Things of My Very Own

Thank you so much to the team at WTEN for their help at the crisis intervention center today. Thanks to their team, we were able to serve 91 children-in-crisis, in the first four-hours of the day. This spectacular news team learned first-hand, how quick inventory gets depleted, when you are working to serve so many in crisis situations. Our Friday volunteers are going to be SHOCKED, when they see exactly how much was depleted today. Right now our greatest needs are: Force Fl...ex Garbage Bags (for packaging aid) Printer Paper Toilet Paper Paper Towels Bath Towels Shorts and summer tops (all sizes) Summer Pajamas (all sizes) Twin-size mattresses We have the ability to purchase many needed items at a fraction of retail prices. For this reason, monetary donations go much further. Please make a donation today to help these children have everything they need when they transition to safety. If you prefer to purchase items, our donation drop-off hours are Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am-noon.

HAPPENING NOW: News10 ABC is at Things of My Very Own for Nexstar's Founders Day of caring and charity. This non-profit organization is in desperate need of employees, volunteers, and donations. For more info go to https://thingsofmyveryown.org #NexstarNation #NexstarCares

EMERGENCY CASE We have an emergency case involving a family that just lost everything in a fire. The fire resulted in complete devastation, but this family is hopeful that the community can assist them in obtaining greatly needed items for the days ahead. Family #02552021... Seven-year-old boy Tops: 7/8 Pants: 7/8 Pajamas: 7/8 Undergarments: 7/8 (no preference on undergarment type) Sneakers: 2y Socks: 2y Seven-year-old girl Tops: 7/8 Pants: 7/8 Pajamas: 7/8 Undergarments: 7/8 Sneakers: 2y Socks: 2y 12-year-old girl Tops: Women's medium Pants: 5/6 Pajamas: 5/6 Undergarments: 5 Sneakers: 6 Socks: 6 Mom Tops: Women's large Pants: Women's 11/12 Pajamas: Women's large Undergarments: 8 Sneakers: 8 Socks: 8 Notes: Dad is currently in a burn unit, following injuries he sustained trying to put out the blaze. The family does not qualify for DSS assistance and their unemployment card was lost in the fire. Their new card will not be available for days. Mom and the children are desperately seeking assistance. The family will need (2) twin-sized mattress sets, frames and bedding sets (one boy; one girl), (1) full-sized mattress set, frame and bedding set (girl) and (one) queen-sized mattress set, frame and bedding set for Mom and Dad. The family is also in need of clothing, undergarments, sneakers, socks, personal hygiene supplies and non-perishable food items. The children would also benefit from toys (must be new). Currently, they have nothing to play with Please make a donation to help this family begin their healing process. Help these children to gain everything they need to start over again. Things of My Very Own has the ability to purchase items for this family at an extremely discounted rate, on an immediate need basis. For this reason, monetary donations go further. If you have any of the items on-hand**, donations may be brought or mailed to the following address: Things of My Very Own; Family #02552021 249 Green Street Schenectady, NY 12305 Donation drop-off hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am-noon. We thank each of you for helping this family in this time of need. * Case details are being shared with permission from the client. ** If you are dropping off or mailing donations to this specific family, please be sure to include the "Family #02552021", on the package.

Our team members have been on the road since 5:15am picking up aid to serve clients that were referred during the early morning hours. A huge shout out to Max and Geran who are on their way back to the crisis intervention center, after picking up their second truckload of aid already this morning. They should be back in the next 20-minutes to unload, before they head out again to pick up yet another truckload in preparation for the days activities. To all of the volunteers who are scheduled to come in this morning, make sure to wear sneakers. It's going to be a busy day.

Our semi annual rummage sale begins tomorrow! We have thousands of extremely discounted items such as: Clothes... Shoes Home Décor Holiday Décor Personal Hygiene Products Bathrobes Kitchen Essentials Handbags Books and much more! Location: 249 Green St Schenectady NY 12305 Date: Friday April 23rd from 9am-2pm & Saturday April 24th from 9am-2pm. No Early Birds. The sale will be held indoors so masks will be required. Only a limited number of people will be allowed into the building at one time. Proceeds will go towards providing crisis intervention services for children in the NYS Capitol Region. Please help us to raise money for greatly needed items by sharing this post.

Rummage Sale! We are excited to announce that we will be holding our Semi-Annual Rummage Sale this weekend! Proceeds will benefit children-in-crisis throughout NYS Capital Region.... We have thousands of extremely discounted brand new and like-new items such as: Clothes Shoes Home Décor Holiday Décor Personal Hygiene Products Bathrobes Kitchen Essentials Handbags Books and much more! Location: 249 Green St Schenectady NY 12305 Date: Friday April 23rd from 9am-2pm & Saturday April 24th from 9am-2pm. No Early Birds.

