Women’s Alliance

Our big project in August is a Children’s Book Drive from August 14-28 to benefit Books-a-Go-Go. There will be bins at the Guard Gate but you can also call Betty Metz at 655-5716 or Arlene McDermott at 538-9185 if you would like them to pick up your donations. New or gently used books are appreciated at all reading levels. They not only supply books to grade schools, but to many other programs in the area –from babies at the First Coast Women’s Services, to older children in Youth Crisis Center and young adults at the new Touchstone Village, plus families of all ages at the Hubbard House. Books-a- Go Go started here in Deercreek and has gone international, as other groups pattern their programs on the one Betty Metz started. They have sent books to Costa Rica, Mexico, Haiti and Taiwan! Here’s what got it going: “Jacksonville Country Day School (JCDS) had some old library books they were not going to use anymore and wanted to donate them to children who needed them. The books were taken to West Jacksonville Elementary School in Jacksonville Florida. (West Jax is 98% low income students, and their families find it difficult to buy books for their children.)

Each child picked a book and got to take it home. For many children, it was the first book they ever owned! They hugged their books, and some carried them back and forth from school everyday because they were so proud to own a book. Some teachers needed to write the child's name in the book because many kids did not believe they could own a book. Parents called the school thinking their child stole the book, not believing that their child could own a book. When JCDS heard the positive reaction, they decided to do a book drive, having their students bring in the books they were no longer using. Deercreek also had children's book drive. Hundreds of books were collected and they have been pouring in ever since!”

Check out their website and see what they are doing and what you could do to help. www.booksagogo.org

Our July 8 dinner meeting featured The Bag Ladies, who sew about 45 colorful cloth bags a month and fill them with things to make the family’s stay at Hubbard House more comfortable. Sometimes, they’ve had to leave home in a hurry and arrived with nothing of their own. Pat Bloebaum told us the heartbreaking story of how her daughter and two grandsons fled to Hubbard House for safety and what they found there. In Jan 2008 The Bag Ladies organized monthly meetings and since then, have sent over 1,300 bags to the children. They plan to complete their 1,500th bag by the end of the year. They were featured by The Florida Times Union in an article about the volunteer group. Our VP, Debbie Wallace, has been part of this group for several years and just reported that this program will soon be expanding to Clay and Nassau Counties! LINK

We also found out that our Community Food Drive resulted in over 600 pounds of food being sent to Hubbard House and we are so pleased to be able to help all the families who are in transition and seeking a safe shelter. Thank you so much for giving generously and helping out. With the kids out of school now, there are even more meals that need to provided.

On July 14 Elizabeth Curtin and Patty Tomka took a carload of wonderful things to Touchstone Village as we continue to support their new programs. Besides regular items, such as pillows, towels, brooms and dustpans we brought items to be used in the incentives program as prizes. We bought gift cards for iTunes, food, phones and Target. Then we added some mp3 players, make-up, fancy nail decorations, a watch, clothing, hair accessories, bike locks – and much more. We will do another delivery before school starts, so if you are interested in helping, let one of them know.

If you have questions about the Alliance, check our page on the Deercreek web site at www.deercreekcc.com or call our Membership Chair Adele Kunzweiler 464-0647 or our Hospitality Chair Vicki Khan 923-3538.

2010-11 Board

Catherine Wood
President

Debbie Wallace
Vice President

Jan Malick
Secretary

Jo Berman
Treasurer