Day 7: Desserts for The Sherborn Council on Aging

Each Thursday, the Sherborn Council on Aging hosts a drop-in luncheon for the local seniors at one of our area churches.   It a lovely program offering good food, conversation, friendship and an interesting program/presentation to the participants.  Volunteers are needed to provide the menu of soup/salad, entree and desserts.  Today I was able to make a platter of desserts for the gathering.  Bianca and Olivia...see what you are missing?!!  xoxo Mum
coa@sherbornma.org

Day 7: Helping a Traveler

A different helpful task for sure, a friend that finds keeping track of how to use her cell phone a challenge, where she doesn’t use it often. Pretty much only uses it on trips and one is scheduled soon, so she came over for help to see how to use her cell phone. After a bit I realized that the instructions didn’t seem to be sticking with her, even after doing it a couple times. I told her I would put together a written procedure and did so on a index card. I made three copies, so she could keep one in her pocket book and one at home and one for whatever.

CELL PHONE
(1)Hold RED BUTTON down for
About 8 seconds to turn phone
Power ON or OFF
(2)To place a call depress number
Pads, and once all the numbers are
showing on phone screen, depress
the GREEN BUTTON once and call
will be sent and connection made.
(3)When call has ended, depress RED
BUTTON once and call is ended.
(4)Upon hearing the musical ring tone
Depress the GREEN PAD once and
incoming phone call will be accepted
When call has ended, depress the
RED BUTTON once and call is ended

She was ever so appreciative and actually went through the steps, so here’s hoping that her trip will be mentally more comfortable knowing she can use the phone if necessary.

BUPPA

Day 6: Bake Sale for Japan

Hi! It's Sophia. Today was the Student Council bake sale at my elementary school. The proceeds are going to the Red Cross to help Japan with their tragedies. I have been following the devastation in Japan on the news in the morning, so I was very interested in helping the cause. I went after school to the lobby to buy my treat. All of the 5th grade representatives of student council were there managing the stand. There were homemade cookies, cupcakes, brownies, and more yummy treats. Everything was sold for a dollar and it looked like they made a great profit. I hope that our contributions are well used in helping our friends.

Day 5: Volunteer at Kindergarten Physical Ed class

Hello, it is Sophia here. Today I stayed in from recess to help the gym teacher as an assistant with his kindergarten class. He needed volunteers and I was happy to help. This involved leading the warm-up exercises, (jump squats, crunches, jumping-jacks etc...) and then encouraging them to keep working hard and to finish well. When we went to stations, I helped out with the hockey station to give tips and at some points I was the goalie. It was really fun to see the excitement in their behavior. I forgot how little they were and it was hard to believe I was that small at one point! I look forward to joining them every Tuesday recess!

Day 5: Relay for Life Promotion at UPenn

Hi all! This is Bianca. Today I went to bluemercury, a makeup store on the edge of campus, to ask for a Relay for Life donation in their name. Last year, they donated free samples to the Relay Committee at the University to sell at the event. All of the money from the sales went towards cancer research. I also informed the employees that were unfamiliar with the Relay for Life what we were all about and encouraged them to inform others about the event and perhaps form a team. They said I need to put the request into writing, as they have recently changed management and now have stricter rules regarding the "giving away" of their free samples. I will be working on typing a request this week.

I am getting very excited for the event! It is only 2 weeks away and we have already raised thousands of dollars (and counting!) as a school.  http://www.relayforlife.org/

Day 4: Neighborhood Cancer Drive

Amidst the busyness of the A.M, I realized today was the day to send in the results of the Neighborhood Drive for The American Cancer Society. (I volunteered to address and send solicitation letters to the neighborhood on behalf of the ACS...perhaps not a very popular job; but certainly an important one).  They gave me a financial "goal" to try to obtain, which isn't easy as not too many respond--(5 out of 15). With the last generous return I received, it brought me $46.00 over the goal, so I was very excited and happy to mail my return knowing my effort was going to help the cause---helping others.  http://www.cancer.org/

Day 3: Coaching Special Olympics Swim Team

This is Paul.  Today I went to my weekly coaching session for the Wellesley STARS, our local Special Olympics swim team.  As usual, it was awesome.  The athletes range from 8-9 years old through young adult.  There is a huge range of (dis)abililites, but almost all the people are great to coach.  I have learned a lot from their perseverance and determination.  I considered myself a fairly experienced swim coach, but working with these athletes has changed the way I view a "productive" or "successful" practice or meet.
I'm sure the athletes appreciate the coaches help, but the biggest impression I've made so far is to one kid who thought my kelly green Guiness boxer shorts were the greatest thing he's ever seen.
Looking forward to next week.  http://www.specialolympics.org/