If you're with New Market UMC and reading this we've not forgotten. I'll be there today!
While we are grateful for the donated office and clothing closet that has been donated by Strawberry Plains UMC, we keep running out of room. When the churches of Loy's Memorial UMC and Wooten's Chapel UMC merged, it left an entire building sitting empty.
We thank you for considering our request to rent it. I look forward to speaking with you this afternoon to share more about Hope for Healing.Org.
See you at 4:00 p.m.!
Sunday, July 23, 2006
Saturday, July 22, 2006
Formals and Restorative Justice. How's that again?
We only gave away one item from the clothing closet today. But what an item to give!
Among the items donated with the camcorder was a formal. It's a beautiful, deep, hunter green with long sleeves and floor length skirt. The form fitting dress had a wide skirt and round neckline. This is not your average donation. It's just georgous.
Hope for Healing.Org is a worksite for kids who have to perform community service. Sometimes the kids are too far gone for us to reach. Other times, we get lucky and get the kids at just the right time to be able to make a difference.
One of the girls who has been coming is going into the 8th grade. Today was supposed to be her last day with us. Except, she has gotten so much out of her time here that she (with her father's blessing) made arrangements to begin volunteering and her younger sister wants to join her!
When she was here last, we talked about her upcoming 8th grade prom. Her school has this every year as a way to celebrate kids going into high school. Getting a dress was going to be tough to impossible. Her father is on disability. Her mom has almost washed her hands of her. The car is on the last leg. She's too young to get a job but she says she's determined to make something of herself.
We've been very impressed with her. She's a straight "A" student and has done everything she's been asked to do. Her goal in life is to stay away from trouble and become a pediatrician.
Before she left I "remembered" a formal being donated that she "might" be interested in and oh boy was she ever! The dress needs a hem and the sleeves need to be taken up but the dress fits everywhere else.
Her dad's car broke down on the way to pick her up. Her grandmother was called and made the trip instead. She loved the gown! The two immediately began making plans for the alterations. The girl grinned even bigger when it was pointed out that the material cut from the bottom would made a perfect hair accessory.
I told her it was her hard work and our belief that she would keep to her goals, which earned her the dress that was donated. We got a little emotional.
And our newest volunteer, she floated about 10 feet off of the ground as she left.
All-in-all, even though the yard sale was rained out, it was a beautiful day.
Among the items donated with the camcorder was a formal. It's a beautiful, deep, hunter green with long sleeves and floor length skirt. The form fitting dress had a wide skirt and round neckline. This is not your average donation. It's just georgous.
Hope for Healing.Org is a worksite for kids who have to perform community service. Sometimes the kids are too far gone for us to reach. Other times, we get lucky and get the kids at just the right time to be able to make a difference.
One of the girls who has been coming is going into the 8th grade. Today was supposed to be her last day with us. Except, she has gotten so much out of her time here that she (with her father's blessing) made arrangements to begin volunteering and her younger sister wants to join her!
When she was here last, we talked about her upcoming 8th grade prom. Her school has this every year as a way to celebrate kids going into high school. Getting a dress was going to be tough to impossible. Her father is on disability. Her mom has almost washed her hands of her. The car is on the last leg. She's too young to get a job but she says she's determined to make something of herself.
We've been very impressed with her. She's a straight "A" student and has done everything she's been asked to do. Her goal in life is to stay away from trouble and become a pediatrician.
Before she left I "remembered" a formal being donated that she "might" be interested in and oh boy was she ever! The dress needs a hem and the sleeves need to be taken up but the dress fits everywhere else.
Her dad's car broke down on the way to pick her up. Her grandmother was called and made the trip instead. She loved the gown! The two immediately began making plans for the alterations. The girl grinned even bigger when it was pointed out that the material cut from the bottom would made a perfect hair accessory.
I told her it was her hard work and our belief that she would keep to her goals, which earned her the dress that was donated. We got a little emotional.
And our newest volunteer, she floated about 10 feet off of the ground as she left.
All-in-all, even though the yard sale was rained out, it was a beautiful day.
Yard Sale is Rained Out.
It's 7:00 a.m. and it's still raining. We'll try the yard sale again on September 2.
Restorative Justice kids should still be here from 10:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. The free clothing closet will still be open from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (There's still no a/c but we'll give it a try anyway.)
Restorative Justice kids should still be here from 10:00 a.m. -3:00 p.m. The free clothing closet will still be open from 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (There's still no a/c but we'll give it a try anyway.)
Friday, July 21, 2006
Angel Food Ministries materials have arrived! We need volunteers!
At long last, our Angel Food Ministry materials have arrived! Our first distribution date is August 26. Volunteers are needed to help.
This is the program to help you stretch your food dollars. Boxes are $25 each and are paid in advance. They are designed to assist a family of 4 for a week or a senior citizen for most of a month. The products are brand name. It's an excellent value! (Food not picked up that morning will be given to people in need.)
