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Opportunities for Kindness
One Week's Hotel Stay
Sycamore Bridges is working with a community advocate to assist a single mom and her three children who are temporarily living in a local hotel. With the loss of SNAP benefits, mom's finances are extremely tight this month. We have been asked to help alleviate some of her burden by paying one week of her monthly hotel expense. This will give her some breathing room to fill in the gaps that SNAP usually covered. Thanks to a generous donation to cover families experiencing housing emergencies, this request was filled before being posted.
2025 OGB Holiday Store!
Sycamore Bridges is excited to partner with Operation Give Back to help fill their annual Holiday Store for the sixth year in a row! We recognize the added financial struggle for many families around the holidays, especially this year, and we believe everyone should be able to celebrate this special time together in a carefree way. OGB and Sycamore Bridges work together to curate OUR AMAZON REGISTRY and OUR TARGET WISH LIST to reflect the families' most requested gifts as they register for the Holiday Store. OGB served over 1500 children last year and they expect similar numbers this holiday season; therefore, our lists are extensive. Please scroll all the way through to find options at every price point. Our lists will be updated frequently, so check back often to see the latest requests. Remember to select "OGB Holiday Store" for shipping so your purchases are sent directly to us. Thank you for your continued support in making sure all of our neighbors have a memorable holiday season. (If you would like a tax receipt for your purchase, reply to this post and we will email you!)
CLICK HERE for our AMAZON REGISTRY
CLICK HERE for our TARGET GIFT REGISTRY
CLICK HERE for our AMAZON REGISTRY
CLICK HERE for our TARGET GIFT REGISTRY
National Sponsors
Ohio Sponsors
Kindness Council Members
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Recently Filled Needs
FILLED - Funding for OGB Coat Giveaway 2025
Sycamore Bridges is working with Operation Give Back to help stock the shelves for their 2025 Coat Giveaway. Due to record-setting registrations, Sycamore Bridges is helping purchase additional coats to make sure inventory does not run out for this Saturday's event. OGB is expecting to serve at least 150 more participants than in year's past. Thanks to a generous gift from a friend of Sycamore Bridges, we are able to supply an additional $1000 worth of coats. No additional funds are needed at this time.
Food Assistance
Sycamore Bridges is working with a counselor and the district social worker to assist a single mother of three Sycamore students with groceries/gas after a recent job loss. Mom has been the sole earner in her family for the years since her husband passed away from terminal illness. Mom's company recently downsized and she is now out of work. She is actively pursuing employment and would be deeply grateful for any support to provide food and transportation as she works toward securing a stable job. We are hoping to provide $300 to Kroger and $125 to fast food restaurants for easy meal options. **EDIT: We only have $225 left to collect on this request.** If you would like to offer assistance, CLICK HERE and designate your donation to "Food Insecurity".
Weekly Food Bags for Symmes Elementary
Sycamore Bridges is working with Sycamore Presbyterian Church to help fill weekly food bags for 85 students at Symmes Elementary. Thanks to a generous designated gift, we have been helping fund the bags since the start of the school year, while Sycamore Presbyterian handles the lion's share of the work, collecting shelf stable items, assembling the bags, and delivering them to Symmes Elementary for distribution. As we approach the holidays, we have been asked to supplement their offerings with additional, hearty options. Sycamore Presbyterian is requesting Chef Boyardee Chicken and Rice Microwavable Bowls and Horizon Milk. Our goal is to collect 170 of each item by Thanksgiving break. These can be purchased at your favorite grocery store, or you are welcome to use our Amazon list and PURCHASE HERE to have them shipped directly to us (just select "Sycamore. Bridges" at checkout). If you would like to shop on your own, reply to this post and delivery instructions will be emailed to you.
Student Lunch Debt
Sycamore Bridges is working with an elementary school counselor to help eliminate a carry over lunch debt from last year. Due to a language barrier, the family did not understand their qualification for the free/reduced lunch program. As a result, they accrued a lunch balance of $56.80. They have since been approved to receive free/reduced lunch and will no longer be accumulating any debt. We have been asked to help pay off their balance to remove this financial burden. This request was filled through a generous gift before being posted!
Lunch Debt for Elementary Student
Sycamore Bridges is working with an elementary school counselor to assist a mom as she navigates life as a newly single parent. Mom's paperwork was just approved to receive free/reduced lunch benefits for her child, but not before accruing a hefty balance. Thanks to our incredibly generous Kindness Council member Spice Spice Baby, this debt has been wiped away! Did you know that Spice Spice Baby donates a portion of their profits each month to eradicate lunch debt? Please visit their website or booth at The Painted Tree Boutiques (Harper's Point) and consider purchasing one of their delicious products.
We are so grateful to our corporate sponsors that allow us to reach so many students. If you know a business who is interested in making a designated gift, reply to this post.
We are so grateful to our corporate sponsors that allow us to reach so many students. If you know a business who is interested in making a designated gift, reply to this post.
Kroger Gift Cards for UC Blue Ash Students
Thanks to a generous corporate grant, Sycamore Bridges is again partnering with the University of Cincinnati Blue Ash (UCBA) to provide financial relief to students facing food insecurity. The UCBA social worker has expressed concern for students who recently lost their Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) benefits. While UCBA has a food pantry on site, they are limited in how much assistance they can offer any one student. We have been asked to provide Kroger gift cards to supplement their food pantry visits. Our corporate donation allows us to provide $50 Kroger gift cards to 15 students. No additional donations are needed at this time, but if you would like to increase our reach CLICK HERE and designate your donation to "UCBA Students".
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Thank You!
About Sycamore
Lori Drasnin is an active Sycamore parent and volunteer. She previously served as PTO President for Montgomery Elementary, as well as PTO Treasurer at Montgomery Elementary, E.H. Greene Intermediate, and Sycamore Junior High School. Over the past decade, Lori has chaired too many PTO events and fundraisers to count and brought innovation and updated programs to our local schools. Lori also organized a Bedtime Bundle collection from the YWCA Battered Women's Shelter from 2014-2017, and served on the board of Ohio Cleats for Kids (C4K) until taking this role.
Lori holds undergraduate degrees from the University of Michigan, as well as a law degree from Emory University. She practiced liability defense for six years at Dinsmore in Cincinnati, OH before "retiring" to stay home and raise her children. Lori is married to husband, Jeff, has two boys, Matthew and Ryan, and two puggles, Max & Erma.
Lori enjoys serving the greater Sycamore community and bridging kindness across the neighborhood.