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Executive Director's Corner
With school finishing last week, I feel we've quickly catapulted into the lazy days of summer. I was thinking of the balance of lazy days and a life of discipline this week as I was encouraging my teenage son to focus on growing physically, spiritually, intellectually, and socially over the summer. I know that my own life mirrors the discipline woven into my life by a father who served in the Marines. As my son and I debated the purpose and value behind making his bed daily (even during the summer), I commented that I understood making up a bed doesn't change the world; however, it does develop personal discipline and those small positive habits in our lives will serve to propel us forward when life's greater challenges arise.
So what about you? What are your plans for the summer? Have you considered making your plans around the physical, spiritual, intellectual, and social growth ideas? I have a simple list that I'd like to share:
- Spiritual - Give thanks, worship and pray
- Intellectual - Read a book
- Social - Call a friend, help someone
When you think about creating your summer plans, with perhaps a little more flexible time in your schedule, I would encourage you to incorporate helping someone or "caring." In June, our United Way board and staff are focusing on caring because it is one of our organization's core values. We define caring as valuing and respecting people. At United Way, we are motivated by a strong sense of compassion to care for others in our community.
Cari Parker, our UWGK Board president, said it best recently: "We aren't prioritizing projects and programs for our community, we are prioritizing
caring." Our organization's mission reflects our emphasis on caring: "To improve lives by mobilizing the caring power of the community to address local health and human services needs effectively." This month our emphasis on caring will be shown to others by a remarkable "Week of Caring." Currently, over 80 projects are scheduled with over 700 volunteers committed to spend a day helping others. We hope you will take part in driving and inspiring community change. Please contact
Stephanie Crandall to find our how you may be involved with our 2015 Week of Caring.
Wishing you the best balanced summer ever!
Live United!
Executive Director
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United
WE READ
Summer Book Club
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The 3
rd Annual United WE READ Summer Book Club begins June 8th!
This year, more than 650 Kindergarten through 3rd graders will participate in the Summer Book Club through various summer programs like Big Brothers Big Sisters, Boys & Girls Club, Girls Inc., Kingsport Parks & Recreation, Small Miracles, and the YMCA.
The United WE READ Summer Book Club provides children an age-appropriate book to read over the summer to help prevent summer learning loss.
On June 26, the Summer Book Club Celebration will be a dinosaur-themed celebration at the Riverview Splashpad from 9 -11 a.m. In order to participate, children must read a book and complete an activity sheet to document their learnings. The celebration will include exercise activities, arts and crafts, and game-oriented learning opportunities.
For more information on United WE READ or the Summer Book Club, please contact Megan Miller.
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Meals on Wheels of Kingsport
UWGK Member Agency
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Meals on Wheels of Kingsport is a United Way of Greater Kingsport member agency. The volunteer organization provides hot, nutritious meals to isolated, incapacitated senior citizens and if appropriate, other home bound or disabled persons in the Kingsport area. During 2014, the organization delivered 56,133 meals. If you know of someone in the City of Kingsport that is in need of meal service, please call 423-247-4511 for an application.
VOLUNTEER DRIVERS AND COOKS NEEDED! Meals on Wheels of Kingsport delivers approximately 230 meals each day, Monday - Friday. Meals are picked up at 10:30 AM and most routes take about 1 hour to complete with an average of 16 stops. A cooking team is also needed to begin in early August. Cooks usually arrive around 8:30 AM and the meals are ready for delivery by 10:30 AM. Drivers and Cooks work best in teams, so pick your team (or we will happily put you with another team) and can give us a call at 423-247-4511 to get started volunteering! Training for Cooks and drivers is provided.
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| UPCOMING EVENTS Week of Caring: June 15 - 19 Contact Stephanie Crandall if you are interested in participating!
UWGK Module 1 Training:
Community Impact Initiatives
Join us to learn more about UWGK!
You are welcome to bring your lunch!
UWGK Conference Room
Upcoming Dates:
Wednesday, June 24 Wednesday, September 23 UWGK Module 2 Training: Community Impact Agencies Join us to learn more about UWGK! You are welcome to bring your lunch! Contact Stephanie Crandall to register 11:30am - 1:00pm UWGK Conference Room Upcoming Dates: Wednesday, August 26 Wednesday, October 28 |
Visit 2-1-1 Contact Concern of Northeast TN's
new website for free information about health and human services!
Visit
KATS website for information pm curb-to-curb transportation
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Red Nose Day
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UWGK joined United Way Worldwide and other regional United Ways to promote Red Nose Day USA on May 21st. Red Nose Day is a global campaign to raise money for children and youth living in poverty. The campaign encourages individuals to do something fun in the name of raising awareness around this serious global issue.
Red Nose Day culminated in a 3-hour live telethon on NBC on May 21st. The telethon included sketch comedy, live music from top bands, guest stars, and short films that showcase the cause. Local NBC affiliate, WCYB, partnered with regional United Ways to raise money to combat child poverty in our local communities. Donations were made directly to UWGK during the telethon using a Text To Give app. UWGK will divide the donations equally among six UWGK member agencies that work to combat childhood hunger.
Many thanks for helping us Improve Lives in Greater Kingsport!
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