Homebound Project

A few of the craft piles on my classroom floor

I am teaching 3rd grade Sunday School at my church again this year. During advent we usually work on some sort of service project. This year, we collected food to give to the students at two nearby schools as well as made crafts for the homebound members of our congragation. The 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students could choose from a variety of crafts and were encouraged to make one to keep and one to give.

As I sat in my classroom, listening to "The Nutcracker" and the students work while helping and giving timing warnings as needed, I noticed a common phrase: "This one didn't turn out well. I'll put that one in the (homebound) box." My first thought was disappointment and sadness as I felt that I would want to make a really nice craft to deliver to a homebound church member. At first I dismissed this phrase thinking about their young age as I reflected that I would have said the same thing at their age. This stuck with me for most of the day as I realized that I sometimes still feel this way. I thought about what I give away...

3rd, 4th, and 5th Grade Food Collection

Do I, like these students, give away my 'rejects'? Do I ever think of giving things away that are still of value to me? Why don't I give away things that I would enjoy too?
This past November, I made two ornaments for my local Festival of Trees. (The ornaments are sold and the money earned go towards Quad City Arts). In that instance, I gave two ornaments that I would proudly place on my Christmas tree. But other times I donate things that I no longer want or need, expecially when it comes in terms of donating clothing. When giving money or time, I'm not giving a 'rejected' item. Based on that reflection, I've decided that I donate a mix of things that I've 'rejected' and things that still have value to me.
I've decided that I will add "focusing on giving 'non-rejects' to others" to my 2013 resolution list.

P.S. I wrote this article about giving for the Big Brothers Big Sisters December newsletter.

Disaster Assignment Update

My new winter Red Cross pin - our gift at today's potluck!

Today, I was re-energized with Red Cross spirit due to this disaster assignment (and the volunteer holiday potluck). My morning shift was pretty uneventful, which was convenient because I was having trouble getting onto one of the needed websites. Tonight, I've loaded about ten staff cards. That helped ten new volunteers travel by train or airplane to NYC to continue the Sandy relief efforts! And I could do it from my own dining room while working on Christmas cards! I'm so excited to be a part of the disaster relief effort!

Fun Neat Interesting Fact about the ARC: They are sending volunteers to assist in the aftermath of the school shooting in Newtown, CT. Red Cross volunteers will assist in mental health care and other Red Cross volunteers helped feed and water those emergency personal involved in today's tragedy.

Disaster Assignment: Shift One

I'm in the middle the first shift of my disaster assignment. I have not been too busy so I've had plenty of time for eating waffles and watching The Today Show. I'm sure other times are busier so I'm excited for future shifts!

Disaster Assigment

As soon as I heard of a potential hurricane to hit the east coast, I was thinking about if my life/current job would allow me to accept a disaster volunteer assignment. When I discovered that committing three weeks, would be pretty difficult, I gave up the thought of being able to directly help those effected by Sandy. I decided that this would not be the last natural disaster in our country (unfortunately) and I would have another opportunity to help at a later date. Since I had lost hope (I mean that in the least-dramatic way) on helping this time, I was excited when I received an email from the Director of Emergency Services at my local Red Cross asking for interest in an at-home assignment. I didn't even know they had volunteers working from home so this was exciting news! I replied to the email instantly saying that I was interested in the role. I quickly got a call about the training and when I would officially start being on call.

My role is as a "staff card loader", involves me monitoring an email inbox that receives emails from chapters or the disaster operation itself about new volunteers being deployed. I will check that email box and then load the proper amount of money on the volunteer's "staff card" (which is kind of like a debit card) based on the emails I receive. Basically, chapters send an email when they are getting ready to send a new volunteer from their area to New York or New Jersey. We load the staff cards to allow volunteers to pay for their travel etc while assisting in a DR (Disaster Response - the Red Cross loves acronyms!). (There are multiple steps in the process, but I think you get the idea)

During my training last week, I realized that if I didn't volunteer to load cards other volunteers would not be able to physically get to where they need to be to help and when I do get deployed as a disaster volunteer (at a later date) I'll be overjoyed that someone was volunteering from home and to put funds on my staff card. My first shift is not until Friday (and I'm super excited even though I'll just be sitting at my computer) so I'll update you then.