GES4 - Giving Every Season - Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall
Makaila Saylor and Chelsea Hoff                   

Type of Project: Financial Management                                 
Request: Donation Management
Location(s): Ohio
Recipient: Various

Makaila and Chelsea, the hearts behind G.E.S., started a ‘giving’ project in 2007.  The idea began when the girls were in the cooking section of the school library.  They found a book on Christmas ideas and among the many, the one that stood out was Christmas “Cookies in a Jar”.  The girls used this idea and improvised by taking orders for the cookies in a jar.  Makaila and Chelsea bought the dry ingredients, assembled the orders, and delivered the jars.  After reimbursing themselves for the cost of the cookie ingredients, they used the profits to purchase toys and gifts for children of all ages in the hospital during Christmas.  The project continued each year and by selling more jars and keeping costs to a minimum, the girls have been able to buy more gifts for hospitalized children!  Their profits have increased by more than 300% since 2009! 

In 2010, GES teamed up with Trade Palms as a financial management client.  With the backing of a reputable 501(c)(3) non-profit organization behind them, Makaila and Chelsea hope that donations and support of the GES project will expand since monetary and in-kind contributions will be acknowledged through Trade Palms.  This new partnership also opened the door for Makaila and Chelsea to expand their project concept from giving during Christmas to ‘giving every season’ (Winter, Spring, Summer & Fall).  The Cookies in a Jar will still be their primary and largest giving project for the Winter season but will also be accompanied with other small projects such as giving of their time, service or talent to persons or groups within their community during the other seasons.

During the Winter 2011 season, Makaila and Chelsea partnered with volunteers from local churches who support the Interfaith Hospitality Network (IHN).  This collaborative effort of over 140 volunteers raised $6000, of which $5000 was donated to one IHN homeless shelter and $1000 went to the purchase of wagons and push-cars needed by Children’s Medical Center.  God’s amazing grace was observed in many small and big ways throughout this successful 2011 season!

Makaila and Chelsea will be keeping their hearts open for finding ways to Give Every Season!  Their 2012 Spring plans include organizing their friends and family to participate and volunteer for the local community Autism Walk!