Clean Up Time!

Indian Creek Elementary School's P.E. teacher, Coach Ross, has been instrumental in helping the school get "beautified." We have had a huge dirt field for the past few years. After many hours of work and calls, Coach Ross helped to turn our dirt field into a beautiful, green field last spring.  In addition, he has been recruiting volunteers and having campus beautification days to help clean up the school and to show the community that we do care.

This year, thanks to Coach, we are also having more campus beautification days.  The next one is coming up this Saturday, October 13 from 9am-1pm.  We need all the help we can get!  Ms. Rawlins, one of the people who have been instrumental in helping Coach Ross, has gotten the CrossRoadsNews to write an article about the work being done at Indian Creek and how much more work needs to be done.  Check out the article here!

So, if you have time this Saturday, please come out and help us!

New School Year.....More Bags!! :)

We had our first packing of the 2012-2013 school year today.  This year, we will be packing 75 bags in addition to a few family bags.  Memorial Drive Presbyterian is opening the room next to our pantry for us.  With the new space, Shallowford Presbyterian will be helping us build shelves so that we can store clothes and supplies that have been donated for our students.  

                                         Awesome volunteers helping us!

                                 A view of the current room with the new
                                 expanded space! :)

Last Day for Family Bags for the Summer!

Today was the last day for family bags in the summer.  We  packed 14 bags a week which provided for around 80 parents and children.  Our volunteers got the opportunity to meet the families and see more of what their home life is like.  Thank you to all the volunteers who helped us!

International Fashion Show

We will be having a benefit International Fashion Show on Wednesday, July 25, at Shallowford Presbyterian Church from 6:30-8:00.  There is no admission fee, but we are asking for donations of non-perishable food or books.  We hope to see you there!!

Marietta Journal

We have been officially published in a local newspaper!  Thank you to Ms. Jones and her son, Garland, for choosing us.  Thank you to the Marietta Journal for publishing their story and for letting us share ours.  Please check out the article!

Marietta Journal

Check out Crowned for Victory!

Ms. Jones shared the link for her nonprofit, Crowned for Victory.  Please check them out!

Crowned for Victory

Crowned For Victory

Ms. Carlia Jones, a wonderful lady that we both met at the dance recital in May, shared some exciting news with us today!!

Hi Caitlin and Diana,

 

My organization Crowned for Victory, Inc. applied for a national grant through Get Ur Good On. This is sponsored by Miley Cyrus and another foundation.  The grant is for youth led projects that will service the community.  Well...WE WON the grant.  The project will be led by my son Garland Jones- 16 years old.  He has chosen Bountiful Bags as the project to help in the grant. 

We are absolutely honored that Ms. Jones and her son have chosen Bountiful Bags.  Thank you!!!

Summer Family Bags

Starting today until the end of July, we will be distributing family bags every Tuesday and Thursday to our students.  With the help of volunteers from Shallowford Presbyterian and Memorial Drive, some of our students will continue to receive food during the summer.

Shallowford Youth Choir Concert

Some students at Indian Creek had the opportunity to mingle, talk, and have dinner with youth choir before their concert.  One of our fifth grade students excitedly told us, "I can't believe we are so much alike.  She liked the same things I did!"  It's so wonderful to hear our students get excited.

After dinner, we heard very beautiful singing from the Shallowford Youth Choir!  They gave a preview concert of what they would be performing for their Scotland tour.  Thank you for sharing your singing with us!

Georgia Force Arena Football

We borrowed the "MegaBus" from our friends, the Nykamps, to take the students to their first American football game today.  Caitlin drove the bus like an expert! We bought the students bottomless popcorn buckets and they had a blast...plenty of fun, autographs, and great memories.  Thank you to the Georgia Force for helping us with the tickets!

Braves Game

Thank to Dennis who generously donated tickets for us to take some of our students to the Braves game today.  Upon seeing the stadium for the first time, the students' were wide-eyed in amazement.  They were all hoping that they would be able to sit in the upper deck because it "looked so tall!" When we told them thats where they were going to sit, they were jumping up and down with joy!!  They had never been before so they were very excited.  Not only did they get to experience their first baseball game, they also had their first taste of Dippin' Dots ice cream.  We had a wonderful time!

