Amerie Jo Garza - 10

 

Our first random act of kindness is in honor of Amerie Jo Garza, age 10. Amerie, whose favorite color was lavender, was an honor roll student at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde, Texas where her life was tragically cut short on May 24.

Amerie was known for her kindness and standing up for others, particularly protecting classmates and friends from bullies. On that fateful day in Texas, she attempted to call for help from a cell phone her parents had just given her. A Girl Scout, Amerie was posthumously awarded one of their highest honors, the Bronze Cross, which is offered for “saving or attempting to save life at the risk of the Girl Scout’s own life.”

Apart from kindness, Amerie’s passion was art, and she wanted to become an art teacher someday. In her memory, we donated craft supplies to Our Space, Inc. Our Space Inc hosts one-day creative arts programs, free of charge, in hospitals and in the homes of children with serious illnesses. Art bringing joy and healing to children is their passion and their mission, and we strongly feel that this organization is the perfect way to keep Amerie’s memory alive.

Uvalde Memorial Acts of Kindness

 On May 24, our nation was once again rocked with the horrific and tragic loss of multiple young children and their teachers. This senseless act of violence leaves us all feeling devastated, vulnerable, and helpless. As we struggle to comprehend the reasons, problems, and solutions surrounding an act such as this, we also cannot help but think of the lives directly impacted by the shooting, especially those that were lost.

Whenever we try to find footing again after horrors such as this, it feels only right to acknowledge those lost, particularly in ways that honor who they were. We want to take the time to look at these beautiful children and educators as human beings, to see through their eyes how they lived and loved, what brought them joy, and what might impact the world today to keep their memory alive when their physical presence is so sorely missed.

Once again, with great sorrow that this even has to be a repeated event, we would like to do as we did with the Sandy Hook tragedy and honor those lost in Uvalde by spreading love, joy, and kindness in ways that are meaningful to each of them as an individual.

As we are working hard to collect funds and generous donations to be able to do this, we want to recognize the all-too-long list of lives that have been taken away from us before their time.

Jacklyn Cazares-9 Makenna Lee Elrod-10 Jose Manuel Flores Jr- 10 Eliaha Garcia- 10 Uziya Garcia-10 Amerie Jo Garza-10 Xavier Lopez- 10 Jayce Carmelo Luevaos-10 Tess Meta-10 Aithia Ramirez-10 Annabell Rodriguez-10 Maite Rodriguez-10 Alexandria "Lexi" Rubio-10 Jailah Nicole Silguero-10 Eliahana Cruz Torres-10 Rojelio Torres-10 Layla Salazar-11 Maranda Mathis-11 Eva Mireles-44 Irma Garcia-48

As we collect money to fund random acts of kindness in their memory, we are also attempting to research the interests, passions, and dreams of each person that was lost. Our goal is to make a positive impact in this time of suffering, so that the beautiful things about these people are not forever overshadowed the horrible way they were taken from us. Please, purchase, donate, and share- whatever you can do to help us reach this goal is appreciated.

We are currently selling stickers and donating all the money raised to fund these random acts of kindness. To purchase, please Venmo or Paypal and include your address. We are also accepting direct donation .

Venmo-Cathy-OGrady

Paypal- cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org

Small-$3

Large-$5

$7

Thanking Our Heroes.....

Whenever tragedy strikes as it did this week in Las Vegas, I find myself struggling to know where to begin or what to do. I feel helpless, like so many others, worrying about those directly and indirectly affected. I feel sorrow for those lost, those left behind, and the people I love who live in a world where we have to worry so much about things that should never happen. It's overwhelming to carry so many emotions and feel so powerless to change anything.


Sadly, nothing can undo this week's loss of so many undeserving people. Nobody can change the outcome and save them, as much as we would all love to do. All we can do, moving forward, is what we strive to do every day, which is overpower the bad with the good.


When so many people are seriously injured, the impact on first responders is great. They rush to the call of duty, suspend all fear and emotions, and help. While others run away, police and ambulance crews run toward the gunfire to save people and secure the scene. They transport people in critical condition to a hospital, where nurses and doctors face the harrowing task of trying to save people with limited space, resources, and assistance, often running on little to no sleep and no time to pause or take a break.


At the end of the day, after working such an unexpected and difficult job, there may not be time or people present to say thank you.


That is where we have decided to come in.



With all of the painful, difficult, frightened feelings that most people have after such a tragedy, it is hard to imagine what it would feel like to be there and face that in person. Yet these people do that, every day of their lives. And not only with mass casualties, but on a regular basis. These are the people who have to comfort the sick and dying, speak to the family members, find the courage to keep going, and turn around and do it all again the next day. They are heroes.



We are currently accepting donations to create thank you packages for first responders. However small a gesture this may seem, it is a tangible way to contribute and thank the people who never give up when times are tough. We are the voice of those who cannot express their gratitude, and the means for all those who still can.




If you are able, please send a donation through PayPal to cathy@sofiasangelsfoundation.org and remember that this is a gift and should be marked as such.


We will be hand delivering these packages, thanks to the generous assistance of friends who have helped make this and many other projects possible. Our goal is to reach as many of the first responders involved in the Las Vegas shooting tragedy as possible. However large or small your contribution may be, it will assist us in touching their lives and reminding them that we notice what they do, and we support them.


Please help us by sharing this blog entry with as many people as possible.

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.

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

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

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

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

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.