Minutes:

No meeting tonight!  we essentially had it on tuesday. We'll plan to meet on 12/12/02 at the Outback, 7 pm, (i'll call ahead and reserve something for "local motives").  that will be our last meeting for 2002!!!

This friday evening (12/6) is the auction for the Blennerhasset Festival of Trees! 4 FREE tickets are available to us for having set up a tree. Let me know if you're interested and i'll tell you how to get them.  first come, first serve! the auction is said to be an exciting event, and coffee and desserts from the chef are provided! tickets are also available for $15 at the door.

had another FANTASTIC year for Secret Santa shopping!  Thanks to everyone who helped, for donating money and voting to have Local Motives donate $120 to the shopping! We helped 10 more kids have a merry Christmas morning this year, and got to learn what Yu-Gi-Oh cards and chicken elmo's were in the process!

this sunday evening, 12/8 is the Arc Christmas Dinner. Arrive at the Knights of Columbus at 5:15, and plan to stay till ~6:15. feel free to bring a dessert to donate! so far it sounds like ~4 of us will be there to help.  When you get there, head to the kitchen to be assigned your task for the evening!

The second week of December the Arc will be shopping and wrapping presents for their Secret Christmas project.  Those of you who helped last year will remember that this was a blast!  They still need 32 more sponsors at $40 each, or people can request wish lists, do their own shopping and wrapping and just drop gifts off to The Arc office. Call 424-3457 Ext.107 for more info.

These are the new items from Connect WV - call Sandy at 424-3457 Ext. 111 to help!

DO YOU KNOW HOW TO FORMAT A NEWSLETTER?  A local agency needs help with formatting a newsletter for a nine-county region, beginning in January of the new year.

PROVIDE INCOME TAX ASSISTANCE: Volunteer for 3-hour sessions at times convenient to you. Four days of training will be provided the week of January 6. Volunteers are also needed to screen applicants to make sure they have brought the needed information with them.

PROVIDE A FOSTER HOME FOR A PET: Care for a pet in your home until arrangements are made for the pet to be adopted or care for newborn puppies and kittens.

The following is the previous list, repeated, of volunteer opportunities this holiday season! lend a helping hand! For information year-round about volunteer opportunities, please call Sandy Tharp at the Volunteer Action Center at 424-3457 Ext. 111.

ARE YOU COMPUTER LITERATE? DO YOU ENOY WORKING WITH YOUTH?  Steve Tuck at the Children's Home Society (485-0650) needs volunteers to help youth with a computer recycling program (called "Tinkers"). He's looking for people who are computer literate, who enjoy youth, and who have an entrepreneurial  interest.

ARE YOU BUSY WITH JOB AND HOME RESPONSIBILITIES, BUT WANT TO VOLUNTEER FOR A WORTHY CAUSE?  Many girls wishing to belong to an after-school club cannot, due to a lack of transportation or family economics. You can be a mentor to a group of girls via computer from your place of work in the late afternoon or from your easy chair when you get home.  You will receive training and technological support in guiding the girls in the completion of projects.

MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN THE LIFE OF A CHILD:  Mentors are needed to serve as a role model and advocate to a child for a period of at least 12 months. Training is provided.  In addition to regular contact, the mentor will share occasional fun, informal activities.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO VOLUNTEER, BUT DON'T FEEL SKILLED? A local agency is looking for a volunteer to help them in their office two days each week to answer phones, make copies, send out mail, and provide general office help. You do not need prior experience ? just an interest in helping!

DO YOU ENJOY WORKING WITH GROUPS OF CHILDREN?  Volunteers are needed for help with after-school programs at different locations in Wood County. Depending upon what you like to do, you can help with arts and crafts, read with children, help with homework, and/or play board games.

