ELKHART -- Large appliances aren't usually on a woman's wish list for Christmas, but Amy Allen Clark and the women's program at the Faith Mission couldn't be happier getting 25 of them this year.
Allen Clark, an Elkhart native who runs the Web site MomAdvice.com, was able to secure seven dishwashers, four under-cabinet refrigerators, four standard refrigerators and 10 microwaves from Kenmore for the new women's shelter being finished at 915 Benham Ave. that will double the capacity for single women and families for the mission.
She is a spokeswoman for Kenmore who writes articles on home management for the company's Web site each month.
After reading the recent New York Times story on Elkhart, Allen Clark wanted to do something to help her hometown, so she and her husband, Ryan, decided to call Faith Mission to see how they could help. "We decided that was going to be our project," the Granger woman said.
Her Web site has been listed as No. 8 on the top 50 Web sites for women. "This would be a great way to exercise some of that influence and do something great in our community," Allen Clark said.
Initially, Mike Perez, development director at Faith Mission, indicated a need for a welcome kit of personal care items for new residents. The Clarks, along with children Ethan, 6, and Emily, 2, are donating 100 of those today.
Allen Clark used her site to get donations for the personal care items in exchange for free advertising to corporations and individuals in January. Kenmore, Land's End and Boston Market are among those who stepped up to help.
And since Allen Clark is a "money saver blogger," she has a following of people who stockpile the types of products she was collecting and who donated to the cause.
Just in case they didn't get enough to reach their goal of 100 kits, the family put aside money to make up the difference. Since they did reach the goal, Allen Clark wanted to do something "fun" for the women. "There's just really no joy in shampoo," she said.
With the mission's blessing, the women will be getting a Wii. "Our kids are excited, too," she said. "It was a family project to be able to do something like that."
Meanwhile, Allen Clark's husband convinced Perez to come up with a "giant wish list" and Perez said the mission really needed appliances for the new women's shelter. While she normally only works with the public relations team in her job, she was able to meet some Kenmore executives at the American Baby Fair in Chicago, so she approached them about donating appliances to the mission. Allen Clark said they were both supportive and excited. "I was hoping they would donate a portion of them," she said. "I didn't have any expectations they would donate everything."
She said it was "a dream come true."
"I'm so excited. I can't want to see them," Allen Clark said of the appliances.
The last of the appliances were delivered Friday morning.