Join in the fun at the Kirkwood 5K Run/Walk/Push

By Rachel H and Guest Blogger Lori Redding

We are thrilled to tell you about an exciting event in the Triad! On August 28th, 2010, we invite you to join the K5K Run/Walk/Push! It begins at 9am in the Kirkwood Neighborhood of Greensboro. The good news is that the course is flat and simple, so anyone can join in the fun and help raise money for a great cause.

Kirkwood is one of Greensboro's friendliest family neighborhoods. Nestled
just north of downtown Greensboro among sixty year old dogwoods, red maples, large poplars, and mixed hardwoods, Kirkwood is home to more than 250 families. Known as a young person's neighborhood, most homeowners are between the ages of 25 and 40 and are beginning their own families. Sprinkled throughout the community, however, are "neighborhood grandparents," couples without children, and single individuals, all of which create a rich diversity.

Friends of Kirkwood (FOK), a community group led by neighborhood residents, helps invigorate the sense of community within Kirkwood. With FOK's leadership, Kirkwood gives back to the community annually by hosting the K5K Run/Walk/Push. All proceeds from this race go to benefit a local charity that is actively making a difference in Greensboro. The last race raised over $3,000 for the ALS Association to honor a neighborhood member fighting ALS. This year, we are thrilled to be raising funds for BackPack Beginnings.

BackPack Beginnings (formerly known as The BackPack Program of Guilford County) is a Charitable Purpose Fund with the Community Foundation of Greensboro. It directly
affects childhood hunger in our county by sending school aged children home with backpacks full of nutritious and kid-friendly food on the weekends during the school year. It is based on The BackPack Program, a national model developed by Feeding America and Second Harvest Food Bank that has been implemented by Second Harvest in many counties in North Carolina- but not in Guilford County. Unfortunately, here in Guilford County, the problem of hunger may be larger than you think.

According to Guilford County School's Nutrition Office, 52.8% of children in our school system qualify for free or reduced lunches. That is approximately 37,000 children. Childhood hunger causes health problems, creates educational problems and leads to workforce and job readiness problems. BackPack Beginnings launched at Wiley Elementary and Shiloh Head Start in January 2010, feeding 50 and 15 children respectively. We plan to feed 100 or more students in the fall. The more money we raise, the more children we can feed. You can be part of the solution! Learn more about this program at www.backpackbeginnings.com.


We hope you will join us on August 28 at 9am for the K5K Run/Walk/Push. Details can be found at www.k5k.kirkwoodlive.org

Read more...

Good Friends, Good Times and a Good Cause!

By Guest Blogger, Laura Ellison

As the initial email went out from our friend, Stephanie Billings, inquiring if any of us would be interested in forming a team and joining the Susan G. Komen 3-Day Walk in Washington, I don’t know if I really even read through the details of the email. But, within minutes I replied with a “yes." Much to Stephanie’s surprise, there was no hesitation from anyone, and within the hour she had an inbox full of replies just like mine.

This all happened back in January, and the call was answered as our team “Walkie Ta-Ta Talkies” was formed. My friends, Stephanie and Leslie, have both walked the 60 mile event before, but for the remaining seven members of our team, we can only imagine. I think it was only days later that the reality of the 60 mile commitment began to pervade my senses. But really, can 60 miles be worse than cancer? Not even close.

The three-day event is held in 15 cities throughout the US each year. Our group has chosen Washington, DC as our destination for our more than one million steps. Participants walk 15-22 miles each day of the three-day event, spending two nights in the Cure Camp in two-person tents. It might not be the spa, but by the end of day one I am sure it will look every bit as wonderful as the Grove Park Inn.

My introduction to the Susan G. Komen Foundation, now know as Susan G. Komen for The Cure, came in 1989. I was a freshman at NCSU and my sorority’s philanthropy was the little known seven-year-old organization. The Komen Foundation began as a pledge from one sister to another to help bring attention to breast cancer and provide research funding the disease so desperately needed. Flash forward more than twenty years and Komen is recognized as the leading catalyst in breast cancer research and has raised over 1.5 billion dollars for research, education and health services.

Each of us participating in this three-day walk is responsible for raising a minimum of $2300 each to participate, so as a group, we will contribute over $20,000 to Komen. It is very empowering to know how much we are contributing to advance breast cancer research, screening and education.

As we lace up our shoes to train, or prepare mentally in the predawn hours on October 8th in Washington, each of us will have different motivations and emotions. For one, wonderful memories of a determined mother and grandmother taken too soon will carry her through her second 3-Day. For another, the loss of a lifelong friend and confidant will push her through. A sister’s bravery through surgery and treatment will help one cross the finish line. Another will be buoyed by the sea of survivors that will give her hope for her Mom’s future and the strength to press through the 60 miles. For me, motivation will come in the form of a teammate, one of my sorority sisters and dearest friends that has endured a year of diagnosis, multiple surgeries and treatment. If she can conquer cancer and walk this event I have nothing to do but encourage and walk! For all of us crossing the finish line knowing that the money raised by our team gives all Mothers, Grandmothers, Daughters, Sisters, and Friends hope for another day is overwhelming, but most importantly for all of us it is about friendship.

Our hope today is to inspire others to take on this challenge. We know that the friends, the cause, and the emotions will make this event one that will touch our lives forever.

If you are unable to particpate yourself, we'd love for you to contibute by helping sponsor our group! If you would like to make a contribution to the Walkie Ta-Ta Talkies please visit our website here.

Pictured above:
front row left-right:
Stephanie Billings, Susan Davis, Amy Crouch, Laura Ellison
Middle row:
Leslie Conway, Mary Kate Smith, Julie Fresina
Back Row:
Rene Zieg
Not pictured – Kristen Bierline

And don't forget to register to win a family four-pack of tickets to see Peter & the Wolf, compliments of Eastern Music Festival. Two TSP newsletter subscribers will win four tickets each! To register for these tickets, click here. This giveaway ends Friday, July 9. Good luck, Smarties!

