Newsletter: October 13, 2009
"Young people, when informed and empowered, when they realize that what they do truly makes a difference, can indeed change the world." - Dr. Jane Goodall
It is a bittersweet to send out our first fall communication to you on this first rainy day of the season. I sit warm and dry at my computer, hot tea within reach. On any day of heavy rain, my thoughts are with our fellow community members who live outside. Most of us can barely imagine what it would be like not to have a safe, dry place to go on days like this. It is on these stormy, cold days that I feel a renewed sense of commitment to Creek Kids Care and the work we do to support and care for people without homes via Fresh Start.
It's time to get to work!
UPCOMING DATES
Before any explanation, here are important upcoming (and ongoing) dates for Creek Kids so far. Please get them onto your calendar!
This FRIDAY, October 16, 3:30-4:30
ART PARTY for all ages
Parkmead School, Artroom (brown portable off Azalea Circle)
TUESDAY, October 27, 3:30-4:30
ART PARTY for all ages
Parkmead School, Artroom (brown portable off Azalea Circle)
SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 8, 2:30-3:30 p.m.
CKC's 4th Annual BENEFIT BOUTIQUE
St. Paul's Episcopal Church (see more information below!!)
WCI Creek Kids upcoming meetings
Wednesday mornings 8:45 - 9:25, Art room
October 14, 28, November 4, 18, December 2, 16
LLHS Creek Kids
Wednesdays at lunch, Room 512
MARK YOUR CALENDARS!
Join us for a
Creek Kids Care
BENEFIT BOUTIQUE
Sunday, November 8, 2009
2:30 – 5:30 p.m.
St. Paul’s Episcopal Church and Fresh Start
1924 Trinity Avenue
Walnut Creek
Mark your calendars to celebrate making the world a better place!
We will be selling their original framed artwork, original art stationery, touchstone magnets, CKC tshirts and one of a kind hand- knitted items. We will also be featuring collages created by our favorite community artists. Come and select these beautiful and meaningful gifts for the upcoming holidays (2:30 – 5:30pm).
Also, make sure to be with us at 3 p.m. for a Special Presentation by young and old Creek Kids as they explain the mission of CKC and describe the most excellent work of the organizations we support throughout the year: Fresh Start and JF Kapnek Trust. A slide show will also be included, so don’t miss it.
Bring the kids! Bring friends and neighbors! Live music, face painting, and raffles will be part of the fun. Park in the lot across the street from the church.
Your tax deductible donations will fund CKC’s two major projects: caring for our homeless community members of Fresh Start and fully funding a preschool in Zimbabwe that serves kids who have been orphaned by HIV/AIDS.
Volunteers needed for Benefit Boutique
This event will help fund all our projects for 2010. All our groups will be working feverishly to prepare for the event. We'd also love to have Creek Kids of all ages volunteer to help make it happen.
This is what we need in terms of volunteers:
SHIFTS:
2:30-3:30
3:30-4:30
4:30-5:30
Please email Julie Miles at miles.julie.ann@gmail.com to volunteer. Please specify shift and desired job!!! Thank you so much!
Walnut Creek Intermediate, Las Lomas High School and St. Timothy's in Danville
Our "satellite" groups are up and running. Julie, Cat and I have met with the leaders from each group and they've plotted out activities for the upcoming school year. The group at St. Timthy's is expanding. The kids in their youth groups create the art, assemble the stationery and sell what they've made in their own community. It's a wonderful boon for Creek Kids to have their ongoing support!
This will be the second year of Creek Kids at Walnut Creek Intermediate. It was highly successful last year. It was wonderfully gratifying to know that graduating WCI CKCers can matriculate into the Las Lomas Creek Kids. Last month, the WCI leaders visited all 6th grade classes to invite new middle schoolers to attend. The Las Lomas leaders set up a table at Club Rush to welcome any new high schoolers to join them on Wednesdays at lunch. Please encourage your kids to get connected. Once Creek Kids reach middle and high school, it gets more and more difficult for them to find free time outside of the school day to do meaningful community service.
More for FALL 2009
These are upcoming and ongoing projects that Creek Kids are involved each fall/holiday season. Keep your eyes open for communication about these events:
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our annual fall TENT and SLEEPING BAG delivery to Fresh Start (they're on order right now!)
-
Thanksgiving cooking/baking and/or turkeys for Fresh Start's celebration
-
Winter Clothing Drive (organized by LLHS Creek Kids)
-
Holiday Angel Project for Fresh Start (where CKC families can "sponsor" a Fresh Start member -- it's a gift giving project!)
Over the years, a pattern has emerged: our fall and winter work benefits Fresh Start, and our Spring work is dedicated to JF Kapnek projects. In addition, Creek Kids donates $300 to Fresh Start monthly to help pay for food costs.
Julie Miles update
The last time we communicated out about Julie, one of the adult leaders of Creek Kids, her health situation was so dire. Last fall, she learned that her breast cancer had metasticized. The fall, winter and spring months were absolutely brutal. By May, things started to turn around. Since then, when she finally started receiving the right medical treatment for her situation, Julie has been feeling stronger and stronger. For those of you who have followed her journals on www.caringbridge.org (search juliemiles), you know that this turn-around had so much to do with Julie's strength, clarity and vision. It is nothing short of magnificent to have her "back" and to see her return to her normal vital self. Feel free to long on to the Caring Bridge site to keep in touch.
Recently, she and our Creek Kids sidekick (and maniac knitter), May Newton, went to listen to their mutual hero, Jane Goodall speak in Berkeley. Dr. Goodall spoke about Roots and Shoots, the umbrella organization she founded for kids and teens create positive change all over the world. Since then Julie's mind has been ticking away, exploring the possibility of hooking up JF Kapnek teen volunteers with Roots and Shoots. We're all anxious to see how this takes shape. Julie was honored to see her photo with Goodall in the Oakland Tribune the following day: http://www.insidebayarea.com/search/ci_13473075?IADID=Search-www.insidebayarea.com-www.insidebayarea.com
Creek Kids in action
Kate Stephens, who has been a stalwart member of Creek Kids for years, has been facing a struggle of her own since she was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes late last spring. The Stephens family's learning curve has been steep, but true to form, they've turned their challenge into an opportunity to give. Kate, her family and friends participated early this month in the annual Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation walk in Walnut Creek. Both Kate and Julie provide beautiful examples of how people can create good out of less than positive circumstances.
Love to see the many ways kids and teens take matters into their own hands.
That's it for now, everyone.
Stay warm, take care of each other, and keep reaching out.
With love,
Laura (for Julie and Cat too)
© Creek Kids Care, 2006
