Schmidts Farm
Posted in Volunteer Efforts
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Today's Update: Red Cross finally called about donating blood. Gary and I will go Monday at 9 a.m. and do so. It's something at least. As of yet, our church -- Joelton First Baptist -- has not had any hurricane victims sent to us for care. In talking to some others, it is indeed a waiting game. One of the pet rescue organizations I contacted said it is mostly the "bureaucracy" that is holding things up in every area. We are a nation of "pencil-pushers" it seems. In the meantime, it's the common people who roll up their sleeves, get in their SUVs and pick-ups and head down to the Gulf to take aid and bring people off the streets home with them. There are many doing that who just got tired of waiting. Pray for them.
A Great EZine! Below is a copy of the September issue of the new EZine I've subscribed to Mentoring Moments For Christian Women. There is info for subscribing. I love this. These are Creative Memories women, so I'm especially proud!
September 2005
Welcome
Thank you for all the wonderful comments and suggestions on the new website -- keep them coming. Our goal is to provide practical, relevant information and we need your input. We'd also like to thank you for forwarding the newsletter to family and friends. Daily we receive emails requesting the ezine and the number one comment is, "a friend forwarded the newsletter to me." Our goal is to double our outreach by December 31st. If you have family and friends at church, work, or maybe even across the country who have not seen the ezine, forward the newsletter to them. Thank you for being charter subscribers and partners in ministry!
We'd like to extend a special thank you to Jerry and Deborah Burnside of Champion Life Events for introducing us to Emilie Barnes and making last month and this month's recorded calls possible. If you would like more information on attending their September event with Emilie Barnes in Florence, Alabama notice the Check It Out section of the ezine or visit their website at Champion Life Events' or championlifeevents.com. A special thank you to Emilie Barnes for giving of her time to record these wonderful calls. If you haven't listened in, do so!
This month's issue looks at how to help those going through various life events. While we did our best to give ideas for practical application the one thing we'd like to say is Jesus is the ONLY answer to our problems, burdens, and heartaches. Reaching out to others and sharing Jesus' message of salvation is our purpose. If sharing the gospel of Christ is new to you, visit the Billy Graham ministries website for study. Familiarize yourself with scripture and most of all, just share YOUR personal testimony of how the Lord saved you and what He has done in your life. Our lives are a witness to the power of Christ.
"I pray that you may be active in sharing your faith, so that you will have a full understanding of
every good thing we have in Christ." ~ Philemon 1:6 NIV
Your sisters in Christ,
Rhonda Ellis, Loi Palmer, Kellie Renfroe
Helping Gulf Coast Citizens
by Loi Palmer and Kellie Renfroe
The devastation in the Gulf Coast states from Hurricane Katrina is large. Here are some things that can be done to help:
* If your church or denomination has a disaster relief organization, donate cash, and volunteer time.
* Donate cash to the Salvation Army or Red Cross.
* Give blood.
While many are being evacuated from New Orleans and other areas, many did leave. Those that left went to neighboring states thinking they would spend a few days with family, friends, or in a hotel. One family Loi has contact with has 35 people living in their home now. If you have people in your neighborhood who have opened their homes or a nearby shelter, assist them. You can:
* Contact your church benevolence program or yourself and neighbors to organize food, paper supplies, and toiletry items.
* Provide transportation to church, appointments, and government agencies.
* Give cash to the host family to offset the increase in household supplies and utility bills.
* Organize healthcare professionals to provide free services.
* Organize neighbors for meals.
* If you are a neighbor, volunteer your washing machine and dryer.
* Introduce yourself and family to these precious individuals. Pray for and with them, encourage them in the Lord.
* If you own rental property, vacation homes, or apartments that are empty, consider opening them up for families.
* School supplies for the children.
* Invite families to church and provide transportation. Give them information about children and youth activities.
* Provide Bibles and good condition Christian children's books.
* Gift card for local pharmacies so prescriptions can be filled.
* If your church has a daycare program give free scholarships to evacuees'.
