We are so thrilled that you all our jumping on board with the backpacks for the orphaned street kids being taken with the International Voice of the Orphan June 2012 GO Team.
Here’s the answers to some of the comments/questions that have come up:
1. Due to carrying them all in suitcases, we cannot have the backpacks filled with goodies. Sad, but true.
2. Holly, one tee-shirt would be dandy {size Mens S, M or L}. A pack of candy. A pack of gum. Your letter/family picture. Just enough so it’s still flat.
3. lauren commented that she found backpacks on sale for 1/2 price at LLBean. Christine further explained: Click “sale” and then “backpacks”. For those who are interested in directly shipping it to the International Voice of the Orphan address.
4. If you do choose to ship it directly, please consider sending your personal letter/picture separately. We will do our very, very, very best to match your backpack with your letter. Truly, as excited as the boys will be to receive the backpacks, they will be equally thrilled to have a personal letter from you knowing that someone far away loves them and cares.
Do you remember this picture I posted last year?
Hours into the wedding feast festivities and this is what he was showing everyone… “his” family picture.
{Can you bear his expression? My eyes well with tears. No doubt, longing to belong to a family.}
5. Jody, you are welcome to share the need on your blog!! Everyone can feel free to share away!
6. Katie – a LLBean outlet store with misprinted monograms? Perfect! Can I come too?
7. Hannah – although the boys would love a stuffed animal, they take up took much room. ugh.
8. Our Family – love what you did with your girls!
9. Lastly, the IVO address again:
International Voice of the Orphan3655 W. Anthem Way, Suite A-109-305
Phoenix, AZ 85086-2599
This is an unrelated prayer request. A house down the street just caught fire (as in less than an hour ago, the fire trucks are still there). There is a family with two early school age children. I'm sure they could use some prayers. Everyone made it out, but the mom and daughter who were home, had nothing but their pj's (now a pair of my son's shoes as well, which praise the Lord were her exact size). The boy is about to get off the school bus in a 1/2 hour. The dad just made it from work. Thank you.
Thanks for letting me know about the sale. I just shipped one to you. Have a wonderful day!
Can't wait to backpack shoppppp!!!! 🙂
I went to LLBean and ordered backpacks and it was so easy. Half price and colorful. Free shipping. Can't beat it.
Great idea with the tshirts and gum…now I know why I had so many leftover family photos last year…to be able to put them in a the few backpacks we bought..Thanks Lord!
I just found a coupon code for LL Bean and if you order $50 worth of merchandise you can get $10 off your order with free shipping included. The code is DUC0136.
I purchased 2 from LL Bean & had them shipped direct to you for FREE! I will forward t-shirts/candy/letters/photos by the deadline. I know these children will be blessed abundantly!
We are so excited to share in this blessing! Thank you for the opportunity to give to the orphan. We just purchased a backpack from LL Bean. It is shipping directly to IVO. We will also send our goodies and letter and picture soon.
THANK YOU
THANK YOU
Robin Cowgill and family
I am thrilled to say I just ordered and sent 4…one for each of my children. It was sooooo easy. I love being able to give with a click of the wrist. Thanks so much for letting us be part of this! I will have all 4 of my children write a letter (ok…maybe not the 2 year old) and we'll get some stickers, candy etc and send them off soon!
3 backpacks on the way from LL Bean. We'll send notes, candy, & 3 t-shirts to be included too. Thanks!
Praying Ruby!
I ordered two backpacks and also two navy polo shirts that were on sale, size Mens Large.. Hopefully the shirts will be flat enough to include in the backpacks. The "Christmas used shirt" story you shared makes me sob just thinking about it…
I plan on ordering another set in a few more days.
