11/25/07
NOVEMBER NEWS
OPERATION: A SARATOGA CHRISTMAS-2007 The Giving Circle, Inc. announces a special action to help needy children in The Franklin Community Center’s Project Lift program. The Giving Circle will “adopt” individual families for the holidays, providing holiday meals and gifts. We have the opportunity for local volunteers to prepare/deliver a holiday meal, provide gifts for the children, and we are accepting donations/gift cards so that an adopted family can shop for their holiday needs personally. If you or your family would like to “adopt” a family for holidays, please let us know how we can get in touch with you to be matched up with a family, or please send your contribution to The Giving Circle, Inc. P.O. Box 3162 Saratoga Springs, NY 12866, donate online through Network For Good.
OCTOBER WAVELAND TRIP
Lynn Chertok, Ronnie Deutsch, Al Showers, Sarah Chertok, and Ron Deutsch in front of Al Showers’ new home.
We are just back from a tiring, but wonderful, trip to Waveland. This visit was to help our good friend, Al Showers, get closer to being in his home. We were able to get a great deal done thanks to the many donations and on-the-ground help from Mark Bertrand, Mike Butterfield, Ronald Deutsch, Sr. and Jr., Sarah Chertok and her mom, Lynn Chertok, Chris Dunn, and Rich Cunningham from Bucks County, PA. A special thanks to Walls of Hope based in Fort Dodge, IA, whose helpers also pitched in. More needs to be done to get Al in. We are already planning a trip for February, to complete Al’s home. In addition, a major goal will be to frame and roof a home for a young Waveland couple. Nothing can compare to the gift we receive by helping our friends there, and the great appreciation everyone you meet there shows you. They are all so kind and thankful for our coming to help. Anyone interested in this February trip please contact mailto:mark@thegivingcircle.org
COMPASSIONATE KIDS Prior to this October visit, Greenfield Elementary Students Ronnie Deutsch and Sarah Chertok held numerous fundraisers at their school to raise money for the rebuilding effort and awareness about their trip. They started "Hats On Day”, when students paid a dollar to wear a hat every Friday. In addition, they worked with the Home School Association to host a popcorn sale. They were also lucky enough to have Palio Communications raise money for their trip. Palio has been a great friend of The Giving Circle.
While in Waveland, in addition to working on Al’s house, Ronnie and Sarah also met with the 5th grade students at the Bay St. Louis-Waveland Second Street Elementary School and started a Pen-Pal program with them. They delivered letters to all of the children and got a chance to ask them about their lives now and before Katrina. Almost every child lost his or her home to the storm, but they were remarkably positive about the future. It was a tremendous learning experience for both children, and they look forward to educating other Saratoga students about the situation in Waveland.
A SPECIAL THANK YOU to St. Luke’s Lutheran Church of Valatie, NY and Pastor James Slater for making The Giving Circle, Inc. a beneficiary of their Fall Fundraiser.
AN INTERESTING ARTICLE about the potential mental health crisis post-Katrina can be found at: http://www.sunherald.com/278/story/169699.html