Department of Kentucky Children & Youth Chair Karen Goodlett really wanted to build teamwork within units, while also coming together to work toward a great cause that would benefit children and youth in Kentucky.   
 
In her professional role as a social worker/case manager, Goodlett is aware that many children in the public school system far too often lack access to school supplies. Additionally, she understands too many family resource centers established in public schools to reduce this stress on families and children, also lack enough supplies to meet the needs of students.
 
Goodlett was determined to meet the challenge so students could show up in the classroom with the tools necessary to learn. The idea? A statewide challenge where every unit in Kentucky would design an original custom basket filled with school supplies to be donated to area family resource centers. 
 
Units were asked to pick an age group between kindergartner to 12th grade, filling their cleverly designed basket with helpful donated school supplies such as grade-appropriate reading books, coloring books, toys, clothes, shoes, backpacks, pencils, pens, and other such needed items to promote student success in the classroom.
 
More than 20 baskets were presented during the department winter conference. Members were invited to purchase $1 voting tickets to determine the winning design baskets and placed tickets for their favorite design in a cup in front of the baskets. The top five baskets that received the most votes were awarded trophies. 
 
In addition, Goodlett presented each member who worked on a basket — in any way — both a flag pin and a pin that read “You make the difference”. Money raised from the sale of the voting tickets was donated to the department’s Children & Youth programs. 
 
“The overwhelming support of this activity was amazing,” Goodlett said. “We had a unit bring in a basket disguised as a hot air balloon containing the needed school supplies inside the basket. It was absolutely beautiful and very creative.”
 
Goodlett was thrilled to donate the needed school supply baskets to family resource centers in three Kentucky counties. She plans to add additional counties to the project next year. 
 
Tips for Hosting a Basket Project:
• Determine the need in your community. Reach out to local organizations or resource centers and ask them what items they need the most, i.e., school supplies, clothes, food, etc.
• Ask for donations. Involve American Legion Family members for donations of supplies or money. If you are looking for lots of things, contact outside sources for contributions and help. Reach out to local schools, businesses, or relatives and friends of members. Use monetary donations to purchase needed materials at discount stores. 
• Set a deadline and establish a drop-off location. Provide enough time to collect everything, and set an appropriate date and time to receive all donations.
• Set a date — after the donation deadline — for members and volunteers to come together and assemble baskets. On assembly day, sort all like items in a pile. For example, put all clothes together, all supplies together, etc. It might be best to start with larger things first, and then move to the smaller items.
• Communicate with the organization you’re working with and determine how and when to get the baskets to the organization. Make arrangements to drop off baskets at a designated location. In case of inclement weather, secure the baskets with plastic wrap.
• Bonus tip: Have members compete for a title or award. Come up with a contest like the “Best designed basket.”  
 
Goodlett emphasized when planning and implementing a community project, have fun, be creative, and build unity within the unit. She suggests including a friendly competition among all the units in your state.