Read more...

Lemon-Aid Stands to End Duchenne

By Guest Blogger, Allison Greiner

Last Spring, my son Matthew got this note in the mail:

Dear Matthew, I had a lemonade stand. I made $24.26. I hope it helps. Love, Jack.

This note is one of the most special pieces of paper that has ever been placed in our mailbox and it not only tells a beautiful story, but has become an inspiration.

My four year old son Matthew (pictured above) has a muscle disorder called Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). Children with this disorder lack the protein that allows muscles to regenerate and therefore over time, the muscles weaken, stripping boys of mobility, independence and a long adult life. It is a genetic disorder that affects one in 3,500 boys but, as in Matthew’s case, can occur as a spontaneous mutation. It is 100 percent fatal and for now, there is no cure.

Jack learned about Matthew and his struggle from his parents who had attended a fundraising event. Jack took it upon himself to set up a lemonade stand to raise money. Little did he know that this one act of kindness and generosity would turn into an entire campaign of kids helping kids in an effort to end Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Lemon-Aid Stand was born.

On the weekend of May 22-23, kids from all over Greensboro will be holding lemonade stands to raise money for Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, a not-for-profit that is dedicated to funding research worldwide to end this tragic disorder.

Pictured right is Jack, who has already begun selling this year in his home-made stand, made by his grandfather. He's already raised over $100!

The process is rather simple. Kids can go online at www.lemon-aidstand.com to register their stands. On this site, they can create their own fundraising pages that they may send to family and friends. They will choose a location to pick up their own lemon-aid kit. Kits include Kool-Aid lemonade, a Lemon-Aid sign, information about Duchenne and Parent Project Muscular Dystrophy, balloons, Dear Neighbor letters, tips for sellers and a thank you note from Matthew and Jack. Once their stands are registered online, they will print out their registration to turn in when they pick up their kits. With this information we will be able to collect their earnings at the end of the weekend.


We invite you and your child to participate in this event by either registering and hosting your own lemon-aid stand, or by visiting these stands during the weekend of May 22-23rd. On the website, you will be able to find locations of the stands so you and your family can support others!

Although this event is taking place city-wide in Greensboro, if you are in another Triad city and want to host a stand, please contact me, Allison, at greinerr@mindspring.com or call 292-0644. We definitely want this to grow! In addition, if anyone would like to be an organizer for your area next year, please email me!

The beauty of this event is that children will feel the joy doing something significant to help others and hopefully, they will become a lifetime supporter of the cause. But, of course, we hope that they will be able to say that they helped cure Duchenne muscular dystrophy with a little Lemon-Aid and a lot of heart.

Read more...

All for A Good Cause

By Rachel H

I have recently learned about a few inspiring stories and generous ideas going on in our area. I have fundraisers, charities, and events listed below taking place in all areas of the Triad. I know these stories will touch our readers and that you will want to become involved! The first event takes place tomorrow, and the rest are within the next month. The 1.1.11 mission will continue throughout the year. Please take some time to read these remarkable stories below and show your support where possible!

Warriors for Wells - As mentioned, this first event is tomorrow, Wednesday, April 21, 2010. You can go out to eat and raise money for The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation at the same time! Plan to eat lunch, dinner or BOTH at The Loop Pizza Grill in W-S and 10% of the revenues all day will go to The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation in honor of Wells Clark and the Warriors for Wells team! Wells Clark is a nine year old boy who was diagnosed at just three weeks old with Cystic Fibrosis. Wells demonstrates tremendous courage and hope as he fights daily against this life threatening disease. Wells stays active playing soccer, basketball and baseball, but this disease is still wreaking havoc on his young lungs.

There is currently NO CURE for Cystic Fibrosis and the median life expectancy is 37 years of age. Warriors for Wells was formed when Wells was six months old, and the team participated in the first Cystic Fibrosis Great Strides Walk to raise funds towards a cure for Cystic Fibrosis. Warriors for Wells will not stop the fight until the cure is found.

Please help spread the word! Visit The Loop tomorrow and be sure to tell the cashier you are there for the Warriors for Wells event so they can keep track of the donations. Visit the Warriors for Wells Facebook page here. You can also learn more about this year’s Great Strides Walk here, which takes place this Saturday!

America’s Most Wanted All-Star - On Oct. 7, 2009, Sgt. Mickey Hutchens of the Winston-Salem Police Department was shot in the face while he was backing up two officers who were doing a domestic violence warrant service.
Mickey died just five days later. During the domestic dispute, this man who shot Mickey, also shot Officer Daniel Clark. Although Daniel was wounded and knocked to the ground, he was able to return fire, killing the suspect. Many of you remember this incident and can agree that we may never know how many lives Daniel saved that day, because the suspect had already tried to enter the nearby Bojangles Restaurant. Thanks to these two officers, the public was kept safe.

Daniel Clark has been nominated for America's Most Wanted All Star. We would love for all of the Triad to help honor him by voting for him here. You can vote once a day until May 3rd. Wouldn’t it be wonderful for Daniel to get the recognition he deserves for all he has done to protect the public?



Drake Naylor Invitational - Drake Naylor was born on August 24, 2005. He has a rare chromosome abnormality which has left him deaf/blind and severally multi-handicapped. After realizing how many families were affected by different disabilities, Drake’s parents, Shane and Trish, wanted to help those who had helped them. In May of 2006, the Naylor family and Shane’s Sporting Clays decided to host the Drake Naylor Invitational, an event to help support the
Greensboro Cerebral Palsy Infant/Toddler Association housed at the Gateway School.

