While reading the Charlotte Observer this morning, a letter to the editor caught my eye. It was from a teacher in a high-poverty school, wondering where her children would go to read books on the summer reading list if their libraries were closed. (As you surely know, the budget crisis in Mecklenburg County has brought about a proposed 50% cut in funds to the Charlotte Mecklenburg Library. The library board has said that if they do not get sufficient funding, they will close 12 branches. For those playing along at home, that leaves just the regional libraries.)
That kind of question is the kind that pulls at my heart. It's also the kind that starts a fantasy in my head where I show up at a school and benevolently distribute books to every child, and each one is grateful and clasps the book to their heart and immediately goes and sits in a corner to start reading.
So, fantasy still intact, I wandered over to the computer and started looking for how I could solve the literacy problems in Mecklenburg County. Not for the first time, I ended up at DonorsChoose.org. This charity allows you to donate to classroom projects all over the country. You can choose by type of project (for example, if you want to donate to a science classroom or project) or by location, and you can sort by population or poverty level or popularity.
There are 286 projects listed from Mecklenburg County, ranging from "ink for our printers" to "60 copies of The Secret Garden." You give any amount you choose. When enough people give to a project (the costs are all delineated for you, right down to shipping), the project is funded.
The overwhelming part, of course, is the sheer volume of need. How do I decide between that Secret Garden project and a project from the teacher in another high-poverty school who needs books that deal with building character and community? There are 183 literacy and language projects listed in Mecklenburg County.
To Do: My advice on how to pick: just do it. All of the projects on DonorsChoose.org have been vetted. All are worthy. Light a single candle.
Monday, May 31, 2010
Thursday, May 27, 2010
Garden to Friendship Table Camp and other summer contributions
I was almost done writing this when I ran across this really cool camp at Friendship Farm, called "Garden to Friendship Table Camp," which teaches garden and culinary skills to children ages 6-13 at Friendship Trays Kitchen and Friendship Garden in South End Charlotte. What a great way to have a fun camp experience AND learn how to help others! Click here to get more information.
Summertime is almost here. Swim team practices have started. Most preschools are out, and the "big kid" schools are not far behind. I just booked my family's flights for the summer. It started me thinking about kids who won't be going on a family trip this summer.
My father still talks about the Bicknell family, who lived down the street from his family farm in New Hampshire. They took him with them on a week's vacation for a couple of summers--the only vacations he took as a child. They inspired him to make sure that we brought our friends with us on vacations when I was young. Does your child have a friend whose parents both work and can't take a vacation this year?
There are also many children who we don't know personally who would appreciate a summer treat. Programs like Thompson Child & Family Focus, Alexander Youth Network, The Relatives, A Child's Place make such a difference in the lives of so many children in Charlotte. Click on any of the links to find out how YOU can help them through donating needed items (juice boxes, beach towels, gift cards). What an easy way to give back--just pick up a couple of things when you are shopping for your own children at the grocery store or Wal-Mart.
Many children who rely on school meal programs will go hungry during the summer. Don't forget to support Loaves and Fishes, which provides groceries and support to people in crisis. Also, check out the Kids Cafe, a program of Second Harvest Foodbank of Metrolina. Several locations provide meals to children year-round in a safe, friendly environment. Dream small--$20 will provide food for one child for 4 days a week for 4 months; dream big--$5,000 will fully fund a Kids Cafe location for one year.
If you are ready to step up to a different level of giving, you might consider helping any of those organizations in a greater capacity. All of the above programs need volunteers, as do many other local programs; two suggestions are summer camp volunteers (A Child's Place) and sponsoring a dinner (suggested by The Relatives).
Sometimes writing a check is the best way to help. All nonprofits need financial support. You might also consider giving to the Charlotte Observer Summer Camp Fund, which awards grants to outdoor summer camp operators to provide summer camp scholarships for low-income students. Partners in Out-of-School Time (POST) administers the program.
To do: Consider how you will help a child this summer, and then do it.
Summertime is almost here. Swim team practices have started. Most preschools are out, and the "big kid" schools are not far behind. I just booked my family's flights for the summer. It started me thinking about kids who won't be going on a family trip this summer.
My father still talks about the Bicknell family, who lived down the street from his family farm in New Hampshire. They took him with them on a week's vacation for a couple of summers--the only vacations he took as a child. They inspired him to make sure that we brought our friends with us on vacations when I was young. Does your child have a friend whose parents both work and can't take a vacation this year?
There are also many children who we don't know personally who would appreciate a summer treat. Programs like Thompson Child & Family Focus, Alexander Youth Network, The Relatives, A Child's Place make such a difference in the lives of so many children in Charlotte. Click on any of the links to find out how YOU can help them through donating needed items (juice boxes, beach towels, gift cards). What an easy way to give back--just pick up a couple of things when you are shopping for your own children at the grocery store or Wal-Mart.
Many children who rely on school meal programs will go hungry during the summer. Don't forget to support Loaves and Fishes, which provides groceries and support to people in crisis. Also, check out the Kids Cafe, a program of Second Harvest Foodbank of Metrolina. Several locations provide meals to children year-round in a safe, friendly environment. Dream small--$20 will provide food for one child for 4 days a week for 4 months; dream big--$5,000 will fully fund a Kids Cafe location for one year.
If you are ready to step up to a different level of giving, you might consider helping any of those organizations in a greater capacity. All of the above programs need volunteers, as do many other local programs; two suggestions are summer camp volunteers (A Child's Place) and sponsoring a dinner (suggested by The Relatives).
Sometimes writing a check is the best way to help. All nonprofits need financial support. You might also consider giving to the Charlotte Observer Summer Camp Fund, which awards grants to outdoor summer camp operators to provide summer camp scholarships for low-income students. Partners in Out-of-School Time (POST) administers the program.
