ALLIES WANTED HERE
Educate | Empathize | Engage | ExpectOur mission has always been to strengthen and support marginalized communities while inspiring others to give and do the same.
We are seeing a world-wide galvanizing movement towards addressing the systemic racism that persists in the US. Now more than ever, ears, eyes and hearts are opening up and we have a unique chance to educate, empower and engage others to the cause supporting Anti-Racism.
But how?
“I want to say more but I am afraid of saying the wrong thing.”
“What can one person do?”
“What can I do?”
Pop Up Birthday Cards
Handmade Birthday Cards
Celebrating the Lives of Children in Foster Care
Help celebrate the lives of Children in Foster Care for their special day!
You make it, They will LOVE it!
HOW?
It’s easy!
- Gather your kiddos and get crafty making birthday cards to go in Pop Up Birthday’s birthday boxes. The cards can be as simple or elaborate as you like. Think glitter, confetti, drawings, pop-up art! We love it all! Write a sweet birthday message on the inside.
- Place in an envelope with no name or address
- Put materials in a ziplock bag, coordinate drop off with Geri’s Locker: email [email protected]
- Pop Up Birthday will add them to their Surprise Birthday Boxes for Children in Foster Care
Pop Up Birthday
mission
To provide joy, hope and normalcy to children in foster care through a personalized birthday experience.
We aim to create a moment of connection between the child and a loving adult, opening a path for healing through joy.
vision
To celebrate and recognize children in foster care on their special day.
what they do
Pop-up Birthday fulfills birthday requests from partner agencies for children in the foster care system in and around the Austin,Texas area.
The Pop-Up Birthday box is a plastic bin filled to the brim with complete party supplies, including themed party supplies, gift card for cake, candles, balloons, snacks/drinks, goody bags, party activity and gifts for the child.
News
2020 CASA Superhero Fun Run
ANYTIME in SEPTEMBER — ANYWHERE, PLANET EARTH
Be a Superhero and join us and walk, jog, run, fly, dance or skip you way to helping the children of Travis County. Due to COVID-19, this year’s event is VIRTUAL which means you can do participate anytime during “SUPER SEPTEMBER”!
Geri’s Locker has been a long-time supporter of CASA of Travis County beginning with Geri Stewart volunteering with her sisters of Alpha Kappa Alpa Beta Psi Omega Chapter for CASA events and then she went on to be a Court Appointed Special Advocate. Since Geri’s passing, Dionn Schaffner has taken up the reigns and become a special advocate too, advocating for 9 children so far as well as being the Chair of CASA of Travis County Volunteer Council and CASA Blog Contributor.
CASA makes a significant impact in the lives of children in the system, but does not yet have enough resources to support every child in Travis County who needs their help.
Run your race(s) anytime during “Super September” and submit your times, distances and days! Virtual run registrants receive a “Texas Superheroes” BOCO Technical Trucker Hat (with kid sizes for 12 and under) for participating.
Care Cards
CARE CARDS
Keeping Our Seniors Connected
Support our senior citizens with letters, cards,
poems, hand drawn pictures….
you make it, they will LOVE it!
HOW?
It’s easy!
- Cards/Letters can include a story, drawn picture or favorite poem
- Place in an envelope with no name or address
- Put materials in a ziplock bag, coordinate drop off with Geri’s Locker: email [email protected]
- Facilities will deliver each envelope to individuals at their location
WHY?
Research has shown that social interaction offers older adults many benefits. Staying socially active and maintaining interpersonal relationships can help them maintain good physical and emotional health and cognitive function. Social interactions even help protect against illness by boosting the immune system.
