Once again, we're thrilled with the items donated for the raffle and silent auction. Proceeds from both will be given to Hospice of Holland in honor of friends and colleagues lost over the last year.
We'll add photos and more items and details as we receive them, so check back to see just how fat your wallet should be when you arrive at Women's Service Day on September 30! All items are handmade by women in or connected to our community.
--decorative leaves from Diane Aamoth
--Blown glass vessels by Waltraud Beckmann
--Handmade pillows by Cathy Brooks
--Handmade glassware by Mary Jo Campbell
--A full apron by Nancy Corvers
--A pillow with appliques by Nicole DeSchaaf
--Salsa and a pinata by Andrea Galvan
--A "Minga" T-shirt designed by Michelle Hamman of MotherTongues.com
--A clock and glass pendant made by Sally Kibler
--A cross-stitched holiday tablecloth, just in time for seasonal planning, by Beverly Koetsier
--an apron from Edith Maassen
--Three digital prints by Kathy Stanton
--Pottery from Rock Rifle Run Pottery in Shade, Ohio
--An afghan knitted and assembled by Cheryl Murdoch, Barbara Loveland, and Linda Powell
--All-occasion cards made by the Women's Service Day planning crew
All evidence of the talent within our midst. We're grateful for their contributions.
Friday, September 17, 2010
Wednesday, September 15, 2010
Donation Drive for Two
As part of our event, we'll collect donations for two local organizations.
Rick Rack is a new nonprofit in the area, housed in the City on a Hill facility. This organization provides clothing to teens in foster care. Founder Casandra Collins is responding, in part, to her own experience as a foster child decades ago, when she was required to leave her home with only a single grocery bag of clothes. Learn more about Rick Rack at their website, and think about what you might contribute to bring dignity to a young life at a difficult time. Specifically for our event, they're looking for new or gently used jeans and t-shirts (long or short-sleeved, but only with appropriate sayings or artwork) for kids from 11 to 19 years of age.
Sylvia's Place is an organization we've been honored to support in the past. Located in Allegan County, on the southern edge of our service area, Sylvia's Place operates a safe house for victims of domestic abuse, but also offers services to those who are looking to rebuild their lives: counseling, legal advocacy, and referrals for housing and other resources based on the survivor's needs. At the top of the list of Sylvia's Place needs are: paper towels and toilet paper, deodorant and body wash, and laundry detergent and other cleaning supplies. Check out the Sylvia's Place website for more information or more ways you can help.
If you're coming to the Women's Service Day 2010 on September 30, we'll have boxes set up to receive your donations. If you can't make the event but would still like to contribute, either contact the agencies directly or contact the planning team by e-mail at womensserviceday (at) gmail (dot) com.
Rick Rack is a new nonprofit in the area, housed in the City on a Hill facility. This organization provides clothing to teens in foster care. Founder Casandra Collins is responding, in part, to her own experience as a foster child decades ago, when she was required to leave her home with only a single grocery bag of clothes. Learn more about Rick Rack at their website, and think about what you might contribute to bring dignity to a young life at a difficult time. Specifically for our event, they're looking for new or gently used jeans and t-shirts (long or short-sleeved, but only with appropriate sayings or artwork) for kids from 11 to 19 years of age.
Sylvia's Place is an organization we've been honored to support in the past. Located in Allegan County, on the southern edge of our service area, Sylvia's Place operates a safe house for victims of domestic abuse, but also offers services to those who are looking to rebuild their lives: counseling, legal advocacy, and referrals for housing and other resources based on the survivor's needs. At the top of the list of Sylvia's Place needs are: paper towels and toilet paper, deodorant and body wash, and laundry detergent and other cleaning supplies. Check out the Sylvia's Place website for more information or more ways you can help.
If you're coming to the Women's Service Day 2010 on September 30, we'll have boxes set up to receive your donations. If you can't make the event but would still like to contribute, either contact the agencies directly or contact the planning team by e-mail at womensserviceday (at) gmail (dot) com.
Wednesday, August 11, 2010
It's Time to Register for Women's Service Day 2010!
