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

Thanks for ringing!

The Salvation Army raised a record amount this year thanks to everyone who donated and helped ring bells!  ...some of those people are from AHG :)

Here is a link to this story.

Thank you to those who spent their time helping this organization.  Many AHG families gave up 30 minutes or more of their time to help this community.

THANK YOU!

January Service Opportunity!

Each month until the end of May we will be focusing on one specific service opportunity that our troop can participate in together.  Here are the details for our January service opportunity.

      January Service Opp.

What we need YOU to do:  bring any coins (or cash...checks...those work too) to AHG meetings in January for Feed My Starving Children.  We are trying to raise enough money to supply a box of food for a child.  Look for the containers to drop off your coins at the AHG meetings.

How much money are we trying to raise?  $80.  It is a big goal but this $80 will supply food for one child for an entire year.

Just imagine this...it costs .22 cents to produce one of the packs of food.  These packages are full of vitamins and nutrients that these kids need in order to survive.  This isn't just so they can have a snack here and there...this is so they can live another day.  If we raise $80 we would be saving a child so they could live an entire year.  As Americans this is something that we truly can't imagine since food is always available to us and is at every corner, restaurant and store we visit.

According to numbers given from 2011, 18,000 kids die each day from starvation.  Hunger is a huge problem in our world and is something that we can help with and something that can be fixed.

How can you help with this at home:

• Look as a family for extra coins in your house.  
• Ask neighbors for any extra coins they may have laying around...even what is in their pocket.  
• Talk to your teachers and see if your class can bring in coins one day.  
• Ask your Sunday School group to participate on a weekend and tell them all about Feed My Starving Children.  
• Look in your car, in your couch cushions or in the extra change jar.  
• Ask your relatives at Christmas if they have any coins they could donate.  
• Pray...read about Feed My Starving Children and what this organization is all about and pray for the kids that need this food and that the money collected will be helping.
• Make your own container at home...get a can or plastic container.  Take a piece of paper and decorate it.  Tape it to the outside of the container so you are reminded what those coins are for.  Show your AHG Leader and group your container during our January meetings as you drop off the coins you collected.
• Are you on Facebook?  Have a blog?  Link this site and share it with your friends so they know what you are doing and collecting coins for.  You may have a friend, relative or neighbor who will see it and want to give you their entire change jar!

When are we collecting?  The AHG meetings in January are January 7th and 21st.  Our Winter Ceremony is January 7th but we will have some special helpers holding containers where you can drop your coins off and they will be by the doors to the sanctuary.  On January 21st we will have special containers sitting on the stage where you can put your coins during the meeting.

Extra Info: 
Flyer about Feed My Starving Children
Want to give more than just coins?  View this flyer and print it off, fill it out and turn in with your donation so you can receive a receipt for your giving.
Website for Feed My Starving Children

Did you know we at AHG have a chance to pack these meals?
AHG also has the opportunity to volunteer with a mobile pack for Feed My Starving Children...one time as a group and additional times that are available for you to serve as a family or parent/child team.    This is coming to Rochester in January and dates/times are still available to sign up.  For more info on this opportunity please view this post on our AHG Service Website. 

2 ways to still help The Salvation Army before Christmas

A Special Request to those in the Rochester area from The Salvation Army...

The Salvation Army has sent out a note to those who have been helping with a humble but urgent request.  There is now less than 2 weeks before Christmas and soon the Christmas Toy & Joy Shop will be open for families in the Rochester area.  

How can you help?

1)  Purchase a new toy, clothing or other gift for the store.  You can drop these new items (unwrapped, please) at The Salvation Army Sharing Tree at Apache Mall or either Perkins locations, Sams's Club, both Walmart location or to the main office location at 20 First Avenue NE in Rochester.  We are grateful for anything you can provide!

2)  Volunteer 2 hours to help a family shop for gifts.  Thursday, December 20th from 8:30am - 7:30pm and Friday, December 21st from 8:30am to 4:30pm is when families will be coming to shop for their kids.  Help is needed to walk with the family member as they look for age- appropriate gifts and for the correct number of items for each child in the family.  Call 507-288-3663 and ask for Jenny to sign up for just 2 hours either day.

Feed My Starving Children

Hunger.  A day or more without a meal.  Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit group that packages meals for those that are hungry around the world.  

AHG has 2 ways that you can be involved!

1)  Want to go with a group?  Join us to pack at Feed My Starving Children: Click on the link and you will be directed to the site where you can sign up and volunteer with other AHG group members to help pack meals at Feed My Starving Children in Christ Community Church on Sat, January 26, 2013 from 11:30am - 1:30pm.  We have 35 more spots left with our group.  The name that you will be signing up with is The Williams Family.  (please review the age requirements for this volunteer opportunity)

2)  Want to sign up on your own or as a family?  Other dates and times are also available on Thursday, January 24th, Friday, January 25th and Saturday, January 26th.  You can find out more info about those times at www.cccrochester.org or by clicking on the link to volunteer for this event here.

Right now there are many spots still available but they go fast and are open to the public...so sign up today!

Wear your AHG uniform, don't wear jewelry and be ready to strut a very fashionable new hairstyle while you serve.  :)

Want to know more about what Feed My Starving Children is?
Feed My Starving Children is a non-profit Christian organization committed to feeding God’s children hungry in body and spirit. The approach is simple: children and adults hand-pack meals specifically formulated for malnourished children, and we ship the meals to nearly 70 countries around the world. Click here to learn more about FMSC and how you can become involved.