Update: SOS cards for the troops

Thanks to all of you who made Valentine's Day cards for the troops!  These are in the mail and will be in Texas soon and then will be sent off to their destination.

We had a total of 36 cards!  I even saw some candy with some :)

Thanks again, AHG!

Don't forget to record the time on your service logs that you spent making these cards.

Update: Feed My Starving Children Donations

AHG!  You did such a great job collecting coins, dollars and even some bills that were larger than $1!

Goal:  $80
Total amount that was raised and collected:  $65.83!

Even though we didn't make our goal we did get a lot of donations...and every penny will help a child who is needing food.  Our donation will be brought on Saturday to the mobile pack that is at Christ Community Church.  If you have a chance...stop by and check out this operation...it is amazing!  You might even be able to sign up to help them out if spots are still available.  You can find out more at www.cccrochester.org

For more information about Feed My Starving Children you can visit their website at:
http://www.fmsc.org/

Thanks to all of you who donated!  Don't forget to log those service hours on your sheets for the time spent looking and collecting the money that was brought in.

Blood donor volunteer opportunity

Service for others...thinking outside the box is our challenge.

Below is some information from Mayo Clinic and some help that is needed currently.  This is not a service opportunity that would be for everyone but does fit our challenge.  

If you read below you will find all of the details including contact information to sign up.  Please note: there is an amount of money that is given to the person who donates.  In order for this to count as service, money can not be given and so this money would need to be donated to another organization or given to someone else.

We are writing once again to request your kind help and assistance in recruiting healthy pediatric donors to donate a small sample of blood that we can use to develop and validate new clinical diagnostic immunology tests to help patients with immune deficiencies or pre/post organ or bone marrow transplantation.  Without healthy donors (especially pediatric – infants and young children), we are unable to define what is normal or abnormal in the immune system and therefore, this is a critical component of our service to patients who come to Mayo for evaluation and treatment, or from whom we receive samples for diagnostic evaluation from elsewhere in the country or around the world.

I know some parents may be reluctant to have their children undergo a blood draw.  However, I would like to respectfully ask you to consider that if you are in the fortunate position of having a healthy infant or child, please think of the burden of parents who have a critically ill child and the help they need getting the most accurate and prompt diagnosis.  A blood draw is not quite as traumatic to children as some parents or children may perceive.  Infants or children may cry for a few minutes but the “pain of the poke” is soon forgotten.  But, the value of the sample provided is immense because it helps us with diagnosis of many, many infants and children who need immunological evaluation, either for immunodeficiency or transplantation.

If your child/children is/are not yet registered as a normal donor for the Clinical Immunology lab, please consider doing so.  If you are already a normal donor, please spread the word to your family, friends and neighbors as we would gladly take as many people as are interested and willing to participate who meet our inclusion criteria.

For pediatric donors (newborns- 18y), contact Misty Berndt (507-293-4071;berndt.misty@mayo.edu).  Pediatric donors will require to have parents or legal guardians sign a consent form (the process will be explained once you are registered to participate in the study). If your child has previous participated for our normal blood collection, there is no need to fill out any paper work, just notify Misty to set up a scheduled date for the blood draw.

All pediatric donors (due to their younger age) will receive $50 reimbursement for each blood draw.

I hope you will be able to help us and our patients (at Mayo and around the country/overseas) through your own participation and by recruiting others to participate as well.

Thank you for your gracious consideration of this request.  

Misty Berndt Clinical Research Coordinator Mayo Clinic Transplant Center Phone: 507-293-4071 Fax: 507-266-2412 E-mail:  berndt.misty@mayo.edu ___________________________________ Mayo Clinic 200 First Street S.W. Rochester, MN 55905 www.mayoclinic.org

Mile of Mac and Cheese...February 2nd

Mile of Mac & Cheese

On Saturday, February 2nd Channel One Regional Food Bank will be hosting our 2nd annual Mile of Mac & Cheese event as part of Rochester’s annual WinterFest celebration. We will be trying to collect a mile worth of mac & cheese (over 9,000 boxes) to stock the shelves in our supplemental food shelf. We will be collecting mac & cheese at every Rochester Hy-Vee location on Feb. 2nd from 10 a.m.-4 p.m. We need volunteers who would be willing to pass out flyers to Hy-Vee customers as the enter the store as well as collect the donations of mac & cheese. This is a great family volunteer opportunity. We are look for 3-4 volunteers per shift at each store. Shifts are 10am- 12pm, 12pm-2pm, and 2pm- 4pm.

