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Community E-Newsletter                                                                                 Late April 2018
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Upcoming Events

April
24 - Radnor Elementary School 2nd Grade
      Radnor, PA 19087
25 -Cecil College Popcorn & PAWS (DeStress)
     North East, MD
25 - DeStress Event - Wesley College
     Dover, DE
25 - DeStress Event - Neumann University
      Aston, PA
26 - DeStress Event - Rutgers Nursing
     Blackwood, NJ
26 - DeStress Event - Lassonde-Pappas
     Carney's Point, NJ
26 - DeStress Event - Discover
     New Castle, DE
26 - DeStress Event - Wesley College
     Dover, DE
28 - Browseabout Books
      Rehoboth Beach, DE
30 - DeStress Event - Delaware County Community College
     West Grove, PA
30 - DeStress Event - Penn State Brandywine
     Media, PA

May
1  - DeStress Event - Delaware County Community College 
      Media, PA
3 - DeStress Event - Sun Valley High School
      Aston, PA
3  - DeStress Event - Balance Day, West Chester U, Philly Campus
      Philadelphia, PA
4 - Heritage Elementary Dog Care & Knowledge Group
     Wilmington, DE
4 & 5 - DeStress Event - West Chester U, Philly Campus
      Philadelphia, PA
5 - Claymont Community Center Book Fair
      Claymont, DE
7 - DeStress Event - Lake Forrest High School AP Exam
      Felton, DE
8 - Perryville Library Homeschool Program
     Perryville, MD
10 - DeStress Event - Radnor High School
      Wayne, PA
10 - Christiana Care Imaging Services at MOT Senior Center
      Middletown, DE
11 & 12 - Barnes & Noble Mother's Day Gift Wrapping
     Newark, DE
12 - Companions at the Campground
      Millsboro, DE
12 - Cherry Hill Middle School Health Fair
     Elkton, MD
14 - DeStress Event - UD
     Newark, DE
15 - Red Bank Elementary School 
     West Deptford, NJ
16 - Heart in the Game
     New Castle, DE
16 - DeStress Event - SAP
      Newtown Square, PA
17 - Stanton Middle School Literacy Night
     Wilmington, DE
18 - Wilson Elementary Kindergarten Visit
      Newark, DE
19 -Victory Christian Fellowship's Armed Forces Day Program
     New Castle, DE
20 - Philadelphia Walk for Williams Syndrome
      Philadelphia, PA
21 - Brandywine Wallace Elementary 1st Grade Visit
      Downingtown, PA


Save the Date
Save the Date


T hank You to Our Sponsors
Feedback Welcome!
A Touching Visit
The recent Animal-Assisted Social for Children with Special Needs visit went very well and was very rewarding. The children were all over Moose and Bailey; they really appreciated the bigger dogs and the parents enjoyed the smaller Carlo.
 
Carlo made friends with the baby sheep, the baby goats, the giant dogs (donkeys) and the big sheep and goats. They all were very interested in him and I am sure wondered what he was. They all wanted to do a 3 second greeting, Carlo and the animals, but I did not think it was a good idea. 
 
I had a very special visit with a boy in a wheel chair.  He appeared to have visual and speaking issues. He had a rabbit in his lap with his arms wrapped around it. He seemed to be very happy and enjoying the softness of the rabbit.  I hung around until the bunny had to leave.  I ask his parents if he would like Carlo to sit on his lap. They were very enthusiastic and excited.  I placed Carlo in his lap and his mom placed his hand on Carlo. The boy lit up and hugged him for quite a long time.  His parents couldn't thank me enough.  It really touched me.
 
Thank you PAWS for allowing me the opportunity to have such a great experience,
Vince & Carlo
Attention Members: Last Day to RSVP is Thursday
All members and friends are invited to attend 
PAWS for People's Volunteer Appreciation Celebration & 13th Anniversary Party.

If you are in the south:

Saturday, May 5, 2-4 PM
St. Martha's Episcopal Church
117 Maplewood St
Bethany Beach, DE 19930

If you are in the north:

Sunday, May 6, 2-4 PM
St. Mark's United Methodist Church
1700 Limestone Rd
Wilmington, DE 19804


Please come so that we may show our appreciation of the amazing work you are doing!

Please RSVP by THURSDAY, APRIL 26

Spring Fling Thank You's
Thank You to everyone who helped make the 2nd Annual Spring Fling a great success! Although the weather outside was dreary, inside Hockessin Memorial Hall it was a fantastic afternoon filled with delicious food and fabulous spirit.