* Look ahead to the fall/winter by gathering good condition clothing and coats for those relocated to your area.
* Good condition toys, games, puzzles, dolls, Barbie dolls for the children. Coloring books and crayons, Hot Wheel cars, and small stuffed animals (should be new). CDs, portable CD players with headphones, and books and magazines for teens. Backpacks for the children to keep their treasures in.
Offer your services for:
* Hair Cuts
* Write resumes. Business clothing for job interviews.
* Computer help/use in obtaining birth certificates, banking information, insurance companies, etc.
Eventually long term housing will occur and new residents will need housekeeping items. Begin going through your kitchen cabinets, drawers and home for items that would bless:
* Furniture, mattresses
* Linens, towels, etc.
* Dishes, glasses, kitchen utensils, pots and pans.
* Tools, hammers, screw drivers, etc.
The Art of Homemaking Copyright © 2005 The Art of Homemaking
by Loi Palmer
Homemaking is the deliberate cultivation of beauty and productivity in family relationships. These articles and tips will challenge women to go beyond "housekeeping" to "homemaking."
Providing Food For Others
When friends go through loss or illness it is important to minister to them with a helping hand. First, select a 'Point Person' to coordinate ALL meals then:
1. Ask for a list of favorite foods, family dislikes or allergies. Pass this information along to everyone who will be preparing meals.
2. Find out the family schedule, such as who will be home for dinner on what days.
3. What time does the family like to have dinner?
4. Sometimes it is better to have only one person deliver the meal. This ensures all parts of the meal will arrive at the same time.
5. Provide meals every other day to prevent leftover-overload.
6. Ask for food to be brought in disposable containers.
7. Containers that need to be returned should be marked with name and phone number.
8. Gift cards for local restaurants and fast food places are a nice change.
9. Monitor the meals to provide variety. Chicken three times in one week is a drag.
10. Meals should include entree, side dishes, bread, dessert and if possible, beverage.
If you would like the recipes for the meals Loi, Kellie and Rhonda make for others, visit our website at:
Mentoring Moments For Christian Women or mentoringmoments.bravehost.com
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Posted in Volunteer Efforts
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Don't know about the rest of you, but my mind is heavy and bogged down with the devastating needs all around us right now. I needed a place to "organize" my thoughts and detail the research I've come up with on how we can help quickly and simply. Just writing a check doesn't seem to be enough right now. That zone called "comfort" that we all live in is crumbling. God is calling us out.
If you have any info to pass on, please post here, any links, etc. If you have any specific prayers for specific people, friends or family, affected by this disaster, please post for us here. If you ARE a victim, and you somehow by the grace of God have found this blog, please, please let us know who you are and what we can do to help. If you are just so dazed by it all like me, and want to post your thoughts and prayers, please do so. God is so present in all of this and wants us to share our hope with those who have so little right now.
My Research on Volunteering:
The first place I went was Clearview Baptist Church in Franklin, TN, the Red Cross Disaster Center. As of Saturday, they said they had a need for toys for children refugees. You can also sign up there to open your home for displaced people and volunteer to cook meals there in their kitchen to feed the people as well as help clean the bathrooms, answer phones, all kinds of needs. I could not get through by email or phone, so I just went there. That may be the best way to do things right now.
The Red Cross said that before Katrina they were getting low on blood, and now the need will be huge. You can volunteer to give blood by calling 1-800-givelife. You will get a message. Just give your info and they will get back to you. Once again, lines are clogged and lines are long to volunteer for everything. (Praise the Lord).
You can get on the NAMB (North American Mission Board) web site, www.namb.net, to find volunteer opportunities.
Found this link by hunting around and signed up immediately. Hurricane Katrina Disaster & Flood Victims, Pets & Animal Relief Effort
Of course, the Red Cross is acutely important right now. You can go to these sites. Opportunity Title: Respond to Disasters Both of the above came from the following email: redcross_support@volunteermatch.org. They will match you up with volunteering opportunities.
