Mission Snuggle

Since this  is the officially anniversary of when Mission Snuggle was born, our Valentine Update is that God is calling many to be excited about this ministry.

Our goal this year, as you know, is to collect and distribute 10,000 stuffed animals.  Mt Paran Christian school students in Kennesaw Ga are wrapping their stuffed animal drive and we are anxiously awaiting to receive their donations. but, with the contributions  from Sharon Baptist Church in Ola, GA and many others  our current count is 4497!

Thank you so much to all that have been called to donate from their abundance.

“But do not forget to do good and to share, for with such sacrifices God is well pleased.” Hebrews 13:16

HAPPY NEW YEAR’S EVE!!! Yesterday we had our last meeting for the year and our total has reached 4397 stuffed animals! That is absolutely amazing! GOD IS AMAZING!!! I can’t wait to see what He has in store for 2012! Our last shipment of toys went to Uganda, Ethiopia and some stayed in the US. Thanks again to Mike Jenkins and his “One Biker at a Time” misistry team for delivering them. My sweet friends at Laurel Park have been busy spreading the word about Mission Snuggle and stuffed animals keep pouring in. We thank all of you for your support in this project. God bless you all and we will continue to look forward to 2011 as God uses us for His glory as he touches many in the process of sending His Love and Hugs to children through Mission Snuggle!

Hi everyone! It has been awhile since I have written. We have been busy collecting and distributing stuffed animals. To date we have processed 3964!!!! Way to go Team Mission Snuggle! Pastor Mike Jenkins and his “One Biker At A Time” misistry have joined us on this endeavor. They have been taking them to shelters, orphanages and hospitals. The most recent collection of 374 are on their way to Kenya, Africa and out lying areas. God is awesome! He knows exactly who will be receiving them…That continues to amaze me! Also to join the Mission Snuggle effort is a sweet lady named Bernadette. She volunteers with Samaritan’s Purse for Operation Christmas Child. We were able to send 420 with her for that wonderful project. Also…I would like to thank ALL for their donations of stuffed animals. This would not be possible without your generosity and thoughtfulness to us. As stewards for Jesus we will continue to do work for His glory! Thanks again to everyone and I look forward to updating you again soon.

Yes!!!  We are over 3000 and counting….We never know who will be contacting us for a delivery of donations but everytime we are…it is celebrated with much excitement!  Our July Mission Snuggle meeting was about getting ready for the yard sale.  We tagged many items that were donated not only for Mission Snuggle but for the activities department as well.  Kim, Sharon and Diane do an awesome job in keeping the residents occupied in fun activities like arts, crafts, manicures and BINGO, of course!  Some of that money is used for the $.25 prize money given to the winners of BINGO and in turn is sometimes donated to us!  What good goes around…it sure does come around too!  We appreciate all of the residents who so generously give of their winnings!  Ms. Rose makes gorgeous jewelry and has graciously given us a portion of what she sells.  Big thanks to Ms. Rose!

We did not have any stuffed animals to cuddle and tag this time.  It’s OK though.  Since that meeting we have received several.  At our August meeting we will be back to the fun part of counting and getting them ready for delivery.  Seeing our precious friends get excited is just more than I have words for….it’s absolutely priceless to see the love and happiness that occurs as the residents anticipate the joy of the children that will receive them!  For me to be a part of this amazing circle of God’s blessing….is humbling, honoring and absolutely overwhelming!  Come on and be blessed too!

Hello everyone! We just had our monthly meeting at Laurel Park this past Thursday, June 23. The room was packed full of Mission Snuggle residents excited and ready to work. We accomplished alot in 45 minutes. We opened in prayer, of course, for God to use us for His glory in this awesome project. We prayed for all of the children that have received and will receive a stuffed animal. We thanked God for asking us to join Him where He is at work…and that is spreading the joy of His love! We got a very sweet letter from an awesome child, named Baylee. She is going through chemo treatments and wanted us to know she loves the cuddly dog she got but more than that she feels glad that we are thinking about her and praying for her recovery. We also got a thank you note from Brenner’s Children Hospital in Winston-Salem, NC. While we don’t expect anything in return, it is nice to pass along to my darling friends and residents at Laurel Park that their efforts in reaching others is definitely tangible. I am also excited to report that to date we have delivered 2861 stuffed animals!!! That is 139 short of our 3000 goal marker. When we reach 3000 our next goal will be 5000! Also on the agenda is raising money for Mission Snuggle. Please see the “Donation” tab for more details on our upcoming yard sale at Laurel Park on Friday July 29, 2011 from 8:30am until 5:00pm. Thank you for visiting our website. We look forward to any comments and interest in volunteering your gifts and talents with us. Come on and join in God’s work. Have a blessed summer!

For all of the Mission Snuggle fans…it is VERY exciting to report that we have been able to deliver 2747 stuffed animals to date! It is amazing how God knows how and when to send us stuffed animals and just exactly who should receive them! Thank you to everyone including the Georgia Moose Lodge and the Atlanta Southside Kennel Club for donating many stuffed animals. We have so much fun “processing” the cuddly critters that we all smile as we snuggle them KNOWING that it will comfort the hearts of the children that will love them. Thank you so very much for your generosity. There are others who donate as well and we are just as appreciative of them as well. Hopefully I have mentioned them in past posts.

