Christmas joy...

Thank you for your generous donations of food, blankets and hats to those in need who are helped at Dixie Care and Share. They were overwhelmed at the amount and grateful for your thoughtfulness. You each helped bring more joy this Christmas season.

Bring food items to RS mtg in December

DIXIE CARE AND SHARE
WAYS TO CARE & SHARE ... We are HAVING A FOOD DRIVE for Dixie Care and Share.
Non-perishable food in cans and boxes are always needed in the food bank.  Bring whatever you can to our RS meeting in December. They can especially use canned protein, meats and soups.
Other things YOU can do:
VOLUNTEER YOUR TIME Help out at one of the food banks and pantries, form a team and cook a meal (we provide the food) and serve at the Kitchen or the Shelter one day a month, or mentor one of the clients. Everyone has a special talent that they can share. Just give us a call and we will arrange something for you.
DONATE NEEDED ITEMS Warm Coats and Blankets are always needed this time of year.  Baby items: diapers (sizes 4,5,6) formula, baby blankets, baby wipes, pajamas, diaper bags, etc. Hygiene Kits (contact Shelter for specifics)
CONTACT: Dixie Care & Share 131 N. 300 W. St George, UT 84770 (435) 628-3661
http://www.dixiecareandshare.org/care-share/

Tutors needed at The Children of Hope Academy

The Children of Hope Academy has an urgent need for volunteers to give 1-2 hours or more a week tutoring mentally challenged students, helping them meet their educational objectives to achieve their full potential.  There are 18 students attending the academy and 10 volunteers are needed each week to provide one on one tutoring for each student.  Girls come in the morning 10-11:30 am and boys in the afternoon from 1-5 pm.
If you can help contact Diana Wade 435-272-4575.
They are located at 1008 East 200 South (near Dixie and the Institute)
http://childrenofhopeacademy.com

Some things we can do to help those in the Philippines...

Pray
Increase fast offerings
Donate to church humanitarian funds
ldsphilanthropies.org/humanitarian

our latest works :)

These are our latest donations to the children at The Learning Center:

Thanks ladies! You are awesome!! :)

Braided edging option on fleece blankets

Thanks to all who took blankets to finish for the kids at TLC. They will love them so much!
Click HERE to go to the tutorial I found for the cute braided edges.  It's just as easy as tying, maybe easier.  I have plenty more material if you didn't get some today. :)  Finish them in whatever creative way your talents lead you!!  :)

Volunteer as a Tutor!

A hundred years from now, 
it will not matter what kind of car I drove, 
what kind of house I lived in, 
how much money I had in the bank ...
but the world may be a better place 
because I made a difference in the life of a child.

-Forest Witcraft

Become a Mentor/Tutor

With support and guidance from an individual like you, the ambition, the passion, and the drive to succeed can be awakened and fortified in a local student. Mentors  provide an hour a day of your time with  students at their school.

What is a Mentor/Tutor?

Not all heroes have to rush into burning buildings to rescue victims – many save individual lives in a quieter way. They become mentors. As a mentor, you will have the power to give children an adult friend they can trust - someone who will listen to their hopes, fears and problems. Many times this relationship alters the course of a young person’s life.

What Do Mentors Do?

Motivate, encourage, advise, coach, listen, tutor, guide. Mentors show students that someone cares about them – about their well-being, goals, and dreams for the future. Mentors helps students

establish a positive outlook and stable personal relationships, develop life skills, set career and life goals, improve interpersonal skills and increase self-esteem. Mentors help young people succeed in school and in life by sharing their experience and talents.

 Where and When Will I Mentor/Tutor?

School Based: The KidSpace Program is held at Hurricane, Sunset, and Sandstone Elementary Schools. It is a safe, fun learning environment for students who may need homework tutoring. The tutoring hours at Hurricane and Sunset Elementary Schools are from 4-5pm, and at Sunset are from 3-4pm. This program runs Monday-Thursday.

The YAA Program is held at Hurricane and Fossil Ridge Intermediate Schools, and at Dixie High School. It engages youth, and helps them maintain and handle responsibility while directing them toward a college bound future. Tutoring hours at the Intermediate schools are from 2:15-3:15pm, and at Dixie High School are from 7-8am.

