Service Station

Making Blankets for Project Linus

llim08 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:24:58 +0000

A couple of blocks ago, we made blankets for Project Linus. The project donates “security blankets” to children who have gone through trauma as a young child. We made blankets by putting two pieces of fleece on top of each other. Then we cut 4in by 4in pieces from the corners to give it a rounded edge. We cut 4in by 1in slits around the edges and tied them together to make a fringe. It was a very time-consuming project, taking the better part of an 80 minute block, but it was very fulfilling.

Mother’s Club

as13620 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:23:07 +0000

We went to Mother’s Club, an organization that helps impoverished parents and thier small children get a fresh start. Here, the cihldren are educated in a safe environment and they can begin a better life for themselves and their families.

We split into two groups and provided the children at Mother’s Club with a hearty breakfast and supplies for arts and crafts. My group supplied feathers, pom-poms, crayons, and stickers to decorate Halloween masks. The other group brought bagels, muffins, and apple juice to eat for breakfast. When the children finished making thier masks, they ate their breakfast and played with toys they had in their classroom. We read books, played dress up, and danced to halloween themed music.

This trip was my favortie trip we have taken this year. I loved interacting with the children, and they were all very appreciative of our help. It makes me feel great watching the children’s faces brigthen for simple things, such as playing with a train set or dancing to music. I had a great time during this field trip beacuse I felt good knowing I was making a positive difference in their lives.

Mothers’ Club

ahusmann95 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:22:29 +0000

We decided to go to Mothers’ Club. We prepared snacks for the kids and faculty to enjoy. We also put together some arts and crafts for the kids to play with. My group prepared the arts and crafts for the two year olds. We brought masks for the kids to decorate and coloring books for them to color. It was a lot of fun. They really enjoyed coloring the books and they loved putting buckets of glue on their mask!! After they were finished with the arts and crafts they wanted to run around on the play ground. They had a big tub that was full of soapy water so they could blow bubbles. That was a few of the kids favorite thing to do. They had bikes and books for the kids as well. They really enjoyed those too. When we left some of the kids were really sad and one little girl actually startd crying. I was glad that we went but sad when we had to leave. It showed me how much these people at Mothers’ Club do for these little kids to help them have a brighter future. I think it is really exciting for them when new people come to play with them. It made me so happy to know that they had a good time playing with us and hopefully we can go back to brighten their day once again.

Breakfast and Crafts at Mothers’ Club!

ekwon21315 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:21:41 +0000

We went to Mothers’ Club. We spent the morning with the kids. There were two main groups. One prepared breakfast for the kids and the other prepared arts and crafts for the kids. The arts and crafts group spilt into several smaller groups and each group was paired with an age group. The group I was in was paired with the two-year-olds. We prepared a station with mask making and coloring books. After coloring and mask making, we played in the playground with the kids. I blew bubbles with some of the kids. They were all so amazed by the bubbles emerging from my bubble-blower. My classmates blew bubbles too. We also rode the really, really, really tiny bikes with them. We read books to them and played on the playground with them. After going to Mothers’ Club and spending time with the kids, made me realize how much I can do to make a little boy or girl happy by simply reading a book to them or coloring with them or blowing bubbles with them.

Mothers’ Club

rachelsang — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:20:51 +0000

We brought breakfast and arts and crafts for the chidlren at Mother’s Club. Mothers’ Club is a place that parents and their children who are living in poverty can go to learn life skills and create a better life for themselves. We brought bagels, cream cheese, juice, and fruit, as well as supplies to make pet rocks. We played with the kids and read to them in the new, modern Mothers’ Club facilities. I really enjoyed spending time with the children, whose lives will be changed immensely through a great start in education. Every donation of money, food, supplies, and time helps this great organization make a difference in the lives of parents and their kids in need. I loved this field trip because I felt good knowing that being with the kids, even just playing with googly eyes and reading a book to them, was greatly appreciated, and I can’t think of any better way to spend my time than helping these children have a better future.

Mother’s Club

sydneykranz — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:20:09 +0000

My class and I went to Mother’s Club earlier this month, which is a place where impoverished parents that have young kids can go to educate themselves with skills like self-confidence, schooling, and trying to make a lasting better life for their family.

