Author: jnammour

Thank you to our Bags of Fun community for working with us to help children and families who are faced with difficult diagnoses during this time of uncertainty

Posted on by jnammour

In early March, hospitals closed playrooms for children and families inpatient. Bags of Fun’s mission to bring joy, laughter and relief to every child fighting a life-threatening disease or condition suddenly became more necessary than ever before. The following has been our response to provide rehabilitative play to children and families when their hearts and minds need it most.

  • Over 675 new toys provided to hospitals in Colorado, Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska.
  • Over 230 Bags of Fun delivered to children newly diagnosed with life-threatening, life-limiting conditions.
  • Over 15 Sibling Bags delivered to help keep the entire family distracted.
  • Deliveries transitioned from face to face hospital deliveries to specialized drop zones at each hospital.
  • COVID-19 compliant home deliveries now available for homebound patients.
  • Responding to Bag requests from hospitals on a daily basis, compared to weekly basis prior to COVID-19.
  • Bags of Fun Kansas City delivers lunch to Child Life Specialists.
  • Bags of Fun Colorado supports local elementary school with food boxes.

“The COVID-19 crisis is causing immense fear and anxiety particularly for hospitalized children and their families. The provision of age appropriate arts, crafts, toys and therapeutic play materials allows children to still use play and express themselves and work through some of the psychological impact that they are experiencing.” Erika, Denver Health

How can you stay involved during covid-19?

Double the Donation

Our 10 year letter

Posted on by jnammour

Ten years ago this week, Bags of Fun KC was born! During the first week of April in 2011 we began our journey “on a wing and a prayer” of bringing the healing power of play to children in the KC community faced with fighting a long term, life threatening condition. Since then, we have grown immensely from a one or two person operation to a solid non-profit foundation with regular volunteers, staff, a board of directors, and corporate partners. Since our “opening day” we have delivered almost 1500 bags of fun and hundreds of sibling bags to families from our community and families from elsewhere being treated in our community.

While COVID- 19 is on the top of everyone’s minds, we are dedicated to our mission and we will continue to fill bag requests as we get them from the hospitals. In the month of March we delivered 28 bags of fun as well as 19 sibling bags to children fighting cancer and other long term life threatening conditions. Due to changes at the hospitals, there is an increased need for specialty toys and items for children currently admitted. Children and families in the midst of their unique medical crises need to heal their health and hearts. In the last two weeks, we donated single use crafts and easy games (over 250 items) for patient use while in isolation as hospital playrooms have been shut down and patients are not allowed to leave rooms except for treatment, as well as having only one guardian with them at a time. We feel that by giving these items we are bringing these families distraction through the power of play while they are stuck in their rooms. We will continue to fill special requests from our hospitals on an ongoing basis.

And some GOOD NEWS: The $2 trillion stimulus bill which was signed into law over the last week expands the charitable deduction to all taxpayers for a year, and boosts tax incentives for corporate giving, according to analysts. The stimulus bill will allow a deduction up to $300 in cash giving for the 2020 tax year without itemization making it a “universal deduction”. The bill also lifts the cap on annual giving from 60 percent of adjusted gross income to 100 percent. For corporate charitable giving, the bill raises the annual limit from 10 percent to 25 percent of taxable income. At Bags of Fun KC we remain hopeful that donations this year will help offset the cancellation and postponement of many of our fundraising opportunities.

As always we remain grateful and humbled by our community of donors and supporters. THANK YOU for your continued support! Your generosity has given us purpose and meaning for the nine years, and brings us HOPE that we can continue to bring even more JOY, LAUGHTER, and RELIEF to children and their families for years to come!

Donations to Bags of Fun KC are tax deductible. Our tax identification number is 47-0946567. Donations can be made anytime clicking the ling below or by mailing a check.

Donate

Host a “Bags of Fun Birthday”!

Posted on by jnammour

Host your birthday or anniversary for Bags of Fun KC and ask for donations to our foundation instead of presents!  This is a great way for kids to help other kids. Hosting a party is easy – we do the invitations, provide promotional materials, have party favors for each guest, and do your thank you notes (tax letters)!  All donations are tax deductible.  Money raised goes toward sponsoring bag(s) of fun in your name.  Party host get to shop, stuff, and possibly deliver your sponsored bag(s).

For more information please contact us using the below link.

Contact Us

Host a Swim and Dive a Thon!

Posted on by jnammour

Get your swim club to host a swim a thon and raise money for Bags of Fun KC.  Each swimmer receives a prize and those who raise $400 or more get to shop, stuff and possibly deliver each bag of fun they sponsor.  We have the pledge forms, and promotional materials. This is a great way to earn service hours for individuals or groups. All donations are tax deductible.

For more information please contact us using the link below:

Contact Us

Get Your Bags of Fun KC Socks!!

Posted on by jnammour

 

OFFICIAL BAGS OF FUN KC SOCKS!  from John’s Crazy Socks!!!
as seen on Fox news, Good Morning America, and Ellen!

Get yours today for only $20.00 a pair

Bags of Fun Crazy Socks

THESE MAKE GREAT GIFTS!

By buying them you are not only helping us, but he also donates to the Special Olympics! It’s a WIN WIN!  One gift two great causes!

SET YOURSELF APART FROM EVERYONE…

and support two awesome charities!

BE A TRENDSETTER! BE A CONVERSATION STARTER!

Post your pictures wearing your socks on social media and tag us! “Bags of Fun KC” on Facebook and @bagsoffun_kc on Twitter and instagram.

* Socks can be shipped anywhere or picked up in our office at 4118 Baltimore Avenue KCMO 64111. email louisaw@bagsoffun.org to set a time for pick up.

You Can Learn More About John’s Crazy Socks by Watching the Video Below