Pass It On - The Gift of Used Books

Donate your used books to your local library!  If you are finished enjoying your book there are others in your community that will benefit from the gift of your books. 


If your library doesn't need your used books. search at Donation Town (donationtown.org) for charities that do.  Donation Town is a national network of charities that provide free pickup service.  

Help your public library THRIVE!

Public libraries are an invaluable resource, but with shrinking budgets and closures they need your support more than ever.  

1. Ask for a card - and then use it.  A large number of active cardholders helps a library prove its worth to the community and justify its funding.  Encourage your friends and neighbors to get cards too.

2.  Donate your change - The coins you drop into the collection jars at the desk add up.  In some locations this can amount to thousands of dollars per year.  So dig out your loose change before going inside and leave a few dimes when you check out your  book.

3.  Supply a subscription - Share a periodical your family enjoys, with the whole town by offering to pay for a subscription ($10 - $30 per yr.) If you can't decide on a title, ask your librarian or check the library's website for a subscription wish list.

4.  Support sales - Many libraries organize sales of used donated books, DVD's and board games.  The events offer great deals for buyers - generally .50 to $5 per item - and the sales help bring in much needed funds.

5.  Remind your representatives - Share how much the institution means to you by emailing  city council member, state legislator or member of Congress.  Your positive notes can sway lawmakers to lend their support.

Two-Minute Do-Gooder

Help the American Association of School Librarians remind people how important school libraries are! Tweet or post to Facebook:  "We need our school libraries and librarians! #SLM#NLW"

(The #SLM stands for School Library Month and #NLW stands for National Library Week.)

It doesn't take much time, but it reminds people of the invaluable resource of a library.

Save our libraries!

Cookie PARTY!

HOST A COOKIE PARTY!

A few days before the holiday, ask your students' families to help bake and frost sugar cookies.  The frosting process can happen in your classroom!  Then take them to local shelters.  You can do this at any time during the school year, not only over the holidays.  The nonprofit Drop In & Decorate has recipe and frosting tips online, along with a list of organizations across the United States that will accept your delicious donations.  

dropinanddecorate.org

Share a Bedtime Story

Injured service members who are separated from their children can read them a bedtime story via video.  United Through Reading volunteers help wounded service members at Naval Medical Center San Diego select books, and make a video of the parent reading aloud.  The DVD is sent to the children, who can listen to Mom or Dad again and again.

This program lifts everyone's spirits! "As parents read to their children, you can see the joy and love in their faces - they light up,"says volunteer Cindy Maurer.  "It gets them out of military mode, which has them constantly on high alert, and turns on the daddy or mommy switch.  It's a kind of healing."

To start one yourself, visit unitedthroughreading.org.  You and your students can help set up a new program for a service member's unit or check to find an active one near where a soldier is stationed.

Why Not?

Students can participate in the lives of those in need with one simple act.  They can collect and mail manufacturer's coupons to Teach Me 2 Save Ministries, a group that uses them to make care packages for people in need.  Send your coupons to:

Teach Me 2 Save Ministries

13762 West State Road 84, #129

Davie, FL  33325

Visit teachme2save.com for details!

Two-minute Do-Gooder!

Pop Tops!

Collect the pop tabs from your aluminum soda cans and mail or drop them off at a Ronald McDonald House Charities collect location.  The organization sells the tabs to a recycling center, then uses the money to provide housing for families to stay near their hospitalized children during treatment.  Visit rmhc.org to find collection containers near you, or ask your local RMHC chapter is they accept mail-ins. 

Helping Teens in Need

Each year more than 1.6 million children are homeless at some point in their lives, and that number is increasing (The National Center on Family Homelessness). Along with losing their home, community, friends, and routines as well as their sense of stability and safety, many homeless youth are also victims of trauma. While trying to survive on the streets, youth are exposed to countless dangers.

How can your students help?  Small gestures can go a long way.

1.  Feed a teen for a full day by sending $10.00 to Covenant House, the largest private national agency exclusively serving homeless kids.  Last year, they cared for more than 56,000 children.  Give now at covenanthouse.org.

2.  Drop off new school supplies like pencils, notebook paper, and binders at a local Staples store at the beginning of each school year to help high school students succeed.  Get details and store locations at do something.org/staples.

3.  Head to goodsearch.com instead of Googling your online queries.  The site will donate one cent to the fight against homelessness every time you search; just enter the National Association for the Education of Homeless Children and Youth as your  favorite charity.

4.  Be a lifeline for homeless teens in your area by volunteering through the National Runaway Switchboard.  They need Street Team members to identify at-risk kids and direct them to 1-800-RUNAWAY for information on safe housing, food, and counseling.  Find out more at 1800runaway.org/get_involved. 

