HOME REPAIR GEARING UP

Are you a skilled carpenter, painter, craftsman, or just a weekend fix-it gal or guy? Do you have a few hours to spare on the weekends?   If so, we need you!   We are preparing to launch our home repair program soon and we are pulling together a Home Repair Leadership Team to help us get started.   If you are interested in serving as a Leadership Team member, please contact Beth Damsgaard-Rodriguez by phone or e-mail at the FBW office as soon as possible.

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SHORT-TERM VOLUNTEERS WANTED!

Are you looking for a volunteer project that is only one or two days?  Looking for a project that will allow
you to meet and work along side diverse individuals of faith?  Looking for family friendly projects that younger children can partake in? Are you a college student? Youth group?   Then our episodic projects are just for you!  Below is the Spring listing of upcoming projects.  Call Leslie Garvin at (314) 531-4787 or e-mail to register. You will receive more details, including driving directions, upon registration.

MARCH
Sunday, March 21 from 12:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. (refreshments will be served)
Day of Interfaith Service for Collegians (DISC)
Water Tower Beautification Project (College Hill Neighborhood, north St. Louis City)
Assembling at Tower Village Nursing Home, 4518 Blair Avenue

In October of 2003 we began the DISC initiative as an effort to bring diverse college students together for community service and interfaith dialogue.  For our first DISC project of the year participants will clean and beautify the area around the Old Water Tower and engage in interfaith dialogue. 20 Volunteers Needed.

Saturday, March 27, 2004 from 8:30 am to 12:30pm
Lead Safe Home Repair: How To Keep You And Your Family Lead Safe
Safety Support Services, Inc.
1410 S. Jefferson

Lead poisoning is the number one environmental threat to children under the age of six and is 100% preventable. Damage resulting from lead poisoning is permanent and can cause behavior problems, learning disabilities, loss of I.Q and many physiological problems.   If your home was built before 1978 and you are thinking about starting any home repair projects, we highly recommend this session.  

Interfaith Partnership, Faith Beyond Walls and Safety Support Services, Inc will sponsor a workshop, for individuals from the faith community interested in home repair, on lead safe work practices when doing a home repair project or remodeling and rehabbing.   The workshop is limited to the first 25 participants. Cost of the class is only $10. Curriculum and instructors are provided by Safety Support Services, an accredited environmental consulting firm. Contact Kori Fellows Orr at (314) 531-4787 or e-mail to enroll.

APRIL
Saturday, April 3 from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. (lunch will be served)
Day of Interfaith Service for Collegians (DISC)
Building and Removing a Playground
Washington/Euclid Montessori School
1130 N. Euclid

We continue our DISC initiative with this project located on two playgrounds in the school complex.  On one playground we will build a new addition to the current playground area. On the second playground we will remove the existing playground materials. This equipment removal will be supervised by skilled workers.  10 Volunteers Needed.

Saturday, April 17 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. (lunch will be served)
National Youth Service Day
Project #1 = Parks Beautification (25 volunteers needed)  *Youth and Family Friendly - all ages welcome
Boyd O'Guinn Park, 5935 Mable

Project #2 = Housing Restoration (25 volunteers needed) *For ages 13 and up
Charles Folwell Apartment Complex

Once again we will partner with the City of Kinloch to complete two community improvement projects. For Project #1 we will return to the park that we helped restore last fall to continue landscaping and sprucing up the area. For Project #2 we will clean and paint two previously abandoned apartment. Volunteers will also landscape and beautify the grounds in the area surrounding the apartments.

Sunday, April 25 at 2:00 p.m.
Earth Day Tree Planting Project
Location to be Determined

Faith Beyond Walls, Interfaith Partnership and the Jewish Environmental Initiative join the Earth Day festivities in Forest Park!   Trees and flowers will be planted in areas designated by the Forest Park Flora Park Conservancy and DJM Ecoscapes to help beautify the park.  We will meet at 2:00 p.m. at the Steinberg Skating Rink in Forest Park.  Volunteers are asked to bring gloves.  Call or e-mail to register.  To learn more about Earth Day 2004 in Forest Park click here.  

