- project leader
- Marteka L
- location
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384 E Sunbridge Drive(low income apartment complex TBD)
- latest update rss
- video
the project
Light House Solutions is a local nonprofit dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, teens, and families in underserved communities of Northwest Arkansas. As an integral part of the community, Light House Solutions has supported and empowered over 50,000 individuals since 2011 highlighting our crucial role in driving positive change to bridge the gap between resources and the community.
One mantra in Light House Solutions is 'see a need, fill a need.' Trails of Love falls under our Community Wellness initiative. The mission of Trails of Love is to spread love by blessing families in need with physical and spiritual gift giving during the holiday season. Our goal is for families to walk away empowered for greatness and inspired to pay it forward to other families in their community. Since 2014, Trails of Love has been an outdoor event utilizing public spaces in low-income areas providing Christmas to nine locations across the state of Arkansas. Trails of Love has serviced over 15,000 partnering with over 100 community partners fulfilling a need throughout the holiday season.
the steps
August 15, 2024:
Begin planning committee meetings for Trails of Love event.
Establish budget allocation for grant funding, including:
- Funding for facilitation of event
- Funding for rental storage of toys
- Purchasing of toys, coats, and clothes
- Purchasing of food for 300 attendees
- Funding for 26-foot U-Haul purchase
August 15, 2024:
- Begin outreach to potential sponsors and donors for additional funding support.
September 1, 2024:
- Review and finalize budget allocations based on grant funding received.
- Secure rental storage facility for toys and supplies.
- Begin toy and clothing purchase process.
October 1, 2024:
- Confirm venue location for Trails of Love event.
- Continue outreach to community partners for event collaboration and support.
November 1, 2024:
- Receive grant funding for Trails of Love event.
- Complete toy and clothing purchases.
- Secure food vendor for event catering.
- Finalize logistics for U-Haul purchase.
November 15, 2024:
- Begin toy sorting and organizing process for Trails of Love event.
- Arrange transportation logistics for toy delivery and setup at event venue.
December 1, 2024:
- Conduct volunteer training sessions for event facilitation.
- Coordinate with community partners for event promotion and outreach.
December 15, 2024:
- Finalize event setup and logistics at venue.
- Ensure all necessary supplies and materials are in place for event.
December 16, 2024:
- Host Trails of Love event, providing gifts, coats, clothes, and food to underserved families in the community.
- Facilitate activities and entertainment for attendees.
- Collect feedback and data for post-event evaluation and future planning.
December 31, 2024:
- Conduct post-event evaluation to assess success and areas for improvement.
- Begin planning process for Trails of Love event in the following year.
why we're doing it
Meeting Basic Needs: Many families struggle to afford basic necessities such as food, clothing, and household supplies, especially during the holiday season. Nonprofits step in to provide these essentials to ensure that families have a dignified and joyful holiday experience.
Spreading Joy: Christmas is a time of giving and spreading joy. Nonprofits aim to bring happiness and comfort to families facing hardship by organizing events that provide gifts, toys, and other festive items to children and adults alike.
Alleviating Financial Burdens: For families living paycheck to paycheck or facing financial hardships, the holiday season can be particularly stressful. Nonprofits alleviate some of these financial burdens by offering assistance with Christmas gifts, meals, and other expenses, allowing families to focus on celebrating rather than worrying about finances.
Fostering Community Support: Christmas events organized by nonprofits often involve the support of volunteers, donors, and local businesses. These events bring the community together to support those in need, fostering a sense of unity, compassion, and goodwill among neighbors.
Promoting Inclusivity: Nonprofits strive to ensure that everyone, regardless of their financial situation, feels included and valued during the holiday season. By providing Christmas events and assistance to families in need, nonprofits promote inclusivity and remind individuals that they are not alone in their struggles.
budget
Toys and clothes: $5,000
Marketing and DJ: $2,150
Food: $3,000
Contingency: $1,000
Operations: $3,850
TOTAL: $15,000
| PROJECT FUNDING NEEDED | $15,000.00 |
| ioby Fiscal Sponsorship Fee N/A | $0.00 |
| ioby Donation Processing Fee 4% | $306.12 |
| TOTAL TO RAISE | $15,306.12 |
| Donation processing fees apply to donations only. 100% of match funding goes to projects. Please note, fees are estimated here and final numbers may change based on the final amount raised and amount of match funding applied to this campaign. |
updates
video
Posted 03/21/2024 - 9:10pm
The link has been fixed. This video shows the Community Wellness Initiative for 2023. Enjoy!!
A Great Start
Posted 03/21/2024 - 9:01pm
We are off to a wonderful start! We are excited for this opportunity for your donation to be matched up to $1,000. The holidays will be here soon so now is the time to prepare. Partners, thank you so much!
photos
This is where photos will go once we build flickr integrationdonors
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Yolanda T.
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Terra S.
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Janie B.
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Natasha C.
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Anonymous
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Anonymous
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Anna P.
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Glenn S.
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Karen M.
