Getting in Shape

"To find real happiness, we must seek for it in a focus outside ourselves.  

No one has learned the meaning of living 

until he has surrendered his ego to the service of his fellow man.  

Service to others is akin to duty, 

the fulfillment of which brings true joy." 

~Thomas S Monson, 

Seven of us met Monday, April 6th at Carolyn's home to work on shape toys that are sent through the Humanitarian Center to elementary schools throughout the world.  

Carolyn, Barbara, Vila and Darlene

 Teachers use the shapes and colors when teaching the children; each child needs a set and they are included in each school kit that is shipped out.  

Barbara

 We put together 100 sets and Carolyn delivered those to the Center in American Fork on Wednesday.

Barbara, RaeLee, Vila and her grand-daughter

 We also collected Shampoo, Conditioner and Hair spray for the Utah County Center for Women and Children in Crisis.  

We had a nice potluck lunch.  Our next meeting will be Monday, May 4th at Sandy's home.

In May we will be collecting white temple clothing for Spark of Hope Foundation.  They are currently collecting white temple clothing that will be delivered to Tiajuana, Mexico for the patrons of the new temple there.  This new temple will not have a clothing rental center, so the Saints are being encouraged to purchase their own temple clothing, but some cannot afford to do so. We will be collecting:

1. White men or women's temple shoes or slippers
2. White men's pants
   
   
   
3. White men's shirts
4. White men's socks
5. White women's temple dresses
6. White women's knee high nylons

These can be gently used or new.  They will be taken down to the Saints in Tiajuana in early June.

Upcoming April meeting - April 6th

Our next We CAN meeting will be held Monday, April 6th at Carolyn's home at 10:00 a.m. We will be working on shape toys for the school kits for the Humanitarian Center.  

For April we will be collecting hair spray, shampoo and conditioner for the Utah County Center for Women and Children in Crisis.  These should be full size bottles, but not extra large or travel size.

In May we will be collecting white temple clothing for Spark of Hope Foundation.  They are currently collecting white temple clothing that will be delivered to Tijuana, Mexico for the patrons of the new temple there.  This new temple will not have a clothing rental center, so the Saints are being encouraged to purchase their own temple clothing, but some cannot afford to do so. We will be collecting:

1. White men or women's temple shoes or slippers
2. White men's pants
3. White men's shirts
4. White men's socks
5. White women's temple dresses
6. White women's knee high nylons

These can be gently used or new.  They will be taken down to the Saints in Tijuana in early June.

A Visit to the Food Bank

“Don't say you don't have enough time. You have exactly the same number of hours per day that were given to Helen Keller, Pasteur, Michaelangelo, Mother Teresa, Leonardo da Vinci, 

Thomas Jefferson, and Albert Einstein.” 

― H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Diane - working on those bar codes at the Food Bank

 On March 2, 2015 seven We CAN ladies (and one We CAN husband) met at the Utah County Food Bank to make a donation, tour the facility, and do an hour and a half of service. Those who attended were Vila and her daughter, Sue, Janine N, Diane B, Darleen L, Carol G, Carolyn S, and Mike F.   Paulette had a doctor's appointment, so she dropped Mike off at the Food Bank on her way to the doctor and picked him up on her way back.  We so enjoyed having him come and help us!.

Bruce taking the We CAN group on tour ~ Janine, Carol, Diana, Mike and Sue

We were met by the floor supervisor, Bruce.  We turned in our donations.  We had about 30 completed backpack kits and also many of the items that will be used in assembling other backpack kits.  

Vila - directing traffic

 Each backpack kit has seven items: boxed fruit juice, individual mac and cheese, granola bar, fruit snack, fruit cup, individual crackers and cheese and a pack of cookies.   These items are placed in a gallon-size Ziploc bag.  On Fridays, school teachers can slip the backpack kits into backpacks of students who otherwise may not have food over the weekend.  We found out that the Food Bank gives out about 1300 backpack kits each week!

Carol, Darlene, Bruce, Diana and Sue touring the Utah Food Bank

Bruce gave us a nice tour of the Food Bank.  He explained  how the Utah Food Bank operates and showed us around.   The Food Bank is a lot bigger than it looks from the outside!

Sue, Darlene, Diane and Mike ~ enjoying a few hours of service at the Utah Food Bank

 Then he put us to work. We used black permanent markers to cross out the bar codes on products so that they can't be returned to stores for cash.  

Sue and Vila - checking bar codes

  It was gratifying to work there - definitely something we will want to do again for a future We CAN meeting.  

Janine and Diane working away

Diane, Janine, Darlene and Sue

 After completing our service at the Food Bank, we went to Zuppa's for lunch, which we all enjoyed.

Janine, Darlene, Sue, and Vila

 What a great day of service!!!

Darlene, Sue, Vila and Carolyn