Message of Thanks!!!!

We wanted to say thank you for all of your generous support in helping us Bring The Giving Tree to Oaklawn!

March Birthday Service Project: Bring The Giving Tree to Oaklawn Language Academy

March Service Project announcement!!!!!! Our project just went live on StartSomeGood! Check it out, share with your friends and contribute if you can so I can start some good. We only receive funds if we meet our goal. 

http://www.startsomegood.com/venture/ebonis_birthday_bookapalooza_4_oaklawn/campaigns/show/bring_the_giving_tree_to_oaklawn_language_academy

Random Acts of Kindness Week is here!!!

February 9-15 is Random Acts of Kindness Week. Brighten at least one person's day each day for a week by doing random acts of kindness. This is a great way for families to do things in their respective 'workplaces' (school & office) to do something nice for the people with whom they spend most of their days. Need some ideas to get your creative juices flowing?

- (Children) Purchase dessert at lunch for a classmate.

- Eat lunch with someone new.

- Write notes of appreciation to people who often go unappreciated (custodian staff, cafeteria staff, hospital volunteers, etc).

- Give $5 to the cashier at the grocery store to go towards the groceries of the person behind you.

- Mail a handwritten note to an older relative/close family friend.

- Make & share a CD of your favorite songs with a friend. 

Those are just a few ideas to get you started. If you participate, take pictures of your Random Acts of Kindness and email them to us, we'll post some at the end of each day. If you post pictures, use the hashtags #RandomActsOfKindness & #13Days4Love. 

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 2015 Service Project Update: Warmth 4 The Homeless

Thank you Pop (a.k.a. Tyler's grandfather a.k.a. my dad), Cedric Steele and Vanessa Haywood for your donations of hats, scarves and gloves for today's service project.  The men and women that chose items were very grateful for the much needed items to keep them warm! #CommunityOfGiving #Warmth4TheHomeless #13Days4Love #IntentionalParenting #HelpTheHomeless #Service

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

Volunteers Needed to Help the Homeless in Charlotte

This January, our community is mobilizing a major effort to identify all individuals experiencing street homelessness and long-term homelessness. We need 100+ volunteers in order to make the effort a success.  Volunteers will conduct a brief questionnaire with individuals on the street, in a camp, or at a service provider location.  Please consider volunteering your time for this important effort.  You can sign-up here.

A few details:

·         The effort will take place Thursday, January 29 – Saturday, January 31^st. While we recognize everyone’s lives are busy, we are hopeful volunteers can commit for all three days of the effort.  

·         There are a variety of times you can sign-up for, though the majority of volunteers are needed for early morning hours.

·         We want volunteers to be as well-equipped as possible, so we are asking all volunteers to participate in a 2-hour training offered on Sunday, January 25th from 2pm - 4pm or Tuesday, January 27th from 7pm - 9pm.   

·         All volunteers will be placed on a small team with a team leader, to guide you through this effort.  We recognize this might feel like a stretch outside your comfort zone, so we want to ensure you are well-supported. 

Thank you for considering giving our time to this effort.  If you have questions, you can contact Liz Clasen-Kelly at lclasen-kelly@urbanministrycenter.org.