Swimsuits and Towels

Hey friends, and welcome APRIL! One month closer to our baby! (and this date last year we formally submitted our application to AGCI! Yes, we had to wait until my 23rd birthday to submit so we did it that day! Best present ever!)

A few weeks ago I posted about Big House in Alabama and their current drive for swimsuits and towels for foster kids in Alabama. This will be a tremendous blessing to the children there and the foster families. Will you consider being a part of it, even if you don't live in AL? Even if you can't swing $25, ANY donation will be helpful. Our friends at BH compiled a list of the counties with the drop-off locations, & the number of swimsuits & towels needed and you can read that HERE on their website. Just to keep in perspective, this is the current need:

Sizes Needed

Girls:					Boys:
6 month	27				6 month	25
12 month	44				12 month	41
18 month	36				18 month	51
24 month	24				24 month	52
2T	48				2T	76
3T	68				3T	83
4T	86				4T	82
5T	55				5T	85
Child 6/8 Small	207				Child 6/8 Small	187
Child 10/12 Medium	154				Child 10/12 Medium	203
Child 14/16 Large	87				Child 14/16 Large	129
Child 18+ Xlarge	17				Child 18+ Xlarge	31
Adult 2/4 Small	108				Adult 28/30 Small	112
Adult 6/8 Medium	170				Adult 32/34 Medium	274
Adult 10/12 Large	174				Adult 36/38 Large	166
Adult 14/16 Xlarge	170				Adult 40 Xlarge	55

For more information on the swimsuit/towel drive: 

BigHouse Statewide Swimsuit and Towel Drive 2011

What? A drive to collect NEW Swimsuits and New Beach Towels for Children in Foster Care across the state.

 When? Collections and monogramming will be held throughout the month of April across the state. The swimsuits will be packaged at our Packing Party on May 14^th, and then sent to each county’s DHR for pick-up.  The Packing Party will be held at Trussville First United Methodist Church.

 Who? We will be serving our children in the state foster care system. For various reasons, these children have been placed temporarily with a foster family until a return to their family or an adoption is possible. 

 Why? In Alabama, Foster Parents receive $8-$14 a day to provide food, shelter, school supplies, hygiene products, clothes, toys, entertainment, and transportation to meetings, therapy sessions, and parental visits. The stipend they receive simply does not cover everything. One simple, basic necessity we feel every child should have is a new swimsuit; a new beach towel with their name monogrammed on it is a cherry on top! This is not much, but it is a small gesture to show these children someone cares about them, is thinking of them, and that because God loved us first, we are sharing His love with them.

 How? We need YOU to help us make our goal of collecting 6,000 swimsuits and towels a reality. Your church can serve as a donation site, your family can donate items, your friends can collect money and make a monetary donation, etc. Simply purchase a swimsuit or beach towel or both, and take them to a designated drop off station. If you would like to make a monetary donation online, please go here. For $25, you can provide a swimsuit and towel to a child in Alabama. If you know a person or a company who can monogram towels, please contact us. 

BigHouse Foundation

(334) 363-2634

bighousefoundation@hotmail.com