A David Dance Recital

Ladisa, from A David Dance Recital, graciously gave us a table at her company's recital so that we could share our program.  Thank you so much!  After the recital, we were approached by several people who were interested in hearing more about our program.  It's so heartwarming to know that people are so willing to share their time to help us help our students.

A Celebration!

We had a wonderful turnout today for our celebration!  Even though today is the last day of student packing for the 2011-2012 school year, it is not the end.  We will continue with other activities for the students during the summer.  Thank you to everyone- our friends and families, Memorial Drive Presbyterian, Shallowford Presbyterian, and volunteers- who have helped us make Bountiful Bags a reality.  With all the support, we hope that this program will continue on for years to come.

LAST PACKING FOR 2011-2012

Tomorrow, May 18, will be the last packing for the 2011-2012 school.  Please come help us to celebrate a very successful first year of Bountiful Bags!

GrandFriends :)

Mr. Brown, the Grandfriend for Diana's class, sharing exciting facts about animals with her students.

Mosaic Circle At Shallowford Presbyterian

What a wonderful surprise! We thought we were coming to Shallowford Presbyterian today for a dinner and then a small presentation about Bountiful Bags.  Instead, the dinner was centered around our program.  All of the tables were decorated beautifully.

The ladies of the Mosaic Circle were absolutely amazing! They were so generous and gracious.  We received many school supplies, nonperishables, and toiletries.  Thank you ladies for letting us share our mission and story with you!

Shallowford Presbyterian Youth Choir

We get so excited when there are new faces at packing on Thursdays.  Today, some of Shallowford Presbyterian's Youth Choir came to help us pack and told us that they will be giving a free concert for our students!  How awesome is that?!  We are very much looking forward to hearing them sing in June.  Thank you for joining us today!  :)

Quotes Found At Global Humanitarian Summit

Global Humanitarian Summit at Emory University

Yesterday, we set up our table and today's the big day! Our first big public event as Bountiful Bags :) We saw many great organizations and made a few connections with people and their organizations.  Because of a session we attended, we came up with a few more ideas to help us move to continue moving forward with Bountiful Bags!

After a much needed week of rest, we had our first packing after Spring Break.  Some of the students have not been bringing back their backpacks, so our supply of backpacks is slowing dwindling away.  We have resorted to using plastic bags.  

This Saturday and Sunday, April 14-15, we are going to be at the Global Humanitarian Summit, so maybe we could do some networking and get some more backpacks for our students!

Spring Break!

We have spring break this week...See you next week!

GrandFriends

After we met Anchor Shephard at Shallowford Presbyterian Church, she has helped to launch, "GrandFriends!"  Through this program, a group of "GrandFriends" will be coming in to our school weekly to read to the students.  We are so very excited to have such a wonderful program at our school!

One More Packing Before Spring Break

The students will be on Spring Break next week.  So, today was the last packing before vacation.  As we do every Thursday, we hold hands in a circle and say something that we are grateful for.  One of the things we are always grateful for are the kind, thoughtful, and dedicated volunteers that have come to help us.  As more people come, more people are also getting involved! :)

Special Guests

We had a great crowd come out today.  We would especially like to thank Girl Scout Troop 12548 for their generosity.  They made 65 beautifully decorated bags that had Girl Scout cookies and other snacks for the students.  When the students at Indian Creek received their bags, they were very happy!
 

Girl Scout Troop 12548

Thank you to Troop 12548 for selling cookies at Walgreens and promoting Bountiful Bags! They made wonderful, colorful signs for their cookie deliveries and cards to explain what Bountiful bags is.  We are looking forward to meeting you at Thursday's packing.  You girls are awesome!

Group Pic :)

A group pic with our wonderful, supportive administration team!

New Friends, New Faces

 

Its always nice to know that there are dedicated volunteers who come every week.  It is always awesome when there are new faces who have heard about our project and join us, too!  Thank you to the wonderful dedicated volunteers and friends, the new volunteers, and Girl Scout Troop 12561 for coming today to help us.  Ya'll rock!

Girl Scout Troop 12561

Thank you so much for the school supplies!  They are always needed at our school.  Thank you for thinking of us.