This summer, I learned about a grant offered through my church that is awarded to members who are working to bring love and care to others. Lynn and I discussed what projects we could create for the fall that could use that grant money. We decided to do a coat drive for a Milwaukee school. This choice was guided by our experiences in public schools in Milwaukee and Joliet.  It was not uncommon for either of us to see a student enter our doors in a sweatshirt in the middle of winter, or to have a child called in sick because it was too cold that day and they didn't have sufficient protection from the elements to venture out.  We knew that November and December are more typical months for "giving" but we wanted to deliver the coats by the end of October, when it starts to get cold. 

We reached out to MPS and learned that many schools are actually given lots of coats by organizations such as the Brewers. A little discouraging for our goal, but truly, how great is that? One of our Advisory Board Members, Aimee, suggested we contact the Silver Spring Neighborhood Center.

Lynn and I called the SSNC and set up a meeting with a staff member. Devin gave us an overview of the programs offered at SSNC and a tour of the facility. It is truly amazing how many programs they offer there and how well it's all organized. The following day, Devin sent us an email with a list of ages and sizes of the kids who would need coats soon. 102 in total.

Then we panicked a little bit because we're still new at this.

We set two dates for card-making and asked TOAM families to bring addresses of family and friends who could help us bring in winter gear. We sent out about seventy requests for coats that way. We also reached out through personal conversations with friends, on our TOAM Facebook page, and through an online Facebook group called KidsCycle, created by another Advisory Board Member, Annie. Two weeks into October is when the coats started coming in. Families gave us coats at school, we received shipments of coats and our Secretary, Kathleen, made the rounds to so many houses to pick up coat donations. We held on tight to our grant money, a fantastic monetary donation from a group called North Shore Moms, and several other checks people sent us. 

One of the best parts of the coat drive was seeing the thoughtfulness that donors put into their selections. People imagined the child, what they might like in a style of coat, what colors would make it withstand a winter, and if it was warm enough. 

We set the deadline for coat donations a week before we were to deliver them to SSNC. Once that day arrived, we counted up (for the second time) all that we had and made plans to purchase the remaining coats.  We looked at Target, TJ Maxx, Burlington Coat Factory, Old Navy, and Kohls and compared prices and quality on the coats we had left to purchase. This year, where we live, TJ Maxx and Burlington Coat Factory had the best quality coats at the cheapest prices. With a well-timed coupon to Old Navy, we grabbed around 80 hats and gloves to finish out the winter gear purchases.

In the end, TOAM collected 197 coats, 303 winter accessories, and 7 bags of outerwear and clothing for the center's emergency services department. We were overwhelmed by the outpouring of generosity from our extended TOAM community.

At our last board meeting, members sat around the table and stuffed envelopes with thank you cards and tax receipts to those who helped us out with the coat drive.

We strive to make our volunteering as hands-on and as face-to-face as possible for our children. The coat drive offered different lessons for our children. For those of us who discussed the coat drive with our kids, we were having conversations about needs and wants. A great lesson for children. For those of us whose children watched us donate, count up coats, and so on, they were seeing great examples of caring and that's just as important. 

Thank you to everyone who participated in the SSNC coat drive this year. We hope you are inspired by our efforts to do the same in your community. It is hard work but well worth it. We wish all children at SSNC and in Milwaukee a warm and fun winter.

-Jean, Co-Founder and Co-Director

This summer, Lynn and I wondered what we would do for our organization's first birthday. Throw a party? Host a pot-luck dinner? Bug the Milwaukee news outlets until they ran a story about us so more parents could join us and learn the unpredictable, exciting, lump-in-the-throat joy that is volunteering with children? In the end, we celebrated with simplicity and gratitude and returned to the place of our first mission. 

On a very windy morning in Milwaukee, I packed my kids and their costumes into my car. As we drove down to St. John's, I talked with my five year old son about how it's great to say "Trick or Treat" and "thank you" but it's also nice to say more. I suggested he talk about his costume, ask the residents questions, compliment them. 

He added, "and show them my karate moves."

When we showed up, we were greeted by friends, people my children and I have come to know and love over the past year. I smiled at how our group has grown with new families and new family members born. The staff greeted us and led our mini-Halloween parade through the doors.

We were surprised to find the residents and staff lining the hallway in Halloween costumes, just like us. Our children sang a song for them and once again, we were surprised to find that they had prepared a song for us. It was a life moment- to feel the light and love in that hallway. I will never forget it. 

And YES, I cried- when young and old serenaded each other in ninja and cowboy costumes and when I watched my son walk through the halls handing out thank you cards and initiating conversations with everyone.  

