Contributor: Amy McInnes, Austin Allies 2020 Intern
The summer of 2020 was one like never before. We’ve become more comfortable with the unexpected, learning that we cannot predict or plan accordingly for the future that isn’t within arm’s reach. The world seemed to change over night, but there is one thing that stayed consistent, the dedication and diligence of the Austin Allies community. We’re beyond thankful at the response we’ve gotten from everyone over the summer, and we’re grateful that when it seemed uncertain of what’s next, Austin Allies could serve as a constant for you and your family. Thanks to all the wonderful volunteers we’ve gotten the pleasure to work with this summer, Austin Allies has made many positive impacts in Austin and in the lives of the community. Stay-at-home volunteering wasn’t a part of the summer we envisioned for 2020 but we made it work for us! We wanted to remember all the good that’s been done over the summer thanks to our Austin Allies families.
APRIL & MAY
-We created a list of at-home activities for families to do on their own while everyone was adjusting to what was becoming our new normal.
-We were given almost 30 packages of cupcake mix to bake and then give out to the people within the Austin community experiencing homelessness.
JUNE
-In June we started off making artwork and cards to give to the senior clients at the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area. They asked us to share drawings, notes, poems, etc. for the people within their care at their 108 facilities or through their in-home program. Through the small mementos made by our Allies we brought so many smiles and laughs to the people that are struggling with isolation during the stay-at-home order. The artwork for our friends at the Area Agency of Aging of the Capital Area continued through July and August.
-We wrote welcome notes to the incoming families served by the Refugee Services of Texas - Austin to go inside kitchen supply boxes. Later on we partnered with the Refugee Services of Texas - Austin to host a Pen Pal program between Austin Allies families and families served by the RST. Over 30 kids in the RST were interested in writing to our Allies and we hit the ground running. It was so heartwarming to see the response from our Allies who wanted to learn from a child their own age and help them feel accepted and welcomed in a new environment. The pen pal letters continued throughout the summer.
-Austin Allies collected 20 boxes from BookSpring that were then counted, sorted, and stickered, by our Allies. Together we helped to count and sticker nearly 700 books! We were also given the opportunity to let our volunteers write/record book reviews, and read aloud some favorite picture book stories in order to promote BookSpring and the value of reading.
-Our Allies painted pots and small canvases to brighten up the homes of the Community First Village, a 51-acre community that provides affordable and permanent housing for those coming out of chronic homelessness.
-We had our first of many diaper drives for the Austin Diaper Bank, they provide diapers to people of Central Texas who need a consistent and reliable source of diapers. Once the diaper donations were collected it was time to sort them. By the end of June we were able to drop off 1,490 diapers and wipes to the Austin Diaper Bank.
-Thanks to III Forks we were able to provide packaged meals for the families at the Ronald McDonald House of Central Texas when we could not cook for them, III Forks provided everything at no cost. Thank you III Forks!
-We teamed up with the VA Outpatient Center in Austin to provide their staff and local veterans with baked goods to wish them a Happy Independence Day!
JULY
-Saint Louise House provides affordable housing and essential services to mothers and children experiencing homelessness. Due to the pandemic, the camps and activities that were planned for the children were cancelled, so Austin Allies donated and bundled 75 activity kits to give to the Saint Louise House.
-I Support The Girls - Austin collects and distributes essentials for womxn experiencing homelessness, impoverishment, or distress. We collected new/gently used bras and underwear and sealed feminine hygiene products to donate. They also had bags full of 350 bras that needed to be washed before they could be distributed to the community, and that’s where we came in. All 350 bras were washed, and we were able to gather 70 pairs of new underwear, and near 1,000 pads and tampons to donate to I Support the Girls.
-We were given over 5,000 diapers from the Austin Diaper Bank for our volunteers to bundle and label. Once they were all bundled and labeled by our Allies they were given back to the Austin Diaper Bank.
