Time to Dust Off Our Capes...

It's been way too long...

My kids have been telling me through many different ways, their sense of desire to be there for others and to help others. They want me to donate money every time we pay at a store and they ask for a donation to a charitable cause. They want me to "Pay it Forward" every time we are in a drive through food line. They want to bring food, drinks and money to every person on a street corner holding a sign.

Maddison once told me a little over a year ago, with tears in her eyes, "When I grow up, I'm going to give money to every person on a street corner asking for help. It's not my job to decide who needs help, it's my job to be a good person and help others, just like Jesus would."

WOW. That will always stick with me. I asked them the other day if they would like to start our Super Heroes of Service up again, and I cannot even begin to tell you how excited they were! So, here we go, and we'd love your help!

Our first mission that we will take on is for an organization I stumbled across the other day, while researching ideas. It's called Sole Hope. and it brought tears to my eyes.  We're going to gather together, bring some materials and begin the process to make shoes for children in Uganda.  "Every single piece of fabric you cut will clothe the feet of children and will protect them from jigger infestations. It will provide jobs for Ugandans who sew the shoes. It will change their family’s life and give them pride in their skill and workmanship and provide income to care for their family." 

So I ask you, who's ready to "Party for a Purpose and Change the World, One Shindig at a Time?!" Email me, message me or respond to this blog if you live in AZ and would like to be a part of this party! Details coming soon! Up and Awayyy!

Here's some more info on Sole Hope:
"A licensed Ugandan NGO and non profit 501(c)3. Est. 2010. Trying to love well... Sole Hope exists to offer HOPE, healthier lives and freedom from foot related diseases through education, jobs and medical relief. By doing this, adults who need work get paid by Sole Hope to make the Sole Hope shoe for children in villages in the Busoga region. By not wearing closed-toed shoes, children and adults alike are becoming ill due to diseases (specifically a parasite called jiggers) that enter through the feet and rob the body of the little nutrition it has. This can also cause secondary infections like tetanus and gangrene. Many lose their childhood to this parasite and others are unable to attend school because their feet have been so badly mutilated by jiggers.

Core Purpose

To effectively put in place preventive methods to combat diseases that enter through the feet and to create a positive physical and spiritual difference in the lives of individuals in impoverished communities.

Core Values
Belief: We believe in addressing jiggers (tungiasis) the very real and present problems associated with the feet, through medical intervention as well as taking preventative physical measures.

Education: We believe that education of the youth and their caretakers is essential for long-term solutions. We aim to use education to reduce the nagative stigma associated with jiggers, as well as teach children and caretakers how to remove and prevent jiggers.

Sustainability: We believe in supporting communities and teaching the trade of shoe making. We innovate and demonstrate solutions that combine the best of indigenous and contemporary practice to create sustainable skills and employment."

https://www.facebook.com/solehope/

http://www.solehope.org/

Ellianna's Ohana: Toy Drive Safe

Hi Super Hero friends and family! We took the month of October off but we're ready to hit it hard in November and we need your help! Our next mission is one that is very important to this Super Hero Mama. If you're a parent, you'll understand why after reading the following exerpt from one of my best friends since the 6th grade. Please read below:

"This will be the fourth event I have hosted in honor of my daughter, Ellianna. Ellie was killed in January of 2009 in a car crash that occurred on Union Hills Road. She was just ten days shy of her fourth birthday when the car she was safely strapped into, in a car seat installed by the fire department, was hit by a car speeding 92 miles per hour in a 45 mile per hour zone. The driver had a current warrant out for his arrest for a previous DUI and was on a self-proclaimed "beer run" at the time of the crash. Ellie was unconscious on scene and remained so during her four days at St. Joseph's Hospital as the doctors there did everything they could to save her life. The injuries she sustained were unrecoverable. We hosted her funeral on the day that was to be her 4th birthday party. Because of the way that Ellie was killed, the safety of our streets is an important cause for me. I have volunteered with our law enforcement at several DUI checkpoints where I have witnessed DUI vans fill with the "taking" and they overflow with it during the holidays. The Governor's Office of Highway Safety has provided a DUI processing van that we will fill with toys and other needed items for the children of Crisis Nursery. Let's fill this van full of "giving" instead of "taking", especially as we head into the holiday season. Let's help meet the needs of these children while we remind our community of the need to drive safe!"

My friend who wrote this and who is organizing this, lives in Arizona and is once again doing something so special in her precious Ellie's name. I would really like to be a part of this and thought maybe you all could help here in the Springboro area. So our Super Heroes are banding together to collect toys for the Dayton Children's hospital in Ellianna's name.  If you would like to share Ellie's love and donate a new, unwrapped toy in Ellie's name, please let me know! If your little one would like to dress in their Super Hero attire and collect toys for this mission and deliver them with us, let me know! Send me a message or email me at superheroesofservice1@gmail.com. Our Super Heroes will be collecting the toys and delivering them to the hospital on Saturday, November 23. The more super heroes the better, but more importantly, the more toys donated in Ellie's name, the better!!

