#10 White River Light Station - Ok, today was another twofer. The kids and I loaded into the car and headed off to join others from GVSU Alumni Association to help with cleanup of the beach around the White River Light Station in Whitehall. After all, what kind of birthday celebration would this be without a trip to the beach?????? Ok, so this may not have been the ideal time to hit the beach, but we did have a good day together. It was cold, it was damp, but what a difference we made today. Along with the others who joined us, we removed a tire, some lawn chairs that were buried under the sand, and bags of trash. Imagine how beautiful this beach will be when summer arrives. I want to thank GVSU Alumni Association for this Community Outreach Week. I am so happy to be a part of such an amazing group of people who are being the difference around the world. GO LAKERS!!!!!!!! P.S. If you are interested in volunteering or seeing the beach we cleaned up....contact them at http://www.whiteriverlightstation.org/

#9 Kids Food Basket - Ok so today was a twofer ......I was able to volunteer with Kids Food Basket in Grand Rapids and GVSU Alumni at the same time. This week is Community Outreach Week at GVSU. Alumni and current students along with their family and friends are volunteering all over the US and beyond to "be the difference" in their communities. Kids Food Basket is just one of the many places that will be blessed this week. I have recently posted about my time at Manna Meals in Allendale. I was stunned by the amount of kids that are being blessed each week. Imagine my surprise when I got to Kids Food Basket. This place is amazing. As you can see in the picture they have served over 300,0000 meals since July, 2012. That is just 8 months people. WOW! Our job today was so simple. We were to package crackers into individual servings to be sent home in future meals to the kids in Grand Rapids who may not otherwise have a meal. Such a lovely thing to be a part of!!!!!! Include in the pictures are a list of some of the schools where these meals are delivered along with the number of meals needed at each, you can see a sample menu (this is subject to change based on what foods are donated and available each night) and most importantly the sack track. Imagine all the full tummies tonight! They are always looking for volunteers. If you live in Grand Rapids and you have an extra hour or more, PLEASE get out there and give them some of your time. You can get more information at http://www.kidsfoodbasket.org/volunteer/volunteer

#8 Blandford Nature Center - Sugarbush Festival So yes, this just may end up being my SWEETEST birthday yet! Today my adventure took me to Blandford Nature Center. I parked where the volunteers were instructed to park. From there I took a hike through the woods (Yes people it is Michigan in March) and ended up in the sugar shack. The sugar shack is generally used to show guests how maple syrup is made. Today, we took over the back room and made Maple Cotton Candy to be sold as part of this annual festival. Can you stay STICKY????? Yes, that is me covered head to toe in maple cotton candy. I met some pretty amazing people and learned so much about this center. Even bumped into some people from my day job :) The mission of Blandford Nature Center is to "educate, engage and empower our community to become stewards of the natural world that sustains us." The nature center encompasses 143 acres of land and wildlife. The Sugarbush Festival is one of four festivals held annually to raise awareness and funding to continue their mission. If you would like to consider volunteering your time in the great outdoors, contact them at www.BlandfordNatureCenter.org

#7 Dash Down Division - Fundraiser for Salvation Army Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center This was a 5k that was run this morning, Saturday, February 23, 2013 at 9:30 a.m. The volunteers arrived at 7:30 for their assignments. My job today was to be a Course Marshall. I needed to keep vehicles from exiting the side street onto the runner's course. At 8:45 we put on our reflective vests and loaded onto the bus. They dropped each volunteer at a different street. Then we waited. I was the second street after the start of the race. I saw people from a young boy, to a mayor, to a woman walking with a cane for the entire course. IT WAS AMAZING. All of the funds raised today will go to the scholarship fund for the Kroc Center. The community center is "a 105,000 square foot education, fitness, recreation, cultural arts and worship facility with a 20-acre outdoor campus." The literature for the Center provides that "The Kroc Center was made possible by a substantial gift from the late philanthropist Mrs. Joan Kroc, as well as the generous support of individuals, families and organizations throughout West Michigan." Their vision is "to see individuals of all ages, creeds and nationalities discover their natural giftedness and potential through education, the arts, sports and the development of the spirit by providing a campus of opportunity in a holistic, Christ-centered atmosphere". Can you imagine a greater vision?????? If you would like to volunteer with the Kroc Center, you can contact them at www.grkroccenter.org

