April 7, 2021 FridayMusings is your source for what we love about Livonia
Ken Stempien
Paul Shepich
Kate Mackie
Help Seedlings put another smile on the face of a sight impaired child. Kindness abounds.
Seedlings to hold a spring online auction!

    In lieu of its annual Bowling for Braille Books in-person spring fundraiser, Seedlings Braille Books for Children will hold a Spring Online Auction April 20-27.

    Due to Covid-19, this auction will be curbside pickup by appointment only for the winning bidders..

    Check out the more than 70 items and register to bid at https://bit/3cJgOrP. For example bid on this Baby bottle Sterilizer. Just one of the 70 unique items.

    Don't see anything you like? Make a monetary donation or fund one of Seedlings' ongoing needs.

    Help raise $10,000 for 1,000 braille books for children around the world who have vision loss. The kindness of Livonia shines through.

    Bidding begins at 8 a.m. Tuesday, April 20, and goes until 10 p.m. Tuesday, April 27.  Seedlings' office is at 14151 Farmington Road, Livonia.

    For more information, contact Karen Smith at [email protected].
Be Kind to your neighborhood
through neighborhood grants

The Neighborhood Grant Program was established by the Livonia City Council to encourage residents to work collaboratively to foster a sense of community and actively participate in making improvements to their neighborhoods. Councilman Jim Jolly was the main advocate of this program and continues to tout the benefits to Livonia.

SUPPORTING COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
A maximum of $500 per neighborhood grant can be awarded for projects/events that support community involvement and reflect positively on the entire City.

EXAMPLES
The types of projects or events can include:
  • Community art programs
  • Community events - e.g., neighborhood parties (eligible only once), Rosedale Gardens Parade
  • Public space landscaping/beautification
  • Stewardship of neighborhood parks and common spaces
  • Youth programs - e.g., Beverly Soccer League, Clements Circle Boy Scouts, etc.

APPLICATION
Complete an online application (PDF) or pick one up in person at the Community Resources office on the fifth floor of City Hall. The application deadline is May 31, and funds must be spent and documented by Nov. 30. Some restrictions apply.
HISTORY OF #BEKINDLIVONIA

The #BeKindLivonia campaign was borne of the success of The Blessing Bag Project, founded by Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church in 2017. Over the last several years, RGPC collaborated with the City of Livonia and the Livonia Police and Fire Departments to deliver blessing bags to thank and appreciate community groups.

That meant delivering pizza and gifts for the caring staff at St. Mary Mercy Hospital working on Christmas Eve in 2018 and gift bags for hundreds of Livonia’s disabled veterans in 2019.

WAYS TO DONATE TO #BEKINDLIVONIA 2021

This year’s Blessing Bag Project will recognize and support teachers in both Livonia and Clarenceville districts in December. If you would like to make a donation to support this year’s Blessing Bag effort, please visit Rosedale Gardens Presbyterian Church's website. Under the Giving type, choose Blessing Bag Donations LPS/Clarenceville.

Individual #BeKindLivonia 
In a partnership combining faith, business and civic leadership our hometown has set in place a program aimed at the opening up of our community.

By putting the "I" in Be Kind Livonia we are stating publicly what we all should know privately. A community culture by definition should include the concept of kindness.

Growing up in Livonia during the 60's neighbors would cross the street to shovel snow at the home of a senior citizen. You didn't think twice you just went out and did it.

Need a ride to the store? You bet. Alone for the holiday? Come on over. Lawn getting a little long? We would be happy to cut it.

Sister Nancy Marie Jamroz dropped a dime, "Thanks for connecting and spreading the BE KIND message."

Sister Jamroz it is easy for me to spread the word. It is up to Livonia to take the initiative and collectively showcase Livonia kindness.
Want more of a rabbit fix?

Join Livonia on Saturday, April 17, for a journey through the story of Peter Rabbit in our historical village at Greenmead Historical Park.

This children's event will be for ages 3-6 and advance registration required for $5 per child at:

Pick from story stroll sessions are at either 10:30 a.m. or 11:30 a.m. Sign up quickly, as spaces are limited!
Show your support for Being Kind

Individual #BeKindLivonia lawn signs will also be available to the public for a $20 donation, with proceeds supporting the Blessing Bag Project. Get your own Be Kind Livonia sign at the UPS Store #3011 on Five Mile at Newburgh. Check back for more information.
Paul Shepich thanks
the Livonia Beat
for their kindness.

Paul Shepich writes: Today I was surprised by The Livonia Beat, a cardio drumming group, on my front lawn.

They came to lift my spirits as I enter my last round of chemo & they sure did! Such kindness by so many people who gave up their time on a Good Friday to cheer up a person they don’t even know-ME!

I was in total shock & overwhelmed emotionally by this wonderful gesture. Thank you Julie Kimball-Kubiak for organizing this total surprise. I will never forget this kind gesture!
They played 4 songs & Dianne Shepich & Cameryn Paul joined in one of them by request of the group.

This is an example of the kindness in Livonia. It is a perfect example of what the #BeKindLivonia initiative is all about!

Thanks to their uplifting kindness I will be stronger going into my last round of chemo & I cannot thank them enough.
Dallas, a blind nine year old, shows kindness
to his brother
Dallas (pictured above) is one of "Seedlings kids!”

“I am a 9-year-old boy who is blind. I love to read Seedlings' books. These books help me to practice reading in braille. I have a little brother named Holden. He is 3 years old and I can read to him using Seedlings' books. When I read a big book from Seedlings, my brother usually falls asleep and I read past my bedtime. Also I take them to school so I can read when my teacher does the lunch count. The school even provides me with a basket full of Seedlings' books so I am able to read at school in the library.”
Blessings in a Backpack knows Livonia Kindness and says Thank you.

Thank you to Pet Supplies Plus for having a cereal drive for us. They collected over 180 boxes!

Thank you to Senator Dayna Polehanki for her recent donation to our program!

Thank you to St Paul's Presbyterian Church for doing a cereal drive for us. We appreciate the support!

Thank you to Abbey Curtis who is a senior at Stevenson. She hosted a cereal drive for us and collected more than 170 boxes!

Thank you to AlphaUSA for your continuing monetary support to our program!
Parks and Recreation is open for Summer Camp Registration

Summer camp registration opened today! If you’re a Kirksey Recreation Center member interested in Camp Swoosh or a Livonia resident interested in the Playground Program, a sports camp or a Snapology camp, registration is now open; with the next tier of registrations opening up later this week in most cases. Some camps will fill up quickly, so make sure to get your child signed up for camp ASAP at https://livonia.gov/1449/Summer-Camps, where more detail is also listed.
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