“Shoe boxes of love: Operation Christmas Child begins collecting Nov. 15 - Taylor Daily Press” plus 2 more |
- Shoe boxes of love: Operation Christmas Child begins collecting Nov. 15 - Taylor Daily Press
- Hey, kids, show us what it's like 'In Your Own Shoes' for contest - Times Union
- Dirty Laundry: When did we stop playing with our kids? - Raleigh News & Observer
| Shoe boxes of love: Operation Christmas Child begins collecting Nov. 15 - Taylor Daily Press Posted: 27 Oct 2010 10:07 PM PDT What do you do with your old shoe boxes? You might throw them away or use them for organization, but you can do something even better with them. Last year, Operation Christmas Child (OCC) in Taylor sent 752 shoe boxes full of gifts to 130 countries across the world to children in need. OCC is run by the international relief group Samaritan's Purse. "(OCC) reaches literally millions of children around the world that are impoverished, orphans or diseased," said Kathleen Laurence, who is coordinating the drop-off center at First Baptist of Taylor. "(They are) children that really just need to be uplifted and receive hope." Getting involved with OCC is simple. After filling a shoe box with gifts, like school supplies, hygiene items or toys, wrap it with the lid separate from the box and take it to a relay center. They should not include used or damaged gifts, war-related items, chocolate, food, out of date candy, liquids or lotions, medications or vitamins, breakable items or aerosol cans. The relay center in Taylor is First Baptist of Taylor, located at 701 Davis Street. Participants can get a brochure at the church with tags that indicate whether the gift is for a girl or boy, or they can get them when they drop off the gift. People who drop off a gift are also asked to include a $7 donation for shipping, since the boxes travel very far. Laurence and her family pack multiple boxes each year. "It helps (the) children (that receive gifts) but, it also teaches our children to give," she said. "They love it. It's so easy that you almost can't not get involved." Multiple groups in the area are getting involved this year, including Mothers Of PreSchoolers (MOPS) and child development centers from churches. The goal for Laurence is to top last year's donations and reach 1,000 this year. "It's a great project because it is so simple, yet makes such a huge impact on the lives of these children," Laurence said. This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Hey, kids, show us what it's like 'In Your Own Shoes' for contest - Times Union Posted: 31 Oct 2010 09:05 PM PDT The Times Union and the Albany Institute of History & Art are teaming up to give kids a chance to express themselves and win great prizes. Inspired by the exhibition "Perfect Fit," which is open through Jan. 2, we're asking kids to express themselves by designing their own art shoes and writing about them. What are art shoes? Check out the photo with this story, or check out the exhibition at the Albany Institute. We're inviting Capital Region students from elementary school through high school to express themselves artistically by creating works of visual art based on footwear for a contest we're calling "In Your Own Shoes." Entries can be funny, whimsical, dramatic, realistic or topical, but they should tell a story of some kind, in keeping with the theme of "The Perfect Fit" exhibition. Each entry -- which can be either two- or three-dimensional -- must also include a brief artist statement (no more than 50 words) that explains how the artwork expresses whatever the artist is trying to express. A panel of judges assembled by the Albany Institute will evaluate entries based on creativity and the artist statement. Prizes will include a gift certificate from the Times Union, a feature on the winners and their artwork in the newspaper and online, and a gift certificate from the Albany Institute, plus other prizes. The deadline is this Friday, Nov. 5, so get cracking on creating shoes that can be a "Perfect Fit" to your self-expression. The details Entries: One piece of artwork may be submitted per student, either a two-dimensional one that shows the side view and front view of a pair of shoes (8 1/2 by 11 inches maximum) or three-dimensional (12 by 12 by 12 inches maximum), and one brief artist statement (no more than 50 words). Artist age, location: Entrants must be elementary, middle or high school age and live in the Capital Region (Albany, Saratoga, Schenectady and Rensselaer counties). Required info: Each entry must include the artist's name, age, grade, school, home telephone number, name of artwork and the 50-word (or less) artist statement. (Failure to include this information will disqualify the entry.) How to submit: Entries may be submitted by mail, e-mail (two-dimensional