We need volunteers who can help carry boxes to cars. This may be hard for some - especially senior citizens. We need people to greet, direct traffic, check orders, fill boxes, meet and unload the truck and serve as general "go-fors". If you drive a pick-up truck we especially would like to talk with you.
The food is distributed only one Saturday morning a month. We're only asking for a few hours. Can you help? Email me at gayle@hopeforhealing.org or call us in Strawberry Plains today.
PS A big thank you to our yard sale helpers. We appreciate your help in getting signs made and put up and items priced. See you at 6:30a.m.! The sale begins promptly at 8:00 a.m.
I'm outta here.
This is the program to help you stretch your food dollars. Boxes are $25 each and are paid in advance. They are designed to assist a family of 4 for a week or a senior citizen for most of a month. The products are brand name. It's an excellent value! (Food not picked up that morning will be given to people in need.)
We need volunteers who can help carry boxes to cars. This may be hard for some - especially senior citizens. We need people to greet, direct traffic, check orders, fill boxes, meet and unload the truck and serve as general "go-fors". If you drive a pick-up truck we especially would like to talk with you.
The food is distributed only one Saturday morning a month. We're only asking for a few hours. Can you help? Email me at gayle@hopeforhealing.org or call us in Strawberry Plains today.
PS A big thank you to our yard sale helpers. We appreciate your help in getting signs made and put up and items priced. See you at 6:30a.m.! The sale begins promptly at 8:00 a.m.
I'm outta here.
Thursday, July 20, 2006
Bonner Scholars and Lunch
Most of today I'll be out of the office.
Thanks to the efforts of our outreach volunteer I have a meeting today at the local college. They have a Bonners Scholars program. So far, we've not been gifted with a student from this program. After our meeting today, that will hopefully change.
Immediately following this meeting I'm talking with a woman who is willing to share her fundraising expertise with us.
These are both going to be good!
Carol will be here. We have volunteers getting signs ready for Saturday's yard sale. The ad is running in the News Sentinel. Notices have also been posted on "Your Hub" at the KnoxNews.Com website (check under Carter/Strawberry Plains). Other than signs and getting the "stuff" moved here from storage, we're ready.
Got to go,
Gayle
Thanks to the efforts of our outreach volunteer I have a meeting today at the local college. They have a Bonners Scholars program. So far, we've not been gifted with a student from this program. After our meeting today, that will hopefully change.
Immediately following this meeting I'm talking with a woman who is willing to share her fundraising expertise with us.
These are both going to be good!
Carol will be here. We have volunteers getting signs ready for Saturday's yard sale. The ad is running in the News Sentinel. Notices have also been posted on "Your Hub" at the KnoxNews.Com website (check under Carter/Strawberry Plains). Other than signs and getting the "stuff" moved here from storage, we're ready.
Got to go,
Gayle
Wednesday, July 19, 2006
We got it!
We picked up the camcorder last night. It acts like it works perfectly. We're grateful to have it!
Tuesday, July 18, 2006
Bhavini Patel Missing in TN.
Bhavini Patel was last seen on July 16 @ 6:30 a.m. From India, she is a new bride and knows no one locally outside of her husband and his family. She left all her belongings at home when she went for a walk and hasn't been heard from since. Please take a look at her picture. A pdf. poster can be downloaded from http://www.hopeforhealing.org/patel.pdf If you work in a crisis center or shelter please post it. Anyone with information is asked to call the Knoxville, TN Police Department at 865.215. 7229 or 865.215-7315.
Other information and news articles can be found at the following links:
http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=5159544
http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5162738&nav=menu185_4_1_2
http://www.someoneismissing.com/
Other information and news articles can be found at the following links:
http://www.wate.com/global/story.asp?s=5159544
http://www.volunteertv.com/Global/story.asp?S=5162738&nav=menu185_4_1_2
http://www.someoneismissing.com/
Picking up a Camcorder
I'm excited. I'm really excited.
We are going to be leaving shortly to go pick up a camcorder. We've had problems recording for an hour on Hi-8 when we did the Worldwide Prayer Service and other activities. The older VHS camcorders will record for this length of time without having to flip the tape. We made contact with a woman on the other end of the county who has one she's willing to donate - along with a few other things.
Our plans are to record with the camcorder then hook things up to the computer to burn DVD's of events. I'm not exactly sure of how these things work but our resident tech guru (aka "teenager") says she knows how it all fits together - once I get out of the office to pick up the camcorder that is!
See ya online!
Gayle
We are going to be leaving shortly to go pick up a camcorder. We've had problems recording for an hour on Hi-8 when we did the Worldwide Prayer Service and other activities. The older VHS camcorders will record for this length of time without having to flip the tape. We made contact with a woman on the other end of the county who has one she's willing to donate - along with a few other things.
Our plans are to record with the camcorder then hook things up to the computer to burn DVD's of events. I'm not exactly sure of how these things work but our resident tech guru (aka "teenager") says she knows how it all fits together - once I get out of the office to pick up the camcorder that is!
