Help me celebrate my 40th birthday

Ten years ago, I was inspired to have my 30th birthday/blogiversary party at a homeless shelter. It’s one of my favorite projects ever. The year after, a few of my friends who attended asked if I would be doing it again, but I think I literally just got pregnant when he asked me, heheh. Fast forward 10 years and three boys, and I’d like to do something similar again to usher in my 40th year.

BUT. I have three boys in tow now, one of whom is now a 4-year-old tyrant, so setting aside a day to cook and serve 120+ people is less feasible. I’ve been thinking since last year about what I could do for this milestone, and it occurred to me amid this process that I am very blessed — I have a husband who loves and cherishes me,  three healthy boys, and am gainfully employed. Not every woman is so fortunate though, so my plan this year is to devote a few weeks to collecting clothes, baby/kid gear and household items for a domestic violence shelter in Los Angeles. I hope you, my friends, will help me.

There are a lot of domestic violence shelters in Los Angeles, and most shelters are in most need of money, understandably. But what I, and many of the women I know, can provide are things — gently-used furniture, clothes, etc. I’ve been mustering up the energy to try and sell random things on Craigslist for months, but I think women who are in hiding with their children could put my barely-used stroller and never-used safety gates to much better use. Just a couple of months ago, one friend put out a call for baby clothes for a woman at her church who found herself pregnant — I was able to give her what I still had of Elliott’s baby clothes, and some I got from a coworker, who gave me even more in a second wave that’s still in my trunk.

Sunshine with Chris, who is cracking a smile for the camera for the first time.

I found the Good Shepherd Shelter through someone I used to go to church with who is now an LAPD officer. Sunshine (this is not the name she goes by when she’s on duty, I’m sure) told me that she and her partner occasionally bring items to the shelter, which is close to her station.

Sunshine sent me the shelter’s wish list, but there is a particular need for the following items:

  • Women’s professional clothes of all sizes, so the clients can dress appropriately for job interviews
  • Plates, utensils and small appliances to help outfit an apartment (the shelter includes several apartments)
  • Transportation cards — for the bus or even for Uber or Lyft to help the clients, most of whom don’t have a car, get around

Hearing that let me know that I was on the right track. I just so happen to have an old microwave in my storage shed (I have to check if it still works though) and a perfectly good slow cooker that has been usurped by an Instant Pot. I’m already ahead of the game!

So, if you would like to help me celebrate my birthday by making some donations to this shelter, I would be so humbled and honored and also willing to pick up the donations to pass it along to Sunshine (I’m not allowed to go to the shelter because its location has to remain a secret). I’d be willing to drive as far as North OC, the edge of LA County, and to Ventura County. And if you’re not anywhere I can reasonably drive in a day, but would still like to contribute in some way, you can still donate money through their website.