First Day Ready

4:38 Update on event. Both the truck and the rescue had to respond to calls.

Dairy Queen is still giving away free cones until 5:30 and we are still here accepting donations if you want to come by and say hello.

🎉 TODAY'S THE DAY! 🎉

We can't wait to see everyone this afternoon at Dairy Queen in Ballantrae!

🚒 Pasco County Fire Rescue will be on-site with their fire trucks for the kids to explore.

🍦 Dairy Queen will be giving FREE cones to kids from 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM.

🧦 We're also collecting NEW socks, underwear, boxers and bras in all sizes.

These essential items will be distributed to children in need right here in Pasco County through referrals from school social workers. They are also used in First Day Ready's Rapid Response Program, which provides clothing and hygiene essentials to families displaced by house fires and other unexpected crises.

Every donation helps a child feel prepared, confident and cared for.

📍 Dairy Queen – Ballantrae
🕞 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Can't make it today but still want to help?

💜 Donation Link in comments.

Thank you for helping us ensure local children and families have what they need to be Ready for Today. Confident for Tomorrow.

🩷 A Community Member Who Helps Others Needs Help

This isn't a First Day Ready assistance request but one of the generous neighbors who has supported FDR is trying to help an employee who is starting over as a single dad with sole custody of his two daughters (ages 4 and 5).

They're in need of basic household items, including:

🏠 Couch
🏠 Kitchen table
🏠 Dressers
🛏️ Bedding
🍽️ Pots, pans, dishes, and silverware

If you have clean, usable items you'd like to donate, please comment below or send us a message and we'll connect you.

We may not be able to help every family directly, but we can certainly help connect good people with other good people.

Thank you for continuing to show what community looks like.🧡💛💜

Send a message to learn more

🍦🚒 We’re excited to share that Land O’ Lakes Dairy Queen is hosting Pasco County Fire Rescue’s Fire Rescue N’ Cones for Kids event on June 19th — and First Day Ready has been invited to be part of it!

A huge thank you to Mike, the owner and the team at Dairy Queen for allowing us to set up a donation table and collection bin during the event. Community partnerships like this truly make a difference. ❤️

While families enjoy free ice cream, fire trucks and meeting local first responders, First Day Ready will be collecting:

🧦 NEW Socks
🩲 NEW Underwear & Boxers
📏 All sizes needed — children through adults

These are some of the most needed — and least donated — essentials we provide to children and families experiencing hardship, crisis, displacement and emergency situations.

This will also be First Day Ready’s FIRST community event setup, which makes this even more special for us. ☂️

📍 Land O’ Lakes Dairy Queen
17826 Aprile Dr, Land O’ Lakes, FL 34638
🗓 June 19th
⏰ 3:30 PM – 5:30 PM

Thank you again to Dairy Queen and Pasco County Fire Rescue for supporting local families and organizations working to help our community. 💛🧡💜

🧡💛💜 Request Fulfilled! 💜💛🧡

Earlier this week, a local school social worker reached out with an urgent request for shoes for several students in need.

I'm happy to share that every shoe request has been fulfilled thanks to the incredible generosity of a community donor! 👟👟👟

Because of one person's kindness, two teen boys, an 8-year-old girl, a toddler girl and a graduating senior will all have the shoes they need.

This is exactly why First Day Ready exists—to connect needs with people who care.

To our donor: thank you for stepping up and making an immediate difference in the lives of local students. 🫶🏽

And to everyone who follows, shares, donates and supports our mission: this is what your village looks like in action.

Ready for today. Confident for tomorrow.

❤️ URGENT STUDENT REQUESTS ❤️

We received a few immediate needs from a local school social worker and are hoping our community can help.

👟 Two teen boys urgently need men’s size 8.5 shoes
👟 One 8-year-old girl needs size 2.5 shoes
👟 One toddler girl needs size 10 toddler shoes + 3T girls clothing

We also have a VERY time-sensitive request for:
👞 Men’s size 14 or 15 WIDE dress shoes (black or brown) for a teen graduating soon.

New or gently used is appreciated where appropriate.

If you can help with any of these items, please comment or message the page ❤️

Together, we can help students feel confident and ready for what’s next.

A quiet but exciting milestone for First Day Ready 💜

After meeting with east-side Pasco school social workers this week, we’ve already received our first student requests through this new collaboration.

Right now, we’re helping collect a dressy/nice outfits for a student so they can feel confident and ready for their upcoming 5th grade graduation as well as general clothing for a friend in need.

Current needs:

💜 12-year-old girl
Any general clothing
Youth XL or 14/16
Any style/color

🧡 11-year-old boy
Dressy/nice outfit
Pants: 14/16
Shirt: Large
Any style/color

💗 7-year-old boy
Outfit to attend big brother’s graduation
Shirt: Small
Pants: 5/6 small
Any style/color

New or gently used items are welcome. We can arrange pickup or drop-off, and grad ceremony items are needed by May 20th so families have time to prepare.

This is exactly why First Day Ready exists — to step in with dignity, care, and community support when a student needs us.

Thank you for helping us make sure local kids feel ready for important moments.
Ready for today. Confident for tomorrow. 💜

We officially received our 501(c)(3) determination letter for First Day Ready today. 🎉

This means First Day Ready is now federally recognized as a tax-exempt nonprofit organization.

What started as an idea to help children and families facing crisis situations has quickly grown into something so much bigger because of this community, your encouragement, your donations, your referrals, and your belief in what we’re building.

This milestone opens the door for:
• grants and sponsorship opportunities
• community partnerships
• tax-deductible donations
• expanded support for children and families in need throughout Pasco County

We are incredibly excited for what comes next and deeply grateful to everyone who has supported First Day Ready from the very beginning.

This is only the beginning. 💛🧡💜

Today was powerful.

We completed our first donation drop-off for a family who lost their home in a fire—and it happened because of YOU.

In just a short time, our community came together to provide clothing, shoes, toys, bedding, towels, and essentials—everything a family needs when they’re suddenly starting over.

When we met them, they had just come back from their home, trying to salvage what they could. Covered in soot and ash, holding onto whatever was left… even things no one should have to keep.

Because of you, they didn’t have to.

They were met with clean, comfortable, dignified essentials—and a reminder that they’re not alone.

This is why First Day Ready exists.
And this is what community looks like. ❤️
Thank you for showing up.

With The Brooks Kindness Closet – I just got recognized as one of their top fans! 🎉

And we are! They have been such a help with consulting with me about starting this endeavor and also providing the clothing our first fire families needed.