Florida Baptist Children's Homes

God is not unjust; he will not forget your work and the love you have shown Him as you have helped His people and continue to help them.

Hebrews 6:10

There are over 84,000 children in Florida that go to bed homeless, hungry, and slip through the social works cracks.  These children desperately need our help.  

Homelessness among school-age children has soared from 30,878 in 2007-08 school year to 56,680 in 2010-11. Florida Baptist Children's Homes wants to be there for these students and families who need their service.  They want to love them, feed them, and make sure they are in school, getting an education.

Some needs that these families have are are follows:

$155.00 will provide the total cost for school supplies for one child

$260.00 will provide the total cost for school clothing for one child

I have spent some time at this amazing ministry.  They are fully invested in the lives of the children and families the Lord brings to them.  Won't you help them meet the rising needs among the homeless and hungry in Florida?

Make checks payable to:

Florida Baptist Children's Homes

P.O. Box 81190

Lakeland, FL  33802

www.FBCHomes.org

Will your students participate in being the feet and hands of Jesus as they meet these needs?

Buses n' Backpacks

Buses n’ Backpacks is a program that works in partnership with local schools to provide food to children in need. Currently, we work with nine local schools, serving 200 children each week. Last school year alone, over 35,000 meals were provided through this program and we are on track to double that amount this year by serving more schools and more students.

How You Can Help

There are three ways to help support Buses N’ Backpacks:

By making a One-Time donation or Sponsoring a child for only $20 per month. 

By giving a donation of approved food items or even organizing a food drive to support Buses N’ Backpacks. If you would like to do this, simply contact the church office by calling (352)243-1155.

Volunteer some of your time to help with Food Sorting, Packing of Backpacks or Delivery. If you are interested in helping out, simply contact the church office by calling (352)243-1155 or email Tandy Hammond (Buses N’ Backpacks, Director).

This is a local, community sevice opportunity in Central Florida, however, it can be developed in your area!  Contact a local church to partner with you! You could also sponsor a child for $20.00 a month. 

Office Address:
268 Mohawk Road
Clermont, Fl 34715

Mailing Address:
P.O. Box 121023
Clermont, FL 34712

Phone: (352)243-1155

www.ChurchAtSouthLake.org

Operation Education

Last Sunday while I was a church I was presented with the opportunity to help students in my local schools be prepared for the new school year by equipping them with necessary school supplies. These supplies are collected by our church and then distributed to local inner-city schools that have students in need.

What a great idea for a family or classroom to participate in!  Find a local school that you would like to partner with. Ask the school administration for a list of needs and once you collect the supplies, they can be dropped off at the school office you are serving.  Contact the administrator to determine their exact needs and drop off preferences. 

Necessary Items
Wide/College ruled notebook paper Pencils – large primary & regular #2 Crayons –Jumbo size Box of 8, 16 or 24 Markers – washable & regular Glue – sticks & bottles Scissors with blunt end Pencil boxes & bags Colored pencils Blue, black or red pens Highlighters/Sharpies Spiral notebooks– 70 pages or more Pocket folders – with prongs Index cards – 3x4 & 4x6 12” rulers

From Lisa's Heart...

We all have passions...those deep seated desires that drive us and keep us focused on what God has placed in our hearts.  Mine is missions.  


My family had the distinct privilege of serving overseas with Mission Aviation Fellowship.  We were called, as a family.  What a joy it was to watch God work in and through us.  When we lost my husband, David, in  fatal airplane accident our lives took an immediate shift back to the United States.  I know that God is using us in His perfect plan in the States, and I know that this is His desire for us...but He continues to burden my heart for overseas missions.  He keeps me on my knees for the lost of this world.  


With this in mind, I will share with you each month from my heart.  I will share ministries that you may choose to participate with and share opportunities to engage your students in global missions.  It may spark some ideas for you to use as you minister to missionaries that you are already involved with.  I'm excited to see what He wants to do with this.


Thanks for allowing me to share my heart!


Lisa 

Adopt-a-School

You can make a difference!  Your service can bring about eternal results in the lives of those you serve.  Adopt-a-School is a ministry outreach to children and youth in public schools.  

There are four steps to joining in the ministry of Adopt-a-School:

1. Choose a school that you would like to partner with.
2. Identify your ministry within the school.   Perhaps the school needs art supplies or books for their library.Mentoring is usually the greatest need, and involves the highest commitment.  After-school clubs or intermural sports often need adult helpers.  See if the school has a special project coming up and offer support
3. Call the school contact person and give them your group information.
4. Attend any required orientation for the school you choose.  
5. Follow through and make a difference.

There is no greater gift you can give a child than to show them the love of Christ through your gift of time.