saying thank you gratitude is everything

Hi blog family!

hope you are all well and have made your New Years resolutions in writing, on paper!

Wanted to chat a minute about thank you.

I thank the college youth that sent out thank you letters after receiving their gift boxes for the holidays!
There are some who still have not sent thank you self addressed stamp envelope back! I do not write this to put them on blast BUT to inform ALL foster youth: When someone, anyone, takes time or money out of their pocket to help you without asking for anything but a thank you to donors...DO IT!!
Your thank you may be the difference on other donors helping! Thanks to our Board member Sara and her spreading the word and my friends, we were able to provide 18 gift boxes this year! We might have had more if kids from last year would have sent a thank you, some from a local college never sent a thank you- which I think effected who from last year helped.

While I never do this work expecting a thank you MANY people who do give, especially when they had to choose WHO to give to, want to hear a thank you!

I ask for social workers and counselors to PLEASE teach our foster youth to say thank you in a letter or email and why it is crucial! I was surprised that a counselor would not follow through with their youth saying thank you for gift boxes. I understand some kids feel they are owed OR they don't think it matters to say thank you, I am telling you now, thank you could mean less or more help for you in the future. No one wants to feel unappreciated and remember many donors were NOT foster youth so they don't understand how we don't think its no big deal, I am telling you it IS always a big deal when ANYONE who is honest and wants nothing back, helps you!!! YOU MUST SAY THANK you so that you do not ruin it for other kids after you!

I got a nice video thank you from a young man who is a talented dancer, in fact, I have not been that excited about dancing since Michael Jackson! (yes, he and his friends are that talented!). I also got a beautiful letter from one of our graduates- much thanks to you! We also got a few other short thank you letters/notes/card. Just remember when you say thank you to donors PLEASE give us a little detail of how the items helped you if you cant think of what to say...People want to know where their money is going and you don't EVER have to give your name IF you don't choose to, I totally respect that BUT you can give a paragraph of why or how something helped you.
If we want donors to help we must be mindful that sharing your story or why something helped you, (no name details needed), is crucial for others helping us help you!

xo
smile, someone is watching you! :)
T
*if you need to reach us or would like a Robert Cooper Memorial Scholarship Application please email: FosterKidsUniteInc@gmail.com