Students Organize Donation Drive for Diapers and Wipes

Hello we are Fraser Bissett, Kyler Buckhout and Mayer Shaffer. We are 8th Grade students at Joe Michell TK-8th school in Livermore.

Joe Michell School is an International Baccalaureate School and each year, the 8th grade students complete a community project. The community project focuses on community and service, and encourages us to explore our right and responsibility to implement service as action.

We knew from the start that we wanted our project to support children, and in researching local organizations, we came across the Alameda County Foster Parent Association and quickly thereafter the clothing closet run by Joyce.

After emailing Joyce, she identified that the clothing closet was always in need of diapers and wipes and so we made a donation request video and poster that we used to reach out to our families and local community to ask for donations. We also attended a give and take event that was held at our school and run by Friends of Joe Michell School (FJMS). FJMS allowed us to set up a booth where we talked to people about the clothing closet, shared the video of Joyce and the work that she does, while collecting diapers, wipes and cash donations.

Over the course of our diapers and wipes donation drive, we were able to buy over $900 worth of diapers and wipes. We are so appreciative of our local community for supporting this donation drive and thankful for the guidance we received from Joyce to help us make this happen.

A Great Resource for Foster and Probation Youth

The Independent Living Program (ILP) serves the Foster and Probation youth in Alameda County. Their Mission is to “help foster youth meet their basic needs and become self-sufficient adults making conscious and healthy decisions”.

ILP eligible youth are usually referred to ILP by their child welfare workers or probation officers. If you have a youth in your care that you think is eligible for services and has not been referred yet, speak to the youth’s child welfare worker about a referral to the program. Youth and families can also self-refer to the program. Check their website for more information and contact information.  

Tatyahna’s Story in Her Own Words

It is not a coincidence that God’s allowed me to bless the same organization that not only I, but both my sisters were adopted out of; it’s just a fraction of how faithful and how good He is.

Now God has blessed me with the opportunity to stand in the gap for the foster kids, as I once was. Like Philippians 2:13 says “For God is working in you, giving you the desire and the power to do what pleases Him”. We are called to serve God, that means we serve his people and that is what I’ve committed my life to doing.

I’m a Girl Scout as I have been for the past 13 years now, and I’m currently working on my Gold Award.  The Gold Award is so tedious that it’s only earned by 5.4% of Girl Scouts in the US yearly.

I got the backpacks/school supplies by speaking at my church, reaching out to my Home- Schooling group for donations, and the community at large. Let me just say I was so beyond shocked and blessed by how the Lord exceeded my expectations! I also received the Christmas stockings the same way by speaking at church, my Home-Schooling group and the community at large.

If you gain one thing from my testimony, I hope that it is not about what a great person I am, but how good and faithful our God is. Without his faithfulness, and of course my family, I honestly don’t know where I would be today! 

All the honor, glory, and praise go to Him.