May Service Project: Pay It 4ward

Let me state the obvious.... yes, it has been a while since we have updated the blog. The reason there has been such a delay... it's a little personal, but stay tuned for the reason in a future post. This post is to share what we did for our May service project (and yes, we still owe you April's, but before I get further behind I figured I needed to get this out). For May we borrowed an idea from one of my fellow Howard Bison and her children, we decided to pay it forward.


We made note cards that said, "Have a dollar on us. Please pay it forward." and stapled a $1 bill to the back of them.

We visited the Dollar Tree on Freedom Drive in Charlotte and placed the notecards near/between various items throughout the store and quickly hurried out of the store. Tyler commented that it would be pretty cool if someone reached out that found one of the cards to share how they used it, I agreed but we know that a few people benefitted and that was all that mattered.

I kind of wish that we had been recorded placing the note cards around the store, not to capture the activity but to help me teach my child how to not draw attention to himself. Clearly I'm basically saying I want my child to be a better sneak, but he needs to learn the skill of being incognito, I mean how else will he successfully pull of planning a surprise party/event for me in the future?! ;-)

This was a very simple, yet rewarding activity that we would encourage anyone to do. Pick a place, it could be a grocery store, fast food drive through, doctors office (cover the co-pay or a certain dollar amount for an unsuspecting patient), restaurant, etc.

February Service Project: Volunteer

Go to a nursing home and read to residents. Sign up and help serve a meal to guests at a local shelter or soup kitchen. Make handmade Valentine cards for guests at a residential treatment program. Reach out to your local museums and inquire about volunteer opportunities, there are plenty! Park and Rec departments also have multiple volunteer needs. The possibilities are endless! Pick an organization and/or group of people and dedicate your time to help others in need. Share pictures with us (13Days4Love@gmail.com) with a brief description of how you are helping others and we will post on our page.

January Service Project: Winter Warmth 4 The Homeless

We are partnering with the Urban Ministry Center and will be participating in the 2015 Point in Time Count. This major event will help us to identify all individuals experiencing street homelessness and long-term homelessness. 13 Days 4 Love is collecting hats, scarfs, gloves and hand warmers to be donated to the homeless with whom we interact during the Point in Time Count. While we are interviewing people, we would like for them to be able to take a pair of gloves, hat, scarf or hand warmer.

We will be collecting these items until Friday, January 30. If you have items to donate, please email us, 13Days4Love@gmail.com, to schedule a place and time to meet.

Many thanks,
Eboni & Tyler

December Service Project: Holiday Cheer 4 Children

For our December service project we have chosen to help the guests of The Relatives. This will be our third project this year that has benefitted The Relatives.  The Relatives hosts 9 children/young adults that are homeless or have been removed from their family homes.  We are doing handmade cards and gift cards for each of the 9 guests that will be with them on Christmas Day.  We are hoping that others will join us in providing items for each child.  Since some of these children are in transition, we are not wanting to give bulky items (such as stuffed animals) but things that are portable, fun, educational, motivating, etc.  Some examples of items that would be great are playing cards, activity books, Redbox gift cards, bus passes, gift cards to restaurants (the facility is on East Boulevard so restaurants in that area would be more convenient), inspirational books, etc. We don’t know the breakdown of boys vs. girls, so think of things that are gender neutral. We will be collecting items between now and Tuesday, December 23, 2014. If you would like to donate items, send us an email and we can coordinate meeting you.

Thanks in advance for thinking of those children that aren’t able to be home for the holidays.

Eboni & Tyler

November Service Project: Desserts 4 Thanksgiving Update and Thanks

Thank you Onica Fuller, Karitsa Kerns, Donyell Stroud Aycock, Meeka J. Clay, Sidney Logan Echevarria, Candace Taylor-Anderson, Lee Richardson, Sylvia Richardson, Imani Smith, Kim Flanders, Angela Lindsay, Sahnia D. H. Oates, Rachel Bellotti Adams, Brittney Bogues, Takierra Hopkins-Cole, Victoria Garriett Lampkin, Tamra Berry, Lisa Hollis, Christina Mateo Landry, Kameka Rowell-Hall, Kimberly Norton, Kristy Perry & Carlenia Ivory for your generous donations for Desserts 4 Thanksgiving. Based on the pictures that were shared, 52 desserts were donated to the Charlotte Rescue Mission. It took us several trips from the car to the kitchen to get all of the desserts we had to deliver in. We went around lunch time so the guests were lining up outside of the cafeteria. After our first trip we heard one of the guests ask the gentleman that worked there what we were doing and he explained the project to them. With each trip they said "thank you all" and "bless you all". I'm sure if you reflect back on your Thanksgiving meal, one of the highlights was one of the desserts that you had (many homes have multiple desserts). Thanks to the generosity of all that participated, the guests at the Charlotte Rescue Mission also had choices for dessert.

If we left off your name please forgive us and share with us your pictures or email us so we can include you in our thanks. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU!!!!

March Service Project Announcement: Community Celebration

I decided to try something different to announce part of the service project for March.  I clearly don't have much experience recording videos, but what's most important is the message.  After watching this video, do me a favor and share with at least four people you know.  March is all about the number 4.







                 

Service Project Announcement Coming Soon!

At the beginning of 2013 I made the decision that my son and I would do a monthly service project.  Each month this year we gave time, and in some cases, money to help different groups of people/organizations. In 2014 we will be doing the same, but on a larger scale.  Stay tuned for a post within the week about January's service project, of which we are really excited!  This year we are looking to get more people involved and hope that you will join us.  There will be plenty of ways for you and your family to be part of the solution to some of the challenges within the community.

Stay tuned……..