EMERGENCY CASE We have a family-of-five in an emergency situation, after losing absolutely everything they owned in a fire. The family is currently in our parking lot and as mom explained, "my daughter got out in her panties...everything is gone". Family #006121... One-year-old girl Shirts: 18-24 months Pants: 18-24 months Undergarments: Diapers size 5 Shoes: 5c/6c Three-year-old girl Shirts: 3T Pants: 3T Undergarments: 3T Shoes: 9c Eight-year-old boy Shirts: 8/10 Pants: 8/10 Undergarments: 8 (no preference on boxers or briefs) Shoes: 1y Nine-year-old girl Shirts: 8/10 Pants: 8/10 Undergarments: 8 Shoes: 1y Mom Shirts: Women's medium/large Pants: Women's 10/12 Undergarments: Bra 36D/undergarments 8 Shoes: 8 Womens Notes: The family is understandably in shock, but grateful to have all made it out alive. Mom said this is especially hard on one of the girls, as the precious My Life Doll she received for Christmas from her sponsor is now gone. The family is in desperate need of the following: (1) full-size mattress set and frame, (3) twin-size mattress sets and frames, (1) convertible crib, (1) full-size women's bedding set, (2) twin-sized girls bedding sets, (1) twin-size boys bedding set, (1) girls crib set, clothing, coats, sneakers, winter boots, undergarments, feminine hygiene products and Neosporin. Please donate today to help this family get the basic necessities they need to start over. Things of My Very Own has the ability to get items to the family at an extremely discounted rate, on an immediate need basis. For this reason, monetary donations go further. If you have any of the items on-hand, donations may be brought or mailed to the following address**: Things of My Very Own; Family #006121 249 Green Street Schenectady, NY 12305 Donation drop-off hours: Mondays, Wednesdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 9am-noon. Please note: cribs, toys and undergarments must be new. We thank each of you for helping this family in this time of crisis. * Case details are being shared with permission from the client.** If you are dropping off or mailing donations to this specific family, please be sure to include the Family #006121, on the package.

It appears that we may have been a wee bit focused on giving to others over the past couple of months, and pushed our own needs aside. It took receiving a lovely gift from one of our volunteers to open our eyes to this fact. The card that was included with the gift says it all. In Jennifer's honor, we have added a few items onto our Amazon Wishlist for use by our volunteers and staff members. None of the items are very expensive: left-handed pens, legal pads, manila envelopes and of course, paper towels and toilet paper. We will be adding to the list throughout the week. https://www.amazon.com/hz/wishlist/ls/1MZILKZFBBTOK

It is customary for the executive director of each non-profit to write an end-of-year letter to donors, listing all of the organizations accomplishments. In order to effectively accomplish this, ours would be more like a series of books and each of you would have a chapter. It definitely wouldn’t be something I could fold neatly into a business-size envelope, nor post on social media. This is the busiest time of year for emergency referrals and right now, there are families w...ho need us. Taking time to write about what we have accomplished would take away from that, and even on New Years Eve, that remains our mission. I look forward to sharing stories with you about what we have accomplished together. Now is not the time. To each of the families we work with, we know this a difficult time for you. On behalf of our donors, sponsors, volunteers and staff members, we want you to know that we are standing beside you. YOU are some of the greatest gifts to this world. We won’t leave you behind. Respectfully, Rayn Boncie CEO/Founder Things of My Very Own, Inc.

We’re in the final stretch of 2020 and we still have about $7,000 left to raise to meet the goal of $25,000 in matching funds. A $100 donation will mean $200 toward helping these children. Even a $10 donation will be doubled, if it is received before the end of the year. Please, help us keep these children together with their non-abusive relatives and out of the foster care system. Give what you can. These children are depending on you.

We have HUGE news! We have a donor who has committed to matching all funds donated to Things of My Very Own from now until the end of the year (up to $25,000). The donor has requested anonymity at this time. Please make your donation today. Help show these children that they can overcome the abuse they endured. Help them to remain in the care of their non-abusive family members and out of the foster care system.

We just received word that one of our employees proposed to one of our volunteers and she said yes! Okay, so it wasn’t a huge surprise. These two have been dating for a while but our team is still VERY excited. Congratulations Max and Jeanie. May each moment together be even better than the last.