AGE OF VOLUNTEER: all ages, children under 16 must be accompanied by an adult. TIME COMMITMENT: one-time, Saturday February 2nd for 2 hours. DAY OF THE WEEK: Saturday. TIME OF DAY: shifts are 10am-12pm, 12pm-2pm, 2pm-4pm.

This opportunity is sponsored by: Channel One Food Bank and Food Shelf

This volunteer opportunity is available to the following types of volunteers Children (6-12) Group Size (2-4) Adolescents (13-17) Group Size (5-7) Adults (26-54) Individual Adults (55+) Preschool (3-5) With Caregiver Corporate Volunteer Program Service-learning Court-appointed Young Adults (18-25) Families

Spots are still available for this volunteer opportunity in our community.  To sign up or get more details just click on this link.  

How else can you help?  

Go shopping for some Mac & Cheese on February 2nd!  The time spent shopping for those items counts as service.  Kids must be part of the shopping experience to get credit.

Valentine's Day Cards for Soldiers through S.O.S - Due January 21st!

 Dear American Heritage Girl and Leaders;

We would like to invite you to participate in our Valentines Day care packages we would like to include cards or letters from you, expressing your gratitude and appreciation for

The sacrifices that they make for all of us each and every day.  You can help SOS by creating valentines cards, or letters. 

Deadline:  Please turn these in at the AHG meeting on Monday, January 21st.  These must reach the address by January 28th!  We will mail these out for you so they arrive on time.  If you can't make it to the meeting or want to send some on your own, the address is below:

Please mail Cards to:

SOS / cards

616C Shelby Rd

Ft Worth, TX  76140

What should you make?

Here are some suggestion and samples.

Card size: take 8 ½  x 11 paper or construction paper and fold in half to make a card,

then decorate it.

Please address you message to :  Dear Soldier ,  (we send to Army, Navy, Air Force, & Marines and although they may be called something other than soldier  it is acceptable to call them soldiers)

 

We would love to have you make cards other times of the year as well, since we are sending our care packages daily. 

Know that what you will be making and saying will be in the hands of a soldier who needs to know we care.

      

This service opportunity is for S.O.S.   Support Our Soldiers

S.O.S Mission Statement                                                                                                      

Support Our Soldiers is a 501c3 organization that connects community and military together by sending custom care boxes, supplies and letters of support to soldiers.  These efforts include events, promotion of patriotism & area educational programs.  We intend to show our soldiers they are loved and not forgotten .

Last Chance for Feed My Starving Children!

Spots are still open for Feed My Starving Children but they are filling up fast...this is where YOU get to be the one who packs the meals that will be sent around the world.

You can view info on how to sign up at this link.  (The AHG group is no longer open but spots can be filled by individuals and families through the website at the links).

Hope to see you there!

Don't forget...you have 1 week to gather up any coins or dollars that you find or collect.  We will be collecting these donations at our next AHG meeting.  Our goal is to raise $80 which would will make if every AHG member brings at least $1.  Can we make this goal?

Project Community Connect January 25th

Our American Heritage Girls Troop will be focusing our February service event on those in our area that are homeless or struggling to make ends meet.  Our community will be hosting an event on January 25th that ties in directly with what we are doing in February.  

Can You Help?  Look below at the opportunities currently available.  For a complete list and to sign up visit the United Way Website at this link.

Project Community Connect is an event that is put on by the Homeless Community Network of Olmsted County, which will feature services and resources for people who are homeless or struggling to make ends meet. Individuals and families can get help with legal, medical, and veterans' services, housing, employment, and photo identification. Free haircuts and a light lunch will be provided at the event as well.

