Advocacy/Awareness

Hats to Our Health

storres4365 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 21:47:56 +0000

Hats to Our Health

Helpertunity participates as part of Walden University's Global Day of Service, held annually in early October. Helpertunity offers an adaptive alternative to the other Worldwide One-Day event offerings, by providing a self-paced and online / distance-participation option.

In order to create awareness and advocacy for independent and online volunteerism, and to encourage live local participants to use their talents to care for the needs of local homeless persons, Helpertunity hosted training sessions to instruct volunteers how to make handmade hats. Hats were the handmade item most requested by our homeless and mobile outreach participants.

Helpertunity's founder taught live classes to participants at local craft stores, and hosted public tutoring sessions at local cafe's, known for supporting meet-ups in the community.

Following introductory and practice-stitch classes, live students were invited to create hats to share with those in need.

Meanwhile, participants from Helpertunity's Online Classes also took their time and set their own pace to prepare for the Global Day of Service Event.

Online and Community participants, including elderly and disabled persons, made a total of 50 hats, which were presented to the WRCC, a Shelter for Women & Children, and Compassion Corner, a Homeless Services Drop-In Center, both located in Downtown Orlando. Items were delivered and distributed just before the winter Holidays, when cold weather had just begun to reach the Central Florida area.

Helpertunity plans to continue this community-awareness and outreach effort as an annual event, and will continue to prepare for the "One Day" initiative based on a flexible timeline, in order to meet the adaptive needs of those who are unable to participate in a live and strenuous volunteer event, or who are only able to volunteer at a distance.

By request, the patterns for this year include simple to advanced hand-made Lanyard-Pouches; small amulet bags worn around the neck, and used to keep personal items secure, in reach, yet out of sight; for safety.

If you would like to support the efforts of our Community and Online Care-Crafting Volunteers, or you would like to host Helpertunity's Global Day of Service Outreach & Education Table, please contact Helpertunity today. Direct contributions to help with this ongoing project should be made to Helpertunity, with "Global Day of Service" clearly marked in the memo section of your check or online donation.

To participate online in this year's Global Day of Service Event as Part of Helpertunity, Link to http://crochet-it.wikispaces.com for tutorials, patterns, and details.

storres4365 Thu, 02/09/2023 - 16:47

Project Type

Target Population

City

State

Legacy of Love

storres4365 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 21:52:52 +0000

Legacy of Love

Often times, the hobbies and creative skills that people have are handed down from generation to generation, as a Legacy of Love and Learning. Helpertunity honors those elders who have passed on their talents to others, and invites Helpertunity's Friends and Contributors to post "Legacy of Love and Learning" Memorials to Helpertunity's Facebook Page, or submit them for inclusion on this Helpertunity Project Page. Send e-mails and photo attachments to: Eileen@Helpertunity.org. "Legacy of Love and Learning" Memorials can also be submitted in writing (Please provide only COPIES of photos or items to be displayed. Delicate letters, antique photos, or precious prayer cards are not guaranteed in the mail or to be safely returned). Mail to: Helpertunity - Legacy of Love and Learning, PO Box 1956, Apopka, FL 32704-1956. Memorial Contribution Checks can be made payable to "Helpertunity" and sent to the same address. Online Contributions should be marked with "Legacy of Love" and the "Honoree's Name" on the Memo Line, or in the Special Instructions section of the Paypal Page.

Legacy of Love & Learning Honorees:

Geraldine Gill: Taught Eileen Callejas how to Crochet when she was only 7 years old.

James Hubbard: Was a Shriner's Clown and Inspired Eileen Callejas in the art of Clown Ministry.

storres4365 Thu, 02/09/2023 - 16:52

Project Type

Target Population

Kid & Eco Friendly Creations

storres4365 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 23:45:45 +0000

Kid & Eco Friendly Creations

After 30 years as a school teacher, and a busy day at the theme parks enjoying her "retirement job," Helpertunity's Corporate Secretary, Dorothy Gill, still enjoys a bit of volunteer time. She has a specialty for applying her talents to "creative retail" efforts; by providing fundraising resources and programs that reach out to kids and appreciate the environment.

