Posts by category: Volunteers
May 6th, 2010 | Giving, Volunteers
By Tammi Holtorf
It all started less than 10 years ago, with a local farmer and a 50-lb. sack of potatoes. One Sunday, the farmer approached his pastor after church services and asked if some folks in the congregation might be able to use the extra food. The pastor knew of some families in need, and soon more potatoes and other food began to be dropped off at the church. Recognizing both a need for food among families in the community as well as an organized way to distribute it, members of the congregation formed a Board of Directors, and the Cannon Falls Food Shelf (CFFS) was born. Continue reading »
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May 6th, 2010 | Giving, Volunteers
Here’s what a few people who recently filled birthday bags had to say about their experience.
Natalie Rumble wanted to do something for her 52nd birthday that allowed her to give back. “The level of generosity from my friends and family who participated was overwhelming and heart warming. It truly is more fun to give than to receive – one of the best birthday’s ever.”
Shannon Thompson, Cheerful Givers board member, said “My children have so much, and others don’t, so it seemed like a great way to celebrate my son’s 2-year birthday by asking my family to bring gifts to make gift bags for Cheerful Givers. Delivering the bags to the food shelf was the best part. The volunteers were so excited about the beautiful gift bags and it was great knowing that people who needed something extra would be able to have them.” Continue reading »
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May 5th, 2010 | Funding, Giving, Kids, Volunteers
By James Kwee
The Hilger Philanthropist Club held their fourth annual “Best of Hilger” Talent Show on March 11th. The show is held every year to raise money for the Chattanooga Cheerful Givers pilot program which serves the Chattanooga, Tennessee, and Northwest Georgia area. Last year’s theme for the show was New York City, this year’s was “Light and Color.” The stage was decorated with brightly colored panels, illuminated by colored lights, bearing resemblance to a Rubik’s cube.
This year, the show was conducted under new leadership. Virginia Rickard, 17, former club Vice President, now President, who grabbed the reins to ensure that everything fell into place. Speaking about her first time running the show, Virginia says, “It was very different to be the head coordinator of the talent show. I didn’t expect there to be nearly as many details to take care of!” Continue reading »
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May 3rd, 2010 | Birthdays, Children, Giving, Kids, Volunteers
120 kids at Visitation School in Mendota Height spent time last Friday afternoon learning about how some children don’t get gifts on their birthday. They were amazed when hearing about the girl whose Mom said she got excited when seeing the ribbon on her birthday bag because now she had a ribbon to wear in her hair.
The fun began when students started filling birthday bags and adding a ribbon to each one. They quickly became cheerful givers!
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April 25th, 2010 | Children, Kids, Volunteers
Cheerful Givers volunteers enjoyed attending the last home game of the Minnesota Swarm Lacrosse Team on Saturday night with tickets compliments of the U.S. Army.
While the Swarm lost to the Orlando Titans in overtime, a group of kids from the Youth Box Lacrosse Team enjoyed showing their skills on the field at the Xcel Energy Center during half-time.
We were also pleased to have an information table to introduce Cheerful Givers to those attending the game.
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April 14th, 2010 | Birthdays, Children, Kids, Volunteers
3rd, 4th and 5th graders at St. John the Baptist School in Savage, Minnesota took time on their spring break to learn about Cheerful Givers and to fill some birthday bags. In reflecting on their activity, they each wrote about one thing they learned. Anna, age 11, said “I learned there are 140,000 kids that don’t get birthday presents in Minnesota” and Emma, age 9, commented “That not everybody gets presents but everybody deserves one.”
After competing in a team-building activity called Birthday Bag Bingo, the kids demonstrated their artistic ability in a smiling coloring contest.
