Several years ago, the Rotary Club of Lake Arrowhead started a program they call Little Blessings.
“The idea,” said coordinator Teri Ostlie, “was to make small impacts in people’s lives through member donations.”
Rotarians Terry Ebert, Ronda Rynda and Teri Ostlie with some of the gifts for the homeless students.
Ostlie added that the funds for these Little Blessings come from donations made by club members, rather than from community grants or fundraisers like the PolaRotary Bear Plunge.
Each month Ostlie chooses a group that can use a Little Blessing.
Every December they prepare gift bags for homeless students at Rim of the World High School and Mountain High School. This year they prepared 20 bags, all of which included a $50 cash gift and a $50 gift certificate to the Mountain Thrift Shoppe.
The boys received leather wallets, key chains, winter socks, a stocking cap, warm gloves and assorted toiletries like shampoo, conditioner, toothbrushes, combs, hand cream and soap.
The girls received similar toiletries plus knitted winter headbands, sanitary supplies, a loofa, makeup, journals and a set of colored pens.
“It is an honor to provide these things for the students,” Ostlie said. “Older kids are often forgotten in the ‘cute gifts’ of the holidays. I work with Stephanie Phillips at Rim to get a number count for boys and girls. She passes out the bags to the students.
“The students are very appreciative,” Ostlie added. “Several kids have mentioned to Phillips that these would be the only gifts they received this year. Both heartwarming and heartbreaking!”
Other groups who have received Little Blessings include, but are not limited to, Blue Star Moms – items for the care packages they send to deployed service members; Mountain Pregnancy Center – car seats, baby supplies, blankets, clothing; Mountain Homeless Coalition – goodie bags to pass out during the Point in Time count; Operation Provider – Easter baskets, toiletries; Ronald McDonald House in Loma Linda – packaged food, cleaning supplies, toiletries.
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