Make it Happen
SOS was recognized by the White House for our commitment to encouraging young people to become social entrepreneurs. If you are a young person who has an idea to make our community better, SOS wants to help you make it happen. Submit your idea today!
Now that we are doing SOS from Home, submit your ideas that you think we can do from home during the COVID-19 crisis.
Support our Current MIH Project: Deaf Ally
Hey SOSers!
I’m Laylah Votion and I’ve been diligently working hard on my Make It Happen initiative for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities who are confronting a multitude of obstacles during this pandemic. One way we can help these communities is speaking out about the hardships they are facing right now due to the pandemic. To name a few: the language barrier between Deaf/ Hard of Hearing individuals and hearing individuals, the isolation of those who may live in a household that have not learned their language, the lack of interpreters among news outlets, etc.
Secondly, during this global pandemic which warrants the use of masks to stay safe, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities have faced language barriers, as most hearing people do not know or understand American Sign Language. In a sense, not being able to communicate because of a language barrier is more than a burden, it is isolating. Communication is a major factor in a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person’s lives, as many can not even communicate with their own family. Spending time with those they can communicate with is a liberating freedom that has been taken away for many due to this pandemic. In these troubling times the last thing they need is to feel isolated once more outside their home.
Through the money I’ve raised through my GoFundMe , which is still open for donations, I’ve been able to purchase hundreds of stickers available NOW to buy. Every single dollar that we make through these stickers will go towards buying communication- accessible face masks for Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf. These masks will aid in reading lips and facial expressions essential to sign language, while common face masks often create a language barrier, due to their lack of accessibility to the mouth area.
I want to continue selling products, including these stickers, that will provide the funds to create and donate communication-accessible face masks to organizations that support these communities. Selling these stickers is the first step! We need your help to continue funding our efforts by contributing to our GoFundMe (https://gf.me/u/x9au6j) to aid in our mission to help as many people as possible. Every dollar raised will go towards reaching my goal of purchasing these masks and helping the Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities. We hope to accomplish this before the 2020-2021 school year, as our first donation will be to the Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf. I hope that you will support me and follow along in my efforts to aid the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities during this troubling pandemic.
Links
GoFundMe: https://gf.me/u/x9au6j
Instagram: https://instagram.com/deaf_ally
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DEAF-ALLY-109536450793666/
Central Link (contains Facebook, Instagram, GoFundMe): https://deafally.carrd.co/
You can support this effort by purchasing your Deaf Ally Stickers here!
100% of proceeds from purchasing these stickers will aid in our donation of communication- accessible face masks to the Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf. In their upcoming school year, they are in need of the required face masks to follow CDC guidelines which will keep their students safe. Please help us help others by purchasing our stickers, your donation really goes a long way in affecting children from the Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities in need.
I’m Laylah Votion and I’ve been diligently working hard on my Make It Happen initiative for the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities who are confronting a multitude of obstacles during this pandemic. One way we can help these communities is speaking out about the hardships they are facing right now due to the pandemic. To name a few: the language barrier between Deaf/ Hard of Hearing individuals and hearing individuals, the isolation of those who may live in a household that have not learned their language, the lack of interpreters among news outlets, etc.
Secondly, during this global pandemic which warrants the use of masks to stay safe, the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities have faced language barriers, as most hearing people do not know or understand American Sign Language. In a sense, not being able to communicate because of a language barrier is more than a burden, it is isolating. Communication is a major factor in a Deaf or Hard of Hearing person’s lives, as many can not even communicate with their own family. Spending time with those they can communicate with is a liberating freedom that has been taken away for many due to this pandemic. In these troubling times the last thing they need is to feel isolated once more outside their home.
Through the money I’ve raised through my GoFundMe , which is still open for donations, I’ve been able to purchase hundreds of stickers available NOW to buy. Every single dollar that we make through these stickers will go towards buying communication- accessible face masks for Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf. These masks will aid in reading lips and facial expressions essential to sign language, while common face masks often create a language barrier, due to their lack of accessibility to the mouth area.
I want to continue selling products, including these stickers, that will provide the funds to create and donate communication-accessible face masks to organizations that support these communities. Selling these stickers is the first step! We need your help to continue funding our efforts by contributing to our GoFundMe (https://gf.me/u/x9au6j) to aid in our mission to help as many people as possible. Every dollar raised will go towards reaching my goal of purchasing these masks and helping the Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities. We hope to accomplish this before the 2020-2021 school year, as our first donation will be to the Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf. I hope that you will support me and follow along in my efforts to aid the Deaf and Hard of Hearing communities during this troubling pandemic.
