
Parenting 101
The Timeless
Gift of Time
Nov/Dec 2007
Q: How can I help show
my kids the true spirit of giving?
A: Many individuals take advantage
of the holiday season to find time to not only give to family and
friends, but to those in need as well. Many individuals and families
help serve meals for the homeless, adopt children and families
to provide gifts and other items to, or make charitable contributions
to agencies in the community.
While there is an emphasis on the community’s need during
the holidays, it is important to remember that the need doesn’t
end when the holidays are over. “The holiday season is a
wonderful time to jump-start your community involvement”,
notes Julie Meehan, executive director of Community Connection. “The
needs of this community are ongoing. Day-in. Day-out. Twenty-four/seven” Meehan
notes. “It is important that the ‘spirit of giving’ last
beyond the holiday season and continue throughout the year as well.”
So, when you find yourself inspired to perform an
act of kindness or a charitable deed, how do you get started? Simply
contact Hands On Northeast Georgia by dialing 2-1-1
or logging on to www.HandsOnNortheastGeorgia.org.
Hands On Northeast Georgia is designed to be your one-stop shop
to find information on a wide variety agencies that need your help
in working with animals, children, environmental concerns, the
homeless, senior citizens, and just about everything else. Events
are categorized so you can quickly identify those that are “Fun
for Families,” “Kool
for Kids” or “Terrific for Teens.” Projects are
available literally every day of the year.
“Even if you can only contribute 2 hours of your time – it
may not seem like much, but you would be amazed by the difference
you can make,” states Art Ordoqui, director of programs for
Community Connection of Northeast Georgia.
Consider starting a new holiday tradition by volunteering as a
family. Many agencies welcome young volunteers to work alongside
their parents. In addition to spending quality time together, volunteering
will instill a sense of giving that children and teens will carry
on throughout their adult years.
Holiday Helpers
Holiday Connection is a subcommittee of Barrow County Family Connection/Communities
in Schools that serves as a county-wide clearinghouse to provide
holiday assistance to well over 1,100 Barrow county children each year. A store is set up where parents/guardians
can pick out gifts for children. New toys for boys and girls of
all ages are desperately needed. They gratefully accept financial
donations. The mailing address is PO Box 278, Winder, GA 30680
and for more information call 678-271-8670.
Athens Clarke Gymnastics Academy of the Athens-Clarke County
Leisure Services Department is participating in the 2007 Marine
Toys for Tots Program. Donations of new unopened toys may be dropped
at the Bishop Park Gym Nov. 1-Dec. 14 Monday-Friday between 9am-6pm,
613-3589
In what promises to become the region’s premier holiday
tradition, the third annual Athens Holiday
Lights will be a lighting
spectacular at Sandy Creek Park from Thanksgiving through New Year’s
Day. The scenes are larger-than-life holiday fantasies captured
as dramatic, illuminated metal sculptures by the artisans of Brandano
Displays, Inc. Scores of displays sponsored by local businesses
and others will bring “oohs and aahs” as viewers drive
around the park. New events will be presented for limited times
on the weekends this season such as caroling, band or instrumental
music, pictures with Santa and more. Commissioner Nancy Denson,
who chairs the event says, “Families and groups in our area
will view a world-class presentation of giant sculptures and lights
which were previously only available in the world’s largest
metropolitan areas.”
Family Connection/Communities In Schools
of Athens and Advantage
Behavioral Health Systems are the beneficiaries of Athens
Holiday Lights.
For more information please call or e-mail or Tammy Dalton (706-296-8086,
tdalton advantagebhs.org) or Tim Johnson (706-369-9732, timinathens yahoo.com).
• www.gafcp.org/fcnetwork/clarke/
• www.advantagebhs.org
Rivers
Alive
Volunteers from our community (pictured here removing
trash from a stream) are a vital part of the Athens-Clarke County
Natural Resources Division. Sandy Creek Nature Center, Sandy Creek
Park and the North Oconee Greenway offer a wide variety of volunteer
opportunities ranging from trail maintenance, office work, assisting
with programming and special events. The next formal volunteer
orientation is scheduled for January 26, 2008.
More information can be found on the web
at www.sandycreeknaturecenter.com/scnc/volunteer.php.
FAMILY FRIENDLY IDEAS
- Coordinate a play date as a service date
- Serve at a local animal shelter or food bank
- Adopt-a-street or garden project
- Improvement projects in parks or playgrounds
- Rivers Alive
- Naturalist Assistant Program at Sandy Creek Nature Center
- Bear Hollow Zoo Volunteer Program
Make it a tradition to join
us for an annual days of service in 2008:
- January 21: Martin Luther King Jr Day On, Not
a Day Off
- April 4-6: Hands On Athens Weekend
- April 2008: GreenFest
- June 14: Hands On with Dad
- June 2008: AthFest
- Sept. 27- Oct. 4: Hands On Georgia Week
Community Connection can help you get connected with your community.
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