Sunday, October 30, 2016

Thanksgiving outreach








Thanksgiving is only a few short weeks away, so it’s time for us to start preparing! Here, our idea of preparation is thinking of those in need of some help during the holiday season. A large meal is often a burden on families who are barely able to maintain a regular food budget, and we’ve had such success in the past with helping others celebrate Thanksgiving that we’d like to do it again!

In the last four years of our Thanksgiving outreach, we have helped over sixty families put a traditional meal on their tables and celebrate with their loved ones at no additional strain or cost to them. For just under $50, a family of nearly any size can enjoy a Thanksgiving dinner with all the trimmings, and hopefully have some leftovers, too!

If you are able to help donate toward providing for families in need this year, please send a donation via PayPal to cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org and mark it “Thanksgiving” so we know where the money goes! Don’t forget to select “gift” when sending money; this is a donation, and we don’t need PayPal to eat up your funds!

On the other hand, we need some suggestions of families who could use the help. If you know of anyone who could use the boost, please email cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org. We are asking that only families who need this apply or are nominated, and that if you have received help in the past, you allow others to be reached. Though we wish we could help everyone, our funds and resources are limited. We will help as many people as possible, but there are no guarantees. Please be considerate and patient with us!

All donations, nominations or requests are strictly confidential.

Monday, July 11, 2016

9 & 10 of 49 - Oscar Aracena-Montero, age 26 and Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, age 31


This act of kindness for Orlando, FL Pulse nightclub victims was in honor of Oscar Aracena-Montero, age 26 and Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, age 31.

Oscar and Adrian were a fun-loving couple who enjoyed spending time together traveling, building a shared future together in their newly purchased home, and raising their three chihuahuas.

In honor of Oscar and Adrian, we have donated money to an organization dedicated to rescuing and re-homing chihuahuas in New England. Yankee Chihuahua is a charitable non-profit that we feel shares the same passion as Oscar and Adrian did.

"To give without any reward, or any notice, has a special quality of its own" - Anne Morrow Lindbergh

8 of 49 - Stanley Almodovar, age 23


Today's act of kindness for Orlando, FL Pulse nightclub victims was in honor of Stanley Almodovar, age 23.

Stanley, a pharmacy technician, was known for his interesting hair colors and his winning personality. His family describes him as a caring person with a promising future who worked hard to achieve his success in life. A witness at the nightclub stated that Stanley attempted to push people out of the way of the gunfire, even as he himself was being shot.

In honor of Stanley, we have connected with a pharmacy in a low-income area and have paid for the prescription of a person who could use a helping hand.

"We rise by lifting others" - Robert Ingersoll

7 of 49 - Kimberly “KJ” Morris, age 37


Kimberly “KJ” Morris -age 37

Kimberly “KJ” Morris had recently moved to Orlando to be close to her mother and grandmother and was in her second week of working as a bouncer at the Pulse nightclub. She loved dancing and performed regularly at Diva’s nightclub in Northampton, MA under the stage name “Daddy K” before moving to Orlando. Her best friend Aimee Fyfe said painting murals was her release.



In honor of KJ, we have donated 10 canvases to an elementary school art teacher to allow children to express their creativity

It takes each of us to make a difference for all of us. - Jackie Mutcheson

To find out what we are doing and why, click here.


Sunday, July 10, 2016

5 & 6 of 49 Juan Pablo Rivera Velazques, age 37 - Luis Daniel Conde, age 39


Today's act of kindness for Orlando, FL Pulse nightclub victims was in honor of Juan Pablo Rivera Velazquez, 37 and Luis Daniel Conde, 39 worked at Alta Peluqueria D'Magazine salon in Kissimmee.  


Client Alexandra Ale told the Orlando Sentinel the salon would often be filled with clients who were there just to see the Velazquez and Conde


Ale said the salon would often provide free services to women who had been victims of domestic abuse.


In honor of Juan and Luis, we are paying for a wife of a soldier that has been in Afghanistan for over a year and will be returning next week, to have her hair colored and styled. 
I have one life and one chance to make it count for something… My faith demands that I do whatever I can, wherever I am, whenever I can, for as long as I can with whatever I have to try to make a difference.

— Jimmy Carter

Friday, July 1, 2016

4 of 49 - Luis Vielma, age 22

Today's act of kindness for Orlando, FL Pulse nightclub victims was in honor of Luis Vielma, age 22. Luis enjoyed soccer and making people smile. His friends remember him affectionately as a loving, kind, nerdy person who was always there for them and would do anything to help them.
 
He was studying to be an EMT, but in the meantime he enjoyed his work at Universal Studios where he ran the Harry Potter ride and made people smile every day.
 
In honor of Luis, we have donated the complete Harry Potter book series to a teacher who accepted a new position and asked for help building his class library.

