You might not know all the good things that Starbucks does.
In my book, living the word “partner” means having a spirit of partnership and collaboration with others. (Yes, obviously, I am not a partner but I still love partnership and collaboration).
This year 40 Starbucks stores in New Jersey have partnered with the Angelwish Foundation to make good things happen for needy children this holiday season. It’s ongoing partnership to bring toys to sick children. (I think there was a 2008 and 2009 Angelwish toy drive too).
While most of my readers are far away from New Jersey and they won’t be able to help directly in the stores, I would encourage my readers to make a donation, show support, and follow Angelwish both on their twitter and Facebook pages. I wanted to put my money where my mouth is (so to speak) and so I made an immediate donation as I wrote this blog post (albeit small! Sorry I’m not rich). I completely recognize that not everyone can do that, but show your support by “liking” their Facebook fan page, following them on twitter, or spreading the word about the good things that happen when Angelwish and Starbucks partner together. You can be a part of bringing toys and gifts to a child living with a chronic illness.
Here are the important links:
- Angelwish Twitter profile
- Angelwish Facebook fan page
- Angelwish organization page
- Angelwish Starbucks page
Thanks for following them and supporting them!
Angelwish also brings gifts to children with HIV living in foreign countries. Here is a little more about Angelwish from their website: “Angelwish has championed the needs of children since 1999. In the United states, there are over 10 Million children living with Chronic Illnesses. Overseas, it is possible to estimate that over 25 million children are either living with HIV/AIDS or have become orphans due to the disease.”
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Please skip the next section if you are only looking for Starbucks content:
The next part of this blog post is not really about Starbucks but something I want to talk about because it fits in this conversation. Many of you know that I am concerned with issues that relate to justice and even the collateral things that happen because of our court system which maybe are not frequently talked about.
Every year lots of people (mostly men statistically, but of course women too) get sentenced and go to prison for a long time. Should they go to prison? Well, we could debate for hours, but what I have learned is that the overwhelming majority of those people really _earned_ their sentences. I do NOT want to see a debate in the comments about prison sentences or punishments, and such comments will be immediately deleted.
The forgotten aspect to this is the small children literally left behind without a mother or a father because dad or mom is on an excursion to prison. A little child did NOT commit a crime. In my mind, no five-year-old should go without Christmas presents or birthday presents because dad decided to sell drugs one day. The little child is just a child, and not a dealer and an addict too.
In 2008, I got involved with a very small Washington State non-profit called Matthew House and did a toy drive at my own office. Matthew House brings presents to children forgotten by Santa because dad is incarcerated. I feel almost guilty that I haven’t done that since then. If you know some local organization near you that does that kind of good work, I hope you will seek them out. I would like encourage you to seek out the little non-profits close to you making a difference in your own community.
I know the last four paragraphs could open up all kinds of unpleasant conversations about religious organizations, incarceration, and criminal justice, and that is not my intent. As I said, I will delete comments that appear to only invite vexing conversation on these sensitive issues.
My point with this blog post is merely a reminder that so many children do not live amid privilege and good health, and we forget the circumstances around us where a child needs a little love, toys, and gifts, and really the cause of the child’s suffering is not of their own fault.
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Last but not least, this is a perfect chance to remind my readers that Starbucks has recently partnered with HandsOnNetwork.org – Click here for more information.
Thanks again for being readers and participants on this blog. Partnership and collaboration!
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Melody: Thanks for such a great blog post! Because I get very sentimental about Christmas and the Joy of giving, this post touched my heart. Yes, I do believe that Jersey Starbucks have been partnering with AngelWish Foundation for a couple of years now. By clicking on the AngelWish Starbucks link that you so nicely provided, and then the Grant a Wish link and you can not only view a letter from a parent or child in your state but make an actual gift donation through an Amazon Wishlist. I was able to make a toy donation specifically requested by a child – what a great way to start my morning!!!!!!!!
Just came back from my local SB and did not see anything re this drive. Have to look more closely. Are all NJ stores doing it? I think it is so great that kids can get what they want for the holidays. Did this drive start before Chanukah so it kids can get toys for this holiday? And I agree re the effect of a parent’s incarceration on kids.
