Last month, my kids and I helped people clean up. This month, we're helping people get up! We're participating in another SIMPLE Service project with Champions for Kids as they partner with Odwalla in another exciting campaign. Our goal? Host a game day featuring a sports equipment drive to gather gently used items for a local charity. We’re encouraging our friends to make use of the equipment their kids have outgrown, so we can reach out to deserving children and help them play!
I love getting my kids involved in these projects. They’re learning the importance of giving of themselves and making others our priority. We decided we would have our sports equipment drive in our driveway and play some “Driveway Games.” We’ll get the neighborhood kids moving while we do something meaningful for some deserving kids. Of course we’ll be chugging down some Odwalla while we play!
This month, we have The Mirembe House on our radar. The kids of the African Children’s Choir call it home when they’re touring here in the states, and it’s another initiative we’re connected to through our amazing church. My initial thought was to pick up some game balls and supplies for outdoor fun. I found out they’re pretty well stocked when it comes to balls, so I started to think of some other ways to get the kids up, out and active in between tour dates.
I stopped by Walmart (without my kids!) to see if I could find some things. I was thinking bubbles, kites, water guns and jump ropes but was still open to ideas. My hope was to find some new things to donate to The Mirembe House and to pick up some things we could use in our “Driveway Games” as well. I ended up with quite a few things to encourage outdoor, active FUN and made it back for the Odwalla on a second trip.
I’m pleased with what I picked up, but it’s just phase one of our game plan. I found out after shopping that Mirembe could actually use some soccer balls and soccer goals, so the kids and I crafted our plan. We really have a few mini-goals to accomplish as we complete the project. Here they are:
- Get our friends and neighbors involved (and help them get rid of some things) by inviting them to donate and attend our drive.
- Get the neighborhood kids active as they play during our Driveaway Games.
- Get the donated equipment to kids in need by taking it to Kid to Kid. They’ll buy some of the equipment and give what they can’t buy to a local charity.
- Purchase new soccer balls (and maybe soccer goals) for The Mirembe house using the money we make from our resell.
I’ll keep you posted on our progress as we complete the project. Hopefully we’ll be successful in getting the used equipment to kids who need it and the soccer equipment to the kids at The Mirembe house. If you’re a friend or neighbor, keep your eyes peeled for your invite. If you’re someone who would simply like to help us, just let me know.
I hope you’ll jump on the giving train and plan a SIMPLE service project of your own.
You can walk through Walmart with me in my Google+ album and you can read about more Game Day Challenges by following #OdwallaCFK on twitter. You can discover more about Champions For Kids on twitter, Facebook and their website, http://championsforkids.org/.
This shop has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias. #CBias. My opinions are always my own. For more information, read the Guide to Mama'z Product Reviews or read my Disclosure Policy.
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