Friday, October 23, 2009

Here we go again!!!

Hello Everyone,

I was just looking at the Mustard Seeds list of urgently needed items on their Website…… Men’s underwear is NOT listed. This one item has been eliminated thanks to us. Congratulations. The situation is similar across the Country in at least 10 shelters.

Thanks again to everyone involved in last year’s run. It was a great success and I have pledged to try again this year. Last year we saw the delivery of 25 000 pairs of underwear (3000 lbs) to individuals from coast to coast. In doing so we managed to raise some awareness and make a small difference in a lot of lives. During the journey I discovered that homelessness was a complex issue that is often viewed as hopeless. In reality I believe it is actually the sum of many smaller problems, each one with a solution. I am certain that a few individuals focused on eliminating single problems can turn a complex situation like homelessness into a solvable problem. Keeping to this simple plan of solving one problem, I will again focus on men’s underwear.

Why underwear?
1. When faced with the difficulties of living on the street basic dignity is often lost
2. There is nothing more basic than clean underwear
3. The per unit cost is low therefore more people can be reached with a given donation.
4. Underwear is typically a high need item (often at the top of shelter wish lists)
5. Many people are reluctant to give Underwear as a donation
6. This small problem is solvable
This year, like last year, I pledge to:
- Annoy and pester my Friends, Family and Professional contacts for donations
- Purchase high quality product at the very best price
- Personally deliver the underwear to as many shelters as possible (10 major cities starting in Vancouver and moving east)
- Ensure that every dollar donated goes to the purchase of clean new underwear
- Keep you all informed of the progress as we move forward

Unlike last year I plan to:
- Provide 3 sizes L, XL, and XXL
- Increase the number of units per city to 3000 (more if donations allow)

To start us off I pledge to personally match the first $5 000.00 in Donations. I will follow with a further $5 000.00 lump donation if we reach a total of $25 000.00.

Remember every dollar counts, and every donor will receive a tax deductable receipt.

I hope you will all join me again this year.

Donations can be made 3 ways:

By Phone:
Contact the Mustard Seed 403 269 1319 tell them you would like to contribute to the GotGinch Underwear fund.

On Line:
https://www.theseed.ca/DonationForm.html be sure to indicate the donation is for the GotGinch Underwear Fund in the comments section

To Brent:
Cash, or Cheques, can be given to me directly and I will submit them for you.

The website is still active though not yet updated: www.gotclothing.ca
I hope to the see the documentary of last year’s journey completed in late winter.

Brent King
V.P. Operations
Tenet Medical Engineering
W 403 571 0750
F 403 571 0752
C 403 561 1558