NOVEMBER FEATURED CAUSE: Operation Smiley Face from Lubabat Scotland

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

Chip In To Support Operation Smiley Face and fellow 29Giver Lubabat Scotland.
Get details on this wonderful project below.

In November, we're sponsoring a cause that has been started by fellow 29Giver, Lubabat Scotland (pictured below). We are so deeply touched and impressed by Lubabat's strength of character, bravery and spirit. Lubabat was diagnosed with MS in the mid 90s, and then in August of this year, she was diagnosed with stage 4 metastatic breast cancer. Her reaction to this diagnosis has been so inspirational - she is fighting the disease by giving. She has started a movement called Operation Smiley Face. Now, Lubabat is hosting a Christmas Give and her theme is "going small to make a big impact".



"I would like to reach as many people as possible. To do that I decided to put together small items that I hope will bring a big smile to the faces of the recipients of these free gifts. I found some really cute mini Christmas stockings and my intention is to fill each one with a Smiley pin a candy cane and one other small item (or more if possible). We really want to reach people, but mostly children, that are in need of some holiday cheer. Maybe it's because they may not be getting anything (or very little), or if they are sick, or alone. I use several sites to find recipients. Among them are www.makeachildsmile.org. They feature children who live with life threatening conditions and need some cheering up. We also use www.wishuponahero.com to find families in need, and www.spiritjump.org. They request cheer up mail to cancer patients. We also get word of mouth requests from people that may know of someone who could really use a smile. For this particular project I am asking that requests be made only for people that really need it.
In addition to that, I would love to deliver some "holiday mail" to a local children's hospital. I think it would be a wonderful thing to bring a smile to a child's face who will be in the hospital for the holidays. This is something I'm still working on, so I will have to keep you posted on this one.

Oh, I also wanted to tell you that we will also be send Happy Hanukah mail to children of the Jewish faith.

I estimate the cost (including shipping) to be $3-$4 per package. I would love to send out at least 100 packages but I will send out as many as I am able."

And 29 Gifts would like to help her be able! We'd love to see our community support her cause - and if you feel moved to do so you can do so easily by clicking on the chipin widget below and donating. You can sponsor a single stocking, ten stockings, or 29 - any amount you donate will be a gift to Lubabat, as well as to those who receive these adorable gifts of love this Holiday season.

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

WOW! 148 of $500, 1/3 of the way there and in just 3 days!

[Allie Andersen]

Wow, i went to the make a child smile website! I had no idea there were sites like this out there :). Clearly, this may have to be Wednesday's gift! Thanks for letting me know about this!

[NaShaa]

Thank you for opening my eye to the make a child smile web site. You inspire me!!! I know you will make your goal. Best wishes and thoughts to you.

[Mary - 29Gifts Welcome Team Lead]

I'm in! Hope you exceed your goal to keep the giving going.

[Lubabat Scotland]

I am BLOWN AWAY by the generosity of the 29 gifts community! I am just about speechless. Thanks to the donations received so far I have been able to start purchasing items for the mini stockings. This is so exciting, and I can't wait to start spreading some holiday smiles!

Here's a photo of some of the items.

[Jacqueline D'Elia]

I was our pleasure to help you reach the $500 mark.

[Lubabat Scotland]

I'm not sure what happened to my last post (it disappeared!), so let me try this again.

WOW you all are amazing! $500 in 11 days! THANK YOU sooooooooooooooo much for the donations and support of the December project for Operation Smiley Face. I can't wait to spread smiles this Holiday season! I would not have been able to do it on the same level with your help! So, thank you all again. :)

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

Lubabat, I too am just THRILLED that this community has stepped up and made that $500 goal happen so quickly! The chip in and the Cause of the Month will stay up and open until the end of the month, so you may be giving more stockings than you'd anticipated!
Thank you again Lubabat, for being who you are and for inspiring so many people - and thanks too to all of you who have made so many donations!

[Lubabat Scotland]

Thank you Erin. I will send as many as I am able to! There are SO MANY families struggling this year, and while the Christmas mail is a "small thing" it may be one of only a very few things these children will get. I am actually already receiving requests. I would love to help everyone, but I will do what I can. :)

[Lubabat Scotland]

Since our initial goal was reached so quickly, I asked Erin and Cami if we could increase it to encourage more donations to spread even more smiles! A lot of families are experiencing financial hardship due to the economy, and it my desire to spread a little cheer to as many children as possible. Your donations are making it possible. Thank you again for your support of this effort.

Here's a new pic of more of the items that have been purchased thanks to your donations. :)

[Erin - 29Gifts Community Manager]

I'm just so thrilled that we've reached the original goal with such speed that we had the opportunity to raise it an extra hundred! At $4 per gift, that's an extra TWENTY FIVE people you get to send a little holiday cheer to!

[Jenny Stewart]

Thank you for making a difference in others lives when most would be focused on what they need at the moment and rightfully so but you have extended your love and courage to others...Thank you! I have made your cause my first gift in my 29 days. Thank you for inspiring me and others.