Brunch History
How Brunch With A Purpose Began (2008):
We held the 1st Annual Brunch With A Purpose on December 21, 2008. The idea came about because, at the time, Susan was working as a guardian ad litem (an attorney representing abused and neglected children involved in dependency and neglect cases). Many of the children involved in the child welfare system are either living in foster care, residential facilities, or with very poor families. These children frequently do not receive birthday or holiday gifts without community help. In 2008, Susan picked her 24 neediest clients and with the help of friends Diana Crabtree, Marci Eads, and Andrea Evashevski, Brunch With A Purpose was born.
The idea was to invite friends, family, and friends of friends to a holiday brunch where the guests bring gifts for the children in lieu of gifts for one another. We had a card-making station where guests could make holiday cards for friends and families saying, "In your honor, I bought a coat for a five-year-old in foster care. Merry Christmas." It was a huge success, with approximately 80 people participating. With everyone's help, we sponsored 24 children's Santa gifts. The children received toys like doll houses and play kitchens, new clothes, and two children even received beds. After the brunch, the gifts were delivered to the children's parents and guardians and they gave them to the children from Santa.
And Then...
The next year (2009) we sponsored 33 children, several foster parents, and a local drug court. The following year (2010) we provided gifts for 44 children and even a few of their guardians. We have been blown away with everyone's generosity! We have had over 100 people participate, dozens of local restaurants have provided food, and local businesses have pooled their resources to help. We were also honored to be chosen by the Beanstalk Foundation, who generously matched money raised by our community!
How The Children Are Chosen:
Most of the children sponsored by Brunch With A Purpose 2008 and 2009 were Susan's clients or children who lived in the same foster homes with Susan's clients. In 2010, we sponsored a local drug court with which Susan worked. This year, we are sponsoring some of Susan's past clients, current clients, and other families involved with Social Services in several counties who were referred to us by child welfare and food stamps workers. We only select hard-working, truly deserving families. Please help us spread the word as we could really use your help as we continue to grow and sponsor more children!
Outcomes of Brunch With A Purpose:
Providing Santa gifts or winter clothes for a child is not going to erase abuse and neglect. However, it is a way to normalize a child's life. The sponsored children are frequently made fun of for having old clothes, clothes that don't properly fit, and even for being in foster care. Foster parents are not given much money to purchase clothes for children so they frequently purchase used clothes. To these children, the clothing and school supplies are just as exciting as the toys because their own new clothes enable them to look and feel like other children.
Future Plans for Brunch With A Purpose:
We would love to eventually host more than one brunch a year to help raise school supplies and other things these children need. Stay tuned! :)
Thank you so much for your interest!
- Susan Easley Stocks