MAY
Saturday, May 8, Shift #1 is from 12noon to 3:00 p.m. and Shift #2 is from 3:00 p.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Letter Carriers Food Drive (20-25 volunteers needed per location)
Deadline for registration is Friday, April 9.

Post Office Locations:

• Jennings Branch, 9810 New Halls Ferry
• Creve Coeur Branch, 331 N. New Ballas
• Southwest Branch, 3232 Clifton
• S. County Branch , 5636 Telegraph Rd.
• Affton Branch, 55 Grasso Plaza

For the second year we are partnering with the St. Louis Area Foodbank to participate in the National Letter Carriers Food Drive.  Volunteers are needed to sort and package the donated cans and dry goods.  Last year 40 FBW volunteers assisted at five local post offices.   T-shirts and barbeque will be provided at each location.  This is a great activity for youth groups! When you call to register, let us know which location, which shift and your t-shirt size. 

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SUMMER SERVICE INITIATIVE IN ILLINOIS

In partnership with the SIUE Head Start program, FBW volunteers will beautify six Head Start Center s in St. Clair County, IL.  We are extremely excited to partner with Head Start, the national child development program for children from birth to age 5, which provides services to promote academic, social and emotional development, as well as providing social, health and nutrition services for low-income families.

From June through July we will beautify the interior and/or exterior of each Center.  Activities will include interior painting, graffiti removal, landscaping and beautification of the grounds. 

We need interfaith volunteers to assist us in putting faith into action so that toddlers can learn and grow in a clean and welcoming environment.  Lunch will be provided for Saturday projects and refreshments will be provided for Sunday projects.   Register today! Be sure to indicate which date you will participate. Please indicate if you require a kosher or halal meal.  Contact Leslie Garvin at (314) 531-4787 or e-mail.

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EMPACS RESPONDS TO COMMUNITY

EMPowering Active Community Seniors (EMPACS), which primarily works to engage seniors and retirees in community improvement projects also includes opportunities for volunteers of all ages who are able to participate during daytime hours.   There are still several slots available. Call Leslie Garvin at 531-4787 or e-mail today to register.

These are ongoing opportunities so we will schedule volunteers according to their availability. For example, if you are able to volunteer every Friday for a month or just one Friday a month, we will arrange dates for you to serve.   We do not expect the same volunteer to participate every single Friday. Just let us know when you call to register.  You will be given a brief orientation and tour of the location on your first day.

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Human Development Corporation Northside Center (Food Pantry)
4548 Dr. Martin Luther King Dr .
website: http://stlouis.missouri.org/hdc/
The Human Development Corporation provides services to assist low-income individuals and families to gain skills, knowledge and motivation to become self-sufficient and revitalize the community. * You do not have to come every week.  Just let us know when you are available.   

Every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 9:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.   or choose from two shifts:   shift #1 = 9:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. and Shift #2 = 12:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m. (2 volunteers needed)
- Help stack the shelves with donated food, assist clients in completing forms and prepare food baskets for dissemination.

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Our Lady’s Inn
4223 S. Compton  
website: www.ourladysinn.org
Our Lady’s Inn is an emergency shelter for pregnant women and their children. Volunteers will be asked to complete an application at orientation. Volunteer Opportunities are immediately available.    

Every Friday at 4:00 p.m.   (1 volunteer needed)
- Pick up donations from Pizza Hut at Grand/Gravois
Every Wednesday at 1:00 p.m.   (1 volunteer needed) As the donation location is subject to change from week to week we will inform you of the location each Monday.  
- Pick up donations of bread from local organizations.
Once a month.   (3-4 volunteers needed) As the monthly delivery date changes each month, we will inform you of the delivery date at the beginning of the month.
- Help unload donated food from the St. Louis Area Foodbank

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William L. Clay Sr. Leisure Living Community
5623 Clemens
website: http//: www.phcenters.org

The William L. Clay Senior Leisure Living Community is a residential living community composed of 18 apartment units for people with disabilities and their families and 60 apartment units for elderly individuals. Volunteer opportunities become available on April 1.

Every Thursday (time to be determined) ( 10 volunteers needed). 
- Assist residents with preparing and beautifying an onsite community garden.

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