Chocolate Fantasy Ball for Ronald McDonald House

Twelve members of the council helped staff the Chocolate Fantasy Ball, a fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House on February 10 at the Embassy Suites in Little Rock. The morning crew helped to dress the tables, tying drapes on chairs, folding napkins and polishing silver. The evening crew cut cakes, chocolate squares, dipped up creme bruelle, kept the food tables full and assisted with seating guests and manning the live auction. About 400 elegantly dressed guests generously spent their money at the silent and live auctions and took advantage of the chance to pay for families' lodging at the Ronald McDonald House by the night or by the month. This non-profit provides a home away from home for families whose critically ill children are being treated by Children's Hospital. Pictured are "chocolate girls" Rachel Dennis, Amber Turner, Mallory Grantham, and JoNeece Carter - Jason Gillard with Ronald McDonald - Katya Lyzhina and Rachel tying the chair swags - Rachael and Mallory trying a chocolate-covered strawberry - and Zach House and Shelby Underwood greeting guests.

At the Lions Club

Jason Gillard spoke to the NLR Lions Club on February 8 at their noon meeting. He was there to give them an update on his CyberFamilies program and to tell them about the council's efforts to do some upgrading on the NLR Boys and Girls Club. One Lions Club member brought a computer monitor for CyberFamilies.

Council Member Serves on YSAC Committee

Council member Marshalluna Land serves on the YSAC committee to represent the youth in the community. She is shown here at the February meeting listening to information about the city's mapping of grafitti and tagging in the city. YSAC is made up of youth services providers that meets monthly to network and learn what's going on in the community with issues that involve youth. Marshalluna was employed by the city last summer in their summer youth program. The committee was started by Steve Nawojczyk in the city's Youth Services Program.

Cold Blooded Creatures at the Museum of Discovery

Eight council members helped the museum with one of our favorite volunteer events -
Cold Blooded Creatures.
Visitors at the museum could spend the day with snakes, turtles, alligators, frogs, salamanders, toads and other cold-blooded creatures. They learned about their habitats and habits and learned to recognize the venomous snakes that live in Arkansas.
Members shown are Chelsea Smith, Jessica
Scott, Jason Gillard and Kelli Golden.
www.arkansasdiscoverynetwork.org

Pinnacle Mountain Is For the Birds

Three Council members worked with Pulaski Academy volunteers to make suet and peanut cakes mixed with bird seed. The mixture was formed into balls and put into potato sack holders tied with twine. These were given to the volunteers to take home and to people who came to the Visitors' Center to learn about how to feed wild birds. The view of the river was spectacular and an added treat was the sighting of an eagle that was riding the thermals. Volunteers were Stephanie Davis, Katya Lyzhina and Jeremy Smith.

Group Takes on Renovation of the NLR Boys and Girls Club

The Council is looking for community support in their efforts to rennovate parts of the NLR Boys and Girls Club at 13th and Main. Several areas have been targeted for improvement - re-doing the room designated as a "teen" room and the glassed-in room in the playroom. Other ideas include collecting art supplies for the art room and books for the library; getting donations of new computers, monitors and software for the computer room and teen room; getting donations of board games and electronic games for the library; getting donations of movies/DVD's and popcorn for the teen room; and seeking sponsorship of the various rooms by companies or volunteer organizations.
These ideas were the result of the tour of the facility by council members and students in the STARS program. Students pictured are Zach Hall, Jason Gillard (project master-mind), Katya Lyzhina, Kevin O'Sullivan (whose ideas are listed), Jeremy Smith, Stephanie Davis and Darren Muldrew. Lisa and Nayali are STARS members. Anyone wishing to help with the rennovation by donating, time, items or money, please call Jan Scholl at 834-3784.
www.arclubs.org

Dorcas House Benefits from Molly Leopard's Project

Molly Leopard has chosen to help the Dorcas House in Little Rock for her Start Something Project. Dorcas House is a crisis response shelter for women and children who are endangered by domestic violence. Molly is asking for a collection of women's and children's clothing, toys for kids, and canned and packaged food. Clean, gently-used clothing is acceptable, as are used toys that are clean and in good condition. Please bring your contribution to the February meeting.

