Monday, April 30, 2012
Day 8
To we mostly focused on getting stuff together for the Cinco de Mayo Festival. Another VISTA and I did go and look at kitchen facilities, since we are working on putting together a pilot type program for distributing food to the home bound outside of Sedalia city limits. We currently have the Kids Summer Food Program that is going to other towns in Pettis county. While the kid's meals are being delivered, we are going to drop off the seniors meals to a volunteer for home delivery. This program hasn't been confirmed, but we are thinking about it.
Saturday, April 28, 2012
Grants for Child Hunger
One of my goals for this blog is to be a resource for my fellow VISTA's and anyone else that is doing their best to end poverty. I know in Sedalia our Wal-Mart has been stepping up to the plate about donating soon to be expired food for the Red Shield Cafe (which is the same concept as a Soup Kitchen and meals are offered free of charge to anyone). Well then I came upon this site http://www.walmartstores.com/pressroom/news/9863.aspx that talks about how Wal-Mart is using their resources to help end child hunger and that includes $250 million in grants.
VISTA's-I would love to hear any of your stories about this. Like if you get a grant from Wal-Mart or how is your local Wal-Mart helping your food programs.
Currently, Pettis county now has the largest kids summer food programs in the state of Missouri. Last summer, there was over 20,000 meals delivered to Sedalia's kids in poverty. This summer, Salvation Army will be delivering an estimated 40,000, as they are expanding the program to include the smaller towns around Sedalia, but still inside Pettis county. The big kick off party is at the end of May and I will give you more details as I know them.
VISTA's-I would love to hear any of your stories about this. Like if you get a grant from Wal-Mart or how is your local Wal-Mart helping your food programs.
Currently, Pettis county now has the largest kids summer food programs in the state of Missouri. Last summer, there was over 20,000 meals delivered to Sedalia's kids in poverty. This summer, Salvation Army will be delivering an estimated 40,000, as they are expanding the program to include the smaller towns around Sedalia, but still inside Pettis county. The big kick off party is at the end of May and I will give you more details as I know them.
Friday, April 27, 2012
Day 5
Today I completed my first week as a VISTA and it has been a week!!!! A GREAT week!!! I have learn so much in 5 days!!!! I do believe I've learned more in the last week than I have in at least 5 years of college!!! :) The people I'm working with know what they are doing and are so willing to share every tidbit they know!!! I know I am in for one serious life changing year and I am greatful for every minute of it!!!!
Today I spent most of the day in meetings and meeting people, like board members, Senior Center Staff/Volunteers, and the teacher for the SABER Class. Everyone made me feel welcome, which makes it easier for me to do my volunteer efforts.
Today I spent most of the day in meetings and meeting people, like board members, Senior Center Staff/Volunteers, and the teacher for the SABER Class. Everyone made me feel welcome, which makes it easier for me to do my volunteer efforts.
Thursday, April 26, 2012
Day 4
It was another educational day for me as a VISTA!!!! I heard a young man's story about how he left Guatamala, as a boy, because his gaurdians becames injured and ill and could no longer take care of him. It just made me realize how lucky we are here is America! He came here to be with his mom and to get medical care, and as an adult he just wants to raise his daughter with his wife in their house.
The Salvation Army Battling Economic Recession (SABER) Program is just getting started in Sedalia. It's sponsored by the Sedalia Corps Salvation Army. The program is geared for those that are out of work, underskilled, under-employed, or a convicted felon. Since this is just a pilot program there is only one course (but we are planning on expanding it), those quilifed, take a class on pipe fitting that is currently being taught by volunteer that has the skills. The class is offered free of charge, but the students must complete an hour of volunteer service for every hour they are in the class. I have been given the task to find out how much it costs to get a GED and then find funding for the students in the SABER class to be able to get their GED too, so when they finish the SABER course they are ready to enter the work force. I think this is an excellent idea!!! Do any of you have ideas about the SABER Program? I had to go to the local community college and talk to the lady in charge of the GED classes and she just loved this idea for her students, she said there would be a lot of demand for it. I did start working on my first grant with this project, the Green Foundation looks like a good match and my supervisor helped me to get started with it.
At the Limit Salvation Army store tonight they had a fundraising auction. All the items had been donated, so I wonder how well they will do.
The Salvation Army Battling Economic Recession (SABER) Program is just getting started in Sedalia. It's sponsored by the Sedalia Corps Salvation Army. The program is geared for those that are out of work, underskilled, under-employed, or a convicted felon. Since this is just a pilot program there is only one course (but we are planning on expanding it), those quilifed, take a class on pipe fitting that is currently being taught by volunteer that has the skills. The class is offered free of charge, but the students must complete an hour of volunteer service for every hour they are in the class. I have been given the task to find out how much it costs to get a GED and then find funding for the students in the SABER class to be able to get their GED too, so when they finish the SABER course they are ready to enter the work force. I think this is an excellent idea!!! Do any of you have ideas about the SABER Program? I had to go to the local community college and talk to the lady in charge of the GED classes and she just loved this idea for her students, she said there would be a lot of demand for it. I did start working on my first grant with this project, the Green Foundation looks like a good match and my supervisor helped me to get started with it.
At the Limit Salvation Army store tonight they had a fundraising auction. All the items had been donated, so I wonder how well they will do.
