NotFatherless

Running a charity comes with all sorts of crazy stories of overcoming the odds. Here's one from this last Christmas season: For some context, I started my charity NotFatherless in 2017. Since then, we've raised more than $50,000 for children's homes in Mexico. I work with 3 children's homes who take in kids who've lost their parents or whose parents can no longer care for them. On December 5th, 2023, a couple that regularly donates to NotFatherless reached out and said they wanted to buy Christmas gifts for one of our Partnered Children's Homes. With only 20 days until Christmas, it was a tight timeline. But I said, "Absolutely, let's make it happen!" This same couple bought a new fridge and dryer a few years ago for Melody's Children's Home. So, we decided to keep with tradition and bless Casa Melody's (the family in the pics below). The problem was that Casa Melody's is located in Reynosa, which is a 6-hour drive from where I live in Houston. There are also 17 people in their household, ranging from ages 3 to 60! How were we going to get 17 gifts to Mx in time for Christmas?🤔 Over the course of the following 2 weeks, we brainstormed ideas of what the kids might like and tried to figure out how to get them delivered. We didn't want to buy a heap of cheap stuff, either. The donor was adamant the kids get gifts they'll actually enjoy. I reached out to Jaime Mayorga, the co-director of Casa Melody's, to see if he knew if the kids had a list. He replied with a PDF with 3 to 4 gift suggestions for each child in their care. Problem one✅ Next, we needed to know where to send everything. Thankfully, I know two wonderful missionaries (Bruce and Paula Hepburn) who live on the American side of the McAllen/Reynosa border. They allowed us to ship the gifts to their US address. Another problem solved✅ Then came the shopping. Even though Jaime's list had sizes for everyone, online shopping is always an exercise in hope. You never know if you'll get what you think you're buying, or if any of it will fit. Jaime's list had coats, skates, pajamas, and shoes for most of the kids. We searched all over Amazon Prime to see what could get there before Christmas. Remarkably, everything the kids wanted was available and according to the shipping estimate would make it on time! We typed in Bruce and Paula's address, prayed the sizes were accurate, and pressed order. And here's the really crazy part... Everything arrived at Bruce and Paula's on December 23rd and they were generous enough to deliver the gifts to Casa Melody's ON CHRISTMAS DAY! They're a real-life Mr. and Mrs. Claus🎅🤶 Somehow, believe it or not, everything fit!! Jaime told me "Everything is perfect!" So many things came together to make this donation happen that no one person can take the credit. I chalk it up to a Christmas miracle. God works through NotFatherless like this all the time. He always uses the generosity of others to make sure his people are provided for.

Let's make this Giving Tuesday flush with generosity💚 This is the last day of our Buck$ for Bathrooms fundraiser and today we're talking about toilet paper. This is a basic need that is often taken for granted. Just imagine your life without toilet paper! 💯% of your donation will go toward buying toilet paper and other bathroom essentials for the 70+ youngsters that live with our Partnered Children's Homes.👫 You can donate here🙏 https://lnkd.in/gkmXwe9n While the world gets into the spirit of giving, let's remember the little things that make a BIG difference. Your donation means comfortable, clean days for these amazing kiddos! #charitywork #nonprofitwork #fightpoverty #endpoverty

This Cyber Monday, let's add some smiles to your cart! 😁 Tomorrow is the last day of our Buck$ for Bathrooms fundraiser, and we want to make sure everyone's smiles are ready for Christmas photos!🎄 So while you're browsing for deals, why not give the gift of dental care? You can donate here 🙏 https://lnkd.in/gkmXwe9n Your donation will help buy toothbrushes, toothpaste, and more for the children in our Partnered Children's Homes. As always, 💯% of every donation goes toward the cause. How's that for a Cyber Monday deal⁉️ #charitywork #nonprofitwork #endpoverty #cybermonday2023