Our sign-up page is now live, so you can register to participate in Women's Service Day 2010, scheduled for September 30. Be sure to spread the word to your friends, family, and co-workers--women over 18 are invited to participate in this day of service to women and children in the Holland and Zeeland community. And remember to register! Because we need to plan with agencies for volunteer projects for all participants, this event is first-registered, first-to-serve.
If you'd like to understand more about this community service event...
... How to sign up to receive ongoing communications, including early notification of the 2011 event date.
... Our current list of participating agencies for the 2010 Women's Service Day
... Read about last year's event if you'd like to know more about what to expect. We'll distribute and post an agenda for this year's event as soon as plans are finalized.
... Meet the planning team, which looks, two years later, even younger than we do in this 2008 photo.
Looking forward to seeing you on September 30!
If you'd like to understand more about this community service event...
... How to sign up to receive ongoing communications, including early notification of the 2011 event date.
... Our current list of participating agencies for the 2010 Women's Service Day
... Read about last year's event if you'd like to know more about what to expect. We'll distribute and post an agenda for this year's event as soon as plans are finalized.
... Meet the planning team, which looks, two years later, even younger than we do in this 2008 photo.
Looking forward to seeing you on September 30!
Friday, August 6, 2010
Where We'll Serve on September 30
These are the agencies for whom we will paint, nail, sort, cook, clean, organize, assemble, tote, rake, and more as part of Women's Service Day 2010 on September 30:
We'll also have a donation drive, silent auction, and raffle, the proceeds from which will benefit an agency supporting women and/or children in West Michigan. Stay tuned! We'll announce which agencies just as soon as we've completed our investigation.
- 70x7 supports women (and men) coming back to communities and families from jail/prison and overcoming addictions. Their services include relational support and programs to sustain mentoring and transitional living programs, employment services, addiction recovery, and leadership.
- Camp Sunshine provides a camping experience for persons with developmental disabilities in an inclusive environment that embraces their recreational, emotional, physical, spiritual and relational needs.
- Center for Women in Transition creates and sustains an environment that enhances the voice, opportunities and strength of women and girls in Allegan and Ottawa Counties.
- Community Action House feeds and clothes families, provides housing, and equips community members with skills and resources for sustainable living.
- Evergreen Commons brings together in one place both leisure
activities for seniors and the coordination or delivery of services that address many aging related needs of seniors and their families, such as respite care, nutrition, home safety, and the assistance of social workers. - Girls on the Run educates and prepares girls for a lifetime of self-respect and healthy living.
- Good Samaritan Ministries uses the power of relationships to effectively meet the needs of the poor.
- Holland Rescue Mission develops and delivers programs of excellence for the homeless and less fortunate.
- Hospice of Holland offers comfort and relief to soothe the body, counsel and support to quiet the heart, and resources of faith to strengthen the spirit toward the end of life.
- Lakeshore Habitat for Humanity builds housing with partner-owners, based on the principle that everyone deserves a decent place to live and that our community is a better place when that occurs.
- My Sister's House is an adult foster care facility sponsored by the Holland Deacons' Conference.
We'll also have a donation drive, silent auction, and raffle, the proceeds from which will benefit an agency supporting women and/or children in West Michigan. Stay tuned! We'll announce which agencies just as soon as we've completed our investigation.
Thursday, July 22, 2010
Sign Up for E-mail Communications
The Women's Service Day Committee is gearing up for the 2010 event! We need to make sure you want to continue receiving e-mails from us. Would you help us out by opting in via this form by August 1?
If we don't receive your permission via the form linked to here, we'll be unable to e-mail you with more information about the event.
Watch for the registration e-mail mid-August!
If we don't receive your permission via the form linked to here, we'll be unable to e-mail you with more information about the event.
Watch for the registration e-mail mid-August!
Monday, July 12, 2010
2010 Event Planned for September 30
We've reserved our breakfast location and alerted the agencies we'll serve: Women's Service Day for 2010 will occur on September 30. "Like" us on Facebook or follow this blog for updates on the planning.
