MOMS Club CuddleKit competes for Big Give prize

You know that nightmare you occasionally have where you're back in grade school with uncombed hair, bad teeth and questionable fashion?

Well, John Sternitzke, owner of Sternco Engineers, is reliving it. But it's all for a good cause to help children today who might be in need of some kindness from a stranger.

Sternitzke is inspiring his fellow business people to jump in to support their alma mater grade schools by sponsoring CuddleKits.

The MOMS (Moms Offering Moms Support) Club was selected to compete in the Yuma contest for Oprah's Big Give, along with Amberly's Place and Crossroads Mission. The nonprofit group that raises the most money and reaches the most people by April 14 will receive an additional $4,000 from Oprah's Big Give and ABC to use toward its cause.

The CuddleKits project was begun in 2002 by MOMS Club of Yuma West. Since then, the group has delivered more than 8,000 pillowcases containing a stuffed animal, a book and activity items to children hospitalized at Yuma Regional Medical Center.

With that milestone, MOMS Club now wants to expand the program to make CuddleKits available to children through the schools, foster care programs and other organizations.

About the time the group came up with the idea, coordinator Julie Evans heard about the Big Give contest and decided to submit an essay. It ended up being one of three Yuma groups selected by the the local ABC affiliate.

Each group was given $2,000 as seed money. "We have to make that grow," Evans said.

Since then, it's been a scramble in one short week to organize the effort and put plans into motion, said the mother of four young children who is spearheading the effort.

"We want to reach out to as many school kids as we can," Evans said. So far, 70 disadvantaged children from seven local schools in three districts have been selected.

On Saturday, during Kindness Make a Difference Day, the 70 children will each be given a CuddleKit with items selected to meet their individual needs - perhaps new clothes or books to start a home library, Evans said.

Each CuddleKit also will include socks, hygiene items, a stuffed animal and new shoes.

That's where "Little Johnny" Sternitzke's fourth-grade photo comes in. It is making the rounds across town asking other Yuma "kids" to join him in sponsoring their grade schools. The list so far also incudes Ron Martin, Si Sellers, Mike Gardner, Dave Hossler, Tom Rush, Brice Zeller, Russell McCloud and Doug Nicholls.

It was an irresistible idea, McCloud said. The part of the idea he couldn't resist is that each CuddleKit recipient will become part of a project to "pay it forward."

Evans explained that $50 will be given to a liaison from each participating school, who will work with the recipients to come up with a plan to help other children in the community.

"It has to be a complete stranger," Evans said, "not family or friends so they feel that same sense of giving. 'We gave to you. Don't thank us, keep passing it on.' I hope they'll carry that with them forever."

McCloud, who attended Palmcroft Elementary School, said he wanted to help because "the community has been good to my family. Now I have an opportunity to pay it forward. I like the lesson it gives the kids."

While the businessmen are major sponsors of the CuddleKit's participation in the Big Give contest, Evans said support from other businesses and even individuals is welcome. To make a donation, call her at 502-2838 or donate online at www.alenassweets.com/cuddlekits. html.

Evans said the community has really rallied behind the project. Generations Church donated 60 gift cards to purchase shoes, Judy Edmondson has lined up various YRMC departments to collect socks and other items, and a fabric donation will be used to make fleece blankets for the kits.

In addition, a "Cuddle Your Community" contest will be run in The Sun. Children ages 1-16 are invited to submit drawings for the front of a pillowcase. The winning artist will receive an Apple iPod.

Major sponsors of CuddleKit's participation in Big Give:
- JOHN STERNITZKE
- RON MARTIN
- SI SELLERS
- RUSSEL McCLOUD
- DAVE HOSSLER

---
Joyce Lobeck can be reached at jlobeck@yumasun.com or 539-6853.