FINAL COUNT
· Javier received 4 last minute donations. That brought his final count to 215!
SORTING OUR DONATIONS
· We decided it would be fun to sort and categorize all the donations. Javier is very much into numbers and math, so it turned out to be a fun activity. Here are the results:
| Canned foods | 68 |
| Pasta/sauce and Rice/beans | 51 |
| Cereal | 16 |
| Crackers | 15 |
| Top Ramen soup | 11 |
| Pancake mix & Syrup | 10 |
| Juice & bottled water | 10 |
| Condiments/sauces/spices | 8 |
| Applesauce/fruit snack packs | 7 |
| Baby snacks & formula | 4 |
| Not categorized (late additions) | 4 |
| Peanut butter | 3 |
| Jello | 2 |
| Granola Bars | 2 |
| Sausage links | 2 |
| Microwave popcorn | 1 |
| Hot cocoa | 1 |
| 215 |
· DELIVERING DONATIONS TO CRISIS NURSERY
On Thursday 5/15/14 we drove to the Crisis Nursery-North to drop off the donations. Javier’s dad and I decided to make it a big deal by making it a family event. So, all four of us piled in the car, along with our 215 donations. When we got there, the staff offered to give us a tour of the facility. It was very unexpected, but also a great idea and very worth-while. Here are some of the things we saw and learned:
§ We saw several bedrooms very nicely decorated for children. They were very welcoming and calm, painted with soft colors and beautiful pictures on the walls. I imagine the beautiful décor provides some comfort and calmness to the children. Each room had a few beds in them.
§ We saw several nurseries for babies, also nicely decorated, and with several cribs.
§ The children’s bathroom was very clean and kid friendly, also decorated with kid friendly themes.
§ A very nice visiting area for parents to visit with their children.
§ A large kitchen, eating area, inside play area.
§ A beautiful outside play area with many play options for children and an enclosed, gated area for babies and younger toddlers.
§ A garden outside that provides fresh vegetables for meal times.
As we walked through the facility, we got a very clear idea of what this place was about. They provide a safe and welcoming place for children whose parents are having a crisis and are unable to care for them. Yes, we knew this before the visit, however the visual of the place and discussions with the staff made it even more real. Javier enjoyed the tour and looked at everything with such curiosity. I could just see him absorbing all the information that was being given to us. Below are a few pictures from the facility.
· BLACK BELT TESTING DAY
Friday 5/16/14 was a big day for Javier and his fellow Tiny Tiger brown belts. It was the day of the belt testing ceremony. Many karate students at various levels and age groups tested for their belt promotions. All families of the students were invited to watch as the students demonstrated some key karate moves, shared their specific community projects with the teacher and audience, and received their new color belts. Javier demonstrated the nine/ten kata, along with other Tiny Tiger students. Later, he stood in front of the entire audience and talked about his community project for the Crisis Nursery. At the end he was awarded a certificate signifying his completion of the Tiny Tiger level and he was given his new belt. He is now ready to begin his new class, Little Dragons. It is a great accomplishment and we took lots of pictures. Below are a few.
· Once again, I want to thank everyone who supported Javier in his fundraising efforts. We appreciate all your help. You made Javier very happy, you helped make his project a success, and you donated to a great organization.
PROJECT GUIDE
Javier’s project guide is ready to hand in to Mr. Oliver. We will give it to him today at karate class.
