snugglesack

November is National Homeless Awareness Month!

Thu, 13 Oct 2022 16:43:46 GMT

There are many ways you can help us make a difference!

November is National Homeless Awareness Month, and here at Snuggle Sacks it is one of the busiest months for us. With the temperatures getting colder, the need for survival items for those living on the streets is of utmost importance. We have many things planned for the month to really bring awareness, resources and hope to the homeless in our community, but need your help to be successful. How can you help?
See below for many options!!

Donate supplies to us for the sacks - as of right now, we have shelter requests for over 2,000 sacks, and this does not include street outreach. Our list of immediately needed supplies can be found below, and donations can either be dropped off at one of our designated drop off locations (listed on the DONATE tab of our website), or purchased through our Amazon store link and shipped directly to us ( http://a.co/1HX9Hs5 )!

Shop at our store, Giving Grace Boutique, ALL PROCEEDS go to our mission at Snuggle Sacks!

Like us on Facebook and Instagram, and please share our posts to spread awareness - the bigger the circle, the more awareness!

Own a business? Help us by doing an item drive, or by selling 'paper houses'! Ask your customers to donate any denomination at all, and put their name on a 'paper house' - you can then display them around your business to show customers that you are helping the homeless in your community! Contact us and we can get you a supply of them!

Part of a school organization or sports team? You can help us by holding a supply drive! We can provide you with the signage/communications, and you just collect them amongst your group - you can even come in all together and assemble if you'd like!

Spread the word to any friends that travel - travel toiletries are very hard to keep in inventory, as we go through them so quickly! If you regularly travel for work or know someone who does, please spread the word within your circle!

And of course, we are always up for any partnerships or ideas - please contact us if you have something in mind! We are all out to accomplish the same goal of ending homelessness, let's do it together!

Unselfish Kids

Wed, 27 Nov 2019 19:00:22 GMT

Authors Paul and Sammie Parkinson

We are SO EXCITED to share that the Sheridan, Jaxson and Addisyn are featured in a new book titled "Unselfish Kids" by Paul D. Parkinson and Sammie Parkinson! The book highlights kids from all over the world that are doing things to better their communities. It is a great read for any kid with a big heart - and parents, too - that love inspirational stories and ideas for giving back!

Here is some more GOOD NEWS -
The authors want to help our cause by providing dozens of copies to us for fundraising! That being said, please email us at team@snugglesacks.org if you would like to purchase a hard cover copy of Unselfish Kids ($21.99) through us - each purchase provides a complete Snuggle Sacks for someone in need!

The book will also be available on Amazon starting on Tuesday, December 3rd - which also happens to be #GivingTuesday! Find it on Amazon here: https://amzn.to/2KZMyuy

Snuggle Sacks Holds Free Giving Store for Local Kids

team@snugglesacks.org (Stacy Daul) — Fri, 21 Dec 2018 21:39:56 GMT

The Snuggle Sacks Giving Store a huge success!

Snuggle Sacks recently hosted a free giving store for local kids in the community. Snuggle Sacks co-founder, 11-year old Addisyn Goss, serves on the Kids Board of Directors for Kidbox, a subscription children’s fashion company out of New York City, where she was awarded $10,000 in clothing to donate back to kids in her community who would most benefit.

Upon receiving the clothing, she and her siblings, also Snuggle Sacks co-founders, quickly went to work to organize the event. Sheridan Goss, 16, and Jaxson Goss, 14, joined Addisyn in organizing the logistics, partnering with the Genesee Valley Center, who provided them with a donated storefront and store display units for the one-day event. “Genesee Valley Center was honored to be a part of the Snuggle Sacks Giving Store and provide a unique shopping experience for the children. We truly love being a part of the community and are thankful to be involved in opportunities to give back for the past 47 years,” said Cindy Frohriep, marketing manager for Genesee Valley Center.

Snuggle Sacks worked in conjunction with Voices for Children (formerly Weiss Advocacy Center) in Flint to identify children who would greatly benefit from receiving new, name-brand clothing. They then went to work organizing the Snuggle Sacks Giving Store presented by Kidbox.

They arranged for the selected children to visit the store on November 17th, and each child had a complete shopping experience, receiving all brand-new items, including a backpack, winter coat, hat and gloves, two outfits each, and socks. They were then able to spend time at a craft table, and share in some lunch, generously donated by Mo Pete’s Sports Retreat, also located in the Genesee Valley Center. Additionally, Pure Bliss Salon and Spa was on hand to style the kids hair and provide basic hair tips.

