09/08/05: Behind the scenes

Today was filled the behind-the-scenes work. I spent the morning researching other shelters in the Dallas area, making a couple of fact-finding trips, and getting our house in order. Also had to get some cards printed for the Living Yoga Dallas Seane Corn event that starts tomorrow morning, and take care of a sick kid who got sent home from school today but refuses to be still.

We've got an additional 16 rolling duffels ready to roll. I was able to find a new source for the small soft-side coolers that we have started enclosing in each bag. A promotional products supplier that I've used in the past, Trophies, Inc. has given me a good deal on a large quantity of small Koozie soft-side coolers. These are great items for the bags - they can be used as intended, to keep food item cool, or be used as daypacks or makeup bags. They should be delivered tomorrow, and the bags will be ready for them.

To close this evening, Kendall has a few shout-outs:

My yoga teacher Rod Stryker says that there are moments in our lives where we experience ourselves in pure excellence. This is one of those moments for
me.

Thank you to my mom Linda and my dad Ken, who have made me feel like a million over and over. Ken for spreading the word on our project and developing an accounting spread sheet. My mom Linda for her updates and recommendations. To my step son Sam, who returned from boarding school for the holiday weekend only to graciously and willingly shop, fill bags, separate toiletries, load, unload, deliver duffels. To Jake, my 7-year-old, who really wanted to have a play date instead, but once he got into all of it he was as enthusiastic as ever. Today he returned from school asking for the $20 I was holding for him . He said he was giving it to the people who had only trash bags for their belongings - and Jake is as tight as a tick when it comes to spending his own dough.

Thanks you to GoodBody's Yoga Center for allowing me to open the studio when it was closed so we could host a yoga class by donation, for Michelle who emailed by hand hundreds of members, to Cate and to Betty, Lynae and all the yoga students who showed up and gave so much. Thanks to the many donations we are receiving from folks we have never met and from friends afar. And thanks to Safisha, Emee, Leigh and everyone else who has helped behind the scenes.

Please know that if I haven't mentioned you or have forgotten to thank you, it's not on purpose. And mostly thanks to Val, who got me into all of this and so in touch with my heart and the fact that I enjoying giving to others more that anything.

Goodnight, all, and thank you.