To do: Consider how you will help a child this summer, and then do it.
Wednesday, May 19, 2010
No Child Left Inside
I saw this press release today. I am depressed about the cuts to the Mecklenburg County Park & Rec budget (click here to see the proposed 2011 budget from County Manager Harry Jones), but I was very glad to read about this fabulous new space. Click here for information about Reedy Creek Nature Center, and read below about the "Nature Play Area" opening on Saturday.
To do: Bring the family to Reedy Creek Nature Center on Saturday and support our fabulous Park and Recreation Department while you enjoy springtime in the Carolinas.
PARK AND RECREATION OPENS ITS FIRST ‘NATURE PLAY AREA’
AT REEDY CREEK NATURE CENTER MAY 22; PUBLIC INVITED!
Charlotte, NC-- Mecklenburg County Park and Recreation Department invites the public and media to the grand opening of the county’s first “nature play area” at Reedy Creek Nature Center, 2900 Rocky River Road, on Saturday, May 22, 2010 at 10am. The event is promoted with the slogan “no child left inside. “
The new play area, called Nature Explorer Zone, is a special playground designed to encourage longer and richer play experiences in a natural setting. The playground is built in the woods near the nature center and features a custom-made play structure resembling bird houses, plus many other features to capture the imagination of children--stump jumps, log balance beams, a grapevine crawl and arbors, sand play area, fort building area, “messy materials” area, and a stage for dramatic play.
Nature playgrounds are a hot new concept to encourage children to spend more time in nature. Studies find that time in nature is essential to a child’s development – intellectually, emotionally, socially, and physically. Research shows that connecting children to nature improves their creativity, strengthens problem-solving skills, and supports healthy childhood development, including positive impacts to childhood obesity, stress, and attention deficit disorders.
The grand opening ceremony will feature brief remarks by elected officials, Park and Recreation leaders and fund providers, followed by a “twine” cutting and formal opening of the area. For more information, call Reedy Creek Nature Center at 704 598-8857.Nature Explorer Zone was funded by $50,000 in donations and grants from REI, Sonitrol, the Foundation for the Carolinas, and Partners for Parks. Volunteers helped design and build the play area. The playground was designed by Robin Moore of NC State University (a leading authority on the nature playground trend), the Arbor Day Foundation, plus a focus group of parents, educators, and children. Planning began in early 2009, following a “Designing Natural Play Areas” professional workshop hosted by Park and recreation. Future nature play areas are envisioned for as funding becomes available.
To do: Bring the family to Reedy Creek Nature Center on Saturday and support our fabulous Park and Recreation Department while you enjoy springtime in the Carolinas.
Monday, May 3, 2010
Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra
The Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra (CSYO), founded in 1961, is hosting a reunion on May 15-16. If you are a former member of the youth orchestra, contact Meg Whalen (megw@charlottesymphony.org) to participate. If you are "just" a music buff or have a budding musician in your family, read on.
At noon on Saturday, May 15, there will be a "Hidden Freedom Festival" at St. Luke's Lutheran Church (3200 Park Road in Sedgefield). The famous Symphony Guild of Charlotte Musical Petting Zoo will be there, along with face painters, storytellers and more. At 4 o'clock, the CSYO will partner with CONNECTIONS Underground Railroad Project to present "Toward a Life of Liberty: Chronicling the Paths from Slavery to Freedom," a program about freedom fighters such as Harriet Jacobs. This prepares you for Sunday's program, which features...
"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," by CSYO alumnus Ted Gellar-Goad, based on the 1861 slave narrative by Harriet Jacobs of Edenton, NC. There will also be a side-by-side performance of Saint-Saens "Danse Bacchanale" with CSYO alumni. The performance will be at Halton Theater at CPCC (a great theater!) at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for kids and seniors. Click here for more information.
The CSYO consists of 185 musicians from over 60 schools in the Charlotte region. 300 students auditioned for a seat in one of the two youth orchestras this year. Participants attend a sleepaway orchestra camp in August and are coached by members of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. If you know of a young musician who would benefit from this program, click here for the audition information.
To do: Expand your musical horizons and learn a little about North Carolina history with the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra on May 15 and 16.
At noon on Saturday, May 15, there will be a "Hidden Freedom Festival" at St. Luke's Lutheran Church (3200 Park Road in Sedgefield). The famous Symphony Guild of Charlotte Musical Petting Zoo will be there, along with face painters, storytellers and more. At 4 o'clock, the CSYO will partner with CONNECTIONS Underground Railroad Project to present "Toward a Life of Liberty: Chronicling the Paths from Slavery to Freedom," a program about freedom fighters such as Harriet Jacobs. This prepares you for Sunday's program, which features...
"Incidents in the Life of a Slave Girl," by CSYO alumnus Ted Gellar-Goad, based on the 1861 slave narrative by Harriet Jacobs of Edenton, NC. There will also be a side-by-side performance of Saint-Saens "Danse Bacchanale" with CSYO alumni. The performance will be at Halton Theater at CPCC (a great theater!) at 3:30 p.m. Tickets are $8 for adults, $6 for kids and seniors. Click here for more information.
The CSYO consists of 185 musicians from over 60 schools in the Charlotte region. 300 students auditioned for a seat in one of the two youth orchestras this year. Participants attend a sleepaway orchestra camp in August and are coached by members of the Charlotte Symphony Orchestra. If you know of a young musician who would benefit from this program, click here for the audition information.
To do: Expand your musical horizons and learn a little about North Carolina history with the Charlotte Symphony Youth Orchestra on May 15 and 16.
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