Kenya Kids - Cody Styers' Start Something Project

Cody Styers has kicked off his Start Something Project called Kenya Kids. The Council will participate in a drive for items to send to an orphanage in Kenya, Africa, in April. Fellowship Bible Church where he is a member is partnerning with the Kenya Relief Office in Alabama to help fill the needs of the Kenyans. Toiletries will be the focus of the council's collection. Members are asked to bring items to the February meeting. The list of items listed below can be donated by calling 834-3784.
(Cody is pictured working at the Rice Depot.)
toiletries
toothbrush, tooth paste, mouthwash
deodorant, feminine pads, small hand mirrors
soap, liquid bath soap, shampoo and conditioner
hair brushes, combs, tweezers
lotions, hair clippers, q-tips
liquid shower cleaner

Happy New Year to Our Friends at Lakewood Manor

Council members Jessica Scott, Nicole Powell, Katya Lyzhina and Kayla Bradford visited with residents at the Lakewood Manor Nursing Facility on January 21 and wished them a happy new year with handmade cards. Shown below are Mr. and Mrs. Harrington who have been married for seventy-two years.

MLK Day - A Day on, Not a Day Off

Twenty-two council members gave up their MLK holiday to work for three hours at the Arkansas Rice Depot. They boxed the items donated at the Food For Kids food drive that Olivia Austin held in December, separated hygiene items, and worked at culling spoiled packaged food from FEMA boxes. Lots of work got done and we got a chance to say goodbye to our friend Hannah Halfhill, volunteer coordinator, who has decided to be a stay-at-home mom.

MLK Gala an Evening of Elegance

The Martin Luther King, Jr. Commission hosted a banquet and gala on the evening of January 11, at the Doubletree Hotel. Jason Gillard was honored with a trophy for Youth Achievement for his work in CyberFamilies with the NLR Mayor's Youth Council. The sold-out event had 700 plus in attendance and will be televised several times in the next few weeks on Fox 16, Jason's sponsor. Jason was accompanied by his grandmother, Frenchelle White, and his brother Justin, a former Council member.

New Start Something Projects Taking Off

Molly Leopard, Liz Rogers, and Zach House have taken on the "Evening
with the Arts," an auction that is held to benefit Families are Special Adoption Agency. The Perry Berns Art Galery in Dallas brings framed art for the show and auction. Council members will provide manpower for the reception and for the show. Last year's event brought in over $4000. Watch the blog for the date and place. Pictured with Zach is super-mom, Leisa House.

Swearing In Ceremony Held on January 1

The swearing in ceremony for new city officials was held in the foyer of the City Hall at 10 in the morning on January first. Mayor Patrick Henry Hays greeted new officials, their families and guests as they came for the swearing in and reception that followed. Council member Chelsea Smith led the Pledge of Allegiance and then sang the National Anthem with her friend Amber Utange.

Food Collection for the Food For Kids Program

The cold and rain didn't keep Olivia Austin's Start Something Project for the Food for Kids Program from being a success. Shifts started outside the Neighborhood WalMart Grocery at 10:00 on December 30th and lasted until after 4:00. About 2o kids and several parents stood in a cold rain and asked shoppers to buy food for hungry kids from a list that they were provided. The Food For Kids van was parked in front and the goal was to fill it with kid-friendly food for the backpacks that children take home from school each day. The project was a cooperative effort of the West Campus Beta Club and the Council. The council members will go to the Rice Depot on Martin Luther King Day, January 15, to separate the food that was collected.

Jason Gillard Honored by the MLK Commission

Jason Gillard has been selected to receive the Youth Achievement Award at the 2006-2007 MLK Salute to Greatness Community Service Awards on January 11th at the Doubletree Hotel. Jason, a junior at NLR West Campus is being recognized for his contributions to the community through the NLR Mayor's Youth Council. He is a five year member of the council and served over 1200 hours last year alone. Clear Channel is sponsoring his award and he has been interviewed for a show that will appear on Fox Channel 16 on January 9th. Jason is pictured at right on the set at Fox's Arkansas Now Program with news anchor, Donna Terrell, and with Frank Bateman, Interim Director of the MLK Commission.

Our Club Christmas Party Held December 20

The Sherman Park Our Club was the site of the Christmas Party for the Sherman Park and Silver City members. Each child had been adopted from an "angel tree" at the First Methodist Church in NLR, the home of the Butterfly Commission that partners with Our Club. Some council members had adopted kids and some helped with the party by serving food, wrapping late arriving presents, and handing out gifts. Shown here wrapping are Katy Poinsett, Rachael Dennis, Leighton Teague and Katya Lyzhina.

Group Delivers Handmade Christmas Cards to Lakewood Manor

Several members made Christmas cards for the 65 residents at the Lakewood Manor. They were delivered by Kayla Bradford and Chelsea Smith on December 17.