Links
GoFundMe: https://gf.me/u/x9au6j
Instagram: https://instagram.com/deaf_ally
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/DEAF-ALLY-109536450793666/
Central Link (contains Facebook, Instagram, GoFundMe): https://deafally.carrd.co/
You can support this effort by purchasing your Deaf Ally Stickers here!
100% of proceeds from purchasing these stickers will aid in our donation of communication- accessible face masks to the Sunshine Cottage School for the Deaf. In their upcoming school year, they are in need of the required face masks to follow CDC guidelines which will keep their students safe. Please help us help others by purchasing our stickers, your donation really goes a long way in affecting children from the Deaf/Hard of Hearing communities in need.
Completed Make it Happen Projects
Help for Haiti
May 2017
Summer partnered with Nehemiah Vision Ministries to collect items to donate and create awareness of this problem. She has chosen to work with Nehemiah Vision Ministries (NVM), an organization whose mission is to bring hope and aid to the people of Haiti. She needs your help to make a difference by collecting new or used items to support the NVM Mission.
May 2017
Summer partnered with Nehemiah Vision Ministries to collect items to donate and create awareness of this problem. She has chosen to work with Nehemiah Vision Ministries (NVM), an organization whose mission is to bring hope and aid to the people of Haiti. She needs your help to make a difference by collecting new or used items to support the NVM Mission.
Fundraiser to help Flint, Michigan
April 2017
Tionna partnered with Mary Stevenson at the Flint Catholic Charities branch to raise money to buy bottled water for the citizens of Flint, who still can not use the tap water for bathing, drinking, washing or cooking.
April 2017
Tionna partnered with Mary Stevenson at the Flint Catholic Charities branch to raise money to buy bottled water for the citizens of Flint, who still can not use the tap water for bathing, drinking, washing or cooking.
The Heart Smiles Drive
March 2017
Esteban, Nicholas, and Natalia partnered with The Heart Smiles to collect just under 1,000 items for orphans in Ghana. They collected lots of needed hygiene and health items, like toothbrushes and pain relievers, but also some things to spread joy, like scooters and stuffed animals.
March 2017
Esteban, Nicholas, and Natalia partnered with The Heart Smiles to collect just under 1,000 items for orphans in Ghana. They collected lots of needed hygiene and health items, like toothbrushes and pain relievers, but also some things to spread joy, like scooters and stuffed animals.
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CARE Drive
February 2017
Kaylon Hoover and Mychael Brown wanted to help wild animals, so they collected new and used sheets, towels, and blankets for the Center for Animal Research and Education (CARE), a big cat sanctuary in Bridgeport, Texas.
February 2017
Kaylon Hoover and Mychael Brown wanted to help wild animals, so they collected new and used sheets, towels, and blankets for the Center for Animal Research and Education (CARE), a big cat sanctuary in Bridgeport, Texas.
San Antonio Youth Literacy
January 2017
Katheryn wanted to help kids read. We're partnered with Book Buddies to collect books up to a 6th grade reading level, in order to give more children in San Antonio a greater chance of succeeding both in school and beyond.
January 2017
Katheryn wanted to help kids read. We're partnered with Book Buddies to collect books up to a 6th grade reading level, in order to give more children in San Antonio a greater chance of succeeding both in school and beyond.
Christian Assistance Ministries
December 2016
Julian wanted to collect toys for children in need. We partnered with Christian Assistance Ministries to stock their 'store' where parents in need can come for gifts for their children.
December 2016
Julian wanted to collect toys for children in need. We partnered with Christian Assistance Ministries to stock their 'store' where parents in need can come for gifts for their children.
Help For America's Heroes
November 2016
This year, Bryanna's Help For America's Heroes boxed and mailed 114 care packages to troops overseas.
November 2016
This year, Bryanna's Help For America's Heroes boxed and mailed 114 care packages to troops overseas.
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Texas Diaper Bank
October 2016
Diego joined the Texas Diaper Bank's One Million Diapers campaign again this year, collecting more than 14,000 diapers!
October 2016
Diego joined the Texas Diaper Bank's One Million Diapers campaign again this year, collecting more than 14,000 diapers!
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