I am shocked to see how TOAM has grown in one year. I love to watch our organization shift and stretch as more families get involved and start to share their ideas for our group. Now that we have a board and are old enough to have "regulars," Lynn and I say to each other more and more "I never would have come up with that idea!" It's absolutely thrilling.

A milestone calls for reflection and I must share with you how I see our one year anniversary changing the lives of my children. Yes, they hear "I need to just get a little bit of work done for TOAM" more frequently. Yes, they have new friends and have a wider network of adults who care for them. But on the level Lynn and I most hoped for, I have seen change. My children care more and are more conscientious about the world.

As I type this, I am on a trip to see my 91 year old grandmother. My children and I have not seen her in two years. Since they are only three and five, they did not remember being around her. Prior to the trip, my son asked me "Will Grandma be like the people at St. John's?"  A little while later, he said he would like to do crafts with her and take her out to breakfast.

Today was our reunion. My babies smiled and performed their ballet and karate moves for her. My son spoke loudly when she asked him to and moved in close to chat while making a craft. It was an unforgettable morning  and I know TOAM helped make it so beautiful.

Thank you, TOAM. Thank you to everyone who welcomed us in our first year.

-Jean Heffernan, co-founder and co-director

The age of the participants for a recent morning exercise session at Harwood Place in Wauwatosa spanned from 1 to 92. TOAM shared smiles, snacks, and stomach crunches with the welcoming residents of the retirement community on October 26.  The highlight was parachute exercises, where the children delighted in hiding beneath the canopy and Gunnar Zipp's exuberance literally rubbed off on the gymnasium floor (hope your head is feeling better, Gunnar).  TOAM thanks the folks at Harwood and the moms (and dad) who participated in and helped organize this Mission. Throughout, all generations were equally glad to have each other's company.

Doug, Dad of Mia (3 years) and Annie (12 weeks)

We had a wonderful experience meeting with the residents of St. John's.  Their appreciation and joy with watching and interacting with all the kids was readily apparent and truly genuine, making the entire time extremely enjoyable.  The host of the event was great, storytime really captivated the kids, and then just letting them play freely with the toys and interact with the residents was the true highlight.  I was there with 2 babies, my daughter Grace (11 months) and our family friend Bodie (16 months), both of them had a blast!  One of the residents happened to share my daughter's name, Grace, which gave her such a thrill, and it was something so little like that, that really put a spotlight on how much joy events like this can bring to all involved.  

As a parent, and as someone who has recently had elder family members in retirement and assisted living communities, it's extra special to watch the joy that kids can bring to people by doing nothing more than simply doing what they do. We look very forward to continuing to be a part of these great experiences.

-Crystal Marie Kennedy-Handal

This weekend, TOAM families participated in a fun run hosted by InStep  in the Third Ward. The proceeds from the fun run benefited the Interchange Food Pantry. As I drove my children down to the event, I explained why we were participating:

"We want to help a food pantry feed people who have a hard time buying food."

"We're going to have fun with our friends."

I didn't tell them that they would be warmly welcomed and cheered on by a group of adults who had just met them. Nor did I mention that they would inadvertently be entered into a second race for Feeding America (we were slightly slower than your average 5K participant and this second race started as we made our way along the lakefront). I neglected to mention that they would get to high five a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, roll down grass hills, and feed the ducks swimming in Lake Michigan. Because I did not expect any of that!

But that unknown is absolutely part of the beauty of being part of the TOAM family.

As we roll into our one year anniversary next month, I have become more reflective on our experiences with TOAM and it's the element of surprise that stands out strongly to me as I look back.

I truly cannot wait to see what happy surprises lie in wait for us in the upcoming year.

-Jean

Co-founder and Co-director

Fish poop helps grow plants?!?!? 

Goat poop heats greenhouses?!?!

Worms make soil rich?!?!

Ewww!

These are just a few of the fun facts the kids learned today at Growing Power, a Milwaukee urban farm. On this beautiful, chilly Saturday morning, TOAM families went on their first "learning mission" (a.k.a. field trip) to learn about the farming that happens just down the road from us on Silver Spring Road. 

We feel so grateful that we were able to visit this fantastic Milwaukee establishment. Thank you, Growing Power for your patience with our rowdy group and for inspiring us to be more, do more, and reach more.

Lynn and Jean

Founders and Directors of TOAM

We completed our last mission for All Peoples Church and their Kids Working to Succeed program.  Since June, our children packed 180 lunches. They also made friends, learned about cooperation, and had fun! 

Chrissy, mom of Lucy and Olive, says it best:

My toddler really enjoys being helpful and having a task to complete. Packing lunch sacks is the perfect task for her little hands! I am so happy to have this opportunity to teach my little ones about how they can help others and make a difference. 