They had hoped to raise around $5,000, but at the end of the day, on May 27, 2006, they had raised almost $53,000!!! It showed everyone, including Drake, what a difference we can make TOGETHER. This year is the 5th Annual Drake Naylor Invitational. It will take place on May 29th. The event is held at Shane’s Sporting Clays and is held like a golf tournament, but instead you will be shooting clay targets! And for those who don't shoot, there will be lunch by Sagebrush (please reserve your seat) and a fab silent auction!!! You can learn more about the event here.


The 1-1-11 Mission - This is a worldwide campaign started by two women – Debby Yennaco and Carolyn Flaherty. We have 1 world, we are blessed with 1 life, you are 1 person, and 1 person can make 1 HUGE difference. YOU are instrumental to the mission. Together as 1 we will raise $1,000,000 for charity by 1-1-11.

The mission will be accomplished by selling 1,000,000 tee shirts for $11.11 each. The tee shirt looks great, as you can see, and is printed with water based inks on organic cotton grown to be friendly to our 1 world. You can purchase your mission shirt at www.1-1-11mission.com .

These ladies are so certain that this challenge will be successful that they are offering back to the members of our mission. The 111th person to purchase a tee shirt will receive the shirt for free. The 1,111 person to purchase will receive $111. The 11,111 person to purchase will receive $1,111. The 111,111 person to purchase will receive $11,111. If the goal is surpassed and sales reach 1,111,111 the purchaser of that shirt will receive $111,111. This is how they commit to make a difference in your 1 life and thank you for making 1 HUGE difference in lives around the world. Visit the website to read more about the charities that you will help out, along with personal stories from those who can directly benefit from this mission.

High Point Firefighters Association 5K Charity Run - The purpose of the High Point Firefighters Association Charity Run is to assist those who give of themselves selflessly. This is a way to support the people who put our lives before their own each and every day. We would love for you to visit this website to learn more about this event, take part in it, donate, or simply spread the word. This first year, they are supporting two different charities, the fire department and the police department. Both are all donation charities and both are tax deductible! The event takes place on May 8, 2010 - Rain or shine! 5K Run Start time at 08:30am, Entry Fee: $25.00, 1 Mile Fun Run Start time at 08:00 am - Until the day of the race $10.00.

Strollers for the Cure- Now you can get involved in the Race for the Cure event even if you have little ones in tow! Participants of the 11th Annual Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure can register to take part in a free event called Strollers for the Cure. The race will be held on Saturday, May 1, 2010, at Salem Academy and College. The start line will be at the Old Salem Visitor Center across from Old Salem in W-S. In case you missed our blog on Race for the Cure, you can find it here.

Infant/toddler t-shirts will be available for purchase the day of the race at the Strollers for the Cure tent. There will also be juices and kiddie food at the tent. Join in and decorate your stroller, because prizes will be given to the most creative and unique decorations. Decorations will also be available at the tent once you arrive. We hope some of our Smarty Mommas out there will choose to participate and show your children how you can make a difference! find out more at www.komennctriad.org.

Read more...

Happy Easter & The Power of Cream of Mushroom Soup

By Krista W, Charlotte Smarty Pants

Happy Easter! We hope the Easter bunny was good to all our Lil' Smarties out there. As we spend time with family and friends on this beautiful Sunday and reflect on what this day is all about, we wanted to run this touching blog by CSP blogger Krista W to honor the incredible community of moms we surround ourselves with everyday. Every one of you is a blessing! - TSP team

I’ve baked a thousand casseroles in my life but never imagined I would receive a thousand. Yet, on a lovely fall day (the kind you dream about in the summer and practically beg for in winter), my turn in the “casserole circuit” began. On September 30th, my precious daughter (Lily Katherine Wilson) was stillborn at eight months . . .

As I sat in the hospital mourning the loss of our daughter, I wondered how I would ever learn to live again. All the dreams I had for my family seemed to pass with her. I pictured my life without Lily in it and all the lovely moments I would never experience. I would never see Lily dancing in our kitchen in a princess dress, never talk about her heart being broken by a foolish boy, never kiss her skinned knee, or even watch her blow out her first birthday candle. I carried Lily for eight months and knew her every move, but I will never know her eye color.

As I looked at the past and what could have been, an army of women across my home town of Charlotte were looking towards the future and how to care for my family. Cream of mushroom soup was being purchased and family recipes, the ones that are shared for generations and are believed to have true powers, were being pulled out of recipe boxes. Our friends and community starting planning on healing our family, one casserole at a time.

A dear friend and true saint, Lori Martin, organized a meal delivery for us and over the next several weeks our door bell rang, and strangers and friends alike brought us meals. We rejoiced in the love poured into each baking dish. We rejoiced in seeing people at our door to remember our daughter and acknowledge our pain. The “casserole circuit” is amazing and I’m so proud to be a part of it. These women gave me the strength I needed to endure the most painful experience of my life. One thoughtful friend even brought us milk because I feared going to the grocery store and seeing people I would have to explain our loss to. My husband and I learned so much about what it means to be a part of a caring community and to give unconditionally.

I wonder if the women of Charlotte know how amazing they are. Ladies, we could run The White House if only our schedules would allow the time. Will you wonderful women ever fully understand what you gave to my family? Through Tupperware and teary eyes you told us that everything was going to be okay. You taught us that in even the darkest moments, there is light.

Now, when I cook for a family, whether to honor times of joy or sadness, I treasure every turn of the spatula knowing my time matters more than I could have ever imagine. I’ve learned to believe in the miracle of life, the importance of owning good Tupperware, and the healing powers of cream of mushroom soup.

Smarties, don't forget to register for this month's give-away with Whitebox Photography. Just be sure you are a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber, then click here to enter your name in the giveaway! We will choose a winner through Random.org on April 9, 2010 and will contact you that day!

Read more...