At our last meeting at Laurel Park, we had in attendance of 20 residents there to help with this project. Many helped to glue our logo onto the gift bags. Several stuffed envelops with the letter that describes our efforts. We include them in the gift bags with the stuffed animals. Others were on hand to put them into the bags. It is always such a fun day to see how the efforts of many really do pay off! The blessing comes when we deliver! God has called many to be “transporters.” They have been taken to Ellijay Hospital, Alabama and Georgia areas where the tornados hit and a place where they are given to foster children to ease their transitions.

God is so great and to Him be the glory! Thank you to all and we thank you in advance for your support in prayers and donations. Until next time…God Bless!

WOW!!! God has been busy with us here at Mission Snuggle!  We received over 400 stuffed animals from the consignors of Sweet Repeat Consignment Sale!  Thanks goes to them and to Karen Rock, who runs this non-profit organization, in partnering with us for God’s Glory!!!  We have also received many at Laurel Park from anonymus givers and we thank them too! It is so cool how God continues to use the body of Christ to send us stuffed animals and to distribute them as well.  We held our first meeting at Laurel Park this past Thursday and had a big turn out of 20 residents who came to participate.  Lori opened with a prayer for God to use us to send out His love and hugs!  We prayed over all the stuffed animals that they would get to each child that needs one.  We prayed for each child that will receive one, that they will find peace and comfort in God’s love as they cuddle with them.  The residents worked diligently by putting the logo on the gift bags, stuffing envelopes and the funnest part of all:  putting the stuffed animals in the bags!  It was a beautiful sight to see a whole room full of stuffed animals ready for delivery.  Before the meeting adjourned, each bag was taken by different employees of Laurel Park to be distributed.  Some of the places they are going:  a Georgia orphanage, a sickle cell heath center, several churches, Henry Hospital, Noah’s Ark and wherever God leads them to be!  Praise God!  We also took several to Eagle’s Landing Baptist Church where they will be given to some children on our prayer lists.  So far this year we have processed and given out 2574 stuffed animals!  GOD IS AMAZING!  Just to add….the residents that participate in Mission Snuggle have donated $107 worth of quarters they have won playing BINGO, to this project!  That is HUGE!  We still need money to operate and we appreciate all we’ve been given!  My friends may be in a nursing home but God is not finished with them here.  He is just beginning!  Thank you for prayers and support!  God Bless!

We are about to receive many more stuffed animals….which is very exciting. If you would like to donate stuffed animals please send us a message via info@missionsuggle.com so we can make arrangements. If you would like to send money please check out the donate page. If you have a request for children in need of a “Hug from God”….please let us know that as well. We would love to send you some of “God’s love”. Thank you for all of your support and prayers.

Hello Eveyone!  Just an update to let you know how many stuffed animals have made their way to their special homes.  Thanks to all of you who have donated them, we have been able to pass along God’s love to 2096 precious children.  They have gone all over the world in shoeboxes via Samaritan’s purse as well as many fire stations, police stations, childrens’ homes and shelters all across America.

Miracles take place everyday when loving individuals follow their hearts to perform unselfish things. A primary example of this is how the newly formed “Mission Snuggle” has grown and continues to grow from efforts right here at Laurel Park. To date, hundreds of stuffed animals have been donated in order to comfort children in need around the nation. Who would have thought that through the giving hearts of a few residents at Laurel Park, Mission Snuggle would have formed with the vision of donating thousands of new and ‘gently loved’ stuffed animals around the globe to show children the love of Jesus, maybe even for the first time in their life.

About a year ago, summer of 2009, Alice Griffith, having a love for children, began choosing prizes, mostly stuffed animals, from her Bingo games that she could donate to children in need. After collecting quite a few, Lori Harris Wade, the daughter of her roommate, Ruby, volunteered to deliver this first batch to “A Friend’s House”, a local battered women’s shelter.

As the stuffed animals continued to come, the shelter could not take any more. They had too many! This caused a problem, or should I say, created an opportunity!

Erin Kangiser, a Laurel Park volunteer and Delta flight attendant, took this opportunity to deliver some of these animals to police stations and fire stations while she was in different cities. Also, while explaining to others what she was doing, word spread and the donations increased beyond any expectations. Lori and Erin soon discovered that this was taking a life on its own and needed some structure. With a little help from Erin’s son Ryan, they came up with the name Mission Snuggle.

Mission Snuggle’s mission statement is:

-          To glorify God through donations of stuffed animals to children in distressed situations;

-          To inspire service to, and an avenue for, community service through donations, both monetary and physical.

-          To encourage and support senior adults at Laurel Park Assisted Living through service of donations.\

Currently, a web site, animal tags, and all other required stationary are under design and construction as this God led effort continues to grow. There are donation boxes located in the front activity room. Monetary donations can be sent to PO Box 1544 Stockbridge, GA  30281 made payable to Mission Snuggle. The web site, www.missionsnuggle.com, will have all information on donations updated regularly.

Beginning with the unselfish heart of one, many will benefit. Many have donated time and expertise to this endeavor, but may God have all the glory!