Our fundraiser to buy bathroom supplies for our Partnered Children's Homes continues! So far, we've raised $250! Big thank you to everyone who's contributed so far. Y'all are the best! What can $250 buy? 🛁 About 41 sticks of deodorant 🛁 OR, about 83 tubes of toothpaste 🛁 OR, about 50 bottles of body soap All in all, $250 could buy one month's supply of bathroom products for about 7 kids. Our Partnered Children's Homes care for a combined 70 kids, so as you can see, we have a long way to go! If you can, please help us reach our $2,450 goal. Every dollar counts! As always, 💯% of every donation goes straight to the cause. Donate here: https://lnkd.in/gkmXwe9n #charitywork #nonprofitwork #fightingpoverty #nonprofitfundraising #povertyreduction #povertyalleviation

Deodorant: $5.79 Making sure kids have the hygiene supplies they need: Priceless Did you know that sometimes the little things, like having deodorant, can make a BIG difference? Let's sprinkle some freshness and confidence into the lives of the kids at our Partnered Children's homes! Our Buck$ for Bathrooms fundraiser is all about giving these awesome kiddos the boost they need, one roll of deodorant at a time. Join us in this sweet-smelling mission to keep them feeling cool, collected, and ready to conquer the world! Your support means everything. Let's roll up our sleeves (and maybe apply some deodorant 😉 )for a fundraiser that's fresh, fun, and full of heart! You can donate here: https://lnkd.in/gkmXwe9n #charitywork #nonprofitwork #fightingpoverty #nonprofitfundraising #childrenscharity

You wouldn't believe how expensive it is to stock a bathroom! 😨 That's why we're running a fundraiser to help buy bathroom supplies for our Partnered Children's Homes! It costs about $25-$35 per month to provide each child with things like: 👉 Feminine hygiene products 👉 Toothpaste 👉 Combs and hair products 👉 Toilet paper 👉 Deodorant 👉 Shampoo and soap And right now, our Partnered Children's Homes care for a combined 7️⃣ 0️⃣ kids! If you do that math, it comes out to $2,450 a month in bathroom supplies. This is a significant burden we want to unload from our Partnered Children's Home. So, let's raise $2450 or more! As always, 💯 % of every donation goes straight to the cause. https://lnkd.in/gkmXwe9n #charitywork #nonprofitwork #fightpoverty #nonprofitorganization #nonprofitlife

Our friends at Casa Melody's (Melody's Children's Home) recently moved into a new location! If you don't know, this has been many years in the making and the process left them homeless for a while... I tell the story in this newsletter: https://shorturl.at/fswY5 #charitywork #nonprofitwork #fightingpoverty #povertyreduction #povertyalleviation

If you have a burning question about NotFatherless you just have to ask, drop it in the comments! #endpoverty #fightingpoverty #nonprofitwork #nonprofitlife

Meet our founder Clay! He started NotFatherless in 2017 after a mission trip to Mexico where he witnessed first-hand how generational poverty destroys families and entire communities. He left Mexico with a simple vision and a calling to start an organization that raises money for Christian children's homes. And NotFatherless was born! Since then, Clay has realized that the children's homes NotFatherless partners with have a powerful model for fighting generational poverty. By providing basic needs, a loving home, an education, and the Gospel, they give kids in their community a real shot at life that they didn't have before. #nonprofitwork #fightingpoverty #povertyreduction #povertyalleviation #charitywork #childrenscharity

Meet our founder Clay! He started NotFatherless in 2017 after a mission trip to Mexico where he witnessed first-hand how generational poverty destroys families and entire communities. He left Mexico with a simple vision and a calling to start an organization that raises money for Christian children's homes. And NotFatherless was born! Since then, Clay has realized that the children's homes NotFatherless partners with have a powerful model for fighting generational poverty. By providing basic needs, a loving home, an education, and the Gospel, they give kids in their community a real shot at life that they didn't have before. #nonprofitwork #fightingpoverty #povertyreduction #povertyalleviation #charitywork #childrenscharity