“We wanted to make sure they got the full shopping experience,” said Addisyn. “Many kids have never been able to go to a store for new clothes, let alone come to the mall, so we hope they had a great time and love their clothes.”

“We love giving back to our community, and to see the kids so excited to come into the store and have a private party just for them was so awesome to see. We hope we were able to start their holidays off with a smile!” said Sheridan.

“The giving store was an amazing opportunity for the children. Trauma effects children deep to their core but it is kindness like this, seeing that other people care about them, that helps heal and restore them. And when it is one of their peers, like sweet Addisyn and her siblings, it makes it that much more special! The joy of the children to receive jackets, clothes, and so much more, meant so much to them!” said Angie Essenburg with Voices for Children Advocacy Center.

Melissa Withey, owner of Pure Bliss Salon and Day Spa and long-time supporter of Voices for Children Advocacy Center, was also eager to jump on board. “We at Pure Bliss enjoy being able to give back to the community and helping others. It was amazing that Snuggle Sacks invited us to be a part of the big day. We feel that working together and involving our groups to collaborate gives us a chance to help out more children in our community. Every child should be given a chance to feel special and look good, and know that there are people and businesses that care about them. Also, a huge thank you to the Genesee Valley Mall for helping to make this happen by donating a store front and showing the children what it is like to shop at a real store.”

In addition to the Giving Store, Snuggle Sacks has also been involved with Bendle Public Schools, donating the remaining clothing to students in the district.

Snuggle Sacks To Be Featured On Radio Disney

team@snugglesacks.org (Stacy Daul) — Fri, 19 Oct 2018 19:59:48 GMT

The kids hit NYC to record with Alexa Curtis on Fearless Every Day!

On October 13th, Sheridan, Jaxson and Addisyn traveled to NYC to visit ABC Studios to record a segment for Radio Disney! They were on a show called Fearless Every Day with Alexa Curtis, and talked about what they do, how they have grown it, what obstacles they have to overcome and so much more! It was an awesome opportunity to spread awareness on homeless in general, and show other kids how they can make a difference in any way, big or small!

All we know so far is that the segment will air in December, so we will keep everyone posted!! The show does air: Fridays @ 9pmPT, Saturdays @ 7amPT, Sundays @8pmPT on RadioDisney.com, the Radio Disney app, XM/Sirius Channel 79, iHeart Radio and more.

First Annual Hope for the Homeless Golf Outing

Wed, 17 Oct 2018 14:47:09 GMT

You helped us make it a hole in one!

THANK YOU to everyone who made it out to our first annual Hope for the Homeless Golf Outing! The outing, held on September 16th at Fenton Farms was a great success was a success. Together we raised over $5,000 and had about 80 golfers participate.

Of course, we would like to extend a special thanks to all of our sponsors for supporting our event and making it a reality.

We hope everyone had a great time, and look forward to next year's event!

Snuggle Sacks - Homeless Survival Kits

Mon, 04 Jun 2018 13:37:09 GMT

An Inside Look At The Inspiration To Help The Homeless

Inspired by personal experiences in their life, the Goss siblings started a grassroots movement to help the homeless. What began as an attempt to help the homeless on a personal level, has grown into an organized effort involving entire communities to help provide desperately needed supplies to the homeless in the form of Snuggle Sacks.

Watch the above video above to learn about the inspiration behind a Mid-Michigan movement that is helping many homeless shelters and homeless people through the challenges of being homeless.

Visit https://www.snugglesacks.org/take-action to learn more about how you can help!

Central Elementary In Linden Holds Donation Drive

chelsea@behindyourdesign.com (Chelsea Mills) — Fri, 20 Apr 2018 16:00:11 GMT

Month Long Drive Produces A Truck-Load Of Donations

Linden Community School's teacher Stacie Nelson recently organized a supply and donation drive for Snuggle Sacks that took place at Central Elementary. Students spent the month of March collecting supplies and donations for Snuggle Sacks to distribute to the local homeless community. Central Elementary's Student Council worked to help Snuggle Sacks founder Addisyn Goss, a 5th grader at the school, and other students collect supplies to create Snuggle Sacks for area homeless shelters. A donation box was placed in each classroom that allowed students to donate clothing items, toiletries, blankets, snacks, and so much more!