I have volunteered at Mother’s Club before, helping out and playing with the kids there. Going with my class was special, though. We brought food and crafts for the kids, which was also a treat for them. Before we went we divided up into two groups. One group was arts and crafts, and the other was food. The arts and crafts group came up with a great idea for the kids–making masks! It was pretty close to Halloween, so the group spray painted masks black and orange to be festive. They brought stickers, feathers, and pom-poms to decorate them. The kids had a great time wearing their masks!

The group I was in, food, provided breakfast treats for the kids. They loved the bagels, mini-muffins, apples, goldfish, and juice we brought for them.

I love making friends with the kids and learning more about them. After they ate, they began making their masks and playing like they usually do. I am amazed every time I go at how overjoyed they are at having any volunteer play with. It makes me feel great knowing that I may have made their day a little brighter. I can see the strong bonds they have with their classmates and teachers, and know how much the Mother’s Club facility is affecting their lives.

This was my favorite experience in Service Learning so far!

Are you cold? I know these kids are…

cassidygolden — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 20:00:11 +0000

Hey guys we are middle school students taking a service learning class, where we help the community starting with our city. We have done many activities but one memorable one for us was making blankets. We made blankets for the Project Linus. We made about 30 blankets within our class. Project Linus is helping little girls and boys that have undergone trama such as natural disasters or children that are severely sick. We made blankets because we want them to know that they are loved and that we care about them. We also wanted to lift their spirits and make their days! The blankets were made for both girls and boys, with duckeys, farm animals, and much more. We encourage people to do the same. It is a fun activity do while sitting in front of the TV on a rainy day.

Mothers’ Club Trip

or13829 — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:54:44 +0000

I went to Mothers’ Club a few weeks ago and I played with the kids. Most of the kids were less than 2 years old so they were really cute. The girl I played with was fascinated by the little plastic eyes and small puff balls that were meant to stick on paper or something to make a face. After she got tired of doing that (it took a long time), she got up and brought a book over to me so I could read it to her. The Mothers’ Club organization helps mothers that are in need of childcare while the Mothers’ Club provides them with “practical skills, education, self-confidence, companionship, and most significantly, hope for a better future for themselves and for their families.”(Mothers’ Club website). I think that I enjoyed this trip over all of the other activities that we have done so far in Service Learning because I like little kids in general and playing with them was another way that I could connect with them. Overall I had a really excellent time at the Mothers’ Club and I hope to visit there again soon.

Recycled Paper Cards

eilzhutton — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:53:23 +0000

During Service Learning we made cards for an organization called Friends in Deed. They weren’t just any old cards though, they were made of our homemade recycled paper! We got a bunch of phonebooks and extra paper, shredded them in a blender, and soaked them in water. It was pretty messy, yet very fun. We mushed them on screens to make them flat and to get rid of excess water. Once they dried, we cut them into cool shapes and decorated them. We could write messages, paint them, or draw amazing pictures. Making these cards was a great experience because we were able to express our creativity while helping to make some one’s day!

Elizabeth

Union Station Presentation

cpdavis — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:50:57 +0000

Jared came from Union Station to Westridge to spread awareness to the 8th grade. He explained a lot about how they help the homless people that they can and how important it is for people to donate and give to the people of Union Station.

Now I know that it doesn’t take a lot of work to help a lot of people!

Green L.A. Girl

lymans — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:50:23 +0000

We were spoken to by a blogger, Green L.A. Girl, who blogs about way to be green even though she lives in L.A. she was the one who inspired us to make this blog. Green L.A. blogs about her experiences

Remembering the Children

llantry — Thu, 30 Oct 2008 19:49:44 +0000

When I remember the children of Mothers’ Club I remember how they laugh, play, and really touch our hearts. I remember how they really loved to play with you. They made masks and put stickers over their faces and our faces. They laughed with us even though some of them could not understand what we were saying. I played with a girl who didn’t know any English and I didn’t know very much Spanish. When I asked her name she said “Pumkin” in Spanish. It was really cute. I eventually learned some of the words she used and when she asked me to read a Spanish story I tried and failed as she kindly pointed out. When we were told we had to leave she ran over to me and hugged me. She said “Bye Bye Bye Bye,” then I had to pry her off of me and leave. Going to Mothers’ Club was a memorable experience because we really had the chance to connect with the people we were helping. We had the oppurtunity to help others. I was inspired to help at the Mothers’ Club more and I know in my future I will often volunteer there.