Finally! The List Kids Video is Done!

I finally finished editing my first video clip. It is not as polished as I would like, but it is the first time I have made something like this. I wanted to give people an idea of what happens each month as we put together the care packages. I left off the more mundane tasks such as making labels, updating the various spreadsheets, and filling out the nonprofit paperwork:) Now that I understand the basics of creating a video clip, I hope to bring you more.

Enjoy,
Sky
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAQXApK-Otg

Reflections

As I sit here tonight I am reflecting on the past year. I am in a "reflecting" mood because tomorrow is my 12th birthday. Without a doubt, getting involved with The List Project and starting The List Kids was one of the best things that happened this past year. I have made so many new friends, both in real life and online. We have sent out care packages every month for six months now and the number of List Kids continues to grow each month. There are several people whose contributions have had a significant impact on the success of The List Kids. First and foremost are my mom, Kirk, Zeba, Tona and Ban. They helped me take my idea and turn it into a project that continues to grow and reach more people. And I have to give thanks to Beth, who designed The List Kids logo and did the graphics for The List Kids flyer, and Joel, who designed The List Kids' website. Then, there are the volunteers who have so graciously given of their time and finances. The top of that list is Carol from Oklahoma and Mateo from South Carolina. You guys are awesome. As are my cousins, Christian and Cayla, who help put together care packages every month. There are so many other people who have really jumped in and made a difference: Julie, Ehab, Beth, Nancy, Alexia, Morgan, Joe, Connie, John, Josh, Ian, Debra, Charlie, Cat, Betty, Carlos, Georgino, Luis, Donna,....I will be here all night if I try to list everyone!

There is still a great need to reach more Iraqi refugee kids so I look forward to growing this project even bigger. Come join The List Kids team----I guarantee it will be a rewarding experience!

Peace,
Sky

P.S. A great way to get involved is to join The List Kids chapter at http://netroots.thelistproject.org

1005

1005! 1005 what you might ask? 1005 pounds of books were shipped to my mom's office from Penguin Books for The List Kids. In case you were wondering what 1005 pounds of books looks like, my mom took pictures with her cellphone. The books came packed in a large box on a pallet. It would not fit through the doors in my mom's office so all the books had to be transferred out of the large box. Special thanks goes to Betty, Carlos, Luis and Georgino at Holland & Knight LLP. They helped unpack all the books from the large pallet and repacked them into smaller boxes ---35 smaller boxes to be exact. [I was at school so I missed out on this event.] My mom told me that everyone who saw the books being unloaded commented on how amazed they were at the generousity of Penguin Books. I am too. There are books for young adults, soft books for babies, beginning readers, sticker books, books with CDs, Mad Libs, and books for kids of all ages in between. The next step will be taking the boxes from my mom's office to my dad's taekwondo school where we can spread them out, categorize them by reading levels and repack them accordingly. My dad is letting me store them at his work. Each month my cousins and I will take the list of kids that we make care packages for and pick out books to include in their care packages. We know the List Kids will really enjoy these books.

Thanks again to Penguin Books for their amazing generosity!

Peace,
Sky

Sneak Peek

I am busy editing a short video about what The List Kids team does and will post it here when I finish it. The photo to the right is a sneak peek. This is what the car looks like on a typical run to the postal place to send care packages. What you can't see are the two bikes that are in the backseat of the car and the 4 princess bikes that are at the postal place waiting for labels. As you can imagine, our biggest expense is postage! Thank you again to all the wonderful people that support the List Kids. We could not do it without you.

Peace,

Sky

One of Our Own

Check out the photos and report from one of our very special List Kids, Samer! Due to a generous donation from Independent Means, Samer spent a week at the exciting "Camp Start Up" (www.independentmeans.com). He wrote a report about his experiences and sent us some photos. He also is making a short video about his experience, which we will post here when he is done. As you will see from his report, this is the first time Samer has flown on an airplane by himself and his first camp experience here in the U.S. Way to go, Samer! We are very proud of you.

Independent Means graciously offered a spot in its week-long camp and The List Kids Team was able to fund Samer's airfare to camp. We are extremely grateful to Independent Means for their generous offer and to Samer for sharing his report and photos with us.

Peace,
Sky

Here is Samer's report:

Samer%27s%20report.doc

Looks like we need a bigger trunk...

I was out of town for the past 10 days. When I checked the List Kids' postal box today, I was pleasantly surprised ---no, stunned--- to find so many packages waiting for pickup. Two of the List Kids' biggest (and most prolific) supporters had outdone themselves again. Carol in Tulsa and Matt in South Carolina were responsible for most of these packages! This month's care packages are going to the best ever. Nancy, a fabulous graphic designer, sent some amazing cards she designed. And my friend, Ian in Colorado, sent me his Gamecube and a bunch of games. Add this to the Gamecube that my cousin Christian donated and you know there are going to be some happy List Kids. You guys really are the greatest. We have quite a few new families that will be arriving this month and next so we are excited about giving them a List Kids' special welcome. Thanks to Carol, Matt, Nancy, Christian and Ian, we will be ready for them.

Sky

Priceless!

I almost don't want to write anything as this photo speaks volumes. I bet you are sitting there at your computer with a smile on your face; it's contagious. These are three of our List Kids. In this month's care package they received an XBox and some games...do you think they liked it? I will admit that this photo brings a special smile to my face because it was my XBox and I am so thrilled to see that it really made them happy. What makes me even happier is that I have received several more game systems so I know there will be even more List Kids smiling like this. I love this photo, and I am extremely grateful that they gave us permission to share it with you. I am going to stop writing because my words are nothing compared to the photo. Priceless!

Dream Big, Think Big, Do Big!
Sky