Donations

In this episode, we're joined by Keri Banghart from Microsoft's Corporate, External and Legal Affairs team in Seattle. Keri recently organized a blanket-making event for her team as part of Microsoft's annual giving campaign. We'll discuss how they set up the event, its impact on local and remote team members, and the creative ways they're supporting their community. Keri shares insights on coordinating volunteer efforts in a large corporation and how these initiatives foster team bonding while making a difference. We'll also explore the power of hands-on volunteering and its ripple effect in raising awareness for local needs. Join us for an inspiring conversation about corporate giving, community impact, and the joy of creating comfort for those in need.
Action Item List: Lot of ideas here - https://binkypatrol.org/ways-to-help/
Organize a blanket-making event for your team or company
Research local shelters or organizations in need of blanket donations
Set up remote participation options for team members who can't attend in person
Prepare materials in advance (e.g., pre-cut fabric) to streamline the event
Track volunteer hours and utilize company matching programs for donations
Take photos of the event and completed blankets for sharing and promotion
Consider partnering with other organizations or nonprofits for larger events
Explore options for regular or annual volunteering events
Involve family members and friends in blanket-making activities
Share your experience with other departments or companies to inspire similar initiatives
#MicrosoftGives#MicrosoftVolunteers#MicrosoftCommunity#TechForGood#MicrosoftCSR#CorporateGiving#VolunteerEngagement#RemoteVolunteering#CommunityImpact#TeamBuildingForGood

We had talked about the man who lost his wife in the Temecula area.  It was a funny tale about golfing, hobbies, and fabric. But it has turned into a beautiful relationship and legacy. Temecula Area Coordinator, Kimberly Legg joins Susan to give an update about their chapter's newest volunteer and patron, Mr. Karl. Let's just say the Temecula chapter is SET for their Bink-A-Thon October 19. Mr. Ballen Foundation has sponsored each chapter's events, but there's a new donor in town - Mr. Karl fills Kim's livingroom - again - with enough fleece for hundreds of binkies! 
We are sad for Mr. Karl's loss of his wife of so many years. Sometimes we can look at these losses and see some sunlight. Listen to the quick update.
Here's the original story.
 

In this episode, we join Susan Finch as she chats with Kimberly Legg, who runs the Temecula chapter in California. Prepare for a story that's hilarious and inspiring, as Kimberly recounts how she unexpectedly became the recipient of a truly massive fabric donation - we're talking about $30,000 worth of material!
How did this fabric bonanza come about? Well, it all started with a late quilter's playful revenge on her golf-obsessed husband. What follows is a delightful conversation about managing this overwhelming gift, the creative ways Kimberly's chapter is putting it to good use, and how one person's quirky hobby has turned into an incredible legacy of comfort for countless children and families in need.
So sit back, relax, and get ready to be amazed by the power of generosity, community spirit, and a whole lot of Raggedy Ann and Andy fabric!
https://michellesplace.org/
https://wishesanddreamers.org 
#volunteersmakeadifference #donationsmakeadifference #Childrenshospitals #volunteers #wishersanddreamershospitalgowns #wishersanddreamersdollgowns #childrenshospital #
#joeythebear #raggedyanne #raggedyandy #binkypatrol #temecula 
#temeculavalley #makingadifference #thingstodoinsocal #thingstodointemecula #temeculaca #winchester #Cityoftemecula #Gratitude #volunteerappreciation #temeculavalley #makingadifference #thingstodointemecula #temeculaca #Cityoftemecula #cancercentervolunteer #communitymatters #bettertogether #supportingyourneighbors #cancersupportcommunity #connectedbycommunity #communitycomingtogether #temeculatalk #murrietatalk #fallbrooktalk

Hobbies change, people die, and people downsize. Many times this results in a ton of fabric purchased for those projects that were never completed. Binky Patrol has been fortunate for over 27 years to receive a lot of fabric through these circumstances. It's a great way to honor the person who has passed or to make mom feel better about downsizing.
We give tax donation receipts by the box or the bag of fabric. Think about all of the stashes tucked away in your home, your mom's, your grandmother's. It could be given to a local chapter of Binky Patrol to be made into blankets to comfort children and teens in need. Perhaps you just don't like the fabric. If you clear it out, you can get MORE fabric to your liking. OOOOO, how does that sound? Marlys Vaughan joins Susan to talk about some of the windfalls of fabric her chapter has received over the years. This can make all the difference for volunteers who have time but limited financial resources to purchase the fabric.
Some of the fabrics that are the most helpful include cotton, flannel, fleece, and sometimes that silky ribbon for binding on the edges. Double-knit polyesters are not ideal. Denim is great for larger blankets - torn jeans can make great backings. It all has to be washable in industrial machines. Some of our chapters receive donations from hotels with damaged sheets. These are great for backings. Soft yarn is ALWAYS welcomed too. 

When we start a non-profit, we are usually pretty open to ANY help, any donations. Sometimes the cost of free can be higher than you'd expect. When we started, we were approached by several fabric companies wanting to help. Some were a perfect match, some were overwhelming with their generosity, and some simply put a piece of paper over "Basura" and said, "Binky Patrol" (Basura is trash in Spanish.) In this episode, we visit about the first donations and how they are still dear to us, even though they were challenging at first.
Just because you are a charity, doesn't mean you have to say yes to everything people want to donate to you. When we started we received generous donations of amazing fabric, and a bunch of "what do we do with THIS?" fabrics. We learned pretty fast how to politely turn down the donations that really didn't fit.
Our first amazing donations came from Mirage Framing in Santa Ana, CA, bb dakota (became Steve Madden), Lucy Max Children's Boutique in Laguna Beach, and our beloved, Hoffman Fabrics. Within the first week, we had to secure donations to cover the cost of a 10 x 10 storage unit and shelving to organize it all. Following that, anyone with scraps wanted to donate them to us, but it didn't all work great for binkies. We bartered for cottons, flannels, and fleece and gave away the sheers, drapery fabric, upholstery fabrics, double knits, and wools.  Join us for this episode, "It's OK to say, "No." to free fabric on All-volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol.
Learn more about Binky Patrol at https://binkypatrol.org.