how it started...

Alec Johnson started this fundraiser when he was in 3rd grade. Every year we would go through Alec's toys and let him choose any that he wanted to donate. We tried to explain to him from the time he could understand that he has been given so much, and that there are children out there who's parent's can't afford to buy them toys. Sometimes there are even children who don't have homes and have to find somewhere different to sleep each night. It's important to us that our children remember how blessed we are, and if we can do anything to help another person, we need to do it.

One day after we had gathered toys, Alec asked me 'how do the 'poor children' play outside when it snows?" He was 8 years old and he was concerned about other children building snow men, going sledding, and all those other winter activities. I told him that there may be some who couldn't play outside in the snow because they didn't have the right clothing. I asked him what he thought we could do to help them. Together we talked about what gets cold first when he was playing at recess. He said his ears (snow hats), his fingers (gloves), and his feet (socks).

And so we started gathering and "For the Warmth of the Children" was started.