Service Committee Social Event!

The UWYLS Service Committee is having a social at the Wine Loft (2200 1st Ave. N.) tomorrow, Thursday, August 25, from 5:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. The Wine Loft is offering $5 glasses of wine.

Please RSVP to Arlene (arlene.brown09@yahoo.com) as soon as possible.

July's Playground Build: A Personal Perspective

By UWYLS member Ashley Marshall

I awoke to warm sunlight streaming through the blinds in my bedroom. Climbing out of bed, I pulled on my work pants and an old T-shirt, filled up my water bottle, grabbed my scribbled directions and headed out the door. I was on my way to my first service project with the United Way Young Leaders Society.

I had received an email in my inbox a few weeks before from Arlene Brown and Lisa Jones-Boyd, the service committee chairs, about a playground build in Lipscomb, Alabama, that Saturday, July 23. They were asking for volunteers and needed at least 10 members to attend. Even though I had never built playground equipment before and couldn’t locate Lipscomb on a map, I wasn’t discouraged. I emailed Arlene back and told her that I would be there. Spending part of my Saturday assembling a playground for children seemed to me to be a worthy endeavor, plus working with a group of other service-oriented young people sounded like a lot of fun.

The sky was a bright summertime blue with a few puffy clouds lazily drifting by as I drove down I-20 West toward Lipscomb. I turned off the highway and drove past small houses with scraggily lawns, over an old railroad track and past a large brick church. Angels in the Sky Daycare, where we would be building the playground equipment, was on my left. I turned onto the road and parked my car. In the small driveway behind the daycare I met Nikki, one of the other Young Leaders there to help for the day. Uncertainly I asked her if this was where the playground build was taking place, she said yes and introduced me to the United Way project manager, Beth Johns. Some of the other Young Leaders were gathered around the project manager; they smiled welcomingly at me. The project manager explained that the playground equipment that we were going to assemble that day had been purchased with a grant that United Way had received. By purchasing and installing playground equipment in daycares in low-income areas, United Way was hoping to encourage more physical activity for the children. On the day of our playground build, they had already built more than 20 playgrounds at daycares.

Ashley and Nikki (Photo by James Cartee)

Our three expert playground-building contractors had already assembled part of the plastic playground structure. It sat uncertainly in the middle of the grassy yard. Eagerly we gathered around the crew for our instructions. Tony gave us screw guns and wrenches and we worked in groups of twos to attach plastic feet onto the equipment. Then Resee, Nikki, Tony, and I attached the plastic steps to the equipment platform. It was tough and frustrating, but we felt a sense of accomplishment when we finally got the screws to catch. Unfortunately it had to be unattached and reattached later, but we just joked that it was easier the second time. Soon, more Young Leaders arrived and pitched in where ever they were needed. Everyone was willing to help.

Rahkia Nance (Photo by James Cartee)

While a group of us continued assembling the new playground, another group got out the rags and cleaning solution and wiped down the old playground equipment. It was sparkling by the time they were through! When we weren’t working, we were hanging out in the shade of the porch, talking, sipping water, and eating the generous amounts of snacks provided by United Way. After our break, we all grabbed rakes and shovels and pitch forks and began spreading the mulch around the assembled playground equipment. One of the contractors would bring a load of mulch over in the Bobcat, dump it next to the legs of the playground and we would start spreading it around. It was hard work, but with all of us working together it didn’t take too long. Once we had finished spreading the mulch and stepped back, we were amazed. The yard had been completely transformed from an empty piece of grass into a beautiful new playground! Proud of our accomplishment, we gathered around the structure and took pictures. It was such a great feeling!

(Photo by James Cartee)

(Photo by James Cartee)

We gathered on the porch one more time, sipping water, and saying our good-byes. I looked at my watch, it was only noon. What a great day! I had met some nice, funny, dedicated people, assembled a playground for lots of cute daycare children, and still had half of the day left to do other things. I will definitely be back for the next service project, and I hope to see you there too!

Visiting Allocation Team

Here's a volunteer opportunity for this fall: Serve on a United Way Allocations Team!

Each year over 600 community volunteers participate in the United Way of Central Alabama’s annual Allocations Process as Visiting Allocation Team (VAT) volunteers. Through this citizen review process, United Way campaign dollars are distributed to partner agencies and initiatives throughout the United Way service area. Ideal volunteers should have a strong desire to make an impact in our community and the flexibility to attend a few week-day meetings this fall.

To register and/or obtain additional details, please visit www.uwca.org/RegisterVAT. The website provides a full description of the roles and responsibilities of a VAT volunteer, the 2011 Allocation timeline, a downloadable recruitment flyer, and our on-line registration form. If additional assistance is needed, please contact Sonya King at 205-458-2063 or via email at vat@uwca.org.

REGISTRATION DEADLINE: AUGUST 19, 2011

July Agency Tour Recap: Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center

By Bob Ashburner, Hospitality Committee Chair

The purpose of UWYLS agency tours is to expose young leaders to the wide variety of services and volunteer opportunities provided through many of the United Way agencies.

The tour in July took place at Glenwood Autism & Behavioral Health Center. For an hour, our group was given a private tour of the campus. Glenwood specializes in "providing behavioral health care and educational services that are responsive and complimentary to a continuum of care for persons with unique mental health disorders. Glenwood supports mental health and educational professionals and promotes research in these specialized areas." They are considered an expert and leader in autism services ranging from outpatient, education, residential and consultation/training. Nearly 1 in 110 children born today will be diagnosed with an autism spectrum disorder. 1 in every 17 boys are born with autism. Autism is widely considered as a national epidemic. What a blessing to have a facility that focuses on this mental health disorder.

There are a myriad of opportunities to volunteer or get plugged in with Glenwood. Some of the volunteer activities are landscaping, scheduled "fun days", fencing, construction, and mural design and painting. If you would like more information on Glenwood, go to www.glenwood.org. If you are interested in volunteering, please contact Rebecca Sibley @ rsibley@glenwood.org.

Thanks to everyone who planned and participated in the tour. Be on the lookout for information on our next one!

Communications Committee Meeting

The next Communications Committee meeting will be August 18 at 6 p.m. at Jackson's, SoHo area of Homewood.

Please RSVP by emailing: jenniferdome@gmail.com

August Agency Tour

This month's Agency Tour will take place on Friday, August 19!

We have moved the agency tour to Friday again this month. Please join us at Gateway on Friday, August 19, from 11:30 a.m.-12:15 p.m. for a tour of the Rushton School and to learn more about Gateway.

Helping families and children in need… For more than 120 years, that’s what they've been doing at Gateway. Whether with family counseling, foster care, credit advice or transitional living programs, we've helped thousands of Alabamians – children and adults – put their lives back together and face the future with a new sense of hope.

Email youngleaders@uwca.org to reserve a spot for the tour! Only 20 spots available!

Tonight! Membership & Community Development Meeting

The next Membership & Community Development meeting is today!

Summer is coming to a close and we are gearing up for the United Way campaign this fall. Join us for a meeting on Wednesday, August 10, at 5:30 p.m. at Jackson's to learn more.

Service Committee Meeting

The next YLS Service Committee meeting is tomorrow, August 11, at 6 p.m. at Jackson's in Homewood. Please RSVP to arlene.brown09@yahoo.com as soon as possible.