- Potentially reduced risk for cardiovascular problems, some cancers, osteoporosis, and rheumatoid arthritis
- Potentially reduced risk for Alzheimer’s disease
- Lower blood pressure
- Reduced risk for mental health issues such as depression
Conversely, social isolation carries real risks. Some of these risks are:
-
Feeling lonely and depressed
-
Being less physically active
-
Having a greater risk of death
-
Having high blood pressure
CURRENTLY SERVING
Age of Central Texas
AGE of Central Texas is a regional nonprofit organization that provides education and support to people all along the spectrum of growing older, no matter where they are on that journey. They offer a variety of services for older adults and caregivers to help make aging a positive and triumphant journey for everyone.
The Heritage at Hunters Chase
The Heritage at Hunters Chase is a unique community designed for seniors who need help with daily tasks, but who also wish to live as independently as possible, in a homelike setting.
News
Thank You! Tier 2 Goal Achieved!
It’s Geri Stewart’s Birthday today! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And after a late night surge of donations last night, we reached our Tier 2 goal of $7,500!! Thank you all for your generous support!
But just like Geri, we aren’t going to stop there! On to Tier 3!
We’re planting seeds in a beautiful garden that she’ll never see,
They’ll become tall trees, that will be her legacy.
With eyes up, they’ll wise up and rise up!
The world’s gonna know their names.
Supporting Foundation Communities During COVID-19
Geri’s Locker Book Stores: Foundation Communities M-Station
Geri’s Locker FREE Book Store
at
M Station
2906 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702
Books ready to go home with the kids of Foundation Communities M-Station!!
Foundation Communities creates housing where families succeed.
We provide people with an affordable, attractive place to call home, as well as opportunities right at their doorstep to transform their lives.
Want to help??
Do you know of a place where there are kids who need help closing the performance gap based on social-economic status?? Let us know!!
Want to donate books? Message us!
Want to donate your talent, time or treasure? CONTACT US today!
Thank you to all our generous donors and volunteers who made this project happen with their time, treasure and talent!
We couldn’t have done it without you!!
Special thanks to Young Men’s Service League Austin Viper and Four Points Chapters for building out and loading up the shelves!
Geri’s Locker Book Stores: Foundation Communities Cardinal Point
Geri’s Locker FREE Book Store
at
Cardinal Point
11015 4 Points Dr, Austin, TX 78726
Foundation Communities creates housing where families succeed.
We provide people with an affordable, attractive place to call home, as well as opportunities right at their doorstep to transform their lives.
Thank you to all our generous donors and volunteers who made this project happen with their time, treasure and talent!
We couldn’t have done it without you!!
Nayana Shahane
Kelly Fieleke
Young Men’s Service League – YMSL: Austin Vipers
Young Men’s Service League – Four Points
Young Men’s Service League – YMSL
YMCA Food Distribution
YMCA Food Distribution
Food Distribution Tuesdays and Thursdays
The YMCA of Austin has partnered with Brighter Bites and DiMare Fresh to distribute free, 20-pound boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables every Tuesday at the North Austin and East Communities YMCA locations. Produce is distributed at the Bastrop YMCA on Thursdays.
Through a partnership with the Central Texas Food Bank, meal kits are available for children ages 18 and under, every Thursday at the North Austin and East Communities YMCAs.
If you or someone you know needs food, these locations remain a resource for the community.
VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
Volunteers are needed to help distribute food.
Register here to volunteer to distribute produce on Tuesdays at North Austin, here at East Communities, and here on Thursdays at Bastrop. Register here to distribute meal kits on Thursdays at North Austin and at East Communities.
Fundraiser: Geri Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund
GERI STEWART MEMORIAL SCHOLARSHIP FUND
CREATING OPPORTUNITY
501(c)3 Certified Service Organization
Geri Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund
Service and Education were the cornerstones of Geri’s life and what she stood for. In line with our mission here at Geri’s Locker, we are creating a memorial scholarship fund in her name.
The current events highlight the need to create LASTING changes in our systems and to support our Black/African American men and women in their pursuit of education.