With decades of kid-friendly experience, she seems to really know what children enjoy! Dorothy is the Captain in the first-phase of Helpertunity's "Bear Care & Repair - Plush Pet Rescue and Adoption Project" - stitching up plush-pet boo-boos and giving the entire stuffed-zoo a sanitizing-suds bath:

Dorothy has propagated plants for Helpertunity's Spring Time Fundraisers and has beaded hundreds of bracelets and glued together dozens more rescued-silk-flower clip-on corsages for various Art and Environmental Festivals.

And, she has also made creatively packaged yarn and crochet kits, that look like carnival treats, for an International Fiber-Arts Fair. Dorothy insists that she is not "crafty," but her imagineer-like creations have already raised funds and provided supplies for many Helpertunity Projects, as well as an Activity Program at a Children's Hospital in Canada.

And that's not all! Dorothy's creative retail contributions have also inspired crafters at a Children's Summer Camp in Pennsylvania; with her collaboratively custom-designed and handmade Camper-Scamper Scrapbook and Cardmaking Kits.

So why doesn't Dorothy just give supplies and cash donations directly to the children's programs? Because as a retired school teacher, Dorothy already knows that there is an un-ending need for supplies and resources wherever children and elders are involved. By generating fundraising revenues, she is often able to double her own donation's value, and do something which she enjoys at the same time.

So, do you have leftover craft or gardening supplies, (which are clean and in allergen-free and odor-free condition) that can be enjoyed by elderly patients or hospitalized children, young campers, or school-aged shoppers? Please contact Helpertunity directly to discuss details for making an in-kind contribution of craft and gardening resources to Dorothy's ongoing project efforts.

Better Yet: If you would like to help Dorothy multiply her creative donation-funding efforts, so that she may continue to "Pay it Forward" with her inspired energy and enthusiasm, then please make a cash contribution via e-banking, check, or credit card to: Helpertunity, PO Box 1956, Apopka, FL 32704 with "Kid & Eco Friendly Creations" in the memo line.

storres4365 Thu, 02/09/2023 - 18:45

Project Type

Target Population

Youth/Teen/YoungAdult

City

Apopka

State

Florida

Art & Activity Resource Rescue

storres4365 — Thu, 09 Feb 2023 23:57:54 +0000

Art & Activity Resource Rescue

Activity Program Resource Awards

Every year, Helpertunity collects recreation resources, craft supplies, and technology items for residents in care facilities and shelters. These items are carefully packaged into "Activity Kits" and are distributed to Activity Professionals attending continuing education seminars, retreats, and directly to Care-Facility Activities Staffs by a personal visit from Helpertunity.

Helpertunity Prize Table shown loaded with Activity Resources Baskets ready to give away to Nursing Home Recreation Services Professionals - photo from Activity Professional's Educational Retreat in 2014.

By packaging and distributing items in this manner, Helpertunity raises the odds that these brand new and gently used goods will be properly cared for, and used by a trained professional, to improve the quality of life for their elderly, disabled, or homeless shelter clients.

Activity Director wins a custom T-shirt Printing Kit from Helpertunity

Often the items provided exceed the typical facility resource budget, and are far beyond the personal financial means of the clients it will be shared within a facility activity or adaptive-class setting.

A Nursing Home Activity Director wins a basket of paintable ceramics for use in craft class with her art participants

An activity Director wins and inflatable globe to use in games with her Care Facility Residents

Often the items do more than simply fill a few hours of time for the clients. Many time's the items are re-usable, or may be enjoyed, and then incorporated into a facility's annual event decor, or painted/crafted and sold to raise donation funds for additional resources at the facility where they were given.

An Activity Director wins a paitable ceramic Christmas Village to use with her arts and crafts participants

Helpertunity's Creative Volunteers have even used their Gift-Resources to hand-make trinkets to give as rewards and educational incentives to school children and pediatric patients. And, over the years; volunteer-crafted items are distributed through: A Gift for Teaching, The Health Care Center for the Homeless, The Coalition Women's Shelter, Loaves & Fishes, the Hope Community Center of Apopka, and Barberville Pioneer & Settlement & Heritage Education Center. Each of these high-impact charities is located in Central Florida.

Alphabet Beads are an excellent resource for Elder and Memory Care Facility Craft Activity Programs

In addition to crafts and game equipment, the activity kits and resource baskets have included "kitchenless-cooking" appliances, "silly science" senior workshop experiments, software, and gently used technology tools.

