Our Safelight Project has been a success this year. Together, we raised the money, made the case sets and stamped the cards to make enough spa bags to last several months. Today, let’s catch up with the contributions and delivery.

I haven’t had a chance to thank everyone who contributed to the project. First, so many of the monetary donors have requested anonymity, that I am just going to thank you all together. You know who you are, and I know who you are. Your incredible support made this project possible. Thank you!

Many boxes of wonderful cards and case sets were received. Cards arrived from Susan B, Margaret N, and Niki B, all so beautifully done. Cards are so important as residents in the shelter place them on their mirrors and read the encouragement every day.

The lovely ladies at Heritage Hills made cards and case sets.

Cards and case sets arrived from Edy J, and we had a lovely lunch when she delivered them.

Case sets from Trish, and cards from Lenora arrived on the same day.

Lesley sent these beautiful case sets.

Norine O sent case sets and cards as well.

I ordered cases of products from Dollar Tree, and picked up items in the store to get 48 bags done. Then, I asked some friends to come over and help me pack them. Thank you to Gail, Diana and Jill who saved me hours of work by helping stuff the bags and get them ready to deliver. You are the best! We began with laying out 48 case sets and stuffing the tissue cases.

Sunglasses were placed next, and it is amazing how the colors match so well with the cases.

Thank you to these additional readers who sent lovely sets in whimsical and pretty prints – Kathryn L., Bonnie C., Becky H., Melanie T., Chris L., and Mary D.

We set out scrubbies to match the case sets, and stuffed the cosmetic cases with cards, lip balm and nail hardener. Then hairbrushes were laid out, again trying to keep the colors harmonious.

Each large size, heavy canvas bag was filled with 10 full size items and two cards. There was body lotion, hair treatment, hairbrush, sunglasses, facial cleansing wipes, nail hardener, manicure kit, lip balm, travel tissues and a lovely bar of handmade lavendar soap. Each bag also got a scrubbie, but I forgot to get it in this photo.

We started stuffing bags, coordinating handle colors with case set colors. Each bag got a sheet of glitter tissue on the top to show it is a gift.

At the end of the day, we had 48 ladies spa bags and two men’s bags ready to deliver.

I got backpacks for the men’s bags, stuffing them with nice shaving kit bags, and full size products of lotion, hairbrush, 3-in-one body wash/shampoo/conditioner, aviator sunglasses with a black case, lip balm, facial wipes, socks and two cards. They also got two packs of tissues, not shown in the photo.

I put the Halloween boxes with the spa bags to take to the shelter. I had previously put together 24 treat bags for the adults (the white ones) and 24 for the kids (the brown ones), along with a treasure chest full of toy airplanes and lots of stickers.

Everything was ready for the delivery.

Before Halloween, I loaded up the car and made the delivery to Safelight. The staff was so excited! From the left are Michael Beaver – Development Director, Lauren Wilke – Chief Executive Officer, Sara Cole – Community Relations Manager, and Ashley Osgood.

After the Halloween party, Lauren wrote “We were so grateful for the wonderful Halloween holiday gifts for our shelter residents. The kids put the Halloween stickers on everything for decorating; it was so fun!”

Paige Stack, Shelter Case Manager said “The client response was Candy and Chocolate makes everything better! Candy was gone in hours! Thank you from all of us!”

The spa bags should last a couple of months, and we have enough money and cards to do the next delivery in early 2026. I have about 35 case sets left, and I could use about a dozen more, and then the project will be done for another year.

For newer readers, over the past nine years, we have come together as a community to assemble spa bags for new residents of the shelter once or twice a year. These are not basic items like toothpaste or shampoo, those items are provided by local churches. The spa bags are special gifts. They go a long way to making a difficult transition a little better, providing much needed support for residents who are going through a horrible time in their lives, betrayed by someone they loved, fleeing abusive situations with their children and virtually nothing else. Thankfully, most of us will never know the depth of despair or need to summon the immense courage it takes to leave an abusive situation. Residents say the bags help them feel special and cared for, at a time when support is needed most. Read more about Safelight on their website.

Safelight sends its gratitude to everyone who contributed to this very special project. Your kindness and generosity make a genuine difference in the lives of women and men in crisis. Thank you!