“I’ve always been a caring person, and I’ve seen so much need. I’ve been on both sides of the fence, so I thought, ‘Why can’t we pull together as a community and help each other?’” said Jennifer Hall of Mansfield. And thus, Caring4U Donations was conceived.
On Saturday, Sept. 7 Caring4U Donations will hold their second donation/give-away event from 1-4 p.m. at the Lions Club pavilion at Clever Park, 3706 Snodgrass Rd., Ontario. Participants can take donations and/or take items home. For those who just want to drop off donations, the committee will be there as early as 11 a.m. to receive donations. Hotdogs, chips, and drinks will also be available.
Some of the items that will be available include baby clothes, tween clothes, men’s and women’s clothes, household items, computer desks, toys, books and even new toiletries.
Hall started the group on Facebook and asked for donations. Now only a few months old, the group includes close to 800 regular members and a committee of six members. It only costs $1 to be a member and that cost pays for a storage unit. Beyond that, the committee is donating their time.
“So far, as a group, we have helped countless families in need of various items. We operate solely on the honesty and kindness of others. Our mission is to “Make a Difference” in as many lives as possible,” said Hall. She was soon joined by LeeRose Pilo, of Crawford County and the organization serves both Crawford and Richland Counties.
On their Facebook page they have also facilitated exchanges of needed items. When one member posted that they needed a bed, another member responded and offered one they had at home.
Their flyer explains their commitment to their “mission”: Our economy continues to worsen and poverty is rising! More and More people are doing without their basic needs. There are so many people struggling financially due to our economy and their own personal hardships. They are unable to enjoy the little everyday things that we sometimes take for granted.
“I’d like to do something in the winter months,” stated Pilo, “but everything has as a cost and finding a facility to host an event is difficult.” They are looking for a place, free of charge, to hold a give-away event in the winter months.
They have also given away free school supply packets and held a bake sale to pay the expense of the storage facility. In October they plan to hold a Holloween event for children.
And the response has been gratifying. “It’s like a wildfire,” said Hall, “I never knew there were that many caring people.”
Our mission is to “Make a Difference” in as many lives as possible,” said Jennifer Hall.
