Community/organization awareness » Jill Johnson Photography Blog

partyflamingo12 There are 120,524 children in Santa Clara and San Mateo Counties who are at risk for experiencing hunger during the summer months. Summer is the season of childhood hunger. The Share Your Lunch campaign is committed to collecting food and raising funds that will be used to feed children during the summer months when they do not receive free or reduced-price meals at school. The need is great. The Summer of 2010 will be one of the most difficult seasons for local families to endure. Second Harvest is partnering with the community to help stave off hunger for thousands of children who don’t know where their next meal will come from. Statistics along from summer of 2008 to summer of 2009 increased by 30% for the demand on the local food bank. To meet the increased need, the Share Your Lunch campaign has a fund raising goal of $1 million and collection goal of 100,000 pounds of food. Reaching these goals will provide food to approximately 85,000 children each month this summer.

Flamingo and I will be hosting “Flamingos Family Food Drive and Potluck Mixer” along with some other talented and giving individuals in the wedding community. The event will be on June 22 at Edith Morley Park in Campbell. This will be a very laid back and family fun mixer with some of the greatest people in the wedding industry. A potluck dinner/picnic and a lot of activites for adults and kids. Yes, I said kids! We encourage you to bring your families and your dogs as long as they are on their leash. In fact, dress your dog up for the “hottest dog” contest. It’s a picnic you have to have HOT DOGs. They can literally be dressed up as hotdogs or as HOT DOGS your choice.

How can you help with the fundraiser

· Bring a minimum of 10 food items or a minnimum donation of $10. Each $10 feeds abut 20 kids.

· Bring a dish to pass for 6-8 people.(Salads, fried chicken, sandwiches, pastas, veggies, fruit, etc) (preferebly in a disposable tin so we don’t have to worry about them)

· BYOB Bring your own beverages (not allowed to sell anything there)

· Bring a blanket or chairs-some tables are provided.

· Gas grills are allowed but no charcol grills

·Below is a great video where you can learn more about how Second Harvest Food Bank and how they help children and schools. There is also a link for food request that you can bring to the food drive. If your not able to make it there a link and directions are so you can donate online to Flamingo’s Food drive.

Here is a link of most requested food items

http://www.shfb.org/ffdmostneededfoods

You can RSVP and let us know your coming a:

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=134211689926484

If you can’t make it but would like to make a donation go to the following link.

https://donate.shareyourlunch.net/

Donor type: Family and Friends
Organization: Flamingos Food Drive

Thank you so much to all of you who helped support us on this journey. It was a last minute decision to do the walk but there was something in me that said to just do it and take your boys. Over the last couple of years Cancer has touched many of my friends and family. We arrived in time to see the Cancer Survivors take their victory lap to start the walk off. I was so glad to share this with my boys as they had a lot of questions. Men and woman of all ages walked the tracks with loved ones giving others hope. I had to admit you couldn’t help but well up a little and scream for them all at the same time.

If you have never done this kind of event it is very entertaining and upbeat along the way. The entire circle where you walk is surrounded by tents of different groups and organizations trying to raise funds and educate on the many different cancers that are out there. Many of the tents are base camps for different teams for people to rest and then keep going. Every team has to have a member on the track at all times. The whole concept for the 24 hour period is that cancer doesn’t sleep. Music is playing, bake goods are abundant, and activities that help earn more funds for each team are busy. My boys loved that you could get your hair or in some cases your mustache colored pink in support of breast cancer. The funniest and best one was you could rent a decorated bra for a lap or two to help “Save the Tatas”. This I thought was cleaver and they had so many designs to choose from. Since we are in the midst of hockey playoffs my boys chose to wear the Sharks bra. Other things were simple reminders. One that touched me was about a girl named Andrea. She is currently battling cancer and she loves the ocean. In her honor they had little shells for you take and asked you to pray for her on one of your laps. I loved this and it touched something in my kids as they decided to pray for the people we were walking for.

Other things like the statistics on tobacco use and too much sun started alot of great questions from my kids. There was things they knew but I think they took information home with them that they will now remember. I was so proud of them because they walked longer then they had too and walked an impressive 6 miles in about 90 minutes. We were able to stay for the Lumiere ceremony which was a little overwhelming. These were bags you could purchase in honor or in memory of a loved with cancer. The entire track was surrounded in light from these bags for the people who would be walking thru the night. It was such a positive thing that my kids asked to do it again next year.

The boys school team of Carlton Kids Care raised $3,310.00 toward the cause and this one event raised close to $215,000 and the donations are still coming in. What was even better is that I just received news from my oldest nephew Tim that he will be walking in the Relay For Life in Michigan and will be a 24 hour walker. That means he doesn’t get anyone to take over his shift. Know there is a goal. If you would like to show him your support click on this link here and it will get you to his page. Thank you for all of you who helped us reach our financial goal and supported the boys. They were very proud of themselves and they were so glad to help people they loved. We walked for Cordelia, Leslie, Darielle, Sue, Joanne, Jill, and Kelly. Keep up the fight and help find a cure.

mommyandboys cancersurvivors tobacco bras cancerfundraisershots andrea pinkmustache cancerluminaries