Project Doc: How to donate

How to contribute
Personal donations:
Donations from this project are expected to be about half personal and half business contributions. For personal donations, each year there are dozens of families in the Barrington area that support the project by hitting big department stores at sale times, stocking up on children’s clothes or housewares to contribute to the project. This is the type of contribution most expected for the project. You’ll be amazed at how far $50 can go in the clearance areas at Wal-Mart or Costco.
Used items are certainly welcome, however with the following note in mind. Each year my sponsor receives about thirty garbage bags full of donations. After sorting through all of the bags, he is left with only ten bags of suitable donations. Any good that is non-functional or clothing that is torn or soiled is not acceptable for donation and could be taken as an insult to the Crow Creek people. So please do not donate old or defective goods, as disposal of these goods could consume valuable project funds.

Business donations:
The way this project will really succeed is if we get bulk donations from businesses. If you or someone you know owns a business that sells any of the suggested items, a donation would be greatly appreciated. Donated clearance and sale items would be especially appealing since we want as many goods as we can get.

Financial contributions:
Much of this project depends on the outside finances I am able to bring in to cover the cost of gas for donation pickups and for the final delivery drive to South Dakota, which will amount to about $300. I am expecting to purchase about half of the donations myself with donated money from those who live too far to make shipping donations cost efficient. If you are looking for a “stress free” way to contribute or live more than an hour away from my home, please consider writing a check to benefit the project. Checks are payable to “Boy Scout Troop 10” with “Jon Catlin Eagle project” in the memo line.
As with the past fundraiser I participated in for the Elgin Youth Symphony Orchestra, dozens of small donations of $10 and $20 add up to a serious impact. Simply mailing out a dozen letters to generous, committed family and friends, I was able to raise over $1200 in less than a month. The goal for this project is near 100% participation, so please give what you can, even if it isn’t much.