The homeroom class that brought in the most donation items was awarded a Root Beer Float Party hosted by the Student Council as part of their March Is Reading Month celebration. The supply and donation drive was a huge success with many students participating in the drive. Snuggle Sacks was able to pick up a full F-350 truckload of supplies that will directly benefit area homeless people and shelters during an unusually cold Spring in Michigan! To see more pictures from the Central Elementary Donation Drive, visit https://www.snugglesacks.org/central-elementary-donation-drive .

Siblings honored by MLK Foundation

Mon, 16 Apr 2018 14:57:39 GMT

Addisyn Goss, 11, and siblings, are honored for Snuggle Sacks humanitarian effort

Addisyn Goss and her family spent the last weekend of spring break out of town, but it wasn’t for a typical vacation like many families take this time of year.

She and her family traveled to Atlanta, Georgia where Addisyn, 11, and siblings Sheridan, 16 and Jaxson, 13, were among 15 young Americans recognized by the Martin Luther King Foundation for their humanitarian efforts.

The founder of Snuggle Sacks — Survival Kits for the Homeless, Addisyn was just 8 years old in 2015 when she met her estranged grandfather, who had been homeless for a number of years. She made it her mission to fight the reality of homelessness, by providing bags of basic necessities and distributing them in the poverty-ravaged streets of Flint.

Yolanda Renee King, granddaughter of Martin Luther King and Maryn Rippy, granddaughter of A.D. King, Martin’s younger brother, hosted the youths on Saturday, April 7 at the Georgia Freight Depot for “their extraordinary work for humanity.”

This event was the culmination of a week of special events honoring Martin Luther King on the 50th anniversary of his assassination on April 4, 1968.

The Martin Luther King Foundation called Addisyn to let her know that she had been selected for this once-in-a-lifetime honor. All three siblings were honored, but Addisyn spoke on behalf of the group as the founder/CEO.

Her entire family became involved in homeless relief efforts, including her siblings; her mother, Stacy Daul; her stepdad, Andrew Daul and her dad, Jason Goss. “Both of her dads are very involved,” Stacy said. “They alternate taking days off to make deliveries, attend non-profit meetings, and so on.”

“It’s nearly impossible to put into words the experience we had,” Stacy said. “We met so many influential members of the King family, plus all the other kids who were also honored for making a difference. To know that the King family sought my kids out and invited them to this is amazing, and the ultimate honor and moment of pride.”

The Goss siblings also were introduced to Martin Luther King III and Dr. Bernice King, children of Martin Luther King, Jr.

“The kids said it is the highest honor they have ever received,” Stacy said.

Since those early days of Snuggle Sacks, when the Dauls’ home basement was used as a distribution warehouse, this cause has grown from not just one family’s mission, but to a cause embraced by the Fenton area community, as well as nationally.

Addisyn was featured in USA Today one year ago, raising awareness of Snuggle Sacks to a national cause.

Now officially a registered non-profit organization, Snuggle Sacks packs about 500 bags each month, filled with new socks, gloves, small blankets, lip balm, applesauce, toothbrush/toothpaste, hand/foot warmers, raisins, crackers or any protein-type snack, travel-size toiletries, personal hygiene items and much more.

These bags are then distributed to the homeless through shelters, state organizations and street outreach, now extended to Lansing and Detroit Metro areas. Snuggle Sacks works with Carriage Town Ministries and Homeless Angels to distribute, as well as various other organizations.

Each Snuggle Sack costs about $10, from the price of the bag to its contents, and the cost is paid for through individual donations and partnershipswith local businesses.

Even more than the gift of these survival bags is the human touch provided by the Goss and Daul families to the homeless people they encounter. “They don’t get treated as humans,” Stacy said. “The crying, the hugging, that goes further than the bag does. I still get teary-eyed every single time.”

One of Snuggle Sacks’ biggest milestones was moving into its new office/warehouse next to Animal Health Clinic in Fenton five months ago. Packing days at the warehouse are usually Wednesdays and Sundays and people can sign up to volunteer or make donations on the organization’s website, snugglesacks.org . On Saturdays, the family delivers the bags to about 15 shelters.

The Daul family has added homeless advocacy to the Snuggle Sacks cause, attending Homeless Advocacy Day in Lansing on Wednesday, April 11, hoping to change the system for getting identification cards. This is one of the biggest obstacles for the homeless in securing jobs and housing, Stacy said.

To view this article, visit https://www.tctimes.com/news/young-girl-honored-by-mlk-foundation/article_d9a876c0-3f3b-11e8-8351-33...