The Power of Mentoring

Studies show that mentoring is one of the most powerful forces in education. A young person who meets regularly with a mentor is 52% less likely to drop out of school and 46% less likely to use drugs.

How Can I Become a Mentor?

Call Janet O’Reily at 652-7671

Urgent need... Paper towels!!

Erin Kimball Foundation has put out a call for an urgent need... Paper towels!  Keep them in mind if you have extras in storage or want to pick up extra when you are shopping. You can drop them off at their office or contact me and I'll arrange to have your donation picked up and dropped off.  Thanks!!

Thanks...

We received a handmade thank you note from women at Erin Kimball Foundation:

They currently provide up to two years of housing with supportive and empowering services that help domestic violence survivors and their children fleeing abuse in the Five County Region of Southwestern Utah. Since opening their doors in 2002 they have served 156 women and 359 children with more than 201,106 nights of shelter.

This is a wonderful service they provide. They welcome monetary donations and have a wish list in the left side bar I try to keep updated.

Request for SUNBLOCK :)

My name is Maria Lobato, I am the family advocate for the families at Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation.  I was given your information by Marilyn here at Erin Kimball.  I am hoping you can help us out with a last minute request.  I will be giving an educational class to the clients at Erin Kimball about skin cancer and how they can protect themselves and their families and would like to offer them sun block or sunscreen lotion.  Is there any possible way that you can help me out with this request?  I would appreciate it tremendously.  I would need them by next week Thursday morning.  It would be awesome if we can have between 15 to 20.  Thank you in advance for your help. Please don't hesitate in contacting me either by email or phone.  I will be in the office today till about1:30pm.  You can also contact me on my cell phone.

Maria A. Lobato

Family Advocate

Erin Kimball Memorial Foundation

cell:520.891-4092

office:435.494-1356

July Drives: Blood and DI

July brings an opportunity for two drives in our area that both provide important community service.

The American Red Cross blood drive will be held Thursday, July 18, 2013 at 511 South Valley View Drive in the Cultural Hall. It will run from 2-7pm. If you have questions about your eligibility to donate blood call: 1-866-236-3276.

Our Stake wants to increase its Deseret Industries donations during the first part of July. The following items are always needed: antiques, baskets, bedding, blankets, books, clothing, computers, cookware, DVDs, drapes, games, glassware, home furnishings, jewelry, kitchen goods, knickknacks, pictures, plates, radios, seasonal decorations, shoes, small appliances, sports equipment, televisions, tools, towels, toys, utensils, VCRs.
Deseret Industries is open Monday-Saturday. Check with your neighbors. It may be helpful to see if we could pick up/drop off items for others that may not be able to do so.

Donate. Maybe someone will find (and love) some of your old hidden treasures.  :)

Mahalo

A big mahalo (thank you) to Mary Hoadley and her generous friend for donating more wonderful yarn for our knit hats we are continually making for the children at TLC.  HUGS <3

You don't have to do something big for service to count...

...  after all, it's "by small and simple things [that] great things [are] brought to pass." (Alma 37:6)

We can't control the storms in life, but WE can respond...

We can't control the storms in life - the force of a hurricane, the slowing beat of a pulse, the devastation of a house fire. But, we can control how we prepare for and respond to such events, and we can make a difference by assisting the Red Cross.
ASK: to learn how to help contact margie.woodruff@redcross.org for information or call her at 435-668-2210.
VOLUNTEER: join a Disaster Action Team, help organize an event, work in the office, supply comfort kits and blankets, or help with military services.
PREPARE: take an American Red Cross class to learn lifesaving skills.
GIVE: with financial donations you can transform lives.
DONATE BLOOD: you can give every two months or so.The more you donate, the more lives you can save.
To learn more visit The Red Cross at redcross.org or call the Red Cross of Southern Utah office at 435-674-4440.

A great chance to give :)

LoveUTgiveUT.org

Love Thy Neighbor

A beautiful exhibit is at the St George Visitor's Center: "LOVE THY NEIGHBOR".  It is a traveling exhibit so try to hurry and get there before it moves on...

We can all experience the joy of serving others by following the example of Jesus Christ.