Thanks to our sponsors:
Hillside Heating & Cooling, Discover; Ron & Jan Romich (In honor of our Grand-Kitty, Finnegan); Arthur Hall Insurance; Concord Pet Foods & Supplies; CW Wealth Management at UBS; Lassonde-Pappas; MartMed, Mart J. Amick, MD; Pet Kare II; Windcrest Animal Hospital; Atlantic Veterinary Center; Law Office of Kathryn Meloni & Nonantum Veterinary Clinic

Thanks also to 
 
 Those who shared their pet therapy stories: 
Erin Connelly, John Douglass, Aileen Murray, John Peacock, Elisabeth Simmons & Kelly Wascheck

Our Amazing Spring Fling Committee: 
Erin Connelly, Sam Dill, Beth Douglass, Sue Good, Jen Madden, Elissa Menashes, Aileen Murray, Melanie Sieber & Elisabeth Simmons

Our Wonderful Photographers: 
Stephanie Callaghan & Jim Kerrigan

Our Table Sponsors: 
Nemours, Brian Kroll, Kathryn Meloni, Lynne Robinson, Winston Robinson & Bill Sudell

Our Day-of-event Volunteers: 
Kasey Babcock, Stephanie Creech, Jean Hall, Nicola Hairgrove, Wendy Lewis, Craig McClintock, Tina McClintock, Abby Rodgers & Jennifer Watson

Our many donors of auction items and all of those who joined us.

The event raised over $18,000 to support the mission of PAWS for People. Thank you for helping us celebrate the magic and miracles of PAWS pet therapy!




Mother's Day Gift Wrapping
Join us at the Christiana  Barnes & Noble for Mother's Day Gift Wrapping!

We will be gift wrapping from 10 AM - 8 PM on the following days:
Friday, May 4
Saturday, May 5
Friday, May 11
Saturday, May 12

GIFT WRAPPERS & PET THERAPY TEAMS
Please sign up for a shift or two:  http://signup.com/go/nRAkqnf
PAWS Is Looking for...

...someone interested in promoting some of the PAWS programs. 

We have a lot to promote and welcome your help.

Contact Lynne (LRobinson@PAWSforPeople.org) if this could be you.
Logging Hours Using Your Cell Phone
If you would like to add Better Impact, the program PAWS uses to track your member profile and volunteer hours, to your cell phone, check out these short videos:



Once you are logged in, follow these steps to log your hours.

1. Select the menu button (the three horizontal bars in the top left of the screen)
2. Select "Hours"
3. Select "PAWS for People"
4. Start to type in the name of the location you visit.
  • If you visit at Abbey Manor, you can type "abb" and the site will appear as an option to select. 
  • If you visit at BeeBe, once you type in "Bee" three options appear, select the correct one.
  • You can type in "com" for community events to appear as an option.

5. Enter the date, hours, and minutes for your visit (don't forget to include travel time).

6. Select "Log Hours"

Keeping Your Dog Healthy with Diane Mayer

This workshop on Saturday, April 28, 10 AM - 1 PM is hosted by Diane Mayer at White Feather Farm. 

In this workshop Diane will delve into an expanded view of your dog. Who are these extraordinary beings that live with us, that bring us a deep sense of connection and partnership? We begin with their physical well-being, then travel through all aspects of their Nature. We find out how to connect with their intricate abilities to communicate, and why they hold such presence in our lives. You will leave this workshop with an exceptional sense of how to care for your dog in every aspect of their lives.
Video Spot
Look What Norman Can Do Now!
Hi Karen,

I just wanted to say thanks for helping Norman pass the STEX test. He is now official and had his first hospital visit to work with me in the stroke gym at Christiana Hospital. He did great and the patients loved him. 

One older lady who never wanted to come to PT practically jumped out of bed to come when we walked Norman over to ask her to come to PT with us. Another patient with a bad brain injury who had not followed any commands actually petted Norman and gave Norman a treat. 

Thank you,
Becky Brockson, PAWS member

Shining Stars
Laura Dugan Bogart & Bane
Laura joined PAWS with her German Shepherd, Bane, in March of 2017. They started visiting at Somerford House of Newark and then, after completing PAWS for Reading training, the Route 9 Library and Innovation Center. As an employee at Discover Financial Services, she helped to forge a relationship between Discover and PAWS. The first DeStress event she facilitated at Discover was such a huge hit, we now provide DeStress visits at Discover for employees working over all 4 shifts each month - and Discover is now a corporate sponsor, supporting the positive effects of pet therapy beyond their walls. Laura also assists at New Team Orientation and Training sessions. Thanks to Laura and Bane for bringing smiles to all they meet!

Valerie Vassar, Sandra Graper & Trudy
Valerie, Sandra, and Trudy, their labradoodle, joined PAWS for People in July of 2015. This mother-daughter team got involved because Valerie wanted to share her sweet pup with others. "I love animals and enjoy interacting with people," said Sandra when the team joined, "This is a great way to do both!" The team visits Easter Seals' Saturday Social/Respite program in New Castle, Delaware. They also attend community events; most recently they represented PAWS at the Egg Hunt for children with special needs. Thank you Valerie and Sandra for sharing Trudy with us and thanks to all three of you for brightening the days of those you meet!