work only) or in person. Mail: Artwork and required information can be mailed to Times Union In Your Own Shoes Contest, Features Department, P.O. Box 15000, Albany, NY 12212. E-mail: Images of two-dimensional artwork and the required information can be sent via e-mail to youtharts@timesunion.com. Please include the words "In Your Own Shoes contest" and the name of the artist in the subject line. (Images of three-dimensional artwork, such as photos of shoes, will not be accepted.) In person: Artwork and the required information can be dropped off during normal business hours at the Times Union, 645 Albany Shaker Road, Colonie. Deadline: All entries must be at the Times Union by 5 p.m. Nov. 5 Winners: Once judging is complete and depending on the number of entries, winners will be selected in one of three age categories -- elementary, middle and high school -- and in one of two genres -- two-dimensional and three-dimensional. Winners will be notified by phone to come to the Times Union to have their photographs taken for a story to be published later. Notes: Images of all artwork may appear in print and online. All artwork will become the property of the Times Union and won't be returned, unless the entry explicitly states that the artist or his or her family member will come to the Times Union to pick up the artwork after the winners are announced in print. Entries submitted on CD or disk will not be accepted. The contest is not open to employees or family members of the Times Union or the Albany Institute. Questions: If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to call Arts & Entertainment Editor Michael Janairo at 454-5629 or e-mail youtharts@timesunion.com. On exhibit "The Perfect Fit" and "Old Soles" When: Through Jan. 2 Where: Albany Institute of History and Art, 125 Washington Ave., Albany Admission: $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, $6 children 6-12, free children under 6 Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Info: 463-4478, http://www.albanyinstitute.org Note: Albany Institute will have three shoe-relatedevents on Friday, Nov. 5: 1-3:30 p.m. Home School Program: "Shoes Build Character": Using examples from the "Old Soles" exhibition, kids age 12 and up will select and sketch a shoe, then create a character profile and portrait using collage and found materials. $15 for nonmembers, $10 for members. Registration is required and payment is due at the time of registration. 5-8 p.m. Free admission to institute as part of First Friday arts events. 6 p.m. Open Mike Shoe Slam: Share poems about your shoes in a live event hosted by Jessica Layton of WNYT Ch. 13 On exhibit "The Perfect Fit" and "Old Soles" When: Through Jan. 2 Where: Albany Institute of History and Art, 125 Washington Ave., Albany Admission: $10 adults, $8 students and seniors, $6 children 6-12, free children under 6 Museum hours: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Saturday; noon to 5 p.m. Sunday Info: 463-4478, http://www.albanyinstitute.org Note: Albany Institute will have three shoe-relatedevents on Friday, Nov. 5: 1-3:30 p.m. Home School Program: "Shoes Build Character": Using examples from the "Old Soles" exhibition, kids age 12 and up will select and sketch a shoe, then create a character profile and portrait using collage and found materials. $15 for nonmembers, $10 for members. Registration is required and payment is due at the time of registration. 5-8 p.m. Free admission to institute as part of First Friday arts events. 6 p.m. Open Mike Shoe Slam: Share poems about your shoes in a live event hosted by Jessica Layton of WNYT Ch. 13 This entry passed through the Full-Text RSS service — if this is your content and you're reading it on someone else's site, please read our FAQ page at fivefilters.org/content-only/faq.php |
| Dirty Laundry: When did we stop playing with our kids? - Raleigh News & Observer Posted: 01 Nov 2010 03:03 AM PDT - St. Louis Post-Dispatch I'm convinced every 80-degree fall day is going to be our last, so I've been shooing the children outside to play in this unseasonably warm weather. Recently, we headed to a park, and I deliberately left my phone in the car. It was early enough on a Saturday morning that there were few children on the playground, and I was tempted by how much fun it would be to play with them, rather than hang out on the sidelines. This led to a series of serious indignities. The playground equipment may have shrunk from when I remember last playing on it. I got stuck in the tunnel of the purple spiral slide, and my ankle knocked around inside the walls of the tunnel as I slid down. Apparently, slides are much more slippery than when we were kids. We used to have to scoot our bottoms along those wretched aluminum sheets, but these new-fangled plastic ones