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Where I'm From
I am from green grass, the roses, and birds
I'm from constant fighting among parents and many hidden secrets
I am from the family farm, where cousins and corn were plentiful
I'm from "we are trying real hard to get you back and doing our best"
These are just a few lines from the many "Where I'm From" poems displayed in our shelter this month. Each one was written by a child staying in shelter or a staff member who works directly with our shelter youth.
A "Where I'm From" poem is designed to explore memories and past experiences that shape who a person becomes. Using a template based on the poem by George Ella Lyon, YESS Staff helped shelter youth write their own versions of these personal poems.
These verses remind us that every child comes to YESS with their own story. Many kids have memories of love and happiness. Some kids come from a home that would fit in your neighborhood. Others have experienced more pain and hurt in their short lives than we can imagine.
No matter what a child's story is, Team YESS wants to respect their past and help them look ahead to a bright future. We use a trauma-informed care model to be sensitive to their story and focus on their strengths.
The conversation at YESS is never "what's wrong with you?" - like these poems, we ask "what happened to you?" and help kids tell the story of where they're from.
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Take a Minute to Support YESS
We have two easy opportunities to support our mission from... wherever you can use your cellphone or computer!
Wear Green to Help Kids
In honor of National Runaway Prevention Month, Visiont is donating $5 to YESS for every person who posts a picture of themselves wearing green on their Facebook page (up to $500).
To help us receive this donation, simply post a photo of you in green on
Visiont's Facebook page by Nov. 18th with the hashtag #NRPM2017. Even better, plan a picture with friends or coworkers and Visiont will donate $5 for every person in the picture.
Vote YESS in Veridian's Spark the Spirit Contest
With the click of a button, you can help YESS
win $5,000
from Veridian Credit Union
to help kids in our community.
Click here to vote!
Eight organizations were chosen by Veridan's Des Moines area branches to be part of their Spark the Spirit voting content. You can help us win by voting once a day and encouraging your friends and family to do the same by
sharing our message. Voting runs until Sunday, Nov. 26th.
Will you step up for Team YESS by wearing green, voting once a day, and sharing our causes? We can't do this without you!
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Save the Date for Giving Tuesday
Will you step up for kids in the spirit of giving?
This Giving Tuesday
, YESS has been challenged to find
25 new monthly donors.
If we can do it,
we will receive 25 NEW BEDS for our shelter!
Mark your calendars for November 28 and be on the lookout for more information soon. We need your help to provide children with the most basic comfort we can provide - a warm bed.
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Team YESS Shout Out: OK200
The
Okoboji 200 is a one-day, 200-mile bike ride to support victims of human trafficking. This year, OK200 included YESS in their efforts and donated an amazing $45,000 to kids in our community!
More than 50 cyclists participated in this year's event to "stop the traffic" and donated to local and international human trafficking causes.
Thank you to everyone who participated in OK200, including YESS Board Member Derek Stocking. We are grateful to have all of you on
Team YESS!
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Mark Your Calendar
| What |
Where |
When |
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Help YESS receive $5,000 from Veridian Credit Union by voting each day
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November 15th-26th
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Enjoy a fun show with proceeds benefiting YESS
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The Blazing Saddle
416 E 5th St
Des Moines, IA
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November
21st 9-11pm
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Bingo fun with proceeds benefiting YESS
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The Blazing Saddle
416 E 5th St
Des Moines, IA
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November
25th 2pm-5pm
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Support YESS during a Sunday Funday
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The Blazing Saddle
416 E 5th St
Des Moines, IA
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November 26th 2pm-6pm
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Kick off the holiday season by helping kids in your community! More details coming soon.
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Communities across the globe, including ours
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November 28
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Join Chive on Iowa at The Keg Stand for their December meetup while donating items for the kids at YESS
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The Keg Stand
3530 Westown Pkwy
West Des Moines, IA
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December
9th @ 2pm
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Enjoy a night at the Copper Cup and help the kids at YESS. Tips and a portion of sales will be donated to helping kids in crisis.
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The Copper Cup
207 4th St
Des Moines, IA
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December 12th 5-7pm
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If you are collecting donations for shelter youth, please coordinate with Jana to drop off all items in time for them to be wrapped
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YESS
918 SE 11th Street
Des Moines, IA 50309 |
December 14th |
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Put Our Kiddos On Your Holiday Shopping List
If you are making your list (and checking it twice!) consider these easy ways to help kids at YESS during the holiday season:
- Amazon Smile - Select YESS as your charity of choice, and a portion of every purchase you make on Amazon will be donated back to YESS. Click here to learn more.
- Provide Safety & Care - Your can provide a full tummy for a young child, a warm bed for a teen with nowhere else to stay, or help for a family in our community. Click here to donate.
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918 SE 11th Street, Des Moines, IA 50309 | 515.282.9377 | YESSIowa.org
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