Operation Shoebox list for 2015 has been posted. Check out the Tab.

Battle of Plattsburgh Weekend

For Sat--
Parade line up is at noon at the Elks Club (or 12:30 for those who need to come then). We will be a little North of the Elks club--look for a big truck (white?) that is pulling a wagon full of flowers and trees. You will be given your spot in our display when you get there.

Due to the weather--PLEASE dress in layers. It would be best to put your "other" clothes under your dresses/shirts if possible....for ladies with shawls-- you might consider using a wool shawl/blanket under or instead of your cotton shawls. Definitely wear tight, leggings, and long underwear if you are prone to getting cold. Boys can wear long sleeve turtle necks and long underwear under their shirts. Ladies with skirts--wear long sleeve shirts and long underwear for tops. :-)

For rain-- you could wear a clear garbage bag over top....I will bring a box of them.

Wear comfortable shoes for walking. The parade starts at 1pm. once we are done, enjoy the parade and the festivities.

Don't forget your
--hats
--boys sashes
--rings for the shawls

For Sunday:
We will be working in-front of the McDonough Monument

We will be doing 3 crafts: paper hats for boys and girls, rooster tails, and paper lanterns.

Operation Shoe Box Service Project

Our first service project for the year will be THURSDAY November 7 at the North Country Alliance Church from 1-3.

We will be packing 12 shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child. We will be doing this project this year as a GROUP.  We have been doing this service project each year since we started as a group. But we have always packed our boxes at home and brought them in. This year we will be packing boxes as a group. We are asking that your family donate at least 10 of "something". We will arrange the items in the groups on the table and pack boxes/write notes of greeting in small groups. (We will be doing other things this day so this will only be a portion of our 4H meeting.)

I am asking that each family sign up for one or more types of items. I made a page on our blog to record who is bringing what. If you email me and let me know what you want to bring, I will add your last initial to the list. :-)
http://chatteringchipmunks.blogspot.com/p/operation-christmas-child-shoeboxes.html

Along with the items your family chooses to supply, each family needs to bring one plastic shoe box + $2.00 per child for shipping. (Each box is $7 a box). I really encourage each member to EARN their $2 by doing something. We will be "tracking our boxes as a group to see where they end up.
(As we have 15 families and we are only making 10 boxes-- I will ask 4 other families along with mine to bring an extra 10 items rather than a box)

We will be packing boxes to reflect the ages and genders of our group, so.....

2 Boy Box age  5-9
1 Girl Box age  5-9
3 Boy Box age 10-14
4 Girl Box age 10-14

Here is a list to get started, but there are many things you could bring. You can choose to bring a subset of an item, just let me know how many you plan to bring-- for example, 4 toothbrushes or  4 puzzles, ect. This lets me know if I need to bring anything to fill in at the end.

Personal Hygiene
Toothbrushes
Tooth paste
Soap
Washcloths
Hand sanitizer
Combs
Brushed
Barrettes, hair elastics

School Supplies
Pencils
Pens
Crayons
Markers
Paper Pads
Stickers
Pencil Sharpeners
Rulers (metric ones)

Special Gifts (rather than 10 of each type, bring a selection)
toys, puzzles,
craft
tools (hammers, sewing kit, ect.)
balls
jump ropes

Clothes
Tshirts
socks
ball caps
hats
sunglasses
flip flops
shoes

Other
Hard candy
Drinking glass or water bottle

Community Service Helper for Feb/March

Our Service Project Coordinators have chosen the overall topic for the Monthly Community Service Helper Project: Helping the Hurting.


For the month of Feb: We will be making cookies to be delivered to the homeless in Montreal. This project should be completed by the members--parents can assist younger ones but older ones should do the work themselves! Kids can work together to make the cookies. The Robotics team learned that getting a few families together is a fun way to make cookies. Cookies do not need to be individually wrapped. Please bring them either Thursday 21 Feb or Thurs 28 Feb and the Kyles will take them to be passed off to the deliver team.