Little Hands Helping Haiti

By Rachel H

When an event such as the earthquake in Haiti hits the news, hearts are touched and people want to do all they can to help. It is a perfect time to teach your children sympathy, generosity, and thoughtfulness. We wanted to highlight some of the things that children are doing around the Triad to help raise funds for Haiti, but also to give you inspiration to do things like this with your children all year round. Whether you raise money for a family whose home was recently burned to the ground, or help out a family whose parents are out of work, or collect funds for a child overseas, all of these things will build an awareness in your child that will last for years.

I am excited to share with you how little hands in the Triad are making a big difference for many others in Haiti ...

Laura Ellison's oldest son, Sam, was inspired by a clip that ran on ABC News featuring Laura's former boss and friend, Miles Wright. Miles was making a rescue trip to Haiti, and the Ellisons had been praying for his safety and for his friend he was going to help. Sam had plenty of questions and seemed to be very worried.

So, the next day they made some signs and sat outside their home in Greensboro for two hours in the sunshine with some lemonade and limeade. Laura told Sam that she and her husband would triple any amount that was raised. The day of the lemonade stand, Sam made $95, and that total is now $105. He really wanted to stick us with a big bill and we were happy to triple any amount he made! All the money went to Hearts with Haiti, the organization that Bill Nathan runs. Laura says, "Sam is a great kid, but I honestly was very impressed with how seriously he took this. He said that it really made him feel good to do something for someone else."


Martha Chamberlin, a teacher at Knollwood Baptist Preschool in Winston remembers a student coming to school last week and asking, "Did you know there was another earthquake in Haiti?" as he described the tremor or aftershock of the earthquake in Haiti. Even the youngest children in the school were aware of this tragic event. The school decided to send letters home to parents and each classroom kept a collection bag outside their classroom door.

As students walked down the hall and saw each bag, a discussion was stimulated. They asked questions such as, "Why do the bags have a picture of a medical kit?" and "What are they going to do with the supplies we collect?" This obviously transgressed into a heartfelt discussion and what the children could do to help. You can tell by the smiles on their faces in the photos that they were glad that they were doing something good. They helped load up all the goods collected on Friday and felt terrific that their little hands had contributed to helping someone in need.


The fifth graders at Meadowlark Elementary in Winston Salem decided they wanted to raise money for Haiti. One of their teachers, Martha Bethel, came up with the idea of a "Yard Sale" where the students would go home and find items that they could sell. She had introduced this idea a few years ago after Hurricane Katrina, and thought it would be the perfect time to do something like this again. The students found and priced their own items and brought them to school on Friday for the "in-school yard sale." Each grade level, K-5, was invited to stroll through the classrooms to shop. Each student had their own "store" on their desk displaying the items they had for sale.

Needless to say, the shoppers had a blast, and by the end of the day, the fifth graders had become fabulous salespeople! How could you turn them down when the money was going to help people in Haiti? This idea was fabulous for so many reasons. Not only were students raising money, but they went through their own things and decided what they would give up in order to help raise money for someone else. Their hard work through this entire process helped them to feel so confident in their ability to help others. By the end of the yard sale, the fifth graders had sold $2635.00 worth of toys, books, and stuffed animals!

Have your children or has someone you know gone the extra mile to help someone in need? Please share your story with us below!

Read more...

How and Where to Donate Stuffed Animals

By Katie M

A reader wrote to us the other day and asked if we knew of places throughout the Triad that would accept used stuffed animals, and if not, would we blog about it. She was cleaning out old toys to make room for all the new ones that arrived during the holiday season. I think I wrote back saying, “Sure, no problem. We’ll pull together and get it uploaded on TSP.” Well, little did I know at the time that finding places that accept used stuffed animals is more difficult than finding Zhu Zhu pets!

The obvious places you’d choose for toy donations, like Goodwill, no longer accept used stuffed animals. And it has nothing to do with germs, but more to do with regulations regarding the fire retardancy of the materials inside. Who knew? Like many of us, the reader who wrote us has a million stuffed animals that have been hugged maybe once or twice, and then crammed into the “stuffed animal basket” never to be loved again.

So, I am calling on all of you, our readers, to see if you’ve ever been in this predicament before. If you know of any organizations in the Triad that accept used stuffed animals, please list your suggestions in the comments below, or email us here! If we get enough responses, we’ll post a follow up to this blog!

Here are some ideas I found with help from www.ehow.com (I love that web site, by the way!). If you’ve had first-hand experiences with any of these places below, again – send us a comment or email us directly.

1. Sometimes local police departments, sheriff’s department or fire department will accept small stuffed animals to calm children involved in accidents, accompany children en route to a hospital, or soothe kids who are lost or involved in custody incidents.

2. Stuffed Animals for Emergencies (SAFE) collects new and gently used stuffed animals and toys to be redistributed to police, fire and rescue, ambulance services, children’s homes, hospitals, life flight, and other emergency organization. Brandi Byers is the North Carolina representative, however, I am not sure where in NC she is located. She can be emailed at brandi_byers@yahoo.com.

3. Project Night Night, is an organization that donates individual tote bags to homeless children ages 0-10, each filled with a security blanket, an age-appropriate book, and a stuffed animal. There are shelters across the country, with one here in Winston-Salem! You can contact Family Services, Inc, 1200 South Broad Street, W-S, at 724-3979.

4. Sometimes homeless shelters, battered women’s shelters or senior centers accept donations of stuffed animals.

5. Toys for Tots collect toys that were never used or are still in their original packaging for children of all ages (from newborns to teens). Their big drive is between October 28 and December 9 at all Toys R’ Us and Babies R’ us locations across the country. But here is a link to all their toy drop-off locations in the Triad.

Where else can you think of? And has anyone tried these places listed above?

Don't forget to register for the January giveaway from Andrea Halsey Photography! Click here to learn more about her business and register. This giveaway registration will end on Friday, Jan.15th.

