Helping Children Heal
When a child escapes abuse within their home, they need support to weather the crisis, heal, and move forward. Things of My Very Own, Inc. is a lifeline for children fleeing abuse. From providing basic necessities to teaching life skills that instill confidence and self-worth, our services lift fragile children from a place of harm to one of hope.
Helping Children Heal
When a child escapes abuse within their home, they need support to weather the crisis, heal, and move forward. Things of My Very Own, Inc. is a lifeline for children fleeing abuse. From providing basic necessities to teaching life skills that instill confidence and self-worth, our services lift fragile children from a place of harm to one of hope.
Hear about the positive impact our efforts make.
Things of My Very Own, Inc. provides crisis intervention services to children impacted by extensive abuse and/or neglect.
Services are also available to children who are, solely due to the lack of items necessary for sustainability, at risk of a Child Protective Services intervention.
Our goal is to keep children together with non-abusive family members, and out of the foster care system, whenever possible.
Hear about the positive impact our efforts make.
Things of My Very Own, Inc. provides crisis intervention services to children impacted by extensive abuse and/or neglect.
Services are also available to children who are, solely due to the lack of items necessary for sustainability, at risk of a Child Protective Services intervention.
Our goal is to keep children together with non-abusive family members, and out of the foster care system, whenever possible.
Connect With Us
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Things of My Very Own
Things of My Very Own, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation that provides crisis intervention services and programs to children in emergency situations, specifically, those who have experienced extensive abuse or neglect.
To say that 2021 was challenging would be the understatement of the year, but this organization is known for conquering obstacles. In the beginning of 2021, 46 programs in the 11 counties of the NYS Capital Region were making referrals to Things of My Very Own. By the end of the year, it was 59. This is an incredible accomplishment as it means that more caseworkers, medical providers and school administrators have jumped on board to change the system that has been working against families for far too long. Non-emergency eligibility interviews were conducted 12-hours a day, six-days a week. Emergency cases continued to be processed 24-hours a day, and there were a tremendous amount of emergency cases this year.
The number of children who lost parents and siblings this year was both shocking and alarming. The number of grandparents who were referred for services after they took on their grandchildren was unprecedented. The amount of aid we were distributing also changed. Children being referred to us needed more help this year. We changed our service provisions to reflect the needs of those in our community. A weeks worth of aid turned into one-three months worth depending on the crisis at hand. Families and caseworkers took multiple trips to and from the center transporting things like mattresses, bedding, clothing, coats and emergency food. Feminine hygiene supplies were distributed to families in three-month supplies. Typical service limitations went out the window as we worked with school social workers, CPS workers and mental health providers to identify and bridge service gaps throughout the region. There were many, but we kept pushing forward.
This year was tough, extraordinarily tough, but if there is one thing that could be said about 2021, it's that it was a year of resilience. We lost three team members in a ten-month period to unrelated causes. Our hearts were broken but as poet Shane Koyczan once said, "If your heart is broken, make art with the pieces". We did exactly that and stood by one another to create a beautiful mosaic masterpiece. The most recent passing happened right after our Sponsor-a-Child in Crisis Campaign had launched. Businesses such as Mohawk Honda and Capitol District Supplyreached out to offer assistance with manpower. Our board chairman drove four-hours each way, every single weekend to offer support. Other businesses such as Slice of Glenville, The NYS Police Forensic Investigation Center, Casey Law LLC, Schrodinger, Open Canvas Beauty Bar and The Center go The Center for Natural Wellness School of Massage Therapy worked to ensure that every child possible was sponsored this holiday season. Many weren't, but Scotia Music Academy, Guilderland Music Academy, Glenville Funeral Home and many others held donation drives to help cover the gaps. Individuals also stepped up, giving what they could to ensure that no child was left behind. Thanks to their support, every single child that enrolled in the program received holiday gifts this year.
Today is December 31st and while our Sponsor-a-Child in Crisis holiday program has come to a close, our busy season has just begun. More children and families are impacted by abuse over the holidays than any other time of year. This year is no exception. Team members left their homes at 5am this morning and anticipate working through the night to keep up with the crisis situations in our community. So on this day we ask you to give, not because of the holidays, but because these children are going to need us in the months ahead. Holiday gifts feel good to give, but our goal is sustainability for these families. We need to lift these families out of a place of trauma, to one where they can be self-sufficient.
All donations received through midnight will count as a 2021 tax deduction. Thanks to the CARES Act, taxpayers who give by December 31, 2021, and do not itemize, can deduct up to $300 in charitable contributions. Give what you can. These children need your support.
thingsofmyveryown.org/donate/
thingsofmyveryown.org
Donate to Things of My Very Own, Inc., whose mission is to help children escaping abuse and neglect.Do you need winter coats?
The North American Aerospace Defense Command (NORAD) just announced that Santa is in New York State!
Merry Christmas to all
Tomorrow (Christmas Eve) is going to be an extremely busy day at the crisis intervention center. The first wave of team members is scheduled to begin their shift at 5am. Client pick-ups are scheduled to begin at 8am.
If your scheduled pick-up time is tomorrow, please call (518)630-5143 once you are on-site, to check in. If you get our voicemail, it means that all lines are full. Do NOT leave a message. Please just keep calling until you get through.
We ask that all volunteers and donors park in the back of the lot to reserve the spaces in the front for those in need. Donation drop-offs will be limited to between 9am-11am.
Tomorrow only, if you are dropping off items, we ask that you to bring your items to the large glass doors with the logo overhead. Please do NOT call the crisis intervention center unless absolutely necessary. It is imperative that we keep our phone lines open for families in emergency situations, and those with pick-up appointments.
If you are dropping off a monetary donation, or items for a specific family, please knock on the smaller set of glass doors next to the picnic table. Again, these changes in our drop-off policies will ONLY be in place tomorrow, as we anticipate a dramatic surge in calls from families in crisis.
If you have questions about what we can and can not accept, please visit the FAQ page of our website at thingsofmyveryown.org/faqs/.
If you would like to make a monetary donation online, a donation in honor of a loved one or a memorial donation, you may do so on our website at thingsofmyveryown.org/donate/.
We look forward to seeing so many of you tomorrow morning and thank you in advance for your patience and generosity.
thingsofmyveryown.org
Donate to Things of My Very Own, Inc., whose mission is to help children escaping abuse and neglect.Happy holidays team ...y'all are amazing everyone everyday an I know u all are extremely exhausted but please remember we all love u an u are all noticed by all that u do an we are blessed to have u all❤️🎄💗🎄☃️
