FOUND.

We had a great day of sorting, organizing, packing, and planning for cold weather needs thanks to this team from City Bank!!

✨✨✨City Bank - thanks for sending your best people - we made huge strides today!!

On Friday, we got an SOS request from a teacher.
“Do you have a boys size 4 shoe? A student’s shoe came apart and I’m hoping you all have a pair for him.”
Within a few hours of the text the little boy had two pair to choose from. Because of your generosity, he was able to get back to learning instead of worrying about a distracting need.
It seems so simple, but for most of the students we serve, it’s a luxury to have more than one pair of shoes, more than a few changes of clothes, or access to hygiene items.
Every bag you donate matters and helps us meet these type of needs. Thank you for continuing to show up, friends. 🩵

1,099 students in five school days.

We ran the numbers.
Twice.

Through educators shopping our resources for their campuses and individual requests coming in from schools across our community, clothing, shoes, hygiene essentials, snacks and other necessities moved our our warehouse doors and into the hands of kids who needed them.

1,099 students.
One week.

This is what happens when a community gives generously - through an organization ready to turn that generosity into action.

A counselor noticed.
A nurse sees a need.
An educator reaches out.
Volunteers serve.
FOUND. responds.

To every person who donates, volunteers, sorts, delivers, gives financially, shares our mission or opens a door for us:

YOU ARE A PART OF THIS IMPACT.

And there are a whole lot more kids to reach.

✨✨✨🫶🏽✨✨✨

Yesterday we were back in action.

We have done over 100 deliveries since school started… filling requests for schools daily.

Now, we’re finally open to educators to shop and fill their pantries and clothes closets on campus.

They show up with stories and lists.

The stories would break your heart.
The simple things on the list would blow your mind.

Kids who don’t have socks and shoes.
Showing up with mom or dad or cousins shoes that don’t fit. Duct taped.

Kids wearing the same thing every day.

Hungry kids.
Smelly kids.
Hygiene items are expensive.

We fill the needs and lean in and listen to your stories.

Nana was filling the deodorant bin 15 minutes after opened.

Thank you for believing in what we do.

Thank you Play Street Museum Lubbock!!

Ten schools have reached out this morning asking for help for students who showed up without the clothes and shoes they need.

For so many of us, it’s hard to imagine what that looks like. Most of us have a closet full of options. Sometimes too many options.

These kids show up dirty, smelly, shoes falling off or duck taped on, toes sticking out the front, smelling of dog or cat urine … we’ve heard it all.

We exist to give you the avenue to donate your excess so we can meet these needs.

Shout out to this consistent donor who always labels what she finds for us!! So helpful!! 🫶🏽

This week was a bit overwhelming. The requests for students came in quickly and our volunteers hustled all day long to meet the needs.

We received one “911” message and were able to respond within a few hours to a need in Shallowater.

Our contact told us they were in a meeting with several school staff and that her principal called the family's need a "911". We quickly relayed the message to Nana who was already at the warehouse filling orders and she was able to locate the items they needed and deliver them within a couple hours of the request.

This morning we received this follow up text:

“The elementary need was met and it's because we have you as a partner in loving others. The staff is so grateful for the rapid turnaround and ability to meet needs before yesterday ended! I'm in the nurse's office now and they're over the top.”

Over the top.
That’s what generosity looks like.

Because of YOUR generosity, we’re able to give a weeks worth of clothing to kids in need. Often within a few hours of hearing that they need it.

Thank you Lubbock for helping us respond with generosity, and for being our partners in loving others.

It’s a busy day at the front warehouse. Our Nana is filling requests for seven schools. Dozens of labeled bags fill the lobby and our volunteer delivery drivers are on their way to pick and take these items to the campuses!!

Bombas socks are being loaded up for Caleb's Closet - and we love being able to give out our new bags provided by McHur Care!!

Thank you LBK for all you give to FOUND. We love to meet these needs and couldn’t do it without YOU!!

🩵🤍💙

Sometimes moving forward means being willing to pivot.

Last month, we made the decision to simplify FOUND.’s operations, reduce our overhead, and operate from our two warehouses...keeping our resources focused as much as possible on what matters most: serving students and the educators who care for them every day.

And then Lubbock reminded us, once again, what it looks like when a community rallies around a mission.

Our front warehouse needed an HVAC system to make the space functional and comfortable for our volunteers, educators and all the work happening there.

Sinclair Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing Inc. donated the HVAC system.

An electrician donated his time.

Labor was provided to us at a significantly reduced cost.

And generous FOUND. donors stepped in to cover that remaining cost.

We are incredibly grateful to Sinclair Heating, Cooling, & Plumbing Inc., to the professionals who donated their time and reduced their costs, and to the donors who made the rest possible.

Our warehouse is cooler...and our hearts are pretty warm.

Thank you for continuing to believe in FOUND. as we grow, learn, pivot and keep finding the best way forward.

I ordered food to the warehouse on Wednesday and the nicest man delivered. Gabriel asked about FOUND and I was grateful to share about the amazing work we get to do every day to help kids in the schools. He was kind and encouraging and when he left I tried to leave more of a tip but never found where to do it.
This text made my whole day.
People are generous and kind and want to help and FOUND is so thankful for every one of the helpers.