Xander Community
Thank you for your interest in getting Xander Friends to all the children in foster care in your county. Complete this Inquiry Form when you have read this blog in its entirety and are ready to join the grassroots Xander Movement.
Thanks for your interest in rescuing kids and to restoring families! We are so humbled to have come up with an idea that brings such therapy to kids in trauma, that encourages those on the front lines of the rescue, and that brings awareness and mobilizes communities.
Background:
We at
Lavender Life Company, are passionate about rescuing kids at risk. By producing & selling multiple, excellent lavender products for all ages (including culinary, apothecary, & skin care), God has lead us to create an engine to mobilize others in the mission to give a warmable, lavender-filled Xander Friend (Bunny, Dog or Cat) to all 440,000+ children in foster care, and to encourage those on the front lines rescuing kids. We do this through our BUY-a-Xander Friend-We-Give-a-Xander Program, named after grandson Xander, who entered the family as a 2-yr-old child in foster care. Lavender helps lessen anxiety, improves sleep and provides calming therapy for children in foster care going through traumatic transitions. Xander helped stuff the first bunnies we sold and was so helped by his bunny, that we decided right away to donate one to a child in foster care for each one we sold. We hire young adults who have aged out of the foster care system when we can. Since our online store opened in April of 2018,
Lavender Life Company has donated 85,426 Xander Friends to more than 58 Xander Community Partners in 256 counties in 30 states and 6 different countries (see where we have donated).
Community Partners:
Since January 1,2020, we have been propelling our donations through Xander Community Partnerships, many of which are church/faith/based, that are committed to "adopt" their county in the Xander Friend Project. We are looking to develop more Partners everywhere. We ship our donations in August, September and October. The deadline for request is July 1 for the calendar year. Requests for the following year can be made at any time. A Xander Bunny Community Partner is committing to:
1. Connecting with ALL foster and/or kinship care agencies in their county (We recognize that not all agencies, though it is rare, will be willing to accept Xander Friends);
2. Ascertain the #'s of children entering the foster and/or kinship care system each month, and total #'s served annually;
3. Receive Xander kits for the entire year for children in foster and/or kinship care only, for those agencies that want Xander Friends. Quantities 300+ will be shipped on pallets (up to 600 Xanders/pallet- up to 650 lbs).
4. Put the kits together (stuff lavender pouch in bunny; and place in the backpack) - approximately 2 minutes/Xander;
5. Deliver to ALL agencies that want them, as they need them; &
6. Freight shipments ($.70-2.25/ea Xander, depending on volume and distance shipped) is a cost picked up by a community partner, and often sponsors pick up this cost ( Shipments may also be picked up on the farm in west Michigan).
6. Spread the word - it benefits us all to help spread the word of the Xander Friend Project, for we are only able to donate one for each one sold. It's just us 9 and an army of volunteers!
Perhaps sponsors/donors could get involved, in a big way. Though we feel as much compassion for kids at risk in hospitals, homeless shelters, temporary storm shelters etc, as we do for kids in foster care, we are a small company and have to keep our mission focused to reaching the over 440k kids in foster care. We, however could envision someone buying bunnies for all of the kids in a cancer ward, and a match would go to a child in foster care as an example. This is not a requirement for a Community Partner, however.
As Leigh Ann Luttrell in, Jacksonville, Florida reports, "These bunnies are so much more than a philanthropic gesture - they are bringing hope, peace and collaboration to an entire system that is broken and in despair."
Are you aware of a church or a group that could be a Xander Friend Community Partner that we could donate to regularly in the future? Do you have any ideas as how to spread the word, to increase sales in your area, so we can secure donations? Send me any questions or ideas that you may have.
Thank you again, for your role and interest in the rescue of the many Xanders out there! If you are interested in taking on your entire county, complete this Xander Community Partner Inquiry Form. We ship our donations in August, September and October. The deadline for request is July 1 for the calendar year. Requests for the following year can be made at any time This allows us to better plan for product and volunteer groups on our end. Together, we can bring awareness of a great need in our communities, and together we CAN get a Xander Friend in the hands of all 440,000+ children in foster care, reminding them they ARE loved and NOT alone.
Jean Smiley - Mission Coordinator - Lavender Life Company
Mission@lavender-life.com
Skip to content
14 comments
Marie Dienes
I would like to buy a lavender animal for my 11 year old granddaughter but she has a two year old brother, I have read that aromatherapy has adverse effects on boys development and I am concerned that he will play with his sister’s animal. Please answer in detail! THANKS!
I would like to buy a lavender animal for my 11 year old granddaughter but she has a two year old brother, I have read that aromatherapy has adverse effects on boys development and I am concerned that he will play with his sister’s animal. Please answer in detail! THANKS!
