All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol
This show is about the ability to run a non-profit from the heart with a sense of humor and still be successful. We interview our volunteers, partners, and other non-profits to learn from each other, and support each other as we bring love and hope to our communities. Binky Patrol is a 100% volunteer grassroots 501c3 founded in 1996. Binky Patrol makes blankets and gives them away to children and teens in need of a reminder that they matter, are not invisible and that someone cares. We give to children who are ill, abused, or in trauma.
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Episodes
Tuesday May 17, 2022
Tuesday May 17, 2022
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.
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Tuesday May 10, 2022
Hear about a spontaneous non-profit grew to a nationwide organization from three people who were there 26 years ago. Miriam talks about walking the streets – of Laguna Beach, and Lisa talks about the streets of Skid Row, and how volunteering for Binky Patrol forever changed their lives. Learn about Binky Patrol and hear the reminder about volunteering and how it can be FUN, easy and give you forever friendships. Join us for this episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol hosted by founder, Susan Finch.
Learn more about Binky Patrol at https://binkypatrol.org . We are an all-volunteer 501c3.
We make blankets and give them away.
We are an all-volunteer organization that makes blankets and gives them away to children and teens in need of comfort.
We started this podcast to help smaller non-profits get started with ideas and tips we've learned from doing this since 1996. It is possible to have a successful non-profit without paying people large salaries. You just have to think with your heart, and think smart.
Susan Finch started Binky Patrol in 1996 when her mom asked her if she'd help her make blankets for unwed mothers. Susan realized there were more people like her with limited time to volunteer, but a desire to help. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Blankets must be homemade, from the heart, and washable. That's it.
Tune into this podcast to hear stories from early volunteers, recipients, partner organizations and sponsors who believe in the mission of giving kids a reminder that they matter, they are not invisible, and someone cares.
This podcast is sponsored by Funnel Media Group. A boutique podcast production and promotion station.
If you would like to be a guest on our show, book the time here and we follow up with you.