All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol

Will and Liam from Dinner and a Movie see it on television every day. Reporters assure the homeless their story will be told and when it ends up on television it's been changed, twisted, and doesn't tell the truth. They know because they spend most days in Southeast Portland trying to give respite from the hell of being homeless. There are many misconceptions. This is part one of a two-part episode that shares some beautiful stories, some science and aha moments. Building tiny houses isn't the solution. Being homeless isn't the same as being houseless. A house isn't the full solution. It delays what the more difficult problem is to solve. 60% or more have experienced neglect or sexual abuse. 6 out of 5 are addicted to drugs or alcohol, or as you'll hear in the story of Raven, addicted to reading. Tune in for this episode.
Learn more about Dinner and a Movie on DinnerAndAMoviePDX.com You can help them bring ice cold water, hot soup, and so much more without a huge effort and make a huge impact.

Wade Perry joined Susan after his first annual Coventry Summer Jam in Littleton, Colorado. He goes through the expense and return of this event. The expense is all under marketing, the return is beyond what he had hoped. This event benefitted the School of Rock in Littleton. They raised enough for ten scholarships. Seeing and hearing everyone enjoying this event in their local park was the best gift. Listen to this to hear how a small business or two can align with a charity to give so much to a community overall, and directly to a charity. It wasn't that hard. They are already talking about next year.
Wade offered to talk to anyone who wants more information on how they can host a similar event in their community. Susan Finch is also available to anyone who wants to brainstorm events. Wade can be reached [email protected].
Here are the steps Wade recommends.
1. Find a local quality band that has a danceable set.
2. Local food trucks.
3. Partners who may be willing to share the expense.
4. A local charity you are truly attached to - you have to be all in.
5. Charity is always the focus. You are in the background.
6. Best to keep it a smaller community event under 500 people.
7. Pull permits.
Plan this starting at least six months out.
 

Nina Acosta, the Area Coordinator for Riverside Binky Patrol, told us, "When I started doing this with my daughter 15 years ago, I didn't think that it would still be here!" Susan asked her the reason she's still in Binky Patrol and her favorite part. Nina says it's the stories. Knowing the difference a binky their chapter made given to one child keeps them all going. Being able to immediately handle the need of a child or family in their community is another driving force keeping them motivated. Nina says, "If somebody calls me and says, 'Hey, I've got a, a friend that their house burned down' or 'I've got some kids and that mom's struggling, they don't have blankets, and they're freezing,' just knowing that because of this, I can help them. It might not be a lot it's, but it's enough for what they need at the time."
Nina Acosta is a 15 year volunteer and chapter leader for Binky Patrol. She says being able to immediately handle the need of a child or family in their community is another driving force keeping them motivated. What did you do this month to change the life of a child in need? We have ideas on our website.

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. 

There are 6 elements a 501c3 orgs website must have to build trust and give a clear picture of the impact of the organization. Listen to this episode for the list
Kimberly Ofilas, Healthcare Partnerships Communications Manager at Direct Relief joins us to talk about the must-haves for a non-profit organization's website to build trust and credibility, as well as clarity of the organization's mission. Kim's experience with non-profits and many segments stretches back to when Binky Patrol started. Her current position with Direct Relief has allowed her heart to be full. Direct Relief works to equip health professionals in resource-poor communities to meet the challenges of diagnosing and caring for people in need.
List includes a privacy policy, about page with actual directors and officers listed, clearly state what you do first thing on the home page, your 501c3 number, links to charity review sites such as Guide Star, stories showing what you do to have impact.