I will be sending some photos and Smarties candy that I bought "for some reason" last week that I wasn't sure why, but now I definitely know why! 🙂 🙂
You mentioned a mens t-shirt and maybe a candy…What about a toothbrush or some other small item such as that? Also what about girls clothes? Do they only have boys living on the streets? Are there girls being ministered to also? Would you like some girls shirts in the backpacks? Maybe some hair bows for girls? I'm trying to think of things that will fit in a backpack that will still allow it to lay flat. I want the girls to be loved too. Also what other kinds of items would boys want that would lay flat in a backpack? Maybe a super small toy? Like a matchbox car kind of toy, or is that too 'young'? What if I sent a check for shipping and we put together a box for the stuff that wouldn't fit in the backpacks in the suitcases, but could 'meet' the team there and they could add the stuff to the backpacks before they distribute them to the street kids.
Ooh..Erica I love the idea of stickers! Everyone loves stickers. Maybe we could include some packs of paper and some pens so that they can draw pictures/practice writing. Paper lays pretty flat and stickers.
Oh Ruby, I am on my knees for your neighbor. I pray that the Lord provides quickly and that the recognize His provision. I have no reference for the pain and shock they must be feeling right now, so I pray that they feel the love of our Lord as He carries them through this horrible experience.
Hi Linny, guess what I did about 2 minutes ago???
Check my blog!!! 🙂 🙂
http://faithcomethby.blogspot.com.au/2012/04/operation-backpack-blessing.html
Hi there, just stopping by to say how delightful your blog is. Thanks so much for sharing. I have recently found your blog and am now following you, and will visit often. Please stop by my blog and perhaps you would like to follow me also. Have a wonderful day. Hugs, Chris
http://chelencarter-retiredandlovingit.blogspot.ca/
Just ordered two backpacks shipped directly to you!
You'll be receiving 2 from our home…just not yet. I've ordered the backpacks, but I am sending them to my house first, so that my kids can pack them (partly so they can have a hands-on experience) …then we'll send them along. 🙂
One thing has come to my attention with the LLBean ordering.. Their system auto corrected the address and changed the city to Anthem, Arizona. I stayed on the phone with their customer service last night for awhile and the representative assured me that this was going to be delivered as intended. She then made a comment, "for some reason, this delivery address is already in our system". I giggled and shared with her the probable reason for it (IVO's address) to be so popular and invited her to join in 🙂
Linny,
thanks for the LLBean tip, have ordered a backpack and am sending it directly to you….saves from shipping it internationally. I will be sending a letter with a pic and some candy in the next day or two.
Blessings,
Laurie Kjernald
make that two, one girl, one boy…coming separately… I couldn't help myself.
blessings,
Laurie
Linny,
Love that our family can help with this! I just ordered 3 backpacks from LL Bean and had them shipped to us so my little ones can help put our items in them. We have been talking about it and they are excited to go pick out some shirts and candy. Thanks for letting us help!
Love ya!
Jodi
Thanks, Lauren, for posting about the sale at L.L. Bean, and thanks, Amy, for the $10 off coupon code! You guys are awesome! And love the option to ship straight to IVO!
Linny – two backpacks on their way straight to you. My kids each picked out one, and we are so thankful for this opportunity to minister in a small, tiny way to the precious street children of Uganda. Hoping to get letters/photo in the mail to you soon!
Thank you for the prayers.
I am sending backpacks. Thank you for the LLBean information.
Not sure that this went through the first time…however, three backpacks on their way to you direct from LLbean. We will send out letters and goodies for packs shortly. I hope that you can match them up.
Thanks.
Christy
I took the kids to the store a few days ago to help them pick out their bags and the selection was really poor quality. I went to LL Bean and had two bags in my cart. One of the kids needed me and so I didn't get back to it until today-the bags were gone! I think some bloggy friends have been doing some serious shopping! We had some shipped from Amazon-had the same issue with Amazon saying it was Anthem and not Phoenix, but sent them to Phoenix anyway-we'll be praying those bags all the way to Phoenix and then onto Uganda! We'll have some candy, pictures, and a letter in the mail soon. So fun!
Okay, just sent one to you and am so excited for the blessings you will bring these children. Wish I could go along. We fully support and care for 4 vulnerable children in Kampala and they were once without even a complete set of clothes on their back. They are now in school full-time and living fully for Christ because people like you stepped in the gap. Our family came along a little later, but feel blessed to be a part of their story. Can't wait to hear all the stories.