Being a homeschooling family, I got awesome information from Cindy Rushton, whose newsletter I subscribe to. Her family has organized a mission effort in Florence, Alabama, at their Baptist Church to go down to Laurel, Mississippi, and meet dire needs. You can read about this and volunteer by going to www.cindyrushton.com.
Another Ezine I subscribe to is the Change Your Life Weekly Challenge, and this morning's issue was literally filled with volunteering ideas and info.
Brook Noel states: "For an overview of volunteer and contribution opportunities, this is the most comprehensive resource that I have found ." http://www.networkforgood.org/topics/animal_ environ/hurricanes/?source=USAFC this site is huge!
The CYLC site also offers the following very long list:
Bush - Clinton Katrina Fund Former Presidents Bush and Clinton have established a joint 501(c)(3) fund to receive donations to assist the victims of Hurricane Katrina. Or, you can mail a check or money order to the addresses listed below. Please make checks payable to the "Bush-Clinton Katrina Fund".
As recovery and relief efforts begin to assist victims, well-meaning volunteers are being urged not to report directly to the affected areas unless directed by a volunteer agency. Please be patient and allow the professional first-responders and aid workers to do their job. In the coming weeks, months and years, please visit the USA Freedom Corps Volunteer Network to find opportunities to engage in ongoing relief efforts and prepare for future disasters. MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS: The Office of The Surgeon General and the Office of Public Health Emergency Preparedness are in the process of mobilizing and identifying healthcare professionals and relief personnel. If you are a Healthcare Professional or relief personnel with medical or health-related expertise, please go to https://volunteer.ccrf.hhs.gov. ADDITIONAL MOBILIZATION: If you are a trained in special disaster relief skills, please contact your state Citizen Corps representative or County Emergency Manager.
Below are other organizations that I located through the Network for Good web site that may be of interest:
1400 I Street, NW, Suite 800 Washington, D.C. 20005-2208 Phone (800) 750-7653 - Fax (202) 729-8100 - Volunteer Info Phone: (800) VOLUNTEER or visit the web site at www.volunteerconnections.org. The Points of Light Foundation, founded in 1990 by former President George Bush, is a national, nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that promotes volunteerism. The Foundation advocates community service through a partnership with the Volunteer Center National Network. There are over 500 Volunteer Centers nationwide and the Foundation will connect you with the one in your area. 1605 Peachtree Street, Suite 100 Atlanta, GA, 30309 Phone (404) 875-7334 - Fax (404) 253-1020 Local Hands On Network organizations were formed in response to the challenge of finding a way to reconcile a busy lifestyle with an interest in volunteering. There are now over forty Cares and Hands On affiliates. Hands On affiliates offer accommodating scheduling, commitment flexibility, and team-based programs, allowing volunteers to serve with colleagues, friends, and family or to make new friends while serving with like-minded volunteers.
Volunteer Solutions / United Way of America 701 North Fairfax Street Alexandria, VA, 22314 Phone (800) 892-2757 x320 - Fax (703) 683-7822 Volunteer Solutions is a volunteer matching application, owned by United Way of America that helps volunteer centers connect individuals to volunteer opportunities in their community. It partners with organizations in thirty-nine areas around the country. 385 Grove Street San Francisco, CA, 94102 Phone (415) 241-6868 - Fax (415) 241-6869 This online service matches prospective volunteers with service opportunities within their communities. Enter your zip code, area of interest, and distance you are willing to travel and you will be matched with a variety of opportunities. This site works with thousands of local nonprofits as well as large national organizations, such as the Red Cross, United Way, and Goodwill Industries. VolunteerMatch provides the engine for a number of the organizations under the USA Freedom Corps umbrella. 1201 New York Avenue Washington, DC, 20525 Phone (800) 942-2677 or (202) 606-5000 - TTY (800) 833-3722 AmeriCorps was created in 1993 as part of the Corporation for National and Community Service and is made up of three programs: AmeriCorps State and National, AmeriCorps VISTA, and AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps (NCCC). | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
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