Noyan
Intriguing puzzles, crossword joy, Scrabble battles – word games spark intellect, fuel passion, and captivate hearts. https://playwordgames.org
Intriguing puzzles, crossword joy, Scrabble battles – word games spark intellect, fuel passion, and captivate hearts. https://playwordgames.org
Rich
Monkey Mart: A fun-filled virtual store adventure! Manage a bustling shop, cater to adorable customers, and conquer entertaining puzzles for an enjoyable gaming experience. https://quillfulgames.com/monkey-mart
Monkey Mart: A fun-filled virtual store adventure! Manage a bustling shop, cater to adorable customers, and conquer entertaining puzzles for an enjoyable gaming experience. https://quillfulgames.com/monkey-mart
Johnny
Phrazle game: A brain-teasing word puzzle fostering language mastery and providing hours of enjoyable gameplay for players worldwide. https://phrazle.website
Phrazle game: A brain-teasing word puzzle fostering language mastery and providing hours of enjoyable gameplay for players worldwide. https://phrazle.website
Julie Nirich
I DIDN’T SEE WHERE FO ORDER
I DIDN’T SEE WHERE FO ORDER
Julie Nirich
I DIDN’T SEE WHERE FO ORDER
I DIDN’T SEE WHERE FO ORDER
Maria Plitt
I’m super interested in being a community partner for Suffolk County. I’ll contact them and find out how many children enter the system each month. This is fantastic! Thank you so much!
I’m super interested in being a community partner for Suffolk County. I’ll contact them and find out how many children enter the system each month. This is fantastic! Thank you so much!
Teresa Schwend
I have just received my Zander bunny and have fell in love with what you represent as a company, your goal to reach these children and show them that they sre loved and not alone I would love to help assemble your products in the future for such a wonderful cause. Will be recommending these to friends and family. Thanks again, Teresa
I have just received my Zander bunny and have fell in love with what you represent as a company, your goal to reach these children and show them that they sre loved and not alone I would love to help assemble your products in the future for such a wonderful cause. Will be recommending these to friends and family. Thanks again, Teresa
Edwina Maynard
I was so happy to receive my bunny today. I just love Xander
Oh my goodness the smell is amazing. Very fast shipping. I can’t wait to try the lavender soap too
I will be ordering more. Lots more.
Thank you so much
I was so happy to receive my bunny today. I just love Xander
Oh my goodness the smell is amazing. Very fast shipping. I can’t wait to try the lavender soap too
I will be ordering more. Lots more.
Thank you so much
LaDonna Green
I am in Indiana…Hamilton County..I am interested in learning more about your program and helping when this virus scare is over.
My husband and I provided foster care several years ago..
This sounds like such a great program.
Thanks for more information.
LaDonna Green
I am in Indiana…Hamilton County..I am interested in learning more about your program and helping when this virus scare is over.
My husband and I provided foster care several years ago..
This sounds like such a great program.
Thanks for more information.
LaDonna Green
Trudy Wilkinson
I currently have a foster daughter since she was 5weeks old. She will be 3 years old in July. Still awaiting an adoption date since March 2019. Would love one of these for her, she is a poor sleeper. I also will be willing to assemble with the lavender packets and help with the donation of these for other foster children. We live in Northumberland County but work thru Dauphin County foster care agency Families United Network.
I currently have a foster daughter since she was 5weeks old. She will be 3 years old in July. Still awaiting an adoption date since March 2019. Would love one of these for her, she is a poor sleeper. I also will be willing to assemble with the lavender packets and help with the donation of these for other foster children. We live in Northumberland County but work thru Dauphin County foster care agency Families United Network.
Sue Hamilton
We are from Nebraska and wod live to see Xander Bunnies available for the foster children in our community. Is there anything I can do to help make this happen? We are foster parents and have been for many years . We have fostered hundreds of children and would love info on how we can bring this project to Nebraska!
Thank you for all you do
Sue
We are from Nebraska and wod live to see Xander Bunnies available for the foster children in our community. Is there anything I can do to help make this happen? We are foster parents and have been for many years . We have fostered hundreds of children and would love info on how we can bring this project to Nebraska!
Thank you for all you do
Sue
Anna Smith
Hello,
We are foster family in Rowan county and currently have two kids placed with us, I thought those bunnies were adorable and wanted to learn more about your organization.
Hello,
We are foster family in Rowan county and currently have two kids placed with us, I thought those bunnies were adorable and wanted to learn more about your organization.
Kay M. Abercrombie
Good morning! I am in Statesboro, GA and would like more information about this program. My husband is not only a minister, but the Associational Missionary for the Ogeechee River Baptist Association here.
If you are interested in having a ministry opportunity here, please contact me. We are, also, just an hour from Savannah and Augusta is just an hour and a half away.
I hope to hear from you soon. Have a blessed day.
In His Love,
Kay M. Abercrombie
Good morning! I am in Statesboro, GA and would like more information about this program. My husband is not only a minister, but the Associational Missionary for the Ogeechee River Baptist Association here.
If you are interested in having a ministry opportunity here, please contact me. We are, also, just an hour from Savannah and Augusta is just an hour and a half away.
I hope to hear from you soon. Have a blessed day.
In His Love,
Kay M. Abercrombie