-We got to bake some goodies for the hard-working staff and residents of Liana of South Austin Memory Care, a person-centered and compassionate memory care assisted living facility that specializes in caring for people with Alzheimer’s and other forms of dementia.
-We got the opportunity to partner with Snkr Truck, a fellow 501c3 nonprofit that collects new and gently used sneakers to give them to organizations and people in need in the Austin area.
-Towards the end of July, Crema Bakery & Cafe helped provide a meal delivery for the families at the Ronald McDonald House.
AUGUST
-The Salvation Army Austin asked us if we could help supply masks for the 75 kids staying at their Family Shelter. Austin Allies was able to provide 200 masks to the kids staying at the Salvation Army Austin’s Family Shelter. Thank you to everyone who donated supplies and made the masks!
-Foster Angels of Central Texas needed our help with their annual school supply drive. In order to guarantee success for over 2,000 students going into this upcoming school year they needed brand new backpacks filled with school supplies. We asked to have enough school supplies to fill 50 backpacks and that’s exactly what we did! Each backpack was filled to the brim with school supplies, and thanks to our Allies that donated and packed the bags they are set to have a successful school year.
-Austin Creative Reuse is a nonprofit focused on reducing waste and recycling common items as well as fostering creativity. They asked for us to help them organize their donated materials in order for them to be put up for sale in their thrift store.
-Girlstart aspires to be the national leader in designing and implementing innovative, high quality informal STEM education programs that inspire girls to transform our world. They asked us to help them prep their at-home after school program materials and they gave us 732 to work with.
-Our Allies baked some goodies to give to our neighbors experiencing homelessness.
-We were given almost 8,000 diapers from the Austin Diaper Bank to bundle and label.
-Our at home Allies donated dozens of pet beds and toys for Austin’s local shelters and animal organizations.
WHAT'S TO COME: SEPTEMBER
-For September we’re still accepting Art for Seniors at the Area Agency on Aging of the Capital Area, BookSpring read alouds and book reviews, and Refugee Services welcome cards.
-We’re doing another round of helping Austin Creative Reuse to help organize, tag, and price their donations. Pick up will be 9/4 and will need to be returned by 9/13.
-We want to show our appreciation for the hard working administration and staff members at Allison and Perez Elementary Schools. To show our appreciation we’re going to be baking them treats (cookies, muffins, cupcakes and brownies)! These will need to be delivered on Monday, 9/7 by 6pm.
-With the partnership of Oak Hill Girl Scout Troop #1990 who is working hard to earn their Bronze Award, we will be decorating rocks with kind words or beautiful artwork. We'll be delivering the rocks to a local family organization (TBD) to create an inspiring rock garden for those that they serve. Pick up rocks from Erika's on Friday, 9/11 at 4pm (unless using your own) and return by Sunday, 9/20 at 6pm. Volunteers will need to supply their own paints and paintbrushes.
-No-Sew T-Shirt Totes for Travis County Food Pantry! Help us make tote bags from gently worn t-shirts for the Travis County Food Pantries! We'll provide the shirts and the instructions. Pick up your materials 9/18 - 9/20 and have them returned by 9/27. If you have old t-shirts you’d like to donate, we’ll take them off your hands, have them dropped off at Erika’s by 9/13.
-We’re going to do another diaper bundling session with Austin’s Diaper Bank! Pick up your bag from 9/25 - 9/27 and have the bundled diapers returned by 10/4.
-Don’t forget to buy your tickets for All Allies Eve, it’s our first ever family-friendly Halloween fundraiser! There will be trivia, a costume parade, games, prizes, special guests, halloween treats, and more, you won’t want to miss it! 10/31 from 3:30 - 5:00. Tickets are $35 and they’re in limited supply!
Thank you all for your flexibility and willingness to keep supporting Austin Allies and our nonprofit partners throughout this unprecedented time in all of our lives. We are so grateful to you and your families and are looking forward to a great fall full of volunteering!