Chemistry and Physics Kits and other Maker Themed Activity Supplies are a fun alternative to crafts for our Retired Rocket Scientists

Useful Technology Resources are displayed to be won by Nursing Home Activity Directors for use with their Care Facility Residents

In addition to dropping off resources directly at Ender Care Facilities during the charity's travels; by presenting the resources at a low-cost gathering, which attracts Activity Professionals from around the State, Helpertunity is able to eliminate the cost of packing and shipping of these useful items, thus providing greater funding for additional resources.

Activity Professional wins a Basket of Paintable Ceramic Vases for use in her Eldercare Facility Crafts Classes

The project also helps to reduce the tendency for Activity Professionals to purchase activity supplies, for their residents, out of their own limited paychecks.

An Activity Director wins a complete Felt Crafting Class Supply Set for use with her Nursing Home Patients in Sewing Club

Often the facility clients are as anxious and excited to see; "what their Activity Professional is bringing them back from the conference..." as their Activity Professional is in having their name drawn for the item they most needed. Professionals who are unable to attend the conference are also given the chance to receive resources; by participating in periodic Activity supply Give-Away Drawings on Helpertunity's Facebook page.

Computer programs on CDs are still appreciated and used in older model computers that have been donated to some disadvantaged disabled patients

To be a part of the Activity Resource Awards & Prize Basket Collection & Distribution Efforts:

Please contact Helpertunity directly if you feel you may have items that would be useful to contribute to the distribution event.

To provide funding for the careful selection and purchase of new and useful items, please be sure that your donation to Helpertunity is marked with "Activity Resource Supply Prizes" on the memo line.

storres4365 Thu, 02/09/2023 - 18:57

Project Type

Advocacy/Awareness

Creative Expressive

Education

Elective Education Programs

Target Population

Fiesta Foundation

storres4365 — Fri, 10 Feb 2023 00:12:58 +0000

Fiesta Foundation

Gabriel Callejas, husband of Helpertunity's Founder Eileen Callejas, was the first business to step up and support Helpertunity's Mission, but it was not the first time the family restaurant owner had reached out to elderly, disabled, and homeless persons in his community.

Gabriel is an outspoken advocate for the plight of child immigrants, migrant farmers, and disabled workers, and has been known to honor the requests of needy persons; seeking a volunteer tasks in exchange for a hot meal, from time to time.

Gabriel's restaurants have hosted holiday banners made by homeless crafters, and have proudly displayed handmade items, produced by disabled persons and elderly nursing home residents, in their front counter-case.

The small business owner continues to provide a source of ongoing support for the organization by accepting donations and offering candy at local register locations. Such efforts not only provide a small stream of resources for the organization, but it also serve to advocate and educate about Helpertunity's work within the local community.

Over the years; Gabriel's restaurants have provided classic Mexican treats to local shelters and elder care facilities, in celebration of Mexican holidays and fiestas, and have hosted educational sessions for Activity Professionals on the History, Culture, and traditions of Mexico and its People.

La Fiesta Mexican Grill continues to provide catering services for events, and is proud to be an ongoing advocate, with Helpertunity, for Direct-Impact Seed-Philanthropy and Corporate Social Responsibility in the community.

To provide counter space, project sponsorship, or other support for Helpertunity's efforts, through your neighborhood business or corporation, please contact Helpertunity directly at 407-234-4768 / Eileen@Helpertunity.org.

storres4365 Thu, 02/09/2023 - 19:12

Project Type

Target Population

City

State

Bottle Brick Builders Guild

Eileen — Fri, 28 Apr 2023 19:40:52 +0000

Bottle Brick Builders Guild

In 2020 Helpertunity realized that all of its kit-packing projects were producing an excessive amount of plastic bags. So, the charity began looking for fun ways to recycle and upcycle waste plastics. Today, volunteers help hand pack plastic bottles with clean, dry plastic bags and wrappers. After turning these bottles into bricks they are used to make practical and decorative items.

Our friends from AmeriCorps RSVP have been crocheting covered abstract bottle people. They are being made to adorn a planned parade float in the coming year.

The bottle bricks have also been used to build obstacles, mazes and bot-ball arenas for creative cooperative team games with our friends from the Family Cafe Expo Events held in Orlando, Florida.

Eileen Fri, 04/28/2023 - 15:40

Project Type

Elective Education Programs