Updates

Since our inception in April of this year we have incoporated and in July we obtained our 501C(3)tax exemption status. We have initiated clothing drives at Missouri Baptist, Forest Park, and St. Josephs Hospital GI labs. The reponse has been tremendous. We currently are outgrowing our storage space at an astronomical rate. We have received clothing donations from New City School, and various individuals within the community.Local businesses such as US Bank, Old Navy, Marshalls, Big Lots, Gateway Orthodontics,The St. Louis Rams and the Monsanto YMCA have given us assistance also. To all we say Thank You!
We hosted our "Wrap Event" during the first week of December at the Monsanto YMCA. It was a huge success. Volunteers selected and personally prepared gifts for our families.
During the months of April and May we distributed spring clothing items to our current families.
We are currently preparing for Our Back to School Drive. Many Thanks to Mauri and the entire St. Mary's Hospital in Clayton, Missouri for organizing a tremendously successful school supply drive on our behalf. They donated 2 carloads of schools supplies to support our families .
We were scheduled to distribute items to the needy at a Back to School Gospelfest in downtown St. Louis August 28 at Keiner Plaza but the event was postponed due to bad weather. We are still determined and plan to participate in an "Outpouring of Love Festival" an Annual Event scheduled at Fairgrounds Park on September 11. We will be distributing clothing items and school supplies. Thanks to all who have voluntered to help.

In the past weeks we have been busy ! We distributed clothing and school supplies at a North St. Louis Church and accepted applications for our Holiday Drive. We participated in the Outpouring of Love Festival at Fairgrounds Park. The event was awesome. We were able to distribute a van load of clothing items to a very appreciative group of attendees. We have begun our distribution to our schools and currently networked with two new agencies: Southside DayCare Center,and a Family Preservation Program through the Missouri Parole Board. Thanks to the wonderful donations we have received we were able to supply many expectant mothers and families with items off their wish lists.

On a recent visit to one of the alternative public schools for pregnant teens we found a heartbreaking situation. The faculty were collecting funds to purchase socks,hats and undershirts for many of the newborns who had arrived soiled, and underdressed in the chilly 40 degree weather. We delivered some clothing and items collected from the community but decided we could make a real difference. See, here at 4FLORA we believe in miracles !The school had requested a baby swing which we did not have or have funds to purchase but that same night after working late at the office I opened my door to find one sitting outside. ( Not knowing of our need the owner of the office complex had dropped it off ). Thus, we have pledged to purchase and collect at least 3 changes of clothes, outerwear and socks for each child in the nursery .
The community response has been tremendous.Due to individual donations, the assistance of the owner of the Childrens Resale Shop in Overland,Missouri, Old Navy , JC Penneys in West County Center and even a donation of clothing shipped to us from out of state we have begun to deliver several car loads of baby clothing, and supplies to the Meda B. Washington School.

Thanks to Dillard's Department Store for the generous donation of handbags collected during their Trade-In Event. These bags have brighten the days of women at The Safe House, New Beginnings and Meda P. Washington School.

Thanks to Once Upon A Child Children's Shop for assisting us in providing clothing to out nursery clients.

As we embark on the journey of 2005. I would like to pause to thank you all for your generous support of 4FLORA throughout the year; because of your efforts, we were able to accomplish truly “miraculous” goals this season.

Toys and gifts were donated to 150 children at the Southside Daycare Center
100 Gift Bags and multiple new items were donated to the teens and babies at the Meda P. Washington Alternative School.
30 Families at New Beginnings Counseling Center received assistance
40 Families within the St. Louis Public, County Schools and Missouri Parole Board Program received holiday items
10 additional families referred by various agencies within Metro St. Louis hopefully had a brighter holiday because of your kindness.
Several families relocating received needed household items and furnishings.
Families from Victims of War Crimes received wish list items

4 FLORA received a Certificate of Appreciation from the Meda P. Washington School. Thanks!

RadioShack Awarded 4FLORA "A Neighborhood Answers Grant"Thanks!

We received recognition at the Metro Ministry's Annual Luncheon Thanks to Mrs. Earline Falker

2005 was an exciting year for us!
We assisted students within the City and County Schools with filled backpacks and an assortment of new and gently used clothing and uniforms if needed. School supplies seem to dissapear quickly during the year and at the advice of some our teachers we delivered boxes of supplies to our neediest schools in the Fall and Winter.

We again participated in the Give Back the Love Community Festival in Fair Ground Park in September distrubuting a van full of clothing, shoes, backpacks and toys to the needy.
Thanksgiving was filled with miracles!

Thanksgiving was filled with miracles! We received a donation of furnishings which was able to brighten the holidays of a family burned out, families from " The Survivors of Victims of War Torture and Crimes" and the Women's Safe House which serves abused women.

Christmas was a great success we were blessed with donations to the children of our parenting teens groups by the St. Mary's Hospital Endoscopy Staff. Several of the nurses and their family members volunteered one cold Saturday morning to sort, wrap and prepare gift items to be distributed during the Holiday Drive.

Again we applaud Dillard's Stores for donating handbags and remebering us! Thanks to the staff at Missouri Baptist Endoscopy Center for their donations throughout the year also.

Thanks for helping us to make a difference in our community!