My local Starbucks does do toy drives and my office is doing Toys for Tots. I agree that a child can get brought into so much they should never have to experience. And those experiences will hopefully make them stronger, more mindful adults…and I think programs like Angelwish teach them about giving and hopefully gives them a smile around Christmas!
every year mom and i go shopping for gifts and wrap them for local charities, it’s the best part of the season.
This is the spirit of Christmas, giving…..even something so simple as any random act of kindness. I hope I live as an example of this….. and ‘doing unto others’.
I urge everyone to read Maya Angelou’s little book called: ‘Amazing Peace”, ‘A Christmas Poem’.
here is just one little page from it:
“Into this climate of fear and apprehension,
Christmas enters,
Streaming lights of joy, ringing bells of hope
And singing carols of forgiveness high up in the
bright air.
The world is encouraged to come away from
rancor,
Come the way of friendship. ” Maya Angelou AMAZING PEACE
I have given this book to many people. It is best read aloud. I read it aloud even by myself, and I cry every time. It is a Christmas Poem.
@melody – thanks for a great post!
@purple1 – we are working with 3 districts in NJ. You can find more details of the exact store locations here – http://www.jerseybites.com/events/
of course, the beauty of the internet is that anyone can participate, regardless of where you are and where you want to give. We wanted to help cut the time between a toy being put in a box and it being put to use. Granting a wish online gets the gift into the hands of the social worker in about 3 days. They are then able to give the gift to the parent to give to the child. Its high impact giving.
Thank you all for your kind comments & support of children in need – whether through Angelwish or any other organization.
Shimmy
Melody, I think this is such an excellent post! I’m hoping I can come up with a little spare money to contribute, and I already liked them on Facebook and followed them on Twitter. Thanks for pointing me in their direction!
Also, I completely agree with you—I think it’s heartbreaking when children suffer and have to go without because of poor life choices their parents made. Those kids didn’t do anything wrong, but the things parents do of course have consequences for their children, as well. I really enjoyed your take on this. And I, for one, think it’s reassuring to hear (from someone who has more to base it off of than pure speculation) that people sentenced to prison typically have earned their sentences. As someone interested in the legal system, I’ll be the first to admit there’s still a lot about it I don’t know. But I am glad to hear this.
Thanks so much for sharing this post! It’s a much-needed reminder that Christmas isn’t just about finding out how many things we can get our friends and family to buy us. What a privilege it is to be fortunate enough to get gifts at all, much less expect them as much as we do. (I don’t know about you, but if I didn’t get a present on Christmas, I’d be making some phone calls asking some people just what the heck they were thinking!) It’s such a good cause to donate toys and other items to children who wouldn’t get them otherwise. Just because they’re less fortunate doesn’t mean they’re any less deserving.
This is a wonderful post, Melody! It’s sad that the holidays are usually the only time people think about the children and people who go without even the basic of necessities. On the other hand, it’s wonderful that at least once a year there is a major effort brought about in communities nationwide to get these people something, anything.
My family wasn’t even considered “middle class” for the majority of my childhood and my parents made sure to instill the importance of earning a living as well as helping out “less fortunate” people by donating to Drives, and working in the community.
I’m afraid that I do not get to donate to various projects as much as I would like to, but when I find the opportunity, I do. It’s very disheartening to see the lack of donation support at the Starbucks I work at. Several times a year a local school or church or charity event sets up different donations but never retrieve very much. I know it’s hard times for everybody in this economy, but the way I see it, if you have $5 to spend on a cup of coffee everyday, you could easily donate a dollar to a good cause. Am I wrong in this thinking?
Shimmy I have been meaning to come back to this thread and just say a big thank you for all the work you are doing. It’s meaningful and genuine work, and little children need to feel secure to be mature adults. A gift and warm hug mean so much! Thank you for giving me the tiniest nudge to post this blog post. It may have only 9 comments, but it’s an absolutely important message to spread.
Melody
I hope they do this again this holiday season. I never saw anything posted at my local SB.