VISTAs Doing EITC As we approach tax season, here are a few things to remember to make this year's tax time less stressful. Planning is your first step to a successful tax season. Make sure you have all the components in place to run your project smoothly. Also, be sure that your volunteers and partners understand the mission and importance of the work that they are doing around the Earned Income Tax Credit (EITC). Keep these tips in mind:
Holiday Hazards It's the most wonderful time of the year… but it can also be the most dangerous. Here's why and what you can do about it.
Lastly, be sure that smoke alarms are working properly and are installed in every level of your home. Keep them clean and make sure the batteries are fresh. The holidays can be a good time to practice your home escape plan. This can also be a good time to help make others aware of disaster prevention within your volunteer center! Safety tips are always handy, especially at this time of year! Happy Holidays from the Disaster VISTA. Information source: http://www.usfa.fema.gov/safety/tips/holiday.shtm
Hope for the Holidays There's nothing nicer than spending the holidays with people you love. Whether you're with friends or with family, spending time with those who are special to you is a major part of happiness during the holidays. For many people, though, something as simple as being home for winter celebrations is impossible. During these festive winter months, you can help make the holidays brighter for men, women, and children who have to celebrate without the people they love most. Check out www.familycares.org to find projects that are accessible to anyone and perfect for families with kids. The following are a few of my favorite projects for the winter holiday season.
Holiday Hope Chests
FamilyCares Winter Wear Share
Deck the Halls Though all these projects have a winter holiday theme, they're easily adaptable to any time of the year. There's never a time when people don't need cheering up — try thinking of ways that these projects can be successful in every season. And if you're looking for more ideas, including holiday-specific projects, get inspired.
'Tis the Season Happy Hanukkah, Kwanzaa, Ramadan, Bodhi Day, Winter Solstice, and Christmas to all! In our joint quest for religious tolerance, may we be mindful and educated of all traditions celebrated during this winter season. Many are of divine religious origin, while others are secular in nature. But all make up the rich tapestry of diversity in the United States, a unique quality we should embrace in our society. The most practiced December tradition in the United States is the Christian holiday of Christmas, wherein believers celebrate the birth of their Lord, Jesus the Christ. Christians believe Jesus was born as the Son of God to a virgin named Mary and was sent to Earth to die for the sins of all mankind so they may achieve eternal salvation. In the Jewish tradition of Hanukkah, there is an eight day “Festival of Lights” to celebrate and remember the war fought with the Maccabbes in the pursuit of religious freedom in the second century B.C. The fight was lead by Judah, who after successfully restoring the sacred temple lit the menorah candle. The miracle of Hanukkah is the menorah only had enough oil to burn for 24 hours, but the flame actually burned steadily for eight days. The Holy month of Ramadan is the most sacred time of the Islamic year. Characterized by fasting during daylight hours and strengthening of family and community ties, the month honors the gift God gave to humans through the holy book called the Q'uran. The exact date Ramadan begins fluctuates each year, therefore it is not always observed in December. Bodhi Day traditions celebrate the day on which Buddah received enlightenment in 596 B.C. Also known as Rohatsu, it is generally thought to be the birthday of Buddhism, and is observed on December 8 (or the following Sunday) each year. Buddah began a journey to discover the meaning of life, and in his studies, developed the Eightfold Path of Enlightenment to overcoming ignorance and escaping the life/death/rebirth cycle through reincarnation. Another unique, although non-religiously affiliated holiday, is the celebration of Kwanzaa in which African-Americans may celebrate their culture, family, and community. An estimated 18 million Africans throughout the world celebrate the Kwanzaa. One additional holiday which may fall directly in line with the spirits of those committed to volunteer service is Boxing Day, celebrated on December 26 each year, predominately in the countries of the United Kingdom, New Zealand, Australia, and Canada. While the exact origin is unknown, it is a day celebrated by the giving of money and gifts to charitable institutions, needy individuals, and those in service jobs (ahem… can anyone say VISTAs?!). Happy Bor amahannukwanzmas, and especially Boxing Day, to all! Sources: www.religioustolerance.com and www.worldbook.com
Most of you did a great job on the reports you submitted in October! We were able to compile everything and submit a thorough report to the Corporation on time. I'd like to share a few numbers with you from the last quarter to illustrate the combined impact of our work. In the last reporting quarter, your leadership and organizing led to 16909.5 hours of volunteer service being performed in local communities, and you raised over $75,000 of in-kind good and services, grants, donations, and fundraising. Pretty impressive! It was also really amazing to read the stories about the work you did in the wake of the disasters in the Gulf Coast area. From establishing Volunteer Reception Centers to securing housing for evacuees to collecting items to be sent to the affected areas to staffing call centers late into the night, almost all of you pitched in to help alleviate some of the devastation of Katrina and Rita in some way. Way to get things done! Remember: The new monthly reportin system takes effect January 5, 2006. Call your content VISTA with questions.
Chai Ice Cream 1 pint vanilla ice cream Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper. Soften the ice cream in a large bowl. Add the tea and spices and mix until thoroughly combined. Pack and re-freeze at least 2 hours. Unwrap the caramel squares and place them on the baking sheet spaced about 2 inches apart. Bake until melted and softened. Place another piece of parchment on top and press the caramel into a circle. Cool another 2 minutes. Peel the caramel circles off the parchment and press into mini muffin pans to form a small cup shape. Cool completely. Scoop ice cream into cups and garnish with almonds.
Monkey Bread Preheat oven to 350. Quarter each biscuit. Mix sugar and cinnamon together in a gallon ziplock bag. Place the quarters of biscuits into zip lock and shake until coated. Place biscuits into a Bundt pan. Melt butter and pour over biscuits. Bake until done usually about 20-25 minutes. Let cool about 15 minutes and place on a serving dish. Then you pick pieces off and enjoy. It is WONDERFUL!
Feeling strapped for cash this holiday season? Well, Kate, your-fearless VISTA Leader took a stab at trying to ease that burden and pulled together a list of some inexpensive gift ideas for the holidays.
Also check out www.ebay.com and your local www.craigslist.org for inexpensive items. Finally, check out www.overstock.com. This site operates like a warehouse of all the surplus items that companies can't sale to retailers. You can get amazing deals on brand name items and have them shipped right to you.
Why did you join AmeriCorps? Where are you from originally? Polly: Born in South Carolina and grew up in Macon. They say, "We are true 'GRITS' (Girls Raised In The South)!" Accomplishments you are most proud of? Sandra and Polly both agree that the project they did collecting emergency supply kit items for the Meals on Wheels program for homebound seniors was a great accomplishment. Pulling together all the different agencies and volunteers to make this project happen was one of those warm, fuzzy moments. hey are also proud of obtaining their Ham Radio Licenses and becoming CERT instructors. Favorite Dessert?Sandra: Homemade banana pudding Polly: Any kind of cheesecake Other job experienceSandra:
Polly:
Why we chose Sandra and Polly
Interested in teaching leadership skills to young people? By attending this 3-day course, you will learn everything you need to bring the Points of Light Youth Leadership Institute (PYLI) to your community. PYLI is an innovative program designed to provide high school-aged youth with the service and leadership skills and knowledge to make valuable contributions to their communities. Seminar participants will understand the Institute's hands-on curriculum, know how to deliver it to young people, have strategies to implement the Institute in their communities, and become part of a national network of trainers who are conducting the Institute in communities across the country and throughout the world. To find out more please visit www.PYLI.org or e-mail PYLI@PointsofLight.org or call 202-729-8151.
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