Hello everyone:
In this installment:
- New house update
- Into the new year and assistance requested
- Volunteer training schedule - first quarter
- Thanks Giving, abbreviated version for the moment
- Reflections and what we've learned this year
New House:
With adverse weather and changes in volunteer labor schedules the big push to complete construction and the move to the new building has been delayed. We do thank the City of Bonney Lake for their patience! They have kindly granted us one more month in our old building which will enable us to round up the last of our materials, coordinate work schedules with volunteers, install our exterior hard surfaces and relocate. Please stay tuned for further updates in the next week on the construction. Special thanks to our carpenter, Bryan Long, who has hung in with us in the most incredible way since the project started last August. The drywall will be taped by the end of the weekend and ready for texture and paint!! It's exciting to see it looking like a "real" place again!
Our Open House and Volunteer Appreciation Day is scheduled for Sunday afternoon, March 8th.
Into the New Year:
We are going to enhance our services in 2009 in some fun and exciting ways.
Open hours: We are adding client hours to the schedule. Presently we are open Wednesdays from 4-7 and Saturdays from 10-2. Beginning in February we will also be open on Tuesdays from 10:30-1:30 to coincide with open hours at the Bonney Lake Food Bank. This will enable clients on the hill to get groceries and their kids' resources all in one trip. It also helps those who work evenings, nights or weekends who may not be able to get to the clothing bank due to conflicting work hours. We will be requesting volunteers to assist on Tuesdays-- perhaps moms whose kids are in school?
Haircuts: Beginning in January we will offer basic haircuts to our young clients. On the last Wednesday and last Saturday of each month we will have volunteers trimming locks to keep the kids tidy. Our haircut coordinator has had to step down, and we are currently looking for a replacement. We have a list of salons and interested individuals but need someone who will coordinate three cutters each time and remind them a week in advance of their commitment. This can be done from home.
Kudos 4 Kids: We have seen a number of Our Kids' grades and attendance improve over the previous school year and are going to build on that with a program that will reward them in a small but tangible way. At mid-year and the end of the school year the kids will bring us their report card showing a small but definite improvement and they'll get to dip in a prize bin with stuff like food certificates, time at Jumpin' Jack & Jill bouncy-toys, a round of putt-putt golf, movie tickets, etc. and be acknowledged on our Success Board. We hope this will provide the children with an incentive to strive and succeed and be rewarded for their efforts. Goal: keep them in school!
College 4 Kids: There is a Washington State program that (presently, at least) provides a college scholarship to children whose family income is below a certain standard. The children enroll in the program while in middle school, and over the last several years of their education must retain a certain minimum GPA and not get into trouble with the law...a no brainer for many of us perhaps, but not so simple for kids with issues we can't even begin to comprehend. We will be working with the schools in our service area to bring this program to the attention of students and parents who are our clients and get as many of Our Kids enrolled as possible. Education beyond high school of course is a key component in an individual's ability to succeed in life and obtain sustaining employment that will enable them to be tax payers instead of social services users. Goal: keep them in school and succeeding!
Surplus School Portable: The quest begins! Why do we need this?? Are we never satisfied?? Once we are moved to the new building we will begin in earnest searching for a double-wide surplus portable in good condition from within a reasonable distance that will enable us to have more space to run the above programs and build on current ones. (The Sumner S.D. does not have portables available due to construction on several schools, so we will look elsewhere for this resource.) It is our understanding that many districts give the surplus buildings away and "FREE" is what we're looking for. We will, of course, obtain permission from our landlord, the City, before undertaking any relocation to make sure we meet all codes and standards. In anticipation, though, we have set aside a space in the back of the new property specifically for this purpose.
During events like Back To School, the Prom Project, Christmas, etc. it is necessary to completely reconfigure the shelving and racks in our present building to accommodate lots more "stuff" and we won't be able to do that in our new building; hence we'd like a small expansion space. Plus, we feel there is more still we can do for Our Kids to help them succeed and a modest, open space will enable us to pursue other programs.
Volunteer Training Schedule: First quarter we will offer volunteer training as follows: Wednesday, January 14 (old building), Wednesday, February 11 and Wednesday March 11 (new building). All are at 7 p.m., last about 75 minutes, are open to the public and there is no obligation to volunteer with us if it's not what you expected.
There are SO many ways to volunteer, limited only by your imagination. We are extremely flexible (i.e., the only volunteers who are "scheduled" are those who work with Our Kids during open hours); some work one hour a month, others give several hours a week. All volunteers are subject to a Washington State Patrol background check.
Comments from some volunteers: "I feel like I make a difference"; I used to be an athlete who volunteered on the side, now I'm a volunteer who trains on the side, and I love it!"; "I really enjoy the comraderie of the volunteers and the opportunity to help kids"; "I really look forward to my time at Lions 4 Kids"; "those kids are such an inspiration!". Come check us out!
Thanks Giving: An abbreviated list for the moment:
To ALL our Christmas Angels: THANK YOU! You brought joy to so many kids the last month! The kids were SO excited to have something to give their parent(s) and have it be a surprise. If you imagine the three Wise Men with their treasurers, this will conjure the image of Our Kids with their gifts. There were many tender, touching moments.
To Iona, April, Dana, Amanda, Jonathan, Peggy, Sherry, Paula, Tamye, Jen, Bibiana, Linda, Lisa, Melody, Shelley, Mary, Marcia, Brenda, Jessica, Elizabeth: YOU are the gifts that just keep on giving and giving and giving. THANK YOU for all your hard work in keeping shelves stocked, floors cleaned, clients served and children joyful.
To our donors of clothes, toys, gift wrap, funds, detergent, socks and undies, coats, teen gifts and so much more: THANK YOU for your warm and giving hearts. YOU made it possible for us to gift 300 children in December,100 more kids than last year.