"Life is a gift, and it offers us the privilege, opportunity, and responsibility to give something back by becoming more." - Anthony Robbins

Wednesday, June 29, 2016

2 & 3 of 49 - Mercedez Marisol Flores, age 26 and Amanda Alvear, age 25


Today, in honor of Mercedez Marisol Flores and Amanda Alvear, a Target gift card was donated to a Boston organization called GLASS that provides a safe and supportive place for community members to gather and spend time with friends, do homework, use a computer, eat, etc.

Mercedez lived her life to the fullest and worked hard. An 8-year employee of Target, Mercedez loved music and singing. On the night of the shooting, Mercedez was in the club with her friend Amanda, who had recently lost 180 lbs. Understandably proud of her efforts, Amanda embraced a newfound love for taking selfies. It is due to her efforts at health and personal improvement, and the encouragement of her friend Mercedez, that we have asked GLASS to purchase healthy snacks for their clients to enjoy.

We wish to extend a special thank you to our friend Eileen for donating the gift card and suggesting the recipient organization. We are so thankful for your participation and your kindness.


"Remember there's no such thing as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end." - Scott Adams

"The value of a man resides in what he gives and not what he is capable of receiving." - Albert Einstein

Tuesday, June 21, 2016

1 of 49- Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, age 27


Today, in honor of Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, a couple was treated to lunch.

Jean's loved ones describe him as loving and kind. He worked hard as a manager for a local store and had just purchased a new home. Jean was known to be like a big teddy bear. His friends and family say they are devastated by their loss. 

"Do your little bit of good where you are; it's those little bits of good put together that overwhelm the world." - Desmond Tutu

Tuesday, June 14, 2016

49 Random Acts of Kindness



It is with a mixture of sorrow and hope that we would like to announce our next project, 49 Random Acts of Kindness in honor of the 49 lives lost on June 12th, 2016 at Pulse nightclub in Orlando, FL. While nothing can undo the unimaginable tragedy of 49 lives taken from this earth because of misguided hatred, we hope that we can come to learn more about who each of these people were and spread love in their honor.

We will be posting blogs to highlight the information we can discover about each person, and to share with you the way we have chosen to pay respect to those individuals. Please continue to follow this blog in the coming days to share this experience with us.

To the 49, we will cherish your memory and share you with the world. Please, if you would, take a moment to read the list of names as posted by the City of Orlando website.

Stanley Almodovar III, 23 years old
Amanda Alvear, 25 years old
Oscar A Aracena-Montero, 26 years old
Rodolfo Ayala-Ayala, 33 years old
Antonio Davon Brown, 29 years old
Darryl Roman Burt II, 29 years old
Angel L. Candelario-Padro, 28 years old
Juan Chevez-Martinez, 25 years old
Luis Daniel Conde, 39 years old
Cory James Connell, 21 years old
Tevin Eugene Crosby, 25 years old
Deonka Deidra Drayton, 32 years old
Simon Adrian Carrillo Fernandez, 31 years old
Leroy Valentin Fernandez, 25 years old
Mercedez Marisol Flores, 26 years old
Peter O. Gonzalez-Cruz, 22 years old
Juan Ramon Guerrero, 22 years old
Paul Terrell Henry, 41 years old
Frank Hernandez, 27 years old
Miguel Angel Honorato, 30 years old
Javier Jorge-Reyes, 40 years old
Jason Benjamin Josaphat, 19 years old
Eddie Jamoldroy Justice, 30 years old
Anthony Luis Laureanodisla, 25 years old
Christopher Andrew Leinonen, 32 years old
Alejandro Barrios Martinez, 21 years old
Brenda Lee Marquez McCool, 49 years old
Gilberto Ramon Silva Menendez, 25 years old
Kimberly Morris, 37 years old
Akyra Monet Murray, 18 years old
Luis Omar Ocasio-Capo, 20 years old
Geraldo A. Ortiz-Jimenez, 25 years old
Eric Ivan Ortiz-Rivera, 36 years old
Joel Rayon Paniagua, 32 years old
Jean Carlos Mendez Perez, 35 years old
Enrique L. Rios, Jr., 25 years old
Jean C. Nives Rodriguez, 27 years old
Xavier Emmanuel Serrano Rosado, 35 years old
Christopher Joseph Sanfeliz, 24 years old
Yilmary Rodriguez Solivan, 24 years old
Edward Sotomayor Jr., 34 years old
Shane Evan Tomlinson, 33 years old
Martin Benitez Torres, 33 years old
Jonathan Antonio Camuy Vega, 24 years old
Juan P. Rivera Velazquez, 37 years old
Luis S. Vielma, 22 years old
Franky Jimmy Dejesus Velazquez, 50 years old
Luis Daniel Wilson-Leon, 37 years old
Jerald Arthur Wright, 31 years old



If anyone wishes to contribute to honoring the memories of the lives lost, please PayPal a donation to cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org