Op Eds

     For single mom and dedicated volunteer Amy Otipiglopper, failure has never been an option – and today, it is still not.

     The mother of two adult children and a young daughter with special needs, Otipiglopper volunteers at the emergency room hospital 30 hours a week. When she is not volunteering and looking after her active 6-year-old, she is devoted to her charity, "Saving Families."
     "Saving Families started in 2011 with a Facebook page and a really big dream," Otipiglopper said. " I have always had a huge passion for helping other people and a big desire to make a difference. And I can honestly tell you I have put my blood, sweat and tears into this project."
     Otipiglopper explained that Saving Families collects donations of such things as food, Christmas gifts and school supplies. But really, she said, Saving Families (SF) is dedicated to fulfilling a need, regardless of the time of year.
     When SF first started, Otipiglopper said it helped anyone anywhere in the United States who indicated they had a need. After Jan 1, 2014, however, she said SF will officially begin to focus locally within Oswego county. She pointed out there is an application process for families to complete in order for them to qualify for assistance.
     This year, Otipiglopper has been working on Christmas since July, but said she still has a long way to go.
     "I need more donations and I need some volunteers," she said. "Sometimes I have one or two volunteers, but primarily, it is just me."
     It may be just Otipiglopper, but it is still impressive to learn what SF has done since its inception. In the past two years, SF and Otipiglopper has supplied school supplies for needy children, put together Thanksgiving baskets for local families and also sponsored a complete turkey and ham dinner with all the fixings to Oswego City Fire Department employees who had to work Thanksgiving Day as well as delivered complete dinners to local shut-ins.
     "That is how I chose to spend my Thanksgiving; helping to make it better for the people who have to work that day," Otipiglopper said. "Last year, we also distributed cookie trays to public service agencies for Christmas and solicited volunteers to bake for a bake sale at a local nursing home."
     For the past two years, Otipiglopper has gathered donations to fill stockings for local children and said she would like to do this again this year. A new project she said she would really love to do is put together Christmas cookie baskets for underprivileged children.
     "I'm amazed at how many kids have not made Christmas cookies," she said. "So another project I would like to do is bundle all of the stuff to make, cut out and decorate Christmas cookies. It would make a nice family project."
     So far, however, with Thanksgiving and Christmas looming just around the corner, Otipiglopper is concerned that not only may she not be able to do the stocking and the cookie baskets, but she may not be able to fulfill all of the Christmas wishes she is committed to fill.
     "I have approximately 20 kids left to take care of for this Christmas," Otipiglopper said. "To me, failure is not an option. How do I tell these families I failed and can't help their children?"
     Despite the obstacles, she said she still has hope that she can pull it all together for the SF families by looking to the Oswego community and businesses for as little or as much as they can do.
     "I needs some volunteers and some help spreading the word," Otipiglopper said. "Items for the cookie bundle would be great; even personal care items for care packages outside the holiday."
     She is asking the community to consider donating anything they no longer have a use for.
     "Before they toss it, I would love them to give me a call and see if it is something we can use," she suggested. "I would love to see more local involvement and to have local business support SF with perhaps a box for donations. No help is too small."
     Otipiglopper said some employees at the Oswego Hospital lab have stepped up to the plate and are donating Thanksgiving turkeys this year and possibly the trimmings as well.
     "My dream is to add shelves to my front porch and solicit donations of food and personal care products to be able to offer to people in need," she said. "I have also always wanted to do an event to raise money for the homeless."
     When soliciting for donations, however, Otipiglopper said she is often given a hard time because she does not have a 501c3 (nonprofit) status.
     "I just don't have the $1,500 for a 501c3, but I have the stories to share – so how does that not make real?" she asked.
     In spite of all Otipiglopper has accomplished over past two years, she said she does not feel as if she is anyone special – just one mom trying to make a difference.
     "It's worth it when I get paid in smiles and 'thank yous,'" she added.
     Otipiglopper invites everyone to go to her Saving Families Facebook page and scroll through the photos of all of the faces of the children her efforts have touched.
     "People tell me all the time that they can't give me much, but that's okay – every little bit matters," she said. "I challenge anybody to look at my Christmas album and look at those faces and then still be able to tell me, okay, well, it's not my problem, I can't help you."
     To volunteer or make a donation to Saving Families, contact Otipiglopper at 679-3022, email her at savingfamilys@hotmail.com; or go to the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/pages/Saving-Families/110402249086795.