For the month of March: We will be making music and bringing cheer at the Third Age Day Care. Sign-ups will be in the hallway. We will have several days to sign up to perform (music, theater, song, dance, comedy...) to an adoring audience in Plattsburgh. There will be a mix of times and days available. We hope to get as many in our group to attend as possible. There will be opportunities to make cards for the residents. If you are thinking that "performing" is not your style, we encourage you to come to just visit. Other ideas, bring a game or photo album to share with the residents.

Service Projects to Bring in for the Week

 It is a busy week for "service project collections".
DUE: 15 November 2012
Project 1: Operation Shoebox--please bring your filled shoebox to church with a label attached. You can pay for box $7 per box on-line or put a check in the box/one of the boxes if you bring more than one. If you want to donate a box, but can not afford the $7 for the box, please donate anyway. There are those who donate money to Samaritans Purse to help the cost of shipping boxes. If you choose to pay on-line you can follow your box to its country of destination: http://speu01.samaritanspurse.org/t/301818/1515734/780/0/
(For those who baked cookies for the bake sale-- the money raised is used to help cover the additional costs of shipping.)

Project 2: For our community service helper project this month we are collecting homemade cookies that will be taken to the homeless in Montreal. The Kyles will take the cookies to their house and freeze them and they will be delivered on 24 November in Montreal. 

Community Improvement Service Project

This is the service  program where we all do the EXACT same project in the same month in our own communities.

For the months of Oct and Nov we will be..........

OCT: Yard work or winter maintenance for a family in need
NOV: Make cookies for the homeless mission in Montreal--BRING TO 4H and the KYLES facilitate delivery

Family April Service Project

The Service project for the month of April is "trash cleanup." You can choose a park, playground, or public area. Please remember to log your hours on the sign-up sheets in the hallway or email them to Mrs. Sayward

Nursing Home Caroling: Service Project

We will be singing for the nursing home associated with the CVPH hospital on Thursday 22 Dec. We will be singing twice-- once on the 6th floor and once at the 4th floor.

Please meet in the lobby of CVPH at 12:45. The choir will sing the two songs they have prepared and then everyone will sing traditional Christmas Carols as a group.

This is a club service project. Participation is optional but encouraged.

If possible, please bring two homemade Christmas cards per child so we can share them with the residents. No worries if you can't bring any--we want YOU more than cards. Grace will be happy to make lots of cards.

Holiday Mail for Heroes

Join the group in spreading holiday cheer to the US MIlitary, Veterans, and thier family.

What: make or purchase holiday cards. Write a short note of thanks for their service and sign your name. First name only is perfect. Do NOT include home address or email address.

When: Bring your cards (No envelopes needed) to 4H on Dec 8 and place in our box. We will send them all on Dec 9 in a flat rate box.

Note: Please no glitter on cards. 

For more information: http://www.redcross.org/holidaymail

As with all service projects, this project is NOT mandatory. 

Operation Christmas Child 2011

As we begin the 2011-2012 4H year, we have our first group service project. This is a "family project".
For the second year, our group will be participating in Operation Christmas Child. Each family is asked to pack a "shoebox" (either standard size cardboard shoebox or plastic shoe box--no boot boxes please) with toys, school supplies and personal items to be given to kids in another country and bring to 4H on the Nov 17th meeting.

This you should know about this project
1) you can participate in this project even if you turn your shoebox in to a pick up center in your area and not to the group (just fill out the group paperwork in the hallway)
2) if your family already does this project; no need to make a special box just for 4H; just count what you already do :-)
3) participation is not mandatory
4) A donation to mail the box is requested BUT NOT MANDATORY--if you can not afford the $7 per box for shipping, DO NOT WORRY. Many people donate money for boxes to be shipped. Please just fill a box!

Having said all that-- here are the particulars:
Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child are due Thursday Nov 17th. (Same day as your cheese order forms)
here is their website to learn more: http://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/OCC/index/

Families can prepare as many shoeboxes as you wish. You can choose to do one for the entire family. Select items that fit for either a girl or boy in one of the age ranges listed: ages 2-4, ages 5-9, ages 10-14. Note-- there is a big need for boxes for kids aged 10-14! Please consider this age range, especially if your child is older.

