ever see someone get excited over school supplies?

I finally took my donations over to the Milagro House this morning.
I had school supplies from the back to school sales at staples and office max, personal care items from bingo, and baby clothes that my friend, Linda, had gotten from a friend.
I always put off taking things over there until I have a bunch of stuff. It's only about 5 miles from here, but it's not in the best part of the city and I'm always afraid that I'm going to have trouble finding a parking space or get mugged or something, you know the silly thoughts that you have that talk you out of doing things that you know are the right thing to do.

Well, I found it with no problem (that's another fear, that I'm going to get lost), and there was abundant parking in front.

I knocked on the door and one of the mothers answered. I told her that i had some donations and she came to help me get them. When we got to the back of the van I gave her the (huge) tub of baby clothes. She very excitedly asked if there were any girl clothes. I told her that I wasn't sure and she got this look on her face like I had just handed her a pirate chest and told her that it was all hers. Another mother came out to help and I handed her a bag and told her that it was school supplies, she got so excited and said that was exactly what she needed.

It took a few trips to bring everything in, and with the last trip I came in to get a reciept for everything. The girls showed me to the office where Ellen, the director, was holding the baby of one of the girls who was helping me. She told me that just before I had gotten there she said to one of the girls "I hope that Christmas comes soon because we're running out of everything". She asked me where everything came from, and I told her about getting things on sale at office max, and how I couldn't use 50 boxes of crayons for .01 each but they could. And then I told her about bingo and how we gave extra door prize tickets to everyone who brought something to donate (she thought that was a pretty clever idea) and then I told her about Linda's friend who after hearing that I was going over there gave Linda the big tub of baby clothes to bring over.

I got my reciept, and just as I was about to leave I remembered that I had a check for them too. I told them that there was an envelope with a check in one of the boxes. One of the girls got it and handed it to Ellen. I swear she was about to cry. They were so thankful for everything that I brought them.

This was the first time that I acutally got to interact with the mothers at the Milagro House. It was such a good feeling to be able to bring them everything and to actually see the girls there so appreciative of it all.

While I was there I asked if there was anything in particular that they needed more than anything else and was told that they need everything. However there is a greater need for larger size diapers, wipes and trashbags. If you have anything that you wish to donate in the future, I'll gladly take it over next time I go :-).

-E