When people have the idea to start a non-profit, they usually know some of the steps, especially if they've had experience in a board role before. We learned a lot when we started Binky Patrol and wanted to help newer non-profits avoid mistakes that could cost them their reputation, sponsors, and ability to grow.
VERIFY you have set up your 501c3 correctly at the federal and state level. Not doing this can cause all sorts of issues if you are not truly a non-profit but have been accepting donations. Have your documentation from both the feds and state handy in a folder on your computer or a shared drive. This includes your articles of incorporation and bylaws.
Register and submit your organization to sites such as GuideStar for credibility. This includes adding them to various directories and other organizations such as the United Way, Benevity, and other foundation sites that work with companies on matching funds. You will need an active website and should have an email with that domain name. You will have to pay for it. Google is the best mail service.
Register your site with TechSoup to get discounts on software and other items to run your organization. It has saved us a ton.
GET A REAL CPA! You need someone familiar with non-profits and compliance. Do your due diligence and check out their reputation, and contact other 501c3s they handle. This will make all the difference. They can help you with the handbook and other items to get started. Protect yourself, your reputation, and that of your great volunteers.
Create a handbook for volunteers that you review regularly. I'm not sure what Binky Patrol would do without our handbook we started our first month.
Bonus items if you are going to have regional locations.
If you will have regional chapters, how do you set them up? HIGHLY recommend not allowing ANYONE to set up a bank account. It all runs through your corporate office. You are accountable for ALL activities of each chapter. One bad apple can ruin your efforts and organization.
How often will you check in with them?
Do they have a central location for press kits, and materials to promote their local chapter?
If you donate to another organization or individuals, check them out to ensure they are what they say they are. Just as your site should have your 501c3 number, financials available upon request, and board members, so should these organizations you partner with or donate to.
 

The Legg family has welcomed over 30 foster children through their home and each one receives and leaves with a Binky Patrol blanket. They also have adopted four children from the foster system. She tells us about a child that arrived two weeks ago at her home. And just two Fridays ago, we received a, a little baby girl. And during the drop off of them inspecting our homes and whatnot. I had six blankets that had been delivered to our house and they were sitting on the porch. And, uh, the case worker that had come through said are those Binky blankets? And I said, they are. And she said, "I'm headed back to the command post. I have 18 teenagers that are sleeping in the command post right now. There aren't a lot of available foster homes." And so a lot of the older children are staying in the command post, and she said, "Can I take them? At least six will have blankets tonight."
Kimberly Legg's 19-year-old daughter says, "Mom if there's any other child that has a circumstance like mine, I wanna help to make sure that they have something that they can call their own for no matter how many years they've been in the system or how many years they've been when they're adopted or, that they have something they can call their own." Listen to the rest of this full-circle story.

What we do is simple. We make blankets and give them away to comfort teens and children who need a reminder that they matter, that they are not invisible. But can a binky be more than a blanket? Definitely, listen to this quick episode on how you can send binkies through your phone. A binky isn't just a blanket.
If a binky is a reminder that someone matters and that they are not invisible and that someone cares can it be something other than a blanket. Yes.

People want to be part of a community and a company that isn't only focused on the bottom line. Aligning with a worthy charity can fill that gap, and fill your hearts. You can also retain talent longer and attract more of the types of people you want working with you. Tim Johnson joined Binky Patrol 25 years ago when he bought is wife an elaborate sewing machine. Their entire family joined, and then the company he worked for, BMC Software. It was about actually doing something - not just writing a check. They involved all teams around the world and even those visiting the offices. Everyone was invited to get to know Binky Patrol by decorating squares for quilts, and participating in their company Bink-A-Thon. They were all in. Tune in for ideas of how you might consider getting your company involved with a charity - even if it's not Binky Patrol. What touches the heart of your team?

When Marlys Vaughan picked up the phone to talk to Susan Finch about volunteering to help with the Binky Patrol website, she had no idea it would lead to lifelong friends, a way she can craft for others, and daily joy from helping the children and teens in Salem, Massachusetts. This episode is the story of her one-woman chapter that grew to three people and a school and continues to grow.
Learn from Marlys' gentle story that you can start with a small effort and add to it as you go along the path. Marlys says one of the greatest and unexpected gifts is the friendships she has in Binky Patrol with people who have like-hearts. Hmmm, Lisa Cintron and Miriam talked about that too. I think they're on to something!