Parenting 101
The Timeless Gift of Time
Nov/Dec 2007

 Q:  How can I help show my kids the true spirit of giving?

 A:  Many individuals take advantage of the holiday season to find time to not only give to family and friends, but to those in need as well. Many individuals and families help serve meals for the homeless, adopt children and families to provide gifts and other items to, or make charitable contributions to agencies in the community.

While there is an emphasis on the community’s need during the holidays, it is important to remember that the need doesn’t end when the holidays are over. “The holiday season is a wonderful time to jump-start your community involvement”, notes Julie Meehan, executive director of Community Connection. “The needs of this community are ongoing. Day-in. Day-out. Twenty-four/seven” Meehan notes. “It is important that the ‘spirit of giving’ last beyond the holiday season and continue throughout the year as well.”

So, when you find yourself inspired to perform an act of kindness or a charitable deed, how do you get started? Simply contact Hands On Northeast Georgia by dialing 2-1-1 or logging on to www.HandsOnNortheastGeorgia.org. Hands On Northeast Georgia is designed to be your one-stop shop to find information on a wide variety agencies that need your help in working with animals, children, environmental concerns, the homeless, senior citizens, and just about everything else. Events are categorized so you can quickly identify those that are “Fun for Families,” “Kool for Kids” or “Terrific for Teens.” Projects are available literally every day of the year.

“Even if you can only contribute 2 hours of your time – it may not seem like much, but you would be amazed by the difference you can make,” states Art Ordoqui, director of programs for Community Connection of Northeast Georgia.

Consider starting a new holiday tradition by volunteering as a family. Many agencies welcome young volunteers to work alongside their parents. In addition to spending quality time together, volunteering will instill a sense of giving that children and teens will carry on throughout their adult years.

 Holiday Helpers

Holiday Connection is a subcommittee of Barrow County Family Connection/Communities in Schools that serves as a county-wide clearinghouse to provide holiday assistance to well over 1,100 Barrow county children each year. A store is set up where parents/guardians can pick out gifts for children. New toys for boys and girls of all ages are desperately needed. They gratefully accept financial donations. The mailing address is PO Box 278, Winder, GA 30680 and for more information call 678-271-8670.

Athens Clarke Gymnastics Academy of the Athens-Clarke County Leisure Services Department is participating in the 2007 Marine Toys for Tots Program. Donations of new unopened toys may be dropped at the Bishop Park Gym Nov. 1-Dec. 14 Monday-Friday between 9am-6pm, 613-3589

In what promises to become the region’s premier holiday tradition, the third annual Athens Holiday Lights will be a lighting spectacular at Sandy Creek Park from Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day. The scenes are larger-than-life holiday fantasies captured as dramatic, illuminated metal sculptures by the artisans of Brandano Displays, Inc. Scores of displays sponsored by local businesses and others will bring “oohs and aahs” as viewers drive around the park. New events will be presented for limited times on the weekends this season such as caroling, band or instrumental music, pictures with Santa and more. Commissioner Nancy Denson, who chairs the event says, “Families and groups in our area will view a world-class presentation of giant sculptures and lights which were previously only available in the world’s largest metropolitan areas.”

Family Connection/Communities In Schools of Athens and Advantage Behavioral Health Systems are the beneficiaries of Athens Holiday Lights. For more information please call or e-mail or Tammy Dalton (706-296-8086, tdaltonadvantagebhs.org) or Tim Johnson (706-369-9732, timinathensyahoo.com).

• www.gafcp.org/fcnetwork/clarke/
• www.advantagebhs.org

Rivers Alive
Volunteers from our community (pictured here removing trash from a stream) are a vital part of the Athens-Clarke County Natural Resources Division. Sandy Creek Nature Center, Sandy Creek Park and the North Oconee Greenway offer a wide variety of volunteer opportunities ranging from trail maintenance, office work, assisting with programming and special events. The next formal volunteer orientation is scheduled for January 26, 2008.

More information can be found on the web at www.sandycreeknaturecenter.com/scnc/volunteer.php.

 FAMILY FRIENDLY IDEAS

• Coordinate a play date as a service date
• Serve at a local animal shelter or food bank
• Adopt-a-street or garden project
• Improvement projects in parks or playgrounds
• Rivers Alive
• Naturalist Assistant Program at Sandy Creek Nature Center
• Bear Hollow Zoo Volunteer Program

Make it a tradition to join us for an annual days of service in 2008:

• January 21: Martin Luther King Jr Day On, Not a Day Off
• April 4-6: Hands On Athens Weekend
• April 2008: GreenFest
• June 14: Hands On with Dad
• June 2008: AthFest
• Sept. 27- Oct. 4: Hands On Georgia Week

Community Connection can help you get connected with your community.

• Dial 2-1-1 or 706.353.1313
• www.CommunityConnection211.com
• www.HandsOnNortheastGeorgia.org