City Hosts Dashing Thru the Lights at Burns Park

The city hosted another successful Christmas light display at Burns Park during December and kicked it off on December 9th and 9th with a Stroll Thru the Lights, the appearance of Santa (Kyle Drake and Hayden Fischer) and Rudolph, hot chocolate and candy canes, and pictures with Santa. On the morning of December 10th members helped with the fun run. Other members who volunteered were Stephanie Davis, council "mom" Tina Bickle, Kayla Bradford, Rachael Dennis, Aaron Geary, and Skylar Howard. Members braved two of the coldest nights of the year.

December Meeting Brings Out Generosity of Members

The December meeting brought out the true spirit of Christmas as members turned in 70 family stockings for the Salvation Army's Angel Tree Program. Stockings are stuffed with items for an entire family- with videos, card games, puzzles, popcorn, candy, toys, gloves, scarves, and hygiene items. Members also brought computers for the CyberFamilies Program, more change for the Rice Depot's Food for Kids Program, stuffed animals for needy kids, snack packs for the after school program at Our Club, and videos for Kelli Golden's Films 4 Free Start Something Project. Pictured with stockings are
Mary Catherine Rogers, Daley Johnston, Liz Rogers, Blake Shuler. Sarah Wood is shown with the Food For Kids coin card, and Kelli Golden (in stage makeup for the play) is shown with a box of videos collected for her program.

Christmas Children's Fair and Symphony Kicks off Christmas

Council members hosted the Children's Fair for the Arkansas Symphony's performance at the East Campus auditorium on December 3. Around 200 attended. Kids wrote letters to Santa, had their picture made with him by Bedford Camera, made Christmas ornaments,
had a coloring contest and ate cookies and punch served by council members. Highlights in the musical program were Mayor Hays reading a Christmas story and David Itkin and the Symphony turned the baton over to Eddie Armstrong, a former graduate of NLR West Campus. Pictured with refreshments are council mom Rhonda Sylvester with her daughter Raygan and son, member Cody Styers. Other members pictured are Katya Lyzhina, Mariana, Emmanuel Hayes, Stephanie Jolly, Aaron Geary and Jason Gillard.

Council Helps Get Ready for Our House Fund Raiser

Several members of the Council spent an hour after school on November 27th at the Starting Point Day Care Center to help make tags for teddy bears that will be sold at the Tribute to Mayor Jim Dailey on December 4th. One hundred fifty 18 inch bears needed tags that had to be hand colored. Pictured are Rachael Dennis, Jason Gillard, Chelsea Smith, Ms. Scholl, Board member Heather Dethrow, Nicole Powell and an Our House resident.
Pictured at left is Our House Director, Georgia Mjarten and a little resident.

Kits for Kids

Chelsea Smith's Start Something Project, "Kits for Kids," benefits the chidren at the Our House Homeless Shelter. Chelsea enlisted the help of the other council members to create about 20 baskets for children to be given as they check into the homeless shelter. Each basket contains toys, games and personal items for the children who often have nothing when they arrive at the shelter. Our House provides a home for the working homeless and houses many children during the year.
The following is a wish list for their Starting Point Day Care Center:
3 High Chairs - 3 New High Chair Pads
Indoor Baby Swing - Baby Crib Sheets
Crib Blankets - Toddler Pillows
CDs and DVD for children and infants (Like Baby Einstein, etc.)
Kids Paint - Art Supplies
Poster Board - Book Shelves (small, child-size)
Desk (for an adult) - Vacuum cleaner
Pictured with the kits are Chelsea Smith, Jason Gillard, Rachael Dennis and Nicole Powell.

Lakewood Manor Grannies Receive Handmade Thanksgiving Cards

Members of the Council visited the residents at the Lakewood Manor Nursing Facility on November 19th and took them handmade Thanksgiving cards. Visitors were Melissa Austin, Kaley Scott, Kayla Bradford, Daley Johnston, Blake Shuler, Zach Barber, Sarah Spradlin and Jared Kittler.

The Incredibles

Three families took part in the National Family Volunteer Day on November 18, sponsored by Disney. Family volunteering can help mobilize thousands of new volunteers to meet community needs and instill a lifelong commitment to volunteering. It's a hands-on way to practice the values of kindness, compassion, tolerance, community responsibility and good citizenship. Our INCREDIBLE Families who participated were member Kevin O'Sullivan and his parents Eileen and Patrick - member Stephanie Davis and her sister Tina Bickle - member Kyly Hawk and her mom Sharon. Disney says that being an Incredible Family volunteer:
Strengthens family communication and bonds
Allows family members to be role models
Increases commitment to volunteering and community
Provides quality family time.
These volunteers made Thanksgiving boxes for about 40 families in Hot Springs.
Parents are encouraged to volunteer with members.