Tonight's picture was taken on October 8, 2006. Mattie was four years old. In the fall we practically spent every weekend exploring towns and going to their festivals. The festivals always had kid friendly activities, pumpkins, and even slides. Like the one you see in this photo! We started taking Mattie to Fall Festivals in 2003, when he was only a year and a half old. Clearly back then, these gigantic slides scared him. He wanted nothing to do with the slides. But given we went back several years in a row, Mattie became more familiar with the activities, and decided to try the slides. As you can see he was riding in Peter's lap and had a great time!
Quote of the day: Candy is childhood, the best and bright moments you wish could have lasted forever. ~ Dylan Lauren
On November 1, we will be hosting our 9th annual candy drive. What inspired me to do this candy drive in the first place, was Mattie's support community (Team Mattie). When he was in the hospital, friends brought me candy. Practically daily. I am quite sure my chocolate addiction started then and there. In any case, the candy was a lifeline to the outside world and I was very grateful people were caring so deeply for me and my family. After Mattie died, I decided to do what Team Mattie did for us, but on a larger scale. Mattie Miracle accomplishes this through our snack and item carts (located at MedStar Georgetown University Hospital and Children's Hospital at Sinai). The carts offer families caring for a child with a life threatening illness access to candy, chips, nutritious snacks, water, juice, soda, iced tea and toiletries for free. You have no idea how happy these carts make families, and I consistently hear they are a life saver.
In the past, we had multiple Post Halloween candy donation drop off locations. However, given the volume of candy that comes in to us, we have consolidated drop offs to one location in Arlington, VA. I am thankful that our friend Ali has opened up her home to the Candy Drive two years in a row. She has a two story detached garage that provides a fantastic set up for this massive operation.
The Candy Drive runs from November 1-9. Then starting the week of November 11, we will be donating candy all over town. It takes us five full days to do all these deliveries and we rent a Uhaul truck two of these days. Needless to say, our candy recipients are eagerly awaiting our arrival.
Check out our Candy Drive Video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dwPwuJumIuY
Come join our Candy Drive Sorting Parties: https://www.signupgenius.com/go/20f0a48aca82aa7fc1-mattie
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