Shine and Inspire

Another wonderful Children’s Event, one of the best things we do at Shine and Inspire!

96 children and their families were our guests for a day of fun, music, crafting, games, lunch and hot chocolate station, haircuts and family portrait. They went home with winter clothing for the cold months ahead, a present from their wish list, pajamas, books and a homemade blanket. Each family went home with a bag filled with hygiene and household items to help stretch their budgets. So many people to thank:

• The amazing Shine & Inspire board who made it all happen – Donna Powell, Mary Jane Rossi, Sharon Evanko, Nawaz Merchant, Carol Stolow, Karen McLaughlin and Patrick Jones.
• People and businesses who donated their money and time by sponsoring, donating and shopping for the children with a special shout out to super shoppers Karen Jacko, Margaret Conrad, Karen McLaughlin, Renee Hogan and Ann Marie Potts who shopped for so many of the children!
• Bristol Myers Squibb who sponsored 8 children for the event!
• Pam Trapp, Mary Theresa Weil and fellow realtors at Coldwell Banker Princeton for also sponsoring several of the children!
• The fantastic volunteers, both new and those who keep coming back we appreciate you!
• The Civil Air Patrol who did a drone demonstration and had air simulator games and cardboard paper plane tables!
• Our amazing stylists Carlee and Haley who cut children’s hair all day!
• Jenny who kept the games and the dancing going all afternoon!
• Doe’Rain Deane, the wonderful photographer who took family portraits (and is always there to help us)!
• Book Smiles for all the wonderful books!
• New Jersey Weddings and Events for all the wonderful food and Beth and Joann and team who are the best!!!
• The amazing Kari who made balloon characters for the children while up on stilts!
• Lala & Mimi’s Pajama Project that gave pajamas to every child!
• Project Linus who donated handmade blankets for the children!
• Rebecca Zegas, our Belle and Snow White volunteers!
• The young men from the Hamilton A’s baseball organization for helping to unload everything (there was a lot!) and set up the hall!

Another wonderful Children’s Event, one of the best things we do at Shine and Inspire!
96 children from families needing a little help were our guests for an afternoon of food, fun, entertainment and crafts. They went home with a backpack filled with school supplies, clothing, and shoes so they can start the school year off right! They also received a special surprise from their wish list. Each family went home with a bag filled with hygiene and household items to help stretch their budgets.
So many people to thank:

• The amazing Shine & Inspire board who made it all happen!
• People and businesses who donated their money and time by sponsoring and shopping for the children with a special shout out to super shoppers Karen Jacko, Karen Mclaughlin, Lynda Petrocelli and Ann Marie Potts who shopped for so many of the children!
• The fantastic volunteers, both new and those who keep coming back we appreciate you!
• Our amazing stylists Carlee and Haley who cut children’s hair all day!
• Jenny who kept the games and the dancing going all afternoon!
• Book Smiles for all the wonderful books!
• Happy Smiles for donating ice pops!
• New Jersey Weddings and Events for all the wonderful food and Beth and Joann who are the best!!!
• The amazing Kari who made balloon characters for the children while up on stilts!
• Danielle from Outside the Lines Art Studia for her wonderful craft table (she is also one of our Community Partners)!
• Lala & Mimi’s Pajama Project that gave pajamas to every child!
• Project Linus who donated handmade blankets for the children!
• Kelly Rick, who was our princess for the day (because her daughter couldn’t make it) she’s so amazing (and to her mom who was our baby whisperer)!
• The young men from the Hamilton A’s baseball organization for helping to unload everything (there was a lot!) and set up the hall!
• Creative Juices by Kari Ann Palmieri Janisse!

Thank you Constellation Energy!

Mercer County #nonprofit @ShineandInspire has been awarded a $500 Community Champions #grant from @ConstellationEG for our School Closets project which helps indigent #kids with toiletries and school supplies.

#constellationcommunitychampions! #shineandinspire

We really appreciate support from #consumerproducts companies in #NJ to help fill the closets in 30 #MercerCounty#NJSchools!

Many thanks to Danielle Ingeri from Outside the Lines Art Studio in Hamilton. She hosted a fundraiser benefitting Shine and Inspire at her studio and presented us with a check for $600! This will provide many children with much needed hygiene items, school supplies and non-perishable foods.

It’s a wonderful studio — check it out if you’ve never been there!

Outside the Lines Art Studio is also a collection site where you can drop off donation items for our Shine closets (over 30 closets in Mercer County schools)