Member News The Blackfoot Community Center Ashlee Howell, Director 681-0367 My heart is full as I take a moment to catch you up on what has been happening at the community center. I am so grateful for the love and support of such a wonderful community and the individuals that make it so. We have been truly blessed these last couple of months. As many of you know, we were working feverishly to acquire the old Ridley’s building, and after four long months of planning and preparing, our efforts have proven fruitless. The Ridley’s family has decided to not lease out the property and will be bringing in some other business of their own. While we are very bummed, we know that everything happens for a reason and we wish them the best of luck and much success in their endeavor. Therefore, we are moving forward with our own plans to stay where we are, undergo some additional remodeling, and continue working toward our goal to build a brand new, state of the art facility within the next three years. We are very excited about the future of the community center. Recently, we participated in the United Way Office Depot distribution program for non-profit organizations. This resulted in the acquisition of literally thousands of dollars of much needed in-kind office furniture and supplies. We are so thankful to United Way and would like to take this opportunity to publicly thank them for all their hard work and all that they do. In November, in light of the tough economic times, the community center went out on a leap of faith and reduced the monthly after-school program fee from $80/month to $25/month. We are so excited to report that the number of children we serve tripled that month and it has been our reward to help these families and their children when they needed it the most. We have the best families and we want them to know how much we truly appreciate them. In December, the community center held a Harvest and Holiday Market. This was a wonderful day full of Christmas joy and the spirit of community. We want to thank all the vendors who participated and the community members who came out to support it. The Holiday Market was a huge success and we owe a big thank you to our Santa Clause, Terry Van Orden, who went out of his way to make it a hit and for his time in supporting our “Cookies with Santa” project. The Modern Woodmen of America Youth Service Club and Thriven Lutheran Financial both awarded matching funds to us for that project. Last month, the community center applied for multiple grants including a 21st Century Community Learning Center grant, three United Way of Southeast Idaho grants, a Wal-Mart community grant, and two INL educational grants. We are so honored to be the recipient of both of the INL grants we applied for and we cannot thank them enough for their support. One of those grants is an award for $1,800 to support our recently developed Wonder Kids Science Club. The kids are thrilled to study science and have the opportunity to participate in experiments and projects weekly and, like all of the extra curricular activities we offer, there is no additional charge for SHARK club members and we are proud of that! We are currently writing a grant to the CHC Foundation for funds to assist in our remodeling project and the installation of a new learning kitchen/classroom/lab. We are ecstatic for all the benefits this space will bring to our center and the community. We are also currently evaluating student surveys to assess student interests and how to continually upgrade our services. We will keep you all updated on the exciting results as they come in. Again, we really want to thank everyone for all that they do, for our regular volunteers and for all those that give what they can, be it money or time. We know that it may be as much a sacrifice for some to give $5 as it is for others to give $500 and we respect that. We strive to be good stewards of all that we are blessed with and wish you all the very best. Emergency Supply Depot, Inc. 284 West Bridge Street Blackfoot, Idaho 83221 208-785-5888 Harvesting Helping Hands Garden (Blackfoot Community Garden) By James Armstrong The Emergency Supply Depot, Inc. invites everyone interested to join in the organization of our own community garden. Meetings currently held on Tuesdays at 6:00pm at 869 West Center Street (East of Stalker Elementary) home of the Harvesting Helping Hands Garden. Currently seeking sponsors, grants and grant writers, experts in insurance, farming, gardening, donations of money for supplies, or farm and garden tools, tractor w/ plow, irrigation pipes, seeds and or seedlings, farming knowledge and skills, and your time. All donations are accepted and appreciated. If interested in organizing and/ or participating, Please call JaLynne Fletcher at 208-785-5888, or email at smilejae@live.com Shaklee Diane Smith www.shaklee.net/focus2 208-785-2878 Shaklee Celebrated Earth Day By Planting its Millionth Tree Offering an Economic Opportunity to one Million Americans. Shaklee Corporation’s CEO Roger Barnett, Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger and Nobel Peace Prize Winner, Dr.Wangari Maathai from Kenya, planted Shaklee’s One Millionth Tree at the Shaklee Headquarters in Pleasanton, California. One Million Trees, One Million Dreams program has planted enough trees to Fill Disneyland 18 times, stated Governor Schwarzenegger. “Think of all the people Who participated in this program, the lives that have been affected by this program In the past 3 years”. The Governor praised Shaklee Natural Supplements since he Has known the value of Shaklee Supplements, vitamins, minerals and protein from His body building days! Roger Barnett stated that in using Shaklee’s Green Eco Friendly Super concentrated cleaners, we have saved enough plastic bottles from going to the landfills to go around the earth, more 19 times in the past 3 years alone. Shaklee is about making people and the planet healthier. Shaklee is the first company in the world to be Certified Climate Neutral by totally offsetting its carbon footprint. Dr. Maathai has been instrumental planting 30 million trees in her home country of Kenya to deal with the de-forestation of the countryside. Her plan not only re-plants much of the needed trees it also employs women in need of jobs! Dr. Maathai is working with the UN to plant One Billion Trees in the world! She suggests that each individual plant 10 trees in their lifetime. So if you have not planted a tree, now is the time to get started. Dr. Maathai was awarded Shaklee’s First Eco-Entrepreneur the Year for 2009. Shilling House Reception Center Angelen Parrish 785-3606 Shilling House Mother’s Day Brunch Mothers, grandmothers, aunts, wives, sisters and daughters will be special guests at the Shilling House annual Mother’s Day Buffet, Sunday May 10 from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. French Apple Crepes, Asparagus Pecan Quiche, A Chocolate Fountain, Pastries, Coffeecakes, Omelets, Biscuits and Gravy, a variety of salads, meats and beverages will be featured. Brunch for adults will be $17.95, Senior Citizens $15.95 and Children 8 and under $8.95. Reservations are highly recommended and can be made by calling 785-3606. Prime Rib, New York Steak, Chicken Cordon Bleu, Salmon and Pasta Primevera are some of the menu specialties available every Friday and Saturday evening from 5:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. Reservations are suggested, but not necessary. Specialty desserts and a variety of beverages, including beer and wine, are also on the menu. Our newly expanded luncheon menu served Monday through Friday continues to be very popular. Philly Steak Sandwiches, French Dip Sandwiches, Cobb Salad and Taco Salad, in addition to favorites Teriyaki Chicken Salad, Chef Salad and a Daily Special are served from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. Homemade soups and sandwiches on fresh buns can be followed by our Jamaican Bread Pudding, Cream Cheese Brownies and Raisin Filled Cookies. Lunch is available at the Shilling House, for pick up or we can deliver. Special orders for desserts, breads, cookies and decorated birthday cakes or wedding cakes are always welcome. www.shillinghouse.net contains information regarding menus, facility rental of both the Shilling House and Reception Center and a signup list for receiving our Luncheon Specials information on line. |