Suggested items to fill the boxes:
personal hygiene: toothpaste and brushes, soap, washclothes, hand sanitizers, hair supplies- combs, barrettes, etc.
school supplies: pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, markers, paper, solar calculators, stamps and ink pads, etc.
toys and games: puzzles, jump ropes, balls, jack sets, dolls, stuff animals, toy cars, items needing batteries- please include extra batteries
older kids: consider sewing kits, tools
clothes: t-shirts, socks, ball caps, hats, sunglasses, flipflops, shoes
other: hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum,  watches, flashlights (with extra batteries) 

Consider adding a letter and/or picture from your child or family.

The boxes can be wrapped BUT the top must be separate. The top will be secured to the box with a rubber band.

Each box you prepare is requested to be accompanied by $7. (If you can't afford the amount- you can pay what you can OR just simply donate the box). You can either place a check in the box, place one check for multiple boxes in one box OR pre-pay on line. If you chose pre-pay on-line you will get a label to print out and attach to your box. You can actually track the country your box is delivered to.

To make your donation on line and track you box;
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/EZGive-fullpage/


NOTE: DO NOT INCLUDE:
Obviously used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow-globes or glass containers; aerosol cans

Community Service Helper Opportunity

We have an opportunity for a community service helper project. There is
a family who needs help removing stuff from a shed and demolishing the
shed. The family is unable to do the work themselves and would love some
help. This project has availability for Cloverbuds to help.

Here is the request:
+ = + = + = + = + = + = + = + = + 

 
This past winter with all the snow we had, the roof on the shed in the
backyard of the "Z" family collapsed.  A temporary cover was put over it to
protect the contents inside until spring.  Well, spring is here and
Joanne has asked if anyone is available this week, Wednesday, Thursday,
or Friday to help move their things from the shed to the garage and then
tear down the shed.  If you have any time, a few hours or an afternoon
available to lend a hand please let Joanne know. Many hands make light
work and the task at hand doesn't feel quite so overwhelming,

Contact Melissa for more info

Supporting Kids in STOP Shelter

As a club we are making bags for kids in Plattsburgh that are in the STOP program shelter. The items to be put in the bags will be similar to shoebox items. The items can be donated by 4H families, friends, or neighbors. The Cloverbuds will decorate the bags and give them to STOP to hand out. The bags will be the size of small gift bags. As with Operation Shoebox, we will bags for different ages and genders: Infants, Ages 1-3, Ages 4-6, Ages 7-9, Ages 9-14. 

Here is the list of items to consider for donations: 

• Play dough
• Blocks
• Books
• Crayons/coloring pencils
• Coloring books
• Sketch pads
• Activity books
• Pencils/Pens/markers
• Pencil box, sharpener
• Paper
• Stickers
• Journal
• Barbie or small dolls
• Toy soldiers or other small characters
• Cars
• Puzzles
• Kite
• Bubbles
• Shovels
• Bouncy balls
• Small ball
• Sidewalk chalk
• Beach ball
• Jump rope
• Sunglasses
• Hat
• Small games
• Cards
• Lego’s
• Play jewelry (lead free)
• Dress-up stuff
• Stuffed animal
• Watch
• Toy camera/phone
• Hair “gear” headbands, elastics, etc.
• Bead kit
• Tractors, backhoes
• Flashlight
• Trains
• Play money
• Wicki sticks/bendaroos
• Silly putty

Support the Soldiers

This is an Individual family project: Interested families are asked to prepare a box of supplies that can be sent overseas----Operation Shoebox for soldiers. Purchase a flat rate box from the PO and fill it with hard candy, gum, packaged cookies, snack items, Ramen Noodles, microwaveable popcorn, jerky, nuts, playing cards, magazines, socks, t-shirts, etc, and a letter and send it to a service member your house of worship supports OR to Pennies and Blessings (thier website it down for maintenance and will be back up April 1). Pennies and Blessing will send them overseas.  More info will follow as it is available. When you have sent your box, please fill out the sheet in the hallway.

Nursing Home Presentation Practice Opportunity

Come get the jitters out and spread some cheer.

