The event was eloquently recapped by one of the chaperones in an email to a colleague:

"The whole event was quite amazing, thought-provoking, meaningful, and emotional. It really gave the kids (and adults) a different perspective on the homeless, and what it means to be homeless, as well as making us realize that it could happen to any one of us. It was neat to see the kids bare the cold without complaining, building their cardboard "homes", praying for the homeless person whose story they were given on a card, ringing the large bell that goes around the country in memory of the firefighters who lost their lives during 9/11, eating their bowl of soup and crackers in the "soup kitchen", and telling the story of the "homeless person" they adopted and dressed for the night. Most of us didn't realize how poorly the homeless are treated - stared at, not looked at, treated as if they weren't there, having urine and feces thrown at them, ridiculed... The kids learned that no human being deserves to be treated that way, that everyone should be loved as a child of God. Once that person is loved they realize they are worth something and maybe will accept help. It was wonderful to see all the kids listening, wide-eyed, to those who had experienced homelessness."

Blessed Bloomers VIII
(With an extra pair of socks this year)
July - September 2009

In our 8th annual “Blessed Bloomers” distribution, every package contained one undershirt, two pair of underwear, and (for the first time ever) two pair of socks in honor of a friend we met on the breadline last year.

Results: Your donations provided homeless and poor men, women and children with 1,982 underwear, 1,308 undershirts and 1,399 pair of socks in this year's annual collection. Bundles of "Blessed Bloomers" were distributed to children attending the Homes for the Homeless Summer Camp in NY, to men and women at St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia, PA, on the Breadline at St. Francis of Assisi Church in New York, NY and to those being served by CREATE in Harlem, NY. The remaining Blessed Bloomers" were distributed to the homeless and poor in Lancaster, PA.

Back to the Inn
Shannon’s Anniversary Project
January - May 2009

Results: In this project our generous donors from across the United States allowed us to bring more than 3,000 items to St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia including jeans, socks, diapers, sugar toothbrushes, toothpaste, deodorant, shavers and soap. Empty bins were filled and shelves were stocked thanks to your donations!

Background: Each year, Mychal’s Message founder Shannon Hickey chooses a special project to mark the anniversary of her life-saving liver transplant. In 2009, moved by a recent visit to Philadelphia, Shannon chose to go “Back to the Inn” in a project to provide needed items to Saint Francis Inn.

In December 2008, Shannon was making her annual check-up visit to Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. After she left the hospital, she and her family made a stop at Saint Francis Inn to deliver Mychal’s Message donations to this soup kitchen located in one of the poorest neighborhoods in Philadelphia.

Shannon was overcome with emotion. Having just left Children’s Hospital with a clean bill of health and grateful for her life, she witnessed poverty and the suffering of others in her midst. As she walked silently into Saint Francis Inn that afternoon, she recognized empty bins of deodorant, shavers, powder, toothpaste and toothbrushes. “What can I do to change this?” she wondered. And she knew right away.

To learn more about St. Francis Inn, visit their website.

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Dollars for Dalits
A Special Lenten Project That Will Bring Mychal’s Message to the Other Side of the World
Lent 2009

Results: Your donations amounted to $1,340 for the Dalit Children in India.

Background: In villages all across India, groups of children known as “untouchables” or “Dalits,” wander the streets in search of something to eat.  They are the outcaste in a caste system that deems them impure tainted merely by their birth.  They are deprived of education and other basic needs of a normal human life simply due to their poor social, psychological and economic background.  The children are destined for a life of poverty and despair.

A Pennsylvania parish priest was born an “untouchable” in India and was helped by Catholic priests as a young man.  He has since dedicated himself to helping other “untouchable” children rise out of poverty and discrimination.  The Star Light Charitable Trust in India was created to teach these Dalit children to read and write and to bring small libraries into their villages so that they could develop and widen their knowledge of the world.  This Trust, with a primary goal of educating these children, also provides audio aids to blind children and counseling sessions for children in the village schools.  Some of these “untouchable” Dalit children are currently in formation to become priests and nuns.