 

WHERE:	Mayo High School 1420 11th Avenue SE Rochester, MN 55904
WHEN:	Friday, January 25th, 2013 10:00 am – 2:00 pm

 

The Homeless Community Network is a  coalition of County public and private human service agencies as well as interested individuals who meet regularly to facilitate communication about the needs of the homeless, to monitor resources available, and to foster cooperation and coordination of activities designed to reduce the number of homeless families and individuals in the county.

Results: 6     Agency     Project     Participants Still Needed     Date / Time  (in US/Central time)       Ascending     Descending    1. Set-up Assistant   Agency: Olmsted County Homeless Community Network   Project: Set-up Assistant   Address: Rochester, MN 55904   Description: Volunteer Opportunity Description: The Set up assistant is responsible for setting up tables in the gym, entrance way, and volunteer area. Set up assistants may also help unload and carry vendors displays and equipment from the front doors to. . .   Participants Still Needed: 9   Date / Time (in US/Central time) Fri, Jan 25, 2013 08:30 am to 09:30 am: (10 slots) 9 participants still needed Register 2. Hair Cut Assistant   Agency: Olmsted County Homeless Community Network   Project: Hair Cut Assistant   Address: Rochester, MN 55904   Description: Volunteer Opportunity Description: The Haircut Assistant will be assigned directly to the stage area where the seven stylists will be performing free haircuts for adults and children. You will take reservations, check in guests and clean up the stage area between. . .   Participants Still Needed: 2   Date / Time (in US/Central time) Fri, Jan 25, 2013 09:30 am to 12:00 pm: (2 slots) 2 participants still needed Register 3. Assistant at 'Free Phone MN' booth   Agency: Olmsted County Homeless Community Network   Project: Assistant at 'Free Phone MN' booth   Address: Rochester, MN 55904   Description: Volunteer Opportunity Description: This volunteer position will assist in the registration and distribution of free cell phones to guests during Project Community Connect. You will provide crowd control and assistance of this popular service. Orientation and Training: Orientation regarding. . .   Participants Still Needed: 7   Date / Time (in US/Central time) Fri, Jan 25, 2013 09:30 am to 12:00 pm: (4 slots) 4 participants still needed Register Fri, Jan 25, 2013 11:30 am to 02:00 pm: (3 slots) 3 participants still needed Register 4. Hallway Assistant   Agency: Olmsted County Homeless Community Network   Project: Hallway Assistant   Address: Rochester, MN 55904   Description: Volunteer Opportunity Description: The Hallway Assistant will be responsible for providing directions to guests (after the intake process) to the vendors, room services and restrooms at Project Community Connect. Hallway assistants will be located at the top and bottom of. . .   Participants Still Needed: 10   Date / Time (in US/Central time) Fri, Jan 25, 2013 09:30 am to 12:00 pm: (6 slots) 5 participants still needed Register Fri, Jan 25, 2013 11:30 am to 02:00 pm: (6 slots) 5 participants still needed Register 5. Food Service Volunteer   Agency: Olmsted County Homeless Community Network   Project: Food Service Volunteer   Address: Rochester, MN 55904   Description: Volunteer Opportunity Description: The Food Service Volunteer is responsible for directing guests to the lunch area at Project Community Connect. The Food Service Volunteers will direct guests through the lunch line and to tables that are available. The Food Service. . .   Participants Still Needed: 3   Date / Time (in US/Central time) Fri, Jan 25, 2013 10:15 am to 01:45 pm: (4 slots) 3 participants still needed Register 6. Clean-up Assistant   Agency: Olmsted County Homeless Community Network   Project: Clean-up Assistant   Address: Rochester, MN 55904   Description: Volunteer Opportunity Description: The Clean-up Assistant is responsible for taking down tables, chairs, signs, assisting vendors as they carry out their equipment (i.e. display boards) and any other necessary clean-up. Volunteers need to sign in and out on the. . .   Participants Still Needed: 15   Date / Time (in US/Central time) Fri, Jan 25, 2013 02:00 pm to 03:00 pm: (15 slots) 15 participants still needed Register     Agency     Project     Participants Still Needed     Date / Time  (in US/Central time)       Ascending     Descending