Congratulations to today's winner of the Monster Truck show tickets, Paula Willey! We hope you enjoy the show!

To register for the Monster Jam giveaway, click here. Don't forget that you must be a newsletter subscriber in order to qualify for either giveaway. Good luck!

Read more...

Giving to Others During the Holiday Season

By Guest Blogger Anne Powers

Anne wrote this blog for us over the summer, and we wanted to run it again because it had so many wonderful ideas of how to give to others without expecting anything in return. It is great to participate in these activities at any time of the year, but we hoped our readers would take an idea or two below and spend some time helping others along with their children while the kids are out of school for the holidays. It is a fabulous way to show your children how important it is to care for others ... Rachel H.

1. Volunteer for a Meals on Wheels
Older people often do not get to share company with younger children. Meals-on-Wheels is in need of volunteers to deliver hot lunch meals to the homebound elderly. The parent will need to call to arrange a 45 minute orientation (good get even if you’re not sure of the date when you want to help). A route generally takes 90 minutes to complete. Volunteers can deliver once a week, once a month or anything in between. Click here for a listing of phone numbers for your area Meals on Wheels.

2. Pick up trash around parks, lakes, creeks, etc. Be sure to wear appropriate safety gear. You can visit the Keep America Beautiful website for suggested Triad areas that need cleaning. The website includes links and phone numbers for the individual Triad cities.

3. Take flowers to a shut-in or a recently widowed person in your church or community. You can even have your child decorate the vase. Use a mason jar. Purchase multi colored yarn and glue yarn around the jar. Contact a local nursing home to see if they have some residents in need of some sunshine! Be sure and ask them questions. For example: ask them to tell you what they used to do in the summertime when they were children.

4. Recognize and appreciate your local policemen or firemen.
Together with your child, make some baked goods and take them to the fire station or police station. Be sure to include a note of thanks that your child wrote or helped color! Drop it off without expecting a tour of the station!

5. Send a care package to a member in the military. Letters and gifts from home mean a lot. http://www.anysoldier.com/ has some great ideas of how to do this.

6. Smart Start: Get your children to help you look for pre-school books that can be donated to Smart Start. Smart Start is dedicated to helping make sure all children Birth through 5 are ready to go to Kindergarten. They are especially in need of bilingual books. Smart Start serves every county in NC. Visit their website to get contact information for your area.


7. Visit a Nursing Home: Contact a local retirement home and arrange for you and a group of your friends with children to have story time, music time, or craft time with the residents. The residents will undoubtedly enjoy watching the children.

8. Car Ministry: Have your children help you make some bag lunches with non perishables which you can keep in your car. Give the snacks to homeless people you may come across. Include a note that says Have a great day!

9. Drive Thru Sunshine: Have the children make and decorate paper hearts. On one side write Have a great day and on the other side write “Thank you for what you do!” Keep a supply in your car and have the kids hand them to drive-thru workers before you leave the window.

10. Amani Children’s Foundation: Have an "Amani Birthday party” (pictured above) or sort beads which then are used to make beautiful necklaces to raise money for New Life Homes. Information: http://www.amanichildren.org/.

11. Make Dinner: Together with you child, make a dinner for families at the Ronald McDonald House. There are locations near us in Winston-Salem, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

12. Collect items of need for people at Prodigals Ministries or Samaritan Ministries. With your children, deliver the items. Lists of needs and “items of the month” can be found at their websites.

13. Donate Food leftovers from vacation: Take your leftover nonperishable food items to a food collection site at the place where you vacation.

14. Start a Used Battery Collection service for your neighbors. Have your children go to your neighbors and request that they save their old batteries. Every month, collect the batteries and take them to a collection spot. One I found is 3RC Enviro-station at 1401 S. MLK Drive, across from Bowman Gray Stadium in W-S. (Note: Batteries leak toxic chemicals into the soil and need to be disposed of in a different way than just throwing in the trash.)

Please share any of your own ideas below.

Read more...

PJ's for the Cure: Extra Sweet Dreams

By Guest Blogger, Amy Takacs

We are excited to feature another Gift Idea blog today, but this one has a great spin on it. Not only is this a fabulous gift idea for girls, boys, and ladies, but you will be donating to a terrific cause. Keep reading for all the info on how to shop and give at the same time! ... Rachel H

As a Mom, we all get a little google-obsessed when it comes to our child’s health. I was no exception when my youngest daughter was diagnosed with Type 1 (Juvenile) Diabetes just this April. At the young age of six, my “Extra Sweet” girl as I call her was sentenced to a life of daily pricks and insulin shots. While I call her Extra Sweet, she did not contract this disease from eating too much sugar. Her body no longer produces insulin like yours and I do. But, we’ll save the medical lesson on the difference in Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes for another blog entry.

I’m here to tell you about an “Extra Sweet” deal, available just in time for holiday giving. My googling often lands me on the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) website, looking for some hope for a cure for diabetes. Komar, the largest sleepwear and intimate apparel manufacturer in the United States, created PJs for the Cure to benefit JDRF. The PJs are adorable - there are designs for girls, boys and women.


This program is unique in that Komar is donating 100% of every sale to JDRF to fund further research for a cure for this chronic disease that predominately strikes in childhood. The goal is to raise $1 million for JDRF by selling comfy cotton pajamas. Now that’s something to feel all warm and snuggly about! Please visit www.pjsforthecure.org and give someone on your list the gift of Extra Sweet Dreams - and hope for a cure for my Extra Sweet girl!

Amy Takacs is a work-at-home-Mom to two daughters, Natalie (9) and Claire (6). Earlier this year - just a few months after relocating to Winston-Salem with her husband, Warren’s, job - her youngest was diagnosed with Type 1 Diabetes. She quickly learned the value of living in a city with a top-notch children’s hospital and amazingly supportive residents. When not caring for her daughters and 13-year-old golden retriever, Ruby, you can find her at her Macintosh designing brochures, magazines, ads and whatnot for her clients. You can watch a heart-touching video about her daughter Claire at www.clairescourage.com.

