was skeptical having a
group project at first but came to realize you’re able to
accomplish so much more when you are working with
others.