New Year's Eve Cleanout

What a better way to spend New Year's Eve than by cleaning out a storage shed? Now that the racks are ready all the clothing is going over to the clothing closet. If you have time on your hands in the next few days come on over! Got a youth group that needs a project? Definitely come on over. But I've gotta scoot. We're meeting volunteers over there in a few minutes.

I can't wait! :)

See ya online,

Gayle

Here's to a great 2006!!

Christmas Eve Hope

It's 7:00pm. We are gathered at the Church for a Christmas eve service. All decorations are sparkling. The magic and promise of the season linger in the air. "Mrs. Gayle, a voice whispers in my ear, got a minute? I've got some people who need to talk..."

Thus, two new clients received a few words of encouragement and some badly needed reassurance.

It helps the words "Peace on Earth" take on a new meaning.

In the midst of the season, Merry Christmas.

Special Delivery!

A terrific volunteer picked up the items for the ladies in the shelter. Today, she brought them to the office.

The gifts are beautiful! The ladies will be tickled.

Our volunteer also talked a friend of hers into donating Avon items. She will forever be known to us as the "Avon Angel". Each lady gets her own personal gift bag of full sized beauty and personal care items in addition to a gift box filled with other goodies.

Today, I had another tough phone call. Seeing the things for the shelter helps me feel a little better. I can't wait to hear how the ladies like the gifts! :)

We'll know soon. The gifts will be picked up by a shelter staff member tomorrow.

See ya online,

Gayle

Need toys? Come on down!

I've not had a chance to go look at the racks yet. We've been busy being Santa's helpers. It's food pantry day again. Some generous people have donated a toys over the past couple of weeks. Members of SPUMC have wrapped them. Thankfully,they also put tags on them that tell me what age and gender the package is for. It's great!

We have a mom coming this morning to talk and pick up a food box. She doesn't know we can help with Christmas yet. I can't wait to see her face! :)

See ya online,

Gayle

Yes, there is a Santa Claus!

And he makes racks for the clothing closet! Right now, a "Santa" along with an "elf" are busily building racks for our clothing closet.

We are thankful to Strawberry Plains UMC for allowing us to use another room for this. This was announced at the end of November but we were delayed while the roof of the building was being repaired. Now, everything's all set and the racks are being prepared!

I can't wait to see them when they are finished.

Quick! Someone pass Santa a kleenex!

This was fun. If you missed it, shame on you. We had a good time. Several children got to see Santa who otherwise wouldn't have. Knowing that, seeing the kids have a good time, it makes everything seem magical instead of ordinary.

We didn't have the turnout we had hoped for. As a fundraiser this has been a spectacular failure. But, you can't put a value on seeing chilren sit and listen as Santa tells the Christmas story or seeing some moms we work with able to relax.

It also created the opportunity for one mom to pick up information she needed. Another mom confided that she needs Christmas help. We were able to work through a ministry partner so now her kids will have something under the tree.

So was it worth it? Yes, I'd have to say it was. :0)

Have a Merry Christmas!

See ya online,

Gayle

Angels among us...

What do you do when it's just over a week to Christmas and you find out no one has donated items for the shelter moms? You make a phone call and an anonymous Angel helps. We are grateful for this support. I know the moms will be too!

Has anyone seen the tinsel?

Or the tape? There are a thousand things that seem to need to be done. So far, a few of our volunteers have called to CANCEL. The fundraiser is TOMORROW. Ok, I'm not panicking - not yet any way. Thankfully, we got a lot accomplished with Lori and Sheilah helping yesterday.

I'm confident we will make it and a wonderful time will be had and I can't wait! Tomorrow is going to be a LOT of fun! Cookies are going into the oven now. Can you smell them yet?

See you tomorrow!

Gayle

Oh good, help is coming!

Sheilah and Lori will both be here today to help us create decorations for Saturday. The bulk of the decorating will be done tomorrow. There is so much to do!

This is going to be a fun, fundraiser!

Even more importantly, it's an outreach event and it brings a spot of happiness to a child's life who needs it. What more can you ask? We take pains to see to it that children of people we have served in the past will get to see Santa. Moms get to relax. For a little while everything is normal and everyone can be happy - even if just for a few minutes.

When you leave an abuser or are dealing with violence it's hard to find the money for the little pleasures in life. We are thankful to our volunteers, Santa and the folks at Extreme Action Photography for working with us to make this possible.

See you Saturday!

Gayle

Milk and Cookies is getting closer!

Oh my! The fundraiser is only 3 days away! I don't know about the kids but I can't wait. Today, we went to pick up the gifts from Santa and to get the brochures ready. We will have a display about all we do, a small shopping area and more. Tons to do. If you have a free moment come help!

Talk to you soon!

Gayle

Choices

It's gut-wrenching. Today, I had to choose between going to court with a victim and her mother or staying in the office to help someone who phoned saying they wanted to come in and talk.

Either way, it's a bad decision.

Soon, it will be Christmas. Holiday music and decorations abound. Tis the season for goodness and family. But, it's also a time for stress and a constant push to overdo. Advertisements urge us to "get the latest before it's too late" or to "save more by shopping more".

This year, for whichever holiday you celebrate, give yourself breathing space. Allow yourself permission to say "No" to overdoing it. When tensions mount take a break. Walk away. Release the pressure by taking a walk or a jog. Do anything you need to do to be safe.

If you are a victim who needs help call 911. Get help. Let someone work with you to create a safety plan so this holiday season can be violence free. You deserve it and so does your family.

Newest Board Member

Announcing our newest board member:

Welcome Sheilah! We look forward to putting your talents and skills to good use. Thanks for joining one of neatest groups of people around! We are glad to have you aboard.

Nov. Recap.

Another board meeting day after tomorrow!?!? Where does the time go?

We've had several accomplishments in November. Clients were served both online and locally. The website was updated, an outreach event was completed and thrift space opened.

Now to let the board know. I'd better get busy writing my report!

See ya,

Gayle

Food Pantry

It's the first Thursday of the month. You know what that means? If you said it's Food Pantry Day you are right! We are both getting calls for Christmas help. Cut off for the county-wide toy distribution ended early in November.

Strawberry Plains UMC works hard to keep the pantry stocked to help our neighbors in the community. Today, I'm going to talk with the pastor to see if we can team up to help with toys.

Pantry Days also mean an increase in people coming to see us "just to talk".

I'd better go.

C-ya online,

Gayle

PS Don't forget the fundraiser on Dec 10! It's Milk and Cookies with Santa! Contact us for more information!