Don't forget to register for our Ultimate Holiday Give-Away! Click here to take our survey and register , but first be sure you are a newsletter subscriber. (This is required for you to be eligible as a winner.) Our winner will be chosen at noon on Friday, December 11th by a random number search. We will contact you that day to let you know that you are our winner, and we’ll feature you as our Giveaway winner on Sunday, December 13th. Pass this blog along to your friends so that you can also be entered to win tickets to the circus! The more friends who register, the better your chances of winning! Good luck!

Read more...

Seeds of Love for Errol

By Guest Blogger Jonathan Milner and Katie M.

In a certain sense we all start dying as soon as we are born, but with the birth of our son, Errol Milner Clifford, death came to take him immediately.

The first sound a healthy newborn makes is a loud cry. From the moment of his delivery we waited for this sharp wail of life. It did not come. The midwife patted his back to force the cry. It did not come. The nurse suctioned his lungs. It did not come. The midwife gave him oxygen. The cry did not come.

Through our tears of joy and exhaustion and excitement we realized that something was wrong with our child. He would not cry. Something was keeping him from this world. Something was terribly wrong.

This was not the arrival we had anticipated. Nothing is guaranteed in life, but we had assumed that the prenatal yoga, vitamins, sobriety, child birthing classes, and good humor we kept would protect us from danger, fear, death, this.

After the heat lamp failed to increase his pulse rate and after the oxygen mask was unable to sustain his breathing we rushed to the hospital ten minutes away. Errol was fading from the new life he had just begun. - JM

Errol lives down the street from me, and while I knew he and his family have been bravely battling a host of challenges, I never fully realized their struggles until I read the articles that have been running in Forsyth Family magazine. It’s an unbelievable story that not only moves you, but stays with you.

The introduction to today’s post is the first in a series of blogs that Errol’s dad, Jonathan, has been writing since Errol’s birth. Beautifully written, these entries detail the journey that parents Jonathan and Cary (and their five-year-old son Owen) have endured for the past three years.

You can follow Jonathan’s blog by clicking here. And not only does the family chronicle their story, but they – along with a community of friends and family – have started Seeds of Love for Errol - a series of fundraising events to help cover the medical costs of Errol who suffers from a rare heart defect called Pulmonary Atresia (Errol just recently endured his third open heart surgery), as well as other problems – terrible vision, mental retardation, low muscle tone, and poor bones and teeth. Yet despite all this, Errol is one of the happiest kids and has a wonderful personality.

The culmination of Seeds of Love for Errol is a community dinner and raffle. On September 19 at 6:30 pm at the Vintage Theatre (on Vintage Avenue in the Washington Park neighborhood of Winston-Salem), the event will include a dinner, wine tasting, live music and a raffle. The meal will be prepared by local chefs using the food locally grown in the gardens in and around the Washington Park neighborhood. Neighbors have banded together to grow produce specifically for this event, many of whom have never planted a garden before. The idea is to create a low carbon footprint meal; therefore, helping the environment as much as the event helps Errol. John LeBlanc, a filmmaker, and his students from the North Carolina School of the Arts are filming a documentary about the fundraiser and the neighborhood coming together for the common good. Winston-Salem Mayor Joines will open the event.

Any one can attend, and all are encouraged to do so. Tickets are $40 each, and you can email Eddie Ingle at eingle@unifi.com or call him at 336-816-7333 to purchase your tickets. In addition, the event will feature a raffle (click here to see the amazing items being raffled off), and you can purchase raffle tickets in advance through Cathy Cooper 336-575-7146 or Eddie Ingle at 336-816-7333.

Leading up to this dinner event, Seeds of Love for Errol has been holding multiple fundraising activities throughout the summer, including Children’s Heart Awareness Day in late August, as well as bake sales and lemonade stands.

You can learn more about sweet Errol, his amazing family, and this wonderful community event by visiting the web site www.SeedsofLoveforErrol. We hope you can attend and support Errol! - KM

Read more...

Why I Got Involved with Big Brothers/Big Sisters

By Guest Blogger Anitra M

I asked Anitra to write this blog about her experiences with Big Brothers/Big Sisters after Rachel H and I were invited to a BB/BS luncheon. I knew little about BB/BS at the time, and was amazed to learn so much about this wonderful organization, the parents who give so much of their time and love, and all the incredible "little brothers and sisters." I also had no idea Anitra and her family were involved as "Bigs" before attending this luncheon and discovering her husband is the president of the local BB/BS chapter. Anitra and her husband, Brad, have two beautiful boys: Cooper (age 5) and Turner (age one), and one amazing "little brother" Steven. I hope you enjoy their story. - KM

Our first encounter with Big Brothers/Big Sisters came in 2005 when my husband, Brad, joined the Board of Directors of this wonderful organization. I had never realized how many kids there are out there that need someone to just “be there for them."

To help these kids who are waiting for a Big Brother or Big Sister, the agency plans special events such as “Big Brother/Sister for a Day." Brad volunteered and that is when he first met 12-year–old Steven. Steven was fortunate to have a loving mom and three outstanding older sisters, but no father in the house. His mother wanted Steven to have a positive male influence in his life. so she contacted BB/BS.

Brad and Steven had a great day together, and soon after we received a call from BB/BS asking us if we would be interested in matching with Steven. The time commitment is one hour each week for two years. At the time, we were very new parents and were already overwhelmed! There were never enough hours in the day. We discussed the opportunity and decided to go for it. Steven was someone we really wanted to know better. We also wanted our son to learn at an early age the importance of community and caring for others. It was definitely the right choice for our family because the rewards have been immeasurable. Steven has added just as much, if not more, to our lives as we have to his.

