Project Coordinator: Dana Wilbanks

The Kids to Love Foundation School Supply Drive was chosen as our ASMC July community project. School supplies and monetary donations were collected from mid June until 9 July and delivered to the monthly luncheon. The Kids to Love Foundation is a non-profit charitable organization that is committed to meeting the needs of foster children in Alabama by providing scholarships, Christmas gifts, school supplies and aiding in the rescue of children pulled from meth labs. The Foundation was awarded a prestigious Emmy award by the National Academy for Television Arts and Sciences in the Community Service category. This foundation was started by WAFF 48 anchorwoman, Lee Marshall. Lee is a former foster child who considers “herself to be one of the lucky ones who was blessed to find a forever family.”

The donations collected at the luncheon were delivered by ASMC members, Debbie O’Neal, Omar Williams, Dan Gadomski and Dana Wilbanks. A monetary donation of $715 on behalf of the Redstone/Huntsville Chapter of ASMC was presented to Lee Marshall by Omar Williams and Dana Wilbanks. The Kids to Love staff greatly appreciates your generosity. Because of you and your donation, a foster child in Alabama will know that someone cares. The donations were made by both ASMC members and non-members.
Thanks so much to all of you for making this project a success.

(Pictures taken by ASMC member, Dan Gadomski)



CARING HOUSE CARNIVAL

Project Coordinator: Debbie O’Neal

Mission of Project: The Carnival was sponsored to provide fun, encouragement, and hope to children ages 3 to 18 who have lost family members and/ or loved ones. There were games, magic, face painting, clowns, crafts, refreshments, and demonstrations. We found ourselves enjoying the demonstrations as much as the children and experienced a great deal of gratification in seeing the enjoyment expressed by the kids participating in the various activates. The one thing that caught us off guard was the messages that were written to deceased love ones of the participants and the volunteers alike. These messages were put on a Wall of Stars and tied to helium ballrooms that were released into the Heavens at the close of the evening. The gesture was very tender and poignant. We went to support the children but benefited as much, if not more, from the event than they did. Caring House leadership extended special thanks to our ASMC volunteers for dedicated support on these two days.

HONOR FLIGHT

PROJECT COORDINATOR: Judy Smith

The Community Projects Committee selected the Tennessee Valley Honor Flight as one of our projects for the year. Honor Flight is a program that flies World War II veterans to Washington D.C. to tour the memorials constructed in honor of their service. Honor Flight is a non-profit volunteer organization operated out of the goodness of peoples' hearts. The flight, tour, and meals are provided at no cost to the veteran. Flights depart Huntsville about 6:30 a.m. and land in Washington D.C. around 10:00 a.m. Veterans tour the memorials, eat, and return to Huntsville by about 8:30 p.m.

A donation of $500 was presented at the August 24 Honor Flight Board of Directors Meeting at Huntsville Times. The donation was presented by ASMC members, Debbie O'Neal, Dana Wilbanks and Judy Smith. The donation was presented to the President, Joe Fitzgerald. Joe and the other board members expressed their deepest gratitude for the donation. ASMC members are also planning to volunteer at the departure and arrival back of the Veterans for the 29 August flight. Volunteers are encouraged to bring signs, flags or other patriotic items and see the veterans off before their flight at around 4:30 am and welcome them back from their flight about 8:30 pm. A volunteer application can be found at http://www.honorflight.net/docs/volunteer_app_smaller.pdf. You can submit the completed form by mail to: Honor Flight, C/O The Huntsville Times, P.O.Box 1487 WS, Huntsville, AL 35807 or by FAX to: 256-532-4338.

The next flight is scheduled for 24 October. If you weren't available to volunteer for the 29 August flight, please plan to do so for the 24 October flight. The Community Projects Committee members appreciates very much your continued efforts in our selected community projects.

Honor Flight Honoree