Geri graduated from a predominantly white high school in Wooster, Ohio, attended Ohio State University and Southwest Texas State College in San Marcos, Texas. Geri was the FIRST African American nursing student and graduate from Mount Carmel School of Nursing in Columbus, Ohio.
We know that navigating the educational system as a person of color has unique challenges, financial support shouldn’t be one of them.
Join us in making the hopes and dreams of education a reality!
Donate via Facebook
*ZERO fees: 100% of your donation goes to Geri’s Locker*
Geri Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund
The Geri Stewart Memorial Scholarship is founded to reward and encourage Black/African-American students who have demonstrated an exemplary commitment to service and desire for continued education.
Applicants must meet the following requirements: Black/African-American Senior, High School graduate or GED recipient, minimum 2.8 GPA, and plan to attend an accredited college, university or trade school in the fall. A 400-600 word essay must also be included in the application.
We’re planting seeds in a beautiful garden that she’ll never see,
They’ll become tall trees, that will be her legacy.
With eyes up, they’ll wise up and rise up!
The world’s gonna know their names.
News
How You Can Help: Be An Ally
"I want to do more but don't know where to start. I want to say more but I am afraid of saying the wrong thing. What can...
Posted by Dionn Schaffner on Tuesday, June 2, 2020
#BlackLivesMatter #togetherDoingMore #AlliesWantedHere
News
Pop Up Birthday Cards
Help celebrate the lives of Children in Foster Care for their special day! You make it, They will LOVE it!HOW? It's easy! Gather your kiddos and get crafty making birthday cards to go in Pop Up Birthday's birthday boxes. The cards can be as simple or elaborate as you...
2020 CASA Superhero Fun Run
ANYTIME in SEPTEMBER — ANYWHERE, PLANET EARTH Be a Superhero and join us and walk, jog, run, fly, dance or skip you way to helping the children of Travis County. Due to COVID-19, this year's event is VIRTUAL which means you can do participate anytime during "SUPER...
Care Cards
Support our senior citizens with letters, cards, poems, hand drawn pictures.... you make it, they will LOVE it!HOW? It's easy! Cards/Letters can include a story, drawn picture or favorite poem Place in an envelope with no name or address Put materials in a ziplock...
Thank You! Tier 2 Goal Achieved!
It's Geri Stewart's Birthday today! HAPPY HAPPY BIRTHDAY! And after a late night surge of donations last night, we reached our Tier 2 goal of $7,500!! Thank you all for your generous support! But just like Geri, we aren't going to stop there! On to Tier 3!We're...
Supporting Foundation Communities During COVID-19
The books from Geri’s Locker have been invaluable to our families during this time. We have been sending books home with students each week along with weekly activity packets. Thank you for providing this resource to our community!
Geri’s Locker Book Stores: Foundation Communities M-Station
Geri's Locker FREE Book Store at Foundation Communities M Station 2906 E Martin Luther King Jr Blvd, Austin, TX 78702 Foundation Communities creates housing where families succeed. We provide people with an affordable, attractive place to call home, as well as...
Geri’s Locker Book Stores: Foundation Communities Cardinal Point
Geri's Locker FREE Book Store at Foundation Communities Cardinal Point 11015 4 Points Dr, Austin, TX 78726Foundation Communities creates housing where families succeed. We provide people with an affordable, attractive place to call home, as well as opportunities right...
YMCA Food Distribution
Food Distribution Tuesdays and Thursdays The YMCA of Austin has partnered with Brighter Bites and DiMare Fresh to distribute free, 20-pound boxes of fresh fruits and vegetables every Tuesday at the North Austin and East Communities YMCA locations. Produce is...
Protected: Sudden Silence
Password Protected
To view this protected post, enter the password below:
Fundraiser: Geri Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund
501(c)3 Certified Service Organization Geri Stewart Memorial Scholarship Fund Service and Education were the cornerstones of Geri's life and what she stood for. In line with our mission here at Geri's Locker, we are creating a memorial scholarship fund in her...