Volunteer hours on behalf of Lions 4 Kids House from November 15 to December 15: 825 hours. This included the clothing bank process, our bazaar and garage sale, work on the new building and Christmas Angels. What can you say to a number like that??? WOW!! And deepest THANKS!!! Some people gave an hour, others gave many. What an amazing achievement to come together to serve others!
To Susan McCammon for her work distributing coats, hats, mittens and mufflers to folks at local food banks in the last few days. You are an ANGEL!!
Reflections and what we've learned this year:
There are many traditions and ways to celebrate this special time: Christmas, Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, the winter solstice. Giving, though, is at the heart of all these events. At no other time of the year is there such a sense of purpose as a greater community that extends far beyond the borders of our own towns. Everywhere people were coming together to serve and give to those in need. Just in our own areas thousands of people were assisted because of YOU, because we came together in community to serve others.
For some families, the holidays are anticipated with dread -- sometimes always, sometimes just this year: family issues, added pressures and no time, financial issues, death and health issues, the weather, etc., etc., etc.
I'm fortunate to have amazing memories of Christmas: Christmas Eve over the river and through the woods with one set of grandparents, eating hearty farm food and giggling with cousins not seen for a year at a time; Christmas Day with the city grandparents -- a heavily laden table that to a child looked 40 feet long, with a turkey at least as big as a moose that Gramma got up at 4 a.m. to get in the oven; fresh cinnamon rolls for breakfast (recipe still unduplicated!). Peeking between the newel posts at Grampa's English wool socks hung on the mantle with big oranges stretching them to the limit and a fire crackling on the grate, the tree laden from Santa's visit in the night; secretly sliding down the bannister on Christmas morning hoping not to acquire any splinters like on a previous forbidden but enticing slide. That same table that seemed to groan under the sheer magnitude of food now sits in my own dining room, a mere "table", and yet still laden with sweet, sweet memories.
The children served by Lions 4 Kids and many other agencies in our greater community will have their own memories, perhaps not of groaning tables but at least of a meal, gift, a treasure, a moment of joy, that would not have been theirs were it not for someone they don't know and will never meet, who cares. Thank YOU for reaching beyond yourself to give a child a sweet memory they will cherish forever.
What we have learned this year at Lions 4 Kids:
1. Don't take anything for granted; you or someone you love may not be alive tomorrow
2. Circumstances are always beyond a child's control
3. Many of us are a medical emergency or economic downturn away from desperation
4. Little girls, when they put on a new dress, twirl in front of the mirror -- every time
5. Little boys (and big ones, too) get new clothes, look in the mirror and try to be really cool and like it's no big deal. But they get a certain look in their eye and you know they're saying to themselves, "DUUUUUDE!!! You are theee maaannn!!! -- every time
6. Smiles are the same in any language
7. Grandparents, aunts, uncles, older siblings, foster parents and others raising kids not their own deserve a special place in Heaven
8. Stuff happens -- and Life goes on anyway
9. Angels are everywhere. They don't necessarily have wings or a halo (and even if they did, they might be a little the worse for wear), but you are probably in close proximity to one right now
10. Bad kids make the news but there are a whole lot of really good ones out there -- see item #9 above
11. To a homeless child a Christmas wish can be as simple as a hat and mittens to stay warm as they sleep in their car at night...and some socks to keep their toes from being cold
12. You can take the boy out of elementary school but can't necessarily take the elementary out of the boy: give a bunch of young teens an opportunity to dig in the dirt and their first accomplishment will be to combine dirt, stones, leaves, grass and worms or bugs to create the perfect creepy-crawly habitat
13. Some adults are content with poverty but their kids aren't
14. Kids have hopes and dreams for their future and are willing to work hard to break the cycle of poverty that has often lasted for generations in their families
15. Cinderella and Cinderfella are alive and well and yes, Fairy Godmothers, godfathers and even Santa do exist
16. Kids are Our Future: they'll someday be voters to decide on funding for old folks' programs
17. If you have a choice between profession or passion, even for a little while, choose passion. It will leave you changed
18. You'll regret the things you don't do in life far more than the things you do
19. "Pay It Forward" was at one time considered by critics to be a hokey movie, yet the concept is being used all over our communities to great advantage, for the receivers and the givers. Stepping outside oneself for the benefit of others, even in a small way, changes and enriches us.
20. Poverty wears people out. It sucks the life, dignity, energy and joy, right out of them and is very, very scary, especially if they have children.
21. Never underestimate the power of a hug, a smile or a kind word
22. Individuals who are the least loveable are usually the ones who need love the most
23. Knowing there is HOPE and that someone cares DOES make a difference
24. People have put aside politics, religion and ideology to benefit thousands of kids in need in our local communities with powerful results
25. Miracles happen!
26. Snowflakes are among the most fragile of things, but look what happens when they stick together! (thanks, Susan!)
27. The conductor gives the orders but it's the orchestra that makes the music -- YOU, our community, are the orchestra that has brought joy and comfort to many. May you be greatly blessed in return.
Finally, I received a lovely gift yesterday of a CD of Josh Groben's Christmas songs. One of the cuts says "WE are the change we want to see, and while we can always do more, we have so much to be thankful for." To that I must say AMEN. From the children we serve, their parents to whom you bring relief and from me, thank you for the gift of sharing, of smiles, of giving, of hugs, tears, goose bumps, joy, incredulousness.
May your holidays how ever you celebrate them be happy, safe and create treasured memories to last your life long.
With humble gratitude, Carol
Carol Wells-Reed
Founder and Director
Lions 4 Kids House
20825 SR 410 East, PMB #198
Bonney Lake WA 98391
Message phone: 253-447-3844
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