must be pregreased. Then, I got stuck in the tire tower. There I was, trapped like a Michelin woman, with tires encircling my entire body. I had no idea where to turn to make my way out of the mess. "Don't worry, Mama! I'm coming to save you!" my 5-year-old called out. A small hand poked out from the bottom of the last tire near my feet. I was starting to feel just a little claustrophobic when I realized that I had to squirm out the bottom of the tower. It was not a graceful exit. When I saw my second-grader bounce up the rock wall, I followed her lead. I was getting the hang of it. But once I made it to the top, I couldn't figure out how to get down. "It's OK, Mama. Just watch me. Jump. You can do it," she encouraged. "No, I really can't," I said, looking down and thinking about how my knees still ached from using the treadmill two days earlier. I looked around, feeling a little panicked. Was I going to have to have someone call the fire department? My children would never let me take them to the park again. I hung for a few minutes and gathered my wits. I sort of shimmied down the pole on the side of the wall to safety. I decided I should steer clear of anything involving advanced gross motor skills, so I challenged my kindergartner to a swing race. "Let's see who can go higher," I said. I had this one in the bag. My pumping legs are much longer. But, as soon as I got high enough to see the top of the shortest trees, my head started getting woozy - dizzy enough to make me grab my forehead and skid to an abrupt stop. The spinning made the mini-lecture in my head seem even louder: Just wait a sec! I am the girl who bungee jumped in college and jumped out of an airplane after graduation. I work out regularly and can hold a tree pose in my yoga class. How did I atrophy my sense of balance? My mother used to get nauseous on the merry-go-rounds, and I would laugh at how old people miss out on all the fun. Dear Lord. Have I become the old people? While my children are quick to point out when I am embarrassing them, they seemed to take great delight in my public humiliations on the playground. In fact, all of us kept laughing. There was a moment when I was so filled with joy that I felt a stab of nostalgia. When do we become spectators to our children's play? We are encouraged to get on the floor with our babies and play with them, and many of us do. But at some point, we forget how to really play with our kids. A recent British study found that one in five parents say they have forgotten how to play with their children, with a third saying that taking part in games and activities with their family is boring, according to the 2010 State of Play report, conducted by psychologist Tanya Byron and commissioned by Disneyland Paris. More than half the children questioned for the report said they want more quality time with their parents, but (surprisingly) not the video games their parents often play with them. The study, which interviewed 2,000 parents and 2,000 children, concluded that play is in danger of becoming a "lost art" for British families, with 21 percent of parents admitting they no longer remember how to play and struggle to engage their children in creative and imaginative activities. Americans may think we've mastered play better than the Brits, but how many of us spend even an hour or half an hour engaged in daily active play with our children? Studies show that American children spend nearly 8 hours a day engaged in some form of media. And one study found that less than 40 percent of parents say they spend at least six hours a week actively playing with their children. Play is not just passing adults by, but we're also in danger of raising children who don't know how to play. Schools have cut recess to spend more time prepping for standardized tests. Teens send an average of 3,339 texts a month, according to the latest study. Kids are plugged in to devices most waking hours of the day. Structured activities, lessons and practices take up the rest of their time. That day on the playground I realized my own loss of playtime. I may have looked foolish to some, but I got to experience that playground through my children's eyes. A slightly balding man in a polo shirt, khaki pants and dress shoes chuckled as I hollered my way down the big slide. A few moments later, I watched as he followed his son up the massive fort and tucked himself into a ball to fit into the opening of that same slide. And, I heard him clank his way down. But when he popped out of the tunnel and dusted himself off, he wore the same goofy smile I couldn't shake all afternoon. (Aisha Sultan is a columnist for the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. Contact her at asultan@post-dispatch.com.) 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