Everyone is invited to the Val Haven Nursing home on either Wed 23 Feb or Thurs 24 Feb at 2pm to practice their public presentation. The residents are a great audience and love to clap.
Please RSVP to Melissa so she can let the nursing home know who to expect. At this point- we have 5-6 kids planning to present on Thursday.

You are also welcome to attend if you would like to just visit with the residents for a little while afterwards.

Nursing Home Concert Opportunity

Come share your musical talent with Val Haven Nursing Home in Peru. There are two opportunities to perform some music or share whatever talent you have with Val Haven.

Sign up to "perform" either on Tuesday 25 January or Wednesday 26 January. The time slots are from 2-3pm. We will visit with the residents for the remaining time.

Anyone in the group is welcome to come and listen even if they prefer not to share.

You are welcome to play any instrument (including your voice), dance or recite

Kiva Loan

The Leadership Team voted to make another loan to KIVA.

KIVA is a micro-finance organization which makes loans to entrepreneurs around the globe. More information about KIVA is found here:
http://www.kiva.org/about

For more information about our last loan: http://www.kiva.org/lend/190641

WHAT GROUP MEMBERS NEED TO DO: 

Earn one $1 and bring it to the Jan business meeting- Jan 13th. Our Service Project Coordinator will bring profiles to the meeting for us to vote on to support.

Salvation Army Bell RInging

We will be ringing bells for for the Salvation Army Red Kettle Campaign. 
We will be ringing at Price Chopper on December 20th from 10am - 2pm.

Please sign up for a time slot at a December meetings or email Melissa. You can come for an hour or stay the whole time. We will be ringing at both doors from 10-12 and then just the 'left" side from 12-2.

Feel free to bring some instruments and singing voices.

The money raised by the Salvation Army during this season is used to fund the soup kitchen and their public assitance programs for the year.

Holiday Service Project #2

Help make a child's wish come true through the Make-A-Wish Foundation.

We are collecting letters to "Santa" that will be sent to Justice White who received her wish a 5 years ago. She wants other kids to get their wishes. She learned that Macy's is willing to donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation for every letter to Santa they receive. She wants to take the letters to Macy's in December. She hopes to receive a 50,000 letters this year.

What do you do??--write a letter to Santa and bring it in to the group meeting on Nov. 18 or Dec. 2. If you do not acknowledge/"celebrate" the Santa aspect of Christmas, the 4Her could simply write a letter to Saint Nicholas- a real, historical figure and talk about needs in the world. Kids are welcome to write letters for their younger siblings and ask their friends for letters.

http://capitalregion.ynn.com/content/523076/granting-wishes--one-letter-at-a-time/

Operation Christmas Child

Shoeboxes for Operation Christmas Child are due Nov 18th.

Families can prepare as many shoeboxes as you wish. You can choose to do one for the entire family. Select items that fit for either a girl or boy in one of the age ranges listed: ages 2-4, ages 5-9, ages 10-14.

Suggested items to fill the boxes:
personal hygiene: toothpaste and brushes, soap, washclothes, hand sanitizers, hair supplies- combs, barrettes, etc.
school supplies: pens, pencils, pencil sharpeners, crayons, markers, paper, solar calculators, stamps and ink pads, etc.
toys and games: puzzles, jump ropes, balls, jack sets, dolls, stuff animals, toy cars, items needing batteries- please include extra batteries
older kids: consider sewing kits, tools,
clothes: t-shirts, socks, ball caps, hats, sunglasses

other: hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum,  watches, flashlights (with extra batteries) 

Consider adding a letter and/or picture from your child or family.

The boxes can be wrapped BUT the top must be separate. The top will be secured to the box with a rubber band.

Each box you prepare is requested to be accompanied by $7. (If you can't afford the amount- you can pay what you can OR just simply donate the box). You can either place a check in the box, place one check for multiple boxes in one box OR pre-pay on line. If you chose pre-pay on-line you will get a label to print out and attach to your box. You can actually track the country your box is delivered to.

To make your donation on line and track you box;
https://www.samaritanspurse.org/index.php/Giving/EZGive/?keepThis=true&TB_iframe=true&height=510&width=567


NOTE: DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snow-globes or glass containers; aerosol cans