#6 MANNA MEALS. Manna Ministries is a non-profit that provides sack suppers to low income children in Allendale Public Schools. I met at Lifestream Church and began slicing various types of bread to be used in preparing peanut butter sandwiches to be added to the sack dinners. We needed to make approximately 150-160 sandwiches for delivery the next day. Manna meals serves this number of kids each day Monday - Friday. The meals are currently delivered to kids at Springview, Evergreen and Oakwood schools in Allendale, MI. The meals are prepared each night. Then the following day just before school lets out, the children are called to the office to receive their sack supper. The suppers consist of 1000 calories of food per child, generally a peanut butter sandwich (for protein), usually some pudding or yogurt for dairy, juice boxes, etc. And where does the food come from you ask???? DONATIONS. This is 100% donation run ministry. You can learn more about donating your time or dollars to this amazing ministry by visiting their facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/pages/Manna-Ministries/151838179240?sk=wall&filter=12

#5 Love I.N.C. Love in the Name of Christ. This organization is "the link between churches, service agencies and local individuals or families to assist with meeting financial, physical, emotional or spiritual needs". One of the ways that Love INC helps the community is through their New to You Store. Donations are accepted at their collection site on 60th Ave. The volunteers and employees join together to sort the donations to be either sold in the New to You Store or passed along to other missions. My job today began with sorting and pricing shoes for sale in the store. Once that was completed I moved on to toys. Today there were four people (three volunteers and one employee) working together to accomplish this task. Once again I find that volunteering happens for many reasons. I am truly enjoying the experience of learning about others and what motivates them. It is amazing how much you learn about someone with just a tiny conversation :) All of the items we sorted today, and many other items will be sold in the New to You Store. The proceeds from the sales go on to fund the various ministries of Love I.N.C. The various ministries include a life skills program, bike repair, food pantry, furniture, work search, transportation, baby layette and crib, medical equipment, car repair ministry,prayer network, new closet, love and stitches sewing ministry, English as a second language,showing kindness in labors of love and diaper store. To learn more about any of the ministries or how you can volunteer your time to help please go to their website at http://www.allendalelove.org Imagine the difference you can make by joining in any of these amazing ministries!!!!!

#3 COMPLETE......that's right people :) Today I was able to go back to Allendale Nursing and Rehabilitation for their Saturday Bingo Game. I arrived at 11:15. We passed out cards and chips and got the patients situated for playing. What a bunch of characters I met today. The first one was a gentleman that only wanted the middle card. Then once he had that, he ONLY wanted to use white chips to mark his card. He was funny. He had a great time giving me guff. I have to tell you, the next two hours went about the same way. My job this day was to sit at a table and help two patients with their bingo cards. The first was a man with incredibly friendly eyes. He was awake for a total of 6 bingo calls and then he dozed off. He awoke two hours later when I called out bingo for his total card bingo win :) The other was a woman who had a great sense of humor. I began by pointing out each number as it was called (i was instructed that the people at my table would need assistance) After about 10 numbers she just looked at me and smiled. I asked her if she was NOT needing my help. She just laughed. We continued to play side by side for the rest of the time. I only helped when the caller spoke too fast or she couldn't reach the spot to lay down her bingo chip. Can I just say......this was a FANTASTIC way to start my morning. I am told that they offer numerous volunteering opportunities at Allendale Nursing and Rehabilitation. You can volunteer to do such things as help at a bingo game, paint nails of patients, read to patients, spend one on one time with them (play a card game or board game or put puzzles together). They have activities happening almost on a daily basis. If you have time in your day and you want to connect with some really amazing people and be the bright spot in their day.....PLEASE call and schedule a time to volunteer. It means so much to the patients. Until next time...........