Please share and like the Ellianna's Ohana: Toy Safe Drive Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Toy-Drive-Safe/574734322594987

(The flyer for the event in Arizona)

September 11- A Day to Show Thanks to those Who Protect and Serve!

Wow today was GREAT! Our Super Heroes collected enough goodies to take 6 baskets full of treats and personalized cards/drawings to the local police and fire stations! It was so cool for our little ones to meet the local Super Heroes and tell them in their own words that we appreciate them and the work they do for us on a daily basis!

Our first stop, was to the Springboro Police Station. There we met with Officer Dustin Christian, who was so kind to take some time to talk with us and let us take some pictures!

We even got some suckers and sticker badges!

From there, we went to our first fire station and dropped off two more baskets to the Captain. He was very gracious and thankful!

Our final stop was another Clearcreek Fire Station. We were enthusiastically greeted by three super cool firemen! They invited us into the station and let us look at all the trucks and let our Super Heroes get in them and check them out! This was awesome for our little Super Heroes!

So cute... they were saying the Pledge of Allegiance!

After we left and went home, we had a really cool surprise visit! Our doorbell rang and and it was Officer Dustin from the Springboro PD! He said he shared what we did with the Chief of Police and he was so impressed by us that he had Officer Dustin come over and bring us some very special medals for each of us, to say thank you to us! Now that was cool!

Thanks to everyone who helped to make this day so special! Our children felt great saying thank you and sharing those special treats! And we're pretty sure the Real Super Heroes will be having some yummy goodies tonight!

Up and Awwaaayyyy!!!

Celebrating "The Real Super Heroes"

With September 11 quickly approaching, we thought we should recognize the "Real Super Heroes" out there. We thought it would be a great idea to make a bunch of homemade goodies to bring to the local fire station and police department on September 11.  And then sadly, we were told that our homemade goodies most likely may not be eaten. It makes sense that these super heroes need to be careful about the foods that are brought into them. You can never be too careful. So instead, we've decided to collect store bought and packaged goodies to bring to who we admire and to show our thanks for all they do for the community! With that said, our pint-sized Super Heroes of Service will be hitting the streets, delivering flyers and asking for store bought and packaged goodies. We thought it would be really great if each person/family who donates food items would also send a personalized note thanking the real Super Heroes for all they do! You never know who's day you may cheer up with an uplifting letter of gratitude! If you are not in our neighborhood, but would like to collect goodies or bring goodies to us, please let us know! We can get your pint-sized hero a flyer to pass out! You can contact us at superheroesofservice1@gmail.com. Up and Awaay!!!

Almost there!!

We currently have 55 pairs of shoes for our shoe drive!!! Isn't that exciting?! And we are going to go help deliver shoes with Shoes 4 the Shoeless on Friday, September 6 at an elementary school in east Dayton. I've been told there will be 30 active duty military from Wright Pat Air Force Base dressed in uniform, volunteering with this delivery. How cool is that?? We would desperately like to get closer to our goal of 100 shoes by that Friday. If you haven't donated some new shoes yet and would still like to help us reach our goal,  please let me know ASAP!! I will be collecting shoes up until that day.

Remember these need to be school age sizes (10youth- adult sizes). They also need to be new and they need to be athletic shoes- (so no toddler shoes or sandals). We did receive a few pairs of toddler shoes and sandals and we will make sure those go to a good home as well.

Thank you to all who have donated so far! This will be the first time for many children to get a new pair of shoes, and that fit correctly. You will be making a huge difference in a child's life!!

Thanks again and stay tuned for some pictures and more updates!
Up and awaayyyy!!!!!

Super Hero Meet and Greet and Shoe Collection

Hi friends and family! We are excited to announce our first meet and greet and shoe collection, in person! This next Thursday, on August 8, our super heroes will be dressed in costume, ready to collect shoes and socks from anyone who'd like to come! We'll be at Southwest Church, 150 Remick Blvd in Springboro from 6-8pm.  We'd also LOVE  to have other children who'd like to participate, come dressed in costume and have their friends and family members come bring shoes too! This is Super Hero Quinn's birthday, and so we will have cupcakes for those children who come dressed in super hero uniform with a new pair of shoes to donate.  Please let me know if your children will be helping us with this mission, so we can make sure we have enough cupcakes for all to enjoy!! We are so excited to see who shows up!
Up and Awayyyy!

If you'd like to donate...

Some friends and family members out of state (and some in-state) have asked how to help without actually sending shoes/socks. Here's your answer!

To help us raise enough shoes for our lofty goal of 100 NEW pairs of shoes by August 9, you can simply donate money by clicking the link below.  We will post about all donations and show pictures of our Super Heroes buying new socks and shoes with the money you've donated to share with Shoes 4 the Shoeless! Thank you so much! Up and Awayyy!

If you cannot see the donate button, please go to this link: http://www.gofundme.com/SuperHeroesofService