
July 2022
Welcome to the July issue of IH2: All Hands Dispatch!
Summer 2022 has by far been our busiest summer in our 10 years! So many amazing things are happening…ALL BECAUSE OF YOU! The SummerFest campaign is off to a great start. The facility expansion and renovations are nearing completion. And, we will soon be ramping up for our fall and winter fundraisers and campaigns.
This issue will focus on the SummerFest 2022 Campaign. First and foremost….and most importantly, THANK YOU with every ounce of our hearts for what you are doing to help our community! As most of you know, SummerFest is an annual event hosted by IH2 as an opportunity for Butler City Elementary students and their families to get excited about and prepared for the coming school year! Taking place on August 23 at Broadstreet Elementary, this event features food, games, and a back-to-school shopping experience and is open to families from Emily Brittain, Broadstreet, and McQuistion Elementary Schools. This year’s shopping experience will include a shoe “department” where we hope to outfit every student with a NEW pair of athletic shoes for the school year.
Here is feedback we received from a II-VI Employee regarding his experiences with the communities we serve:
“Thank you for sending this out. This will have a huge impact on the community. This spring I had the opportunity to volunteer at Broadstreet Elementary school for an after-school fishing program. I can speak firsthand about the needs for the kids at Broadstreet. I saw many of the kids wearing either too large or too small of shoes. In addition, there were several kids that had shoes that were either falling apart or had duct tape holding them together. There was one boy that are every event was wearing a shirt that was extremely large and shorts that were way too big for him. The shorts were almost pants on him. He was also wearing work boots that looked like clown shoes on him. Based on the conversations with the principal and teachers, some of the kids only get to eat at school. It was very hard to see this and hear the teachers talking about it. However, I know that programs like SummerFest will deeply impact the students and parents of Broadstreet and the other schools that will participate. Without supportive parents, teachers and the community, things will continue to remain the same if not get worse. Please continue to send out emails encouraging everyone to help.” ~Employee, II-VI Incorporated
As always, thank you with all of my heart for your continued support, prayers, encouragement, and generosity. Below you will find ways to get involved and help support the SummerFest Campaign. We are doing so many amazing things in our community because of YOU. God has big plans for us, and we are blessed to have each and every one of you as partners in this amazing journey.
Much Love,
Mindy
Executive Director
Inspired Hearts and Hands Inc.
IH2 Needs Y – O – U!
SUPPORT KICKZ 4 KIDS
There are many ways to help us raise the $16,000 we need to cover the 700 pairs of shoes.
MAKE A DONATION ONLINE
Consider making a donation to cover the cost of a pair of athletic shoes for a child in need. The shoes will be acquired, through a partnership with Target, at a cost of $25 per pair.
REGISTER FOR YOUTH SOCCER CAMP FUNDRAISER
Get your kids signed up for a Youth Soccer Camp being hosted by the Mars High Soccer Team as a fundraiser for Kickz4Kidz. All proceeds from the camp will be donated to IH2.
VISIT ONE OF OUR LOCAL SPONSORS
Each these amazing businesses are among the many groups hosting a Kickz4Kidz Fundraiser:
- Pittsburgh North Fitness
- The Hair Doctor’s Salon
- ATA Martial Arts
- Convive Coffee – Mars Location
- Dented Keg
- Louis Charles & Company
- Serene Hair Studio & Spa
- Burn Bootcamp – Butler and Wexford Locations
- SALT Power Yoga, Seven Fields
SUMMERFEST CLOTHING DONATIONS
We are seeking new and very gently, school appropriate used clothing sizes 5T through adult large. The clothing will be prepared on hangers and arranged in a store-like format and available for “shopping” during SummerFest. We are humbly asking your help in making this a highly-dignified experience for families. If clothing is outdated, stained, torn, and/or not in good condition, we ask that you instead direct your donation to another collection agency. Please help us to make this a positive and exciting experience for these kiddos.
MEAL BOXES AT SUMMERFEST
At our SummerFest event, we will provide families with a box containing 5-6 essential meals, including cereal, pastas/sauce, fruit, vegetables, soup, peanut butter/Jelly, healthy snacks, and other similar easy-to-prepare meal options. Additionally, we hope to include a $10 ALDI gift card to help cover the costs of fresh ingredients and proteins. Please consider helping us with a meal box sponsorship.
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
We need many hands to help us! There are opportunities to help with preparation and event-day volunteering for SummerFest. Details on each of these opportunities is available via the provided link. If you have not yet completed your volunteer profile, please follow the steps detailed in our previous newsletter to get started. Once completed, you will be able to view and sign-up!