Wednesday, April 25, 2012
Day 3
This morning I had to go to class so I can finish my masters degree, which my supervisor is more than willing to let me go...which is so awesome, since I only have to go till May 4!!!! Yes, I will graduate from the University of Central Missouri with a Master of Science in Educational Technology and I'm doing that with a 4.0 GPA!!!! I was just accepted into Phi Kappa Phi, an honor society, last week. So it has been busy times for me!!!!
Today, I attended more meetings to find out what I need find funding for...which that list doesn't have an end, or at least not that I have found yet on Day #3. :) As a rule, when an organization has a VISTA they must fund at least one more...I have been assigned the task to find $10,683 to support this one VISTA for our project or else all the VISTA's will be gone...gees no pressure there!!! :) The good news is I have a lead on one foundation that might give us funding, it was too late in the day for me to call today, so that is for tomorrow. Which I didn't realize how concerned my supervisor was until I told her about this one foundation!! She has 20 years of grant writing experience and has no idea where to find funding for our VISTA, because she has searched and didn't find anything, so this could get very interesting!!! She said "worst case we just have a few fundraisers." We also did more planning for the Cinco de Mayo Festival that is just around the corner (Saturday May 5 for my English friends), this is going to be a big party!!
Today, I attended more meetings to find out what I need find funding for...which that list doesn't have an end, or at least not that I have found yet on Day #3. :) As a rule, when an organization has a VISTA they must fund at least one more...I have been assigned the task to find $10,683 to support this one VISTA for our project or else all the VISTA's will be gone...gees no pressure there!!! :) The good news is I have a lead on one foundation that might give us funding, it was too late in the day for me to call today, so that is for tomorrow. Which I didn't realize how concerned my supervisor was until I told her about this one foundation!! She has 20 years of grant writing experience and has no idea where to find funding for our VISTA, because she has searched and didn't find anything, so this could get very interesting!!! She said "worst case we just have a few fundraisers." We also did more planning for the Cinco de Mayo Festival that is just around the corner (Saturday May 5 for my English friends), this is going to be a big party!!
Cinco de Mayo
Minority Outreach of Sedalia is putting together a Cinco de Mayo Festival at the Convention Hall at Liberty Park in Sedalia, MO from 4pm-8pm. This is a FREE family event!! There will be tons of games and prizes for everyone!!!
Tuesday, April 24, 2012
Day 2
Today was a great day, busy but great!! One of the other VISTA's, from Salvation Army, took me around to some of the resources that we have available in Sedalia. Let me tell you that was something!!! We went to the current Habitat for Humanity house, Open Door, Embassy, Salvation Army stores, United Way, Red Shield Cafe, Community Cafe, and some low income housing places. I also got to see how the Buddy Pack system works from behind the scenes. As a student teacher I always sent those home with the students and I knew how happy those packs made them. Now I know what are some resources I have for fundraising and what needs funding. The Major at the Salvation Army gave me his list of priorities that he would like to get funding for. He would like to receive money to cover transportation costs for people to receive medical help. He would also like to receive money to cover educational costs, like GED classes. While I was at the Salvation Army and doing some waiting around, I went over to the Women's Ministry and participated in their weekly project of making May Day Baskets. We had fun and I got a chance to work with some of the people I will be helping.
I also started on my first fundraiser!! We will be collecting Best Choice Labels, it's simple and everyone has a chance to participate!! So if you would like to help...you can save your labels and give them to me, Jerry, drop them off at the church, or contact me and I'll send you the address. We get $30 for every bundle of 1,000 labels. I'm starting small, since I don't have a lot of fundraising experience.
I also started on my first fundraiser!! We will be collecting Best Choice Labels, it's simple and everyone has a chance to participate!! So if you would like to help...you can save your labels and give them to me, Jerry, drop them off at the church, or contact me and I'll send you the address. We get $30 for every bundle of 1,000 labels. I'm starting small, since I don't have a lot of fundraising experience.
Day 1
So my first day at my VISTA site was fun filled and very busy!! I was so excited to go in this morning, since I had been warned that they have been putting together a "to do" list for me since March!! Everyone was super nice to me too!! They started by showing me my desk and introducing me to everyone. They had put together a welcome lunch for me, which was really good, and we talked about the upcoming Cinco de Mayo festival. The rest of the day I spent directing and helping volunteers put together stuff for Cinco de Mayo. I did have a great talk with my site supervisor! She told me what grants I needed to check out and what projects need funding at Amigo de Cristo. She has wrote grants for over 20 years, so I'm looking forward to her sharing her tips with me!! Tomorrow I will be going to Salvation Army to find out what they do here in Sedalia, MO.
Sunday, April 22, 2012
Denver Pre-Service Orientation (PSO)
To start off my year as a VISTA (Volunteer In Service To America) with AmeriCorps, I was sent off to Denver for training and it was an EXPERIENCE!!!!! First off, I've never flown before this, so just getting there was going to be an adventure for me!! I got to the Renaissance Hotel my head was filled with tons of information that I will need for the next year. I also meet lots of people who will be making a difference in the world over the next year. I found it very interesting to here about every one's project, which brings me to why I'm writing this blog, to keep everyone up to date on what I have found useful or not so useful.
I start at Sedalia Minority Outreach (SMO) on Monday (April 23, 2012) where I will be a Grant Writer/Fundraiser. SMO is coalition of the Sedalia Senior Center, Salvation Army, and Amigo de Cristo Church.
I start at Sedalia Minority Outreach (SMO) on Monday (April 23, 2012) where I will be a Grant Writer/Fundraiser. SMO is coalition of the Sedalia Senior Center, Salvation Army, and Amigo de Cristo Church.
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