THE ARC OF WOOD COUNTY   424-3457 Ext.107
     -Sponsor an individual with mental retardation or related developmental disability, age 12 and older in dire financial need. You may choose to either donate $40 or purchase gifts from the individual's wish list.  The ARC sponsors 130 individuals.
     -Donate cookies and/or cookie tins.
     -Donate items for toiletry kits ?shampoo, toothbrush and toothpaste or denture tablets, soap, razors; or items for housecleaning kits ? toilet paper, paper towels, Windex, laundry detergent, fabric softener.

CHILDREN'S HOME SOCIETY    485-0650
     -For their Right From the Start program, donate: diapers, baby wipes, formula, maternity clothes, baby clothes.

COMMUNITY RESOURCES INC.   422-5339
     -Adopt a family ? buy toys and/or food (45 families to be adopted).
     -Donations needed: turkeys, hams, or other food for baskets

COMMUNITY SERVICE STITCHERS & CRAFTERS   422-8882
     -Donations needed: Material, batting, and yarn for blankets for foster children. Stocking stuffers for 38 foster children, age 2 to 19.

FAMILY CRISIS INTERVENTION CENTER    428-2333
     -Adopt a family for Christmas (buy specifically requested items).
     -Donate any of the following: Board games; video game players with cartridges (new or used); movies for kids; sweeper; washable hallway runners; towels; cleaning supplies, paper products.

FAMILY DEVELOPMENT/HEAD START    485-7404
     -Adopt a family for Christmas ? While some local groups adopt the Head Start children for Christmas, their siblings and other family members are still in need.

GIRL SCOUTS OF BLACK DIAMOND COUNCIL   424-3457 Ext. 114
     -Adopt a girl, age 5 to 15
     -Donate canned food to their food drive at the City Park Festival of ights opening.

GOOD SAMARITAN CLINIC    422-7357
     -Donations needed: medical supplies, monetary donations

GOOD SHEPHERD EPISCOPAL CHURCH ADOPTED FAMILIES    428-1525
     -Donations needed for 75 families being adopted (200 children): socks and underwear of all sizes, hats, gloves, new or used toys, used children or adult clothing, monetary donations.

HUMANE SOCIETY     422-5541
     -Donations are needed: bleach, newspapers (unfold fully, then roll and rubber-band them), name brand dog and cat food or puppy and kitten food, pet beds, animal toys, dog and cat treats, old towels and blankets, copier paper.

M.O.M.S Club     428-5294
     -Help this mother's support group in their effort to sponsor family by providing gifts or ingredients for Christmas dinner
     -Donations accepted: diapers, baby wipes, clothes (infant to 2T), monetary (these items are donated to the Family Crisis Intervention Center)

OPERATION SMILE    420-9595 OR 1-877-SMILES5
     Donations needed:  monetary donations for oral surgery for children

PROJECT GABRIEL    424-3457 Ext. 105
     -Donations needed: cribs and crib mattresses, crib sheets, diapers (any size), baby wipes, formula, winter coats for infants and toddlers, maternity clothes.

SALVATION ARMY   485-4529
     -Volunteers needed:  to ring bells, to set up the Toy Shop and pack food baskets the week of Dec. 16, to assist with distribution of gifts on Dec.20.
     -Adopt a family by providing food and toys.
     -Take an Angel Tag (available at mall stores and area churches) and provide the gift listed on the tag.
     -Donations needed: toys, wrapping paper.

TOYS FOR TOTS    485-4588
     Sponsored by WTAP and the US Marine Corps Reserves, this program needs your donations of new, unwrapped toys. eave the toys in collection barrels found at Kincheloe Motors, Value City Furniture, Super China Buffet, any Foodland, any Shoney's, Turqouise Village, or WTAP-TV.

WOOD COUNTY HABITAT FOR HUMANITY     422-7907
     -Make a monetary donation to help provide warm housing for a partner family.
     -Donations needed: 2 computers

YWCA   422-5465
     -Adopt a teenager by purchasing gifts (100 teenagers total).
    -Monetary donations accepted.