Welcome to Creek Kids

Newsletter: February 16, 2010

Nobody made a greater mistake than he who did nothing because he could do only a little. - Edmund Burke

Is it gorgeous outside or what? Hope you are making the time to let the sun shine on your face a bit today.

Mark your calendars:

Art Party for all ages

Parkmead Elementary School (ROOM 10, not the art room)

Next Monday, Feb 22, 4-5 p.m.

Art Party for all ages

Parkmead Elementary School, Art Room

Friday, March 12, 4-5 p.m.

JF Kapnek Fun Run

Sunday, April 25

9-noon

Details later -- mark your calendars!

Looking forward

Every January, Cat, Julie and I meet to reflect on the past year and envision what we'd like to accomplish and create via Creek Kids in the upcoming year. This year, we felt a little antsy. Creek Kids is now in its sixth year (wild applause!). This longevity can be attributed to a few contributing factors: 1) there are lots of kids and teens in this community who have an urge to give (this, is worth a deep breath in and a prayer of gratitude); 2) these kids and teens are supported by parents and other influential adults (including WCI and LLHS CKC advisors) who want to raise kids who are compassionate and aware and 3) the very happy and productive relationship between Julie, Cat and I.

So, back to the antsy-ness. It comes from having done this for a while and realizing that as Creek Kids (or any organization) ages, the energy and excitement of the start-up phases naturally ebbs. Now, Creek Kids Care has settled into more of a pleasant hum.

As Creek Kids Care was forming, there were lots of decisions to be made and the kids were involved in so many of them -- whom we wanted to support, what form(s) the support would take. We brainstormed projects, created events, sold stationery in the community for the first times. Now we've done all that. We know whom we support, we've established successful projects. There is a created structure and that makes things easy, but there's an energy that we miss that comes from the creation stages.

As a result of our January meeting, Cat, Julie and I made a few decisions to bring the Creek Kids back into more meaningful decision making. Read on.

Changing things up

Bringing Creek Kids back into the decision making process is key to keeping those creative juices flowing. Here's what we came up with:

Giving Menus: Creek Kids Care has enough money to fund our annual financial commitments (including $3,600 for food support to Fresh Start, $1,000-1,500 to Fresh Start for sleeping bag/tent delivery in the fall and $1,500 to JF Kapnek to fund our preschool). We have additional funds and we decided that each school group (WCI and LLHS) can each donate $500 to Fresh Start and JF Kapnek projects of their choosing. Each school group will receive menus of what $250 can "buy" with each organization. Creek Kids can direct money to specific projects withing Fresh Start and Kapnek that they deem worthy of extra funds. They will be making these decisions in the next month or so.
Spontaneous Giving: For years, we've discussed the possibility of being able to donate spontaneously to groups other than JF Kapnek and Fresh Start when the need arises. Years ago, the Creek Kids voted to donate a sum to tsunami relief. This year, each school club will be donating $400 to an organization of its choice. Soon after deciding on this Spontaneous Giving project, Haiti was devastated by earthquakes. Las Lomas Creek Kids have done some due dilligence. They researched worthy organizations and have decided to donate their Spontaneous Giving funds to Direct Relief and also to Doctors without Borders. We were so impressed with their insistence on doing additional research. Their checks are already on the way. The WCI group will be presented with this project soon. We'll let you know how their decision making goes.
Lunches at Fresh Start: We give $300 each month to help support Fresh Start with their monthly food bills. In the early days of Creek Kids, to involve the kids, we had one family each month deliver the check to Fresh Start along with a card that family had created and maybe some flowers or baked goods...The point was to make the donation tangible for at least one child every month. The volunteers for this faded with time and now, each month, Julie cuts a check and mails it directly to Fresh Start. Starting in MARCH, we'd love to have a family deliver the lunch donation to Fresh Start. We want to keep making the connection between creating art and stationery and the end result of supporting others in our community. If you'd like to take a month, please contact Julie Miles at beachjammers@gmail.com . All that would be required is a quick stop at Fresh Start with a check and a handmade note and/or treat in hand. THANK YOU for revitalizing this service that Creek Kids Care provides!
Annual Boutique: We're going to be changing up this event. Each holiday season, we've organized an annual boutique where we sell our wares, celebrate our successes and bring in a lot of money that funds the next year's projects. This year, we'll be creating a new event that brings the Creek Kids back into the planning and advertising...and even into the entertainment. We've got some ideas bouncing around that would be so much fun for the kids and for those attending. We'll be in touch with more information soon.

Good news

We've got some great news:

Two teens at Northgate High School have officially established a Northgate chapter of Creek Kids Care. WE ARE SO EXCITED!! Shania Reynolds and Angela Kong are the teen leaders. They've done all the paperwork, found a willing teacher/advisor, and are now advertising. First meeting is this coming Tuesday. They will be meeting every Tuesday at lunch. We'll be working closely with them to get things started, train some new Creek Kids, and see what they can do. WELCOME WELCOME WELCOME!!!! If you've got a teen at Northgate, please give them a heads up about the birth of Creek Kids Northgate! All are welcome.
The Las Lomas Creek Kids have planned a field trip to Fresh Start this week. Looking forward to building a stronger connection between our teens and the reality of homelessness. We know they'll be inspired and motivated by their contact with Fresh Start!
The WCI Creek Kids are bringing an end to their preschool supply drive for JF Kapnek Trust. Thank you so much to Chris Giotta, the WCI advisor and cheerleader :), and to all the WCI Creek Kids who organized, presented, reminded and donated. Thank you also to families who have donated preschool supplies to the cause. Excellent work!

Thank yous

Thank you to the Walnut Acres Daisy Troop for a very fun art party in January. The girls were wonderful and produced incredible art!! Thank you to Gail Miles and so many motivated Daisy moms for organizing, painting, and supporting to help make the art party a really fun success.

Thank you to Penny Baird who is hard at work organizing an art party for the Lafayette-Orinda Presbyterian Church on February 22nd. It's an art party the likes of us have not yet seen. Penny is bravely planning for 80-120 painters to attend. We are very excited to reestablish the connection between CKC and LOPC and appreciate their good work!

Art parties

We look forward to seeing your kids/teens and YOU at the art parties coming up next week and also in March! Remember to wear play clothes, bring some friends and come ready to create. We love art parties and so appreciate that it continues to be a place where kids/teens of all ages can get together to paint as a means to make someone's life a little easier.

Art parties are an excellent introduction to Creek Kids. Please come even if you've not attended any Creek Kids activities before! If your children are preschool age, please plan to stay with them and paint too!

One more thing...

This looks like an excellent event!

World Thinking Day Event - February 22 - Sunnyvale
Explore Africa at a World Thinking Day event, hosted by Troop #61043/SU671! This event will have a guest speaker from Zimbabwe (a former Girl Guide), African drummer(s), African games, music and many other activities. Admission is one new or gently used book for grades pre-k to 4th grade reading level, plus $1 for the Juliette Low Worldwide Friendship Fund. Join us February 22 from 7-9 p.m. at Washington Park Building, 840 West Washington Ave, Sunnyvale. All Girl Scout levels are welcome. Troops or individual scouts accompanied by parent/guardian may register by emailing kimberly.whipple@yahoo.com.

We hope to see you soon! Take care of yourselves and each other.

Warmly,

Laura, Cat and Julie

p.s. please email us at Creekkidscare@sbcglobal.net if you have any questions!