See ya online!
Gayle
Wednesday, July 12, 2006
Carol straightened the office.
It's Wednesday morning. I'm flying by the office to pick up more flyers to take to the grantwriting class. They used to be right...
there????
Now, they're neatly filed.
And it looks like...
Oh, that big thing in my office is a desk. Who knew?
Thanks Carol!!! :-)
there????
Now, they're neatly filed.
And it looks like...
Oh, that big thing in my office is a desk. Who knew?
Thanks Carol!!! :-)
Tuesday, July 11, 2006
Grantwriting
Eeek. I'm terrible at it. I hate to be cooped up in the office long enough to get it done and I don't know how.
For the next 2 days I'll be in a grantwriting workshop learning how to do it. Carol will still be in the office. Be sure to call her. It'll give her something to do after the stacks of copies are made, other calls returned, faxes are sent and people are talked with.
If she runs out of things to do she'll straighten the office and I'll never find a thing.
For the next 2 days I'll be in a grantwriting workshop learning how to do it. Carol will still be in the office. Be sure to call her. It'll give her something to do after the stacks of copies are made, other calls returned, faxes are sent and people are talked with.
If she runs out of things to do she'll straighten the office and I'll never find a thing.
Monday, July 10, 2006
These shoes JUMP! :-)
That's what she said when the shoes were tied. She was testing them out. They did indeed jump - a LOT! Or was it the excited three year old in those new shoes that gave them all the power!
Here's the scoop.
Our office is in space donated to us by a church. The people are great. They worship, feed the hungry and do a great job at it. Sometimes, things come up they aren't prepared to help with. That's where we come in.
Tonight, a little girl arrived at Vacation Bible School without shoes. When asked, her big sister said "She used to wear nines. Then they got small. Now she needs tens."
We headed to the clothing closet.
There were no tens.
The little girl was ok with that.
We weren't.
The preacher gave an immediate cash donation.
We made a quick dash to the store.
They had tens. Lots and lots of tens.
With shoes (and socks) in hand we barely made it back to the church before the children went to the gravel playground. But we did make it.
The little girl wasn't keen on this whole shoe idea. She didn't see the need for shoes and she really wanted to go play with her sister.
Then, she saw them.
There in the bag on the table lay a little pair of white and pink sneakers with a matching pair of pink socks.
Her mouth made an "O".
She could barely sit still for us to put them on her feet. She giggled. She wiggled.
At the top of her voice she hollered "These shoes JUMP!" and scampered off to show her approving 8-year-old sister.
The cost of the clearance rack shoes and socks? Just over $6.00.
The happiness of the little girl? Priceless.
Here's the scoop.
Our office is in space donated to us by a church. The people are great. They worship, feed the hungry and do a great job at it. Sometimes, things come up they aren't prepared to help with. That's where we come in.
Tonight, a little girl arrived at Vacation Bible School without shoes. When asked, her big sister said "She used to wear nines. Then they got small. Now she needs tens."
We headed to the clothing closet.
There were no tens.
The little girl was ok with that.
We weren't.
The preacher gave an immediate cash donation.
We made a quick dash to the store.
They had tens. Lots and lots of tens.
With shoes (and socks) in hand we barely made it back to the church before the children went to the gravel playground. But we did make it.
The little girl wasn't keen on this whole shoe idea. She didn't see the need for shoes and she really wanted to go play with her sister.
Then, she saw them.
There in the bag on the table lay a little pair of white and pink sneakers with a matching pair of pink socks.
Her mouth made an "O".
She could barely sit still for us to put them on her feet. She giggled. She wiggled.
At the top of her voice she hollered "These shoes JUMP!" and scampered off to show her approving 8-year-old sister.
The cost of the clearance rack shoes and socks? Just over $6.00.
The happiness of the little girl? Priceless.
Blog catch-up
If you're a blog follower you know we've gotten behind. This sometimes happens when things are very, very busy. I'll be using my calendar and notes to catch up posts. While the dates from June 13 to now will all be correct the times won't be. But don't let that throw you! We've had some exciting moments. Carol and I have been BUSY. I'm glad to share it with you!!
Saturday, July 01, 2006
Where'sBear? Making hope happen...
One of our volunteers came to us with an unusual request. She works with CPS and needs some things an abused child can keep and play with that will bring her comfort.
It broke my heart to hear of the child's plight!
It's a holiday weekend. My eldest daughter and I are at the office today going through donated items. We can help thanks to this latest large donation and some previous donations.
We have a nice quilted bag that was donated by a crafter. Add in a blanket from Project Linus, a Where'sBear? from another supporter, gel pens, paper and some other items from the latest donation, glow sticks from our Mardi Gras party (and you thought it was just a fundraiser!) and some other things and we have a bag that is guaranteed to make a child smile.
Nothing can take away the pain of her past but we can help with the brightness of her future.
Thank you for making hope happen for this child!
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