HOW IT WORKS

Our objective is to match the children in greatest need with the resources of caring companies and individuals. Local corporations and individuals support Send'em Off Smiling with financial donations or by offering to sponsor a child, a family, or a specified number of children.

We make use of teachers to help us identify the neediest children in each school. Parents have an opportunity to opt in to the program, and they participate by filling in a "Child Profile" form with the necessary information about their child's size and style preferences. These forms are sent directly back to Send'em Off Smiling and each profiled child is "coded" to protect their privacy.

Individuals and companies who have committed to sponsoring children (these are our Shop and Drop sponsors) will be sent the appropriate profiles, so that they can shop for the necessary items. They return the backpacks to one of our Shop and Drop stations any time before the end of July, and include their receipts for tax purposes.  Because much of our support comes from cash donations from corporations, service clubs and individuals, we also have volunteer shoppers (usually mothers and/or teachers) who complete the shopping for any children who have not been sponsored by a Shop and Drop sponsor.

Screened volunteers then deliver the completed backpacks to the children. This is the busiest and most gratifying stage in our SOS season!