Being a “Big” is a wonderful way to volunteer and have lots of fun at the same time. Some of the activities are for the entire family, but sometimes it’s just the boys. We’ve gone to the circus, ride bikes, play golf, watch movies, play Wii, go to dinner, hang out at our home, and play basketball. We’ve even taken a couple of road trips to see the Clemson Tigers play in Death Valley.

Our growing family has been blessed to have a part in Steven’s many accomplishments over the past four year. He was an honor student at Paisley when we first met him and now he will be finishing out his junior and senior year of high school at NC School of the Arts due to his amazing musical talent. We have also been able to witness several other of Steven’s achievements. He has been Secretary of the National Youth Achievers, President of Student Council at Paisley, All Region and All State saxophone player, jazz band, Eagle Scout and Governors School. We are so proud of him!

Even though our two year commitment to BB/BS is over, Steven is and will always be an important part of our family. Just as with my own two sons, I look forward to the many things that are in Steven’s future and can’t wait to see what life has in store for him.

If you would like any information on this amazing organization, please visit their website at www.bbbsnc.org or call 336-724-7993.

Are you a "Big"? If you have a story or experience to share, please do so!

Read more...

Service Projects for Families

By Guest Blogger Anne Powers

As families enter the summer, this is a great time to do some family service projects with your children. Be sure to reflect with your child about the needs that are being met and why it is important for us to help when we see a need. Your discussion with your children about these issues will further solidify learning about service.

1. Volunteer for a Meals on Wheels
Older people often do not get to share company with younger children. Meals-on-Wheels is in need of volunteers to deliver hot lunch meals to the homebound elderly. The parent will need to call to arrange a 45 minute orientation (good get even if you’re not sure of the date when you want to help). A route generally takes 90 minutes to complete. Volunteers can deliver once a week, once a month or anything in between. Click here for a listing of phone numbers for your area Meals on Wheels.

2. Pick up trash around parks, lakes, creeks, etc. Be sure to wear appropriate safety gear. You can visit the Keep America Beautiful website for suggested Triad areas that need cleaning. The website includes links and phone numbers for the individual Triad cities.

3. Take flowers to a shut-in or a recently widowed person in your church or community. You can even have your child decorate the vase. Use a mason jar. Purchase multi colored yarn and glue yarn around the jar. Contact a local nursing home to see if they have some residents in need of some sunshine! Be sure and ask them questions. For example: ask them to tell you what they used to do in the summertime when they were children.

4. Recognize and appreciate your local policemen or firemen.
Together with your child, make some baked goods and take them to the fire station or police station. Be sure to include a note of thanks that your child wrote or helped color! Drop it off without expecting a tour of the station!

5. Send a care package to a member in the military. Letters and gifts from home mean a lot. www.anysoldier.com has some great ideas of how to do this.

6. Smart Start: Get your children to help you look for pre-school books that can be donated to Smart Start. Smart Start is dedicated to helping make sure all children Birth through 5 are ready to go to Kindergarten. They are especially in need of bilingual books. Smart Start serves every county in NC. Visit their website to get contact information for your area.


7. Visit a Nursing Home: Contact a local retirement home and arrange for you and a group of your friends with children to have story time, music time, or craft time with the residents. The residents will undoubtedly enjoy watching the children.

8. Car Ministry: Have your children help you make some bag lunches with non perishables which you can keep in your car. Give the snacks to homeless people you may come across. Include a note that says Have a great day!

9. Drive Thru Sunshine: Have the children make and decorate paper hearts. On one side write Have a great day and on the other side write “Thank you for what you do!” Keep a supply in your car and have the kids hand them to drive-thru workers before you leave the window.

10. Amani Children’s Foundation: Have an "Amani Birthday party” (pictured above) or sort beads which then are used to make beautiful necklaces to raise money for New Life Homes. Information: www.amanichildren.org.

11. Make Dinner: Together with you child, make a dinner for families at the Ronald McDonald House. There are locations near us in Winston-Salem, Durham, and Chapel Hill.

12. Collect items of need for people at Prodigals Ministries or Samaritan Ministries. With your children, deliver the items. Lists of needs and “items of the month” can be found at their websites.

13. Donate Food leftovers from vacation: Take your leftover nonperishable food items to a food collection site at the place where you vacation.

14. Start a Used Battery Collection service for your neighbors. Have your children go to your neighbors and request that they save their old batteries. Every month, collect the batteries and take them to a collection spot. One I found is 3RC Enviro-station at 1401 S. MLK Drive, across from Bowman Gray Stadium in W-S. (Note: Batteries leak toxic chemicals into the soil and need to be disposed of in a different way than just throwing in the trash.)


Thank you, Anne, for this wonderful list of ideas. These suggestions are great service projects for families to do this summer and throughout the entire year. There are so many opportunities for families to volunteer their time in the Triad. Please share any of your own ideas below.

Don't forget to sign-up for the FREE family portrait session with Andrea Halsey Photography. This promotion ends at Noon on Friday, July 17 and the winner will be announced on July 19. You must be a Triad Smarty Pants newsletter subscriber to enter. Just click here to register. Good luck!

Read more...

Spring Clean and Donate All at Once!

By Guest Blogger Sarah K

Last week TriadSmartyPants ran a blog on Random Acts of Kindness. Continuing in the giving spirit, we have another way for you to give to others. I work with children at several daycares that are all under-staffed, under-maintained and under-stocked. The children at these centers are "at-risk" for so many reasons and one could easily argue that they need the best daycares, best teachers, and best materials only to come close to leveling the playing field. They have much to overcome in their little lives! I know times are tough and we all feel the strain but times like these make me so thankful for all I have and all I am able to provide for my children.

