Staying Connected Event November 11, 2014

I've been an advocate of volunteering and a volunteer myself all of my life.  It is important to give back.

In light of this, I want to share the Staying Connected Event.  November 11, 2014, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. at the DeLand Inn, 350 E. International Speedway Blvd, DeLand, FL.   

We are sponsors of the event being organized by Art Life Retreats.  If you will be anywhere near DeLand Florida on Tuesday, November 11, 2014, please stop by and contribute some time to decorate greeting cards.   

Please share this event with others and help spread the word about this creative volunteer event!

You can find out more at www.artliferetreats.com

Soldiers who are in war zones don't get the opportunity to shop for greeting cards so they need our help to stay connected with the ones they love.

We Want YOU!  

We are seeking volunteers who want to make a difference.  Come  out and spend 20 minutes or the whole day (or as much time as you can spare) to decorate the front of blank greeting cards.  We're working with Operation Write Home to create as many cards as we can from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.  Operation Write Home will box and ship the cards to the military units for them to use.

Join us at the Deland Inn, 350 E. International, Speedway Blvd, Deland, FL from 9 a.m. until 9 p.m.

The event is FREE. 

We are also seeking volunteers who can help us out with tasks before and during the event or to donate supplies for use.  We will happily make arrangements to pick up any supplies.  If you can help us out,  please email usto discuss the logistics of donating supplies. Our wishlist needs are:

1500 blank greeting cards with envelopes.  CARDS MUST BE SIZED A2 sized cards only, and must include envelopes, tucked properly.  4.25″ x 5.5″ - half a sheet of cardstock per the requirements of Operation Write Home who ultimately send the cards to the military personnel for their use.  (2500 is the total number of cards we hope to finish in the day--we will accept as few as a dozen blank cards so please help us fulfill this need.)

Reams of White or Cream Card Stock

Michaels Arts & Crafts, Hobby Lobby or Jo-Ann's Fabrics Gift Certificates or Gift Card in any amount--if you don't know what we need but want to help provide supplies, we will accept these gift cards/certificates and do the shopping from our wish list. 

Ink Markers (Sharpies, Crayolas, gellies, etc.)

Crayons

Watercolor Painting Sets

Paintbrushes

Craft Paints--any colors

Scrapbooking Papers--any colors

Matte Medium or Matte Modge Podge (please no glossy!)  We have to use this for glue and sealant as glue sticks don't hold up in different areas of the world where they are shipped.

Scissors

Pastels—oil based (no chalk based please)

Craft Stamps--any, including alphabets

Craft Stamp Pads--any colors

Washi tape--any syle

Ephemera--items of collectible memorabilia, typically written or printed ones, such as ticket stubs, pamphlets, posters, photographs, advertisements, catalog pages, pages from dictionaries or books, maps, old calendars, etc. (please do not donate magazines or newspapers. 

We cannot use glossy pages and newspaper does not hold up well.)  Brown Craft Paper or vinyl/plastic rectangle table cloths to protect the venue's tables

Sponge “pouncers” 

2 reams of white printer paper

Printer ink HP Photosmart Plus 564 color and black cartridges and 1 Brother TN-350 cartridge

Airtime for advertising on TV or radio stations

Advertising space in local newspapers or magazines

Shipping costs from Deland Post office to Operation Write Home address of all completed cards after the event

Postage stamps or postage meter use for sending out thank yous

Envelopes for thank yous

ABSOLUTELY NO GLITTER, NO GLITTER PENS, NO MICA POWDER OR PEARLESCENT POWDERS, NO METALLIC or FOAM STICKERS, beads or any reflective surfaces  OF ANY KIND ARE ALLOWED in order to reduce risk to the military personnel. 

**We will donate any leftover supplies to a local art-related non-profit organization for use in their children's summer camp program.