Thank you Lucy, Olive, and Chrissy and everyone who participated in our missions this summer! A gigantic thank you to All Peoples Church and Christ Church Whitefish Bay for warmly welcoming us into their projects. In August, TOAM will meet for a get-to-know-you playdate.  In September, we are looking into taking our first weekend "Learning Mission" at a Milwaukee facility. We're also going crazy with a West-side, afternoon mission! October will bring our one year anniversary celebration and coat drive. In November, we will supply a Milwaukee pregnancy center with items for expectant mothers. 

All dates will be available in our emails. If you would like to join the list, please fill out a contact form.

"Mom, everybody likes happy."

-Mia, two years old

"It was fun cause Peoples All Church was cool."

-Elodie, three years old

"We got to eat with the kids that worked in the garden for a long time and it was awesome."

-Ronan, five years old

"There where chaotic toddlers everywhere but everything still managed to get done. We packed fifty lunches!"

-TOAM Parent

Today was our third mission to pack lunches for the Kids Working to Succeed program, a part of Harvest Hands at All Peoples Church. KWTS has grown to include fifty children now. Christ Church Episcopal generously provided the food for the lunches again today. The TOAM families donated food to the All Peoples food pantry and loudly assembled the lunches.

If you would like more information, please click on the following links. 

Harvest Hands Blog -their latest post features a recipe for Rhubarb Crisp!

All Peoples Church is renovating their entire kitchen. They will now host St. Vincent de Paul's meal program. This means APC will serve up to 500 people, five nights a week. Click here to learn more and be inspired.

What an abundant turnout! We had enough food and drinks to fill 45 overflowing lunch sacks plus extra to leave as snacks for the hardworking children and teens of All Peoples Church. Our toddlers and big kids were eager to help, and our task was accomplished within 30 minutes -- record timing! 

We loved meeting new friends today! We had new moms and a dad join us with their children and a grandmother stopped by to donate a huge box of chips. We are thankful for the help of so many within our community.

More families came along today to All Peoples Church to see Kids Working To Succeed in action -- an amazing opportunity to see volunteerism at its best! We were greeted with "hellos" and "welcomes" and learned that mint leaves are a great source of Vitamin C, forks help kids identify what is a plant (not a weed) and non-genetically altered strawberries are smaller, have thin skin and are delicious!

Our next official date for Sack Pack #3 is Tuesday, July 21st. Christ Church will provide the food, and we will provide the "kid power." When we delivered lunches today, we learned that there is a need for lunches on a few dates between now and the 21st. We would like to set up an impromptu Sack Pack before the end of July. Stay tuned to your email for an update. If you would like to be added to our email list, please complete the contact form on this website.

Kudos to our TOAM families for making today such a SUCCESS! 

Sometimes our brains get stuck on one idea and we will not rest until that idea has been realized. 

Today, we decorated birdhouses and cards. When all the paint blobs dry those birdhouses will be given as surprise gifts to our neighbors. My children have plotted who gets their "masterpiece" for a week now! It will be a small-scale act of community building that I hope will teach my children that kindness and giving can happen right on their own street.

Originally, our plan was different. We wanted to partner with a local green-space, decorate using birdhouses, and use our kidpower to clean up any litter we found. Try as we might, the plan just did not want to come together. It was hard to let go of our idea but what sprang from that disappointment ended up being very beautiful. 

After everyone arrived this morning, I briefly stood apart from the group with my daughter and we looked at all the families who had gathered in our backyard. We both agreed that we were so lucky to host this event that was building community as we worked and will continue to do so as we give our birdhouses away.

-Jean Heffernan, Co-founder

As we gathered nearly twenty children to read How Full is Your Bucket? For Kids by Tom Rath and Mary Reckmeyer, one could see and hear the high energy level of our group. We read about how “filling other’s buckets” by acting kind and helpful can result in our “own buckets” being filled.  These “invisible buckets” serve as a metaphor for how we (and others) feel inside.

This important lesson permeated our morning together as our children prepared forty sack lunches for the Kids Working to Succeed (KWTS) program at All People’s Church in Milwaukee. Our youngest helpers dropped fruit, candy bars, chips and napkins in each bag while our four to five year olds bagged carrots and our oldest volunteers (six years and up) put together sandwiches. Volunteers of all ages found a purpose and we completed our mission within a half-hour. Quite an accomplishment!

Lynne Schley (Christ Church KWTS lunch coordinator), Jean and I took our children to deliver the lunches to the work site of KWTS. Upon our arrival, we were greeted by other volunteers who were working with nearly forty teenage children to build and tend their beautiful urban garden on the corner of North 2nd and West Clarke Streets. One volunteer took the time to show our children an enormous earthworm and explained the importance of worm life for composting and soil richness.

After exploring the garden, we brought the lunches into the beautiful church and left them for the hard workers of All People’s Church. Our experience today left me (yet again) convinced that starting TOAM has and will continue to impact the lives of many throughout the greater Milwaukee community.