One American dollar will help provide basic needs for these “untouchable” Dalit children.  Ten American dollars will provide food for one child for one month.  And twenty American dollars will provide food and education for one child for one month.  During this season of Lent, won’t you help us provide “Dollars for Dalits” as we bring Mychal’s Message to “untouchable” children on the other side of the world?  Mychal’s Prayer is currently being translated for these children. 

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A Coat of Honor
for Ryan
November 2008 - January 2009

Results:  Thanks to the generosity of donors from across the United States, in this year's collection, 526 coats and 250 hats and gloves made their way to homeless men, women and children in NY, NJ and PA.  Coats were delivered to Lancaster, PA (The Vineyard, Catholic Worker House, The Bridge House, Lancaster County Council of Churches); Patterson, NJ (The Father English Center and Eva's Kitchen); the NJ Food Bank (Kids Closet); New York, NY (The Bowery Mission); Harrisburg, PA (Interfaith Shelter); and Philadelphia, PA (Saint Francis Inn).   To read more details of this project and founder Shannon Hickey's recent visit to the White House, read the January 21, 2009 issue of the Holy Name Province newsletter.  Below is a photo of a woman we met during this project who is a little warmer this winter.

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Christmas Treasures
Give the gift of dignity and love
November/December 2008

Results:  Over 100 filled Christmas stockings were given to men, women and children in Lancaster, PA (The Vineyard and Crispus Attucks Shelter) and Philadelphia, PA (Saint Francis Inn).  Stockings were filled to the top with shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, deodorant, socks, hair brushes, manicure kits, candy, and toys for the children. 

Below is a photo of founders, Kelly Ann Lynch and Shannon Hickey with Father Michael Duffy, OFM of St. Francis Inn, and Karen Pointer (right), in whose honor our "Living With Hope" project was named. This photo was taken the day of the stocking delivery to St. Francis Inn in Philadelphia.

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Blessed Bloomers VII
Because of the Friars of the Holy Name Province
September 2008

Results: In this year's collection, over 4,000 items were collected and distributed to homeless and poor men, women and children. A total of 1,839 underwear, 1,161 undershirts and 1,178 pair of socks were given away in NY, NJ and PA. To see pictures from the Breadline distribution in Manhattan on September 11, 2008, click here. "Blessed Bloomers" were also given to those who rely on the services provided by the Greymoor Friars, Garrison, NY; CREATE, Inc., Harlem, NY; Eva's Kitchen, Patterson, NJ; Lancaster Council of Churches, Lancaster, PA; and St. Francis Inn, Philadelphia, PA.

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Yes, Mr. Rogers!
Shannon’s Anniversary Project 2008

Results: Nearly $12,000 was raised by Mychal’s Message to fund the project, with donations from its supporters as well as from churches from all over the Diocese of Harrisburg and students at Lancaster Catholic High School. Arnold Worldwide Agency, Wayne, Pa donated over $1,000 in prizes that were raffled off to students at Lancaster Catholic High School who helped raise funds for the project. Additional funds raised were used to provide a day for 100 kindergartners from one of Lancaster's poorest city schools to visit the Hands On House, Lancaster, Pa. Those children all received a goody bag filled with Play-Doh, bubbles and a Tootsie Roll Pop. Nearly 400 children benefited from the Yes, Mr. Rogers! project thanks to the generosity of Mychal's Message supporters, parishioners at churches across the Diocese of Harrisburg, and students at Lancaster Catholic High School. Read more and see pictures from the day here.

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Lions for the Poor
Part of the YES, MR. ROGERS project
brought to you by Christopher Lynch

Results: With the help of students from St. Leo the Great Catholic elementary school, Christopher Lynch raised $600, enough money needed to purchase all 300 lions. The lions were distributed on March 27, 2008 to children who attended the Dutch Apple performance of The Lion, The Witch & The Wardrobe. This was Christopher's first official project with Mychal's Message. He tallied each class' lion purchases, and in the end, it was his 4th grade class that raised the most money! Read more and see pictures from the day here.

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