If you are like me and find yourself surrounded by more "stuff" than you need or could possibly use, please look at the list below and see if you have any of these items around that you may want to donate for a great, local, childrens’ cause. Ask your own children to go through their toys and supplies with you so that they can feel good about giving to other children.

This list was made by the teachers doing their best to help prepare these kids for school - so the items are mostly for kids ages 1-5. If you have other things not specifically mentioned but likely to help at a daycare setting or for education, I know they would be grateful for those, too. These items do not need to be new- anything in working condition or with the needed pieces would be great! Some things are easy Dollar Store purchases if you want to do that instead:

-Writing paper (for pre-writing or early writing with the big lines with dots between)
-Markers
-Vehicle toys (cars, trucks, airplanes, etc.)
-Pretend food, dishes, pots/pans for housekeeping center
-Dolls and doll accessories (clothes, bibs, bottles, etc)
-Stuffed animals
-Puzzles (simple peg puzzles, larger floor puzzles, early interlocking - not too difficult)
-Educational games/activities (teaching opposites, things that go together, shapes, colors, numbers, letters, categories, sorting, rhyming, etc)
-Calendar x 2 (like teachers use at circle time to teach days, months, seasons)
-Any bulletin board items to teach letters, numbers, colors, shapes, seasons, weather (could even be flash cards)
-Large ziploc baggies - I want to compile baggies for each child to hold their supplies
-Crayons (small box for each child)
-Glue bottles/glue sticks
-Pencils
-Animals (figures they can play with, sort, learn names of)
-Writing workbooks (pre-writing, tracing, dot to dot, early letter writing)
-Books

We tried to choose a central, well-known location for you all to drop off any items you are able to donate. I will be in the lobby of Jimmy John’s Gourmet Sandwiches on Hanes Mall Boulevard in Winston-Salem at either of these times:
Tuesday, March 3rd 9:30 – 10am
Friday, March 6th 9:30 – 10am

Jimmy John’s is located in the mall parking lot on the same side as McDonald’s. It is in the strip that includes The Vitamin Shop, Chipotle and Cold Stone Creamery.

We hope to see you there! Sarah, the Day Care Centers and TriadSmartyPants all thank you in advance for your generosity!

Read more...

It's Random Acts of Kindness Week

By Rachel H

Did you know that Random Acts of Kindness Week is February 9 through the 15th? This is a perfect time to be a positive role model for your children. “Random Acts of Kindness” are ways that we can make others feel better, or bring joy into their lives without wanting or accepting any credit. I still remember years ago when Oprah aired a whole segment on acts of kindness. That same year, as I was in line for a fast food drive-thru, I got to the window and discovered that the driver in front of me had paid for my meal! It was such a wonderful gesture! I have done the same thing for others a few times since then, and it honestly made me smile the rest of the day, thinking about how happy it may have made that person. I have listed a few ideas for families below.

I got these ideas from the website www.actsofkindness.org. Visit it to get even more ideas for kids or communities. I personally think that many of these ideas are made even better when you do them anonymously! Share these ideas with your children and choose a few to do during Random Acts of Kindness Week. Hopefully it will make all of you feel so good that you will continue to do things like this all year through!

*Go to a children’s zoo or a park where feeding animals is allowed. Offer a bag of food to another family to feed the animals.
*Bake cookies together, and take them to a neighbor who needs a lift.
*Pitch in and clean up the yard of a neighbor who is ill, has had surgery recently, or has had a family emergency.
*Walk to a nearby park and pick up trash, then have a picnic there.
*Go to the pool for a swim, and pay the entrance fee for another family.
*Organize a carnival for young children, and invite neighboring families or a group of preschoolers to have fun throwing foam balls, fishing for prizes, and playing games. Be sure everyone gets a prize.
*Bake a treat and take it to a police or firefighter station.
*Arrange to plant flowers or a tree at a school or park on a Saturday morning.
*Have each member of your family choose someone outside the family who has made a positive difference in his or her life. Write short thank-you notes, and mail the letters together.
*Discuss the best things about the area where you live, the best places to shop and have fun, etc. Have someone take notes. Then type up the ideas to give to new neighbors who move in.
*Volunteer with your children to help at a soup kitchen.
*Create a Thanksgiving basket of food for a needy family. Make a card with cheerful artwork drawn by each of your family members. Deliver the basket and card to the family.
*Leave a bouquet of flowers on a neighbor’s front step anonymously.
*Make some small gifts or write kindness wishes and drawings on bright greeting cards. Deliver them in person to residents of a nursing home, children’s home, or senior facility.
*Collect stories from family members about kind acts both given and received, and create a family scrapbook. If you have photos, include them with the stories. As years go by and as your children grow, all of you can review the many ways that kindness has touched your family’s life.
*Choose a family who is facing a meager holiday season, and begin collecting items in September for them. If you buy a package of six socks, put one pair aside for the surprise gifts. When you shop for food, buy a couple extra nonperishable items each time. Be sure that both the parents and the children have at least two gifts each, along with the food. Gift-wrap it all, and choose a time when you know they are home. Leave it on their doorstep, and have one person stay to ring the doorbell and run.
* Roll an elderly neighbor’s garbage cans back up the driveway at the end of trash pick-up day.
*Buy cold drinks for the people next to you at a ball game.
*Create “Kindness – Pass It On” cards for residents to pass from one person to another to accompany kind acts that they do for one another. The card might have a simple graphic with the words: “This act of kindness was performed especially for you. Please offer an act of kindness to someone else, and pass this card on to that person.”

Please share any ideas you have for Random Acts of Kindness below!

And don't forget to enter for your chance to win a family 4-pack to Hawksnest. Remember: This promotion is offered only to our Smarty newsletter subscribers. So if you haven't signed up for the newsletter, do it now!

This giveaway ends Wednesday, February 11 at 5 pm. It's a short promotion because we know this cold weather won't stick around for long. Read here for more info and to enter!

Read more...