And it left me wondering…who else in our community has “invisible buckets” that need to be filled by us?

-Lynn Raines, Co-Founder

As a new stay at home mom, I want to give my kids and myself opportunities to socialize and make new friends, as well as learn about making others feel good. But, I was a little apprehensive about joining a new group where I'd likely not know anyone.

I took a leap and decided to go to the TOAM gathering to make vases, flowers and placemats to bring to the Clinton Rose Senior Center. I was blown away by how friendly and welcoming everyone at the gathering was! I was even more blown away when we presented our gifts to the seniors at the center and sang songs to them before their lunch. Many of the seniors joined in with the singing and had a great time chatting with the kids and the moms after our performance.

Lunch with the kids and moms after our volunteer mission provided a wonderful opportunity to get to know everyone a little better. It was such a rewarding and fun experience. I can't wait for our next event!

-Andrea 

Where could we spread some cheer?

Sometimes our TOAM mission location is chosen because an organization is responsive. Other times, a TOAM mom has background experience that leads her to suggest volunteering in a certain place. This time it was both. 

Allie made contact with the Manager of Patient Experience and Volunteer Services at Aurora Medical Center in Grafton about a possible TOAM mission and they quickly settled on a location for the event and a date.

How do we get everyone to a gathering?

After the date was set, we brainstormed what we could do within our time-frame (max. 30 minutes because toddlers are involved) at the center. We chose two crafts and reserved a room at our local library to create. We sent out a Google Doc asking TOAM participants to sign up to bring supplies, snacks, and for a mom to read a story and sing a few songs.

Crafting

Moms and kids created the crafts at the library. Truly our crafts are chosen for economy and attention-span. As you can see in the photos, our rainbow was made with streamers and cheap cotton balls. We knew someone would have streamers in their house that could be used and that children love glue. Sounds like a great project. For our daffodils, we pre-cut the flowers and all the kids needed to do was paint. Paint the pots, the table, themselves...

The Event

We arranged to meet with our contact at the center and then we were quickly off to the cafeteria to decorate. Like all of our visits, they last just a short while so the entertainment and fun levels stay high before snack requests and diaper change needs set in.

Let's Wrap it Up!

Post visit, we sent an email out to volunteers with some photos and possible next dates for a mission. These are the easiest emails to send since we're usually on such a positive note from the event and can't wait to meet again!

-Jean

On a cold January day we trudged through the snow and ice to deliver our carefully crafted "Welcome Bags" to the Sojourner Peace Center. Only two days prior, we were sorting toothpastes, shampoo, blankets, and other essentials into mom and child welcome bags. We all loaded up our arms, both moms and tots, carrying the bags into the front office. When we unloaded our last load, our donations filled the entire floor of the office. It was then that we realized how much we had collected. The staff was overwhelmed by the donation and even more so when they discovered all the goodies contained inside each bag.

We then proceeded to tour the building where the families stay after fleeing domestic violence. I was struck by simplicity of the environment in comparison to what I have come to think of as essentials for living. The families that move in here may not have any possessions they bring along. I thought about how important and comforting it would be for them to receive one of the welcome bags we assembled. As we left, the day didn't feel so cold anymore. It was great to meet the staff and learn more about the Sojourner Family Peace Center.

-Kathleen, mom of Thomas

I would be fibbing if I said I wasn't a little nervous about bringing my 22 month old and 5 month old to our first "TOAM at Home" experience.  My 2 year old James is a wonderfully busy and inquisitive little man and would need much attention in our new friends home.  Katie, my 3 month would also need attention, how would this go? 

It didn't take but one minute to feel fully welcomed and at ease when we arrived at Lynn's home to make Halloween cookies and crafts.  Later that week we had our second TOAM experience, "TOAM Time" at St John's nursing home where we delivered these creations to the seniors.  It was an amazing time.  To see our little ones deliver treat bags filled with baked goodies and Halloween cards to seniors who just appreciate a visit and a smile was heart warming! 

Since our first experience we have been a part of each TOAM event and I hear quotes like this at least once a day by my son James who is now two and half. 

"I had sooo much fun at Mia's house"

"I make crafts with all my friends"

"I go to the senior center"

"I sing songs for all the grandmas and grandpas"

"I had lotsa raisins at my friends house"

TOAM is working, our little ones are learning what it means to spread cheer, what it means to give back to those in our community and we all certainly enjoy the beautiful chaos that occurs while all of this happens.  Not only do both of my children thrive at TOAM experiences but as a stay at home mom looking to feel as though I am part of my community, it's just the perfect fit!  TOAM is relaxed yet organized and we are so proud to be a part of it. 

-Allie, mom of James and Katie