In August, we'll include a link to the registration form--and distribute a link to that form to people we know are interested. We sent out a "hold the date" e-mail on June 30; if you didn't receive it, we may have lost track of your current e-mail address.
Enjoy the summer! We'll keep you posted.
In August, we'll include a link to the registration form--and distribute a link to that form to people we know are interested. We sent out a "hold the date" e-mail on June 30; if you didn't receive it, we may have lost track of your current e-mail address.
Enjoy the summer! We'll keep you posted.
Sunday, November 22, 2009
Become a Friend of Women's Service Day
One thing Women’s Service Day volunteers are good at is networking. Maybe it’s because that’s one of the goals for the grassroots event, now in its eighth year. Or maybe because the type of people who volunteer in their community are networkers by nature.
One way Women’s Service Day encourages connection among participants (besides the interaction that occurs among work crews) is during breakfast, where everyone comes together before heading out to their assigned tasks. But this year the connection extended to the virtual world.
While volunteers have always been invited via e-mail to participate in Women’s Service Day, this year the planning crew tapped into social media networks. Now through a group on Facebook (called Women’s Service Day), it’s easier for participants to invite their sisters, mothers, daughters, coworkers, friends, and partners to join the event. And, the planning crew will continue to use this blog to communicate about the event.
Women's Service Day began in 2002 when a few women at Herman Miller--passionate about serving their community--volunteered to work on a Habitat house for a single mother. The group blossomed into a team of 50 women—more than one Habitat house could accommodate. Every year since, the planning crew has organized a day of volunteering specifically for women, establishing the following goals:
--To make a difference in our community—and have a great time doing so
--To increase awareness of issues for women and children in the West Michigan community
--To promote networking among women in our organization and community
While 93 women signed up this year to serve 12 non-profit organizations in West Michigan, one-third of them were caregivers, students, stay-at-home parents, self-employed, or worked for other organizations beyond Herman Miller. Social networking yields results!
The group also raised $1,000, which was donated to Holland Free Health Clinic, an organization that facilitates access to health care for those in need in the Holland-Zeeland community. And they donated a heap of clothing and supplies to Women's Resource Center in Grand Rapids for low-income women embarking on job interviews or reentering the workforce.
Next year, the planning crew hopes to expand its network even further. Do you know some women who would like to participate? Have them sign up online and we'll be sure to send them an e-mail invitation when it's time to register!
One way Women’s Service Day encourages connection among participants (besides the interaction that occurs among work crews) is during breakfast, where everyone comes together before heading out to their assigned tasks. But this year the connection extended to the virtual world.
While volunteers have always been invited via e-mail to participate in Women’s Service Day, this year the planning crew tapped into social media networks. Now through a group on Facebook (called Women’s Service Day), it’s easier for participants to invite their sisters, mothers, daughters, coworkers, friends, and partners to join the event. And, the planning crew will continue to use this blog to communicate about the event.
Women's Service Day began in 2002 when a few women at Herman Miller--passionate about serving their community--volunteered to work on a Habitat house for a single mother. The group blossomed into a team of 50 women—more than one Habitat house could accommodate. Every year since, the planning crew has organized a day of volunteering specifically for women, establishing the following goals:
--To make a difference in our community—and have a great time doing so
--To increase awareness of issues for women and children in the West Michigan community
--To promote networking among women in our organization and community
While 93 women signed up this year to serve 12 non-profit organizations in West Michigan, one-third of them were caregivers, students, stay-at-home parents, self-employed, or worked for other organizations beyond Herman Miller. Social networking yields results!
The group also raised $1,000, which was donated to Holland Free Health Clinic, an organization that facilitates access to health care for those in need in the Holland-Zeeland community. And they donated a heap of clothing and supplies to Women's Resource Center in Grand Rapids for low-income women embarking on job interviews or reentering the workforce.
Next year, the planning crew hopes to expand its network even further. Do you know some women who would like to participate? Have them sign up online and we'll be sure to send them an e-mail invitation when it's time to register!
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