At the end we were given a link with great resources through Mormon.org

Go to: mormon.org

Click on: Values

Click on: Service to Others

Click on: Service Opportunities

Choose from: * Church home storage centers, canneries and processing facilities

* United Way

* American Red Cross

* All for Good -type in your location for service and volunteer opportunities in your area

Lift Where You Stand

During the October 2008 General Conference President Uchtdorf told of a group of men who were asked to move a piano. They tried different methods, but nothing worked. Finally, one man suggested they all stand close together and simply lift where they stood. "It seemed too simple. Nevertheless, each lifted where he stood, and the piano rose from the ground and moved...as if on its own power. That was the answer to the challenge. They merely needed to stand close together and lift where they stood.   Too often we notice the needs around us, hoping that someone from far away will magically appear to meet those needs. When we do this, we deprive our neighbor of the service we could render, and we deprive ourselves of the opportunity to serve."

President Monson (then an Apostle) said "Each of us has the charge to be ...a doer, ...a lifter". (Oct 1971 Conference)

Thanks to all of you DOERS, we are lifting where we stand and serving little children right here in our neighborhood at TLC.  All this yarn has been donated so if you need more let me know or just come Wednesdays 1-3pm.  We sure enjoy getting to know each other better as we chat and create. :)

... even a 6 year old ... :)

Thank you for the beautiful donations made for TLC this week:

And just a reminder if you haven't learned to make the loom knitted hats yet...

IT IS SOO EASY!!

I taught my 6 year old granddaughter this weekend and she loved it:

 I told her they were for children that don't have enough warm clothes and she was so happy to make this one:

"How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment 

before starting to improve the world."  - Anne Frank

8 hats. 2 blankets. tons of fun! :)

4 ladies. 8 hats. 2 blankets. tons of fun!  :)

Thank you!

Thanks to all who came Wednesday and brought donations of fleece and yarn. We enjoyed talking and having Pat teach (and remind) us how to knit the loom hats and scarves.
We still have a need for donations of fleece for blankets and yarn for hats and scarves. Bring it on Wednesdays or Sundays, or call me and I will come pick it up.  If you have looms you aren't using right now also let me know and maybe someone else could borrow them.

These hats, scarves and fleece blankets we are working on now are going The Learning Center. They serve 300 little children 0-5 years old and most don't have warm clothes. We delivered about 10 blankets and 25 hats this week.  Their coordinator, Stacey, really appreciates our donations and said they can use all we can make! As it gets warmer we will also start on some hygiene kits for the homeless.

Colossians 2:2 "That their hearts might be comforted, being knit together in love..."

Welcome to our humanitarian blog! I'm so grateful for all of your examples of loving kindness in the Branch. I am just playing 'catch-up' in trying to serve in this calling the way all of you have been doing your whole lives. <3  I will keep contact with dedicated community organizations that are working to fill huge needs in our area.  This blog is to help us all find where we can best serve.  Kathryn
Below are 5 possible ways YOU can serve:   (see what works best for you)

1. If you are already working on projects at home, CARRY ON!

2. Come to my home any Wednesday 1-3pm and chat as we work on various HUMANITARIAN PROJECTS.  Just bring what you are already working on and visit (Crystal Springs #108)

3. Sign up to volunteer with RSVP (Retired and Senior Volunteer Program) in any areas of your interest. You decide where, when and how you serve. There are SO many needs and opportunities (anything from Arts to Tutoring). Their office is part of one of our best resources, Volunteer Center of Washington County. The office is at 1070 W. 1600 S. Bldg B (behind All Connect on Dixie Drive). I believe the sign outside the office says '5 County Association of Governments'.   We will keep in very close touch with them for needs we can fill as a group. (435-674-5757) [The Community Resource Center & Pantry 198 N 100 E]

4. Fill something on a wish list of a COMMUNITY SERVICE ORGANIZATION linked on the left of this page.  If you want to help but can't deliver items, tell me and I will pick them up. Just label which organization your items go to, please. Every Wednesday afternoon at 3pm we will make a run to the places we have items to give, so they can immediately be put to use.

5. Keep watching the blog. I will update anytime I hear of needs we can help fill.