ICare Project 2011

Rest In Peace Brian Naranjo

2012-02-12T10:58:00.001-08:00

For a tribute to a fallen here, click to read here.

To donate to his family, you can visit this site here.

CARE Center Follow up

2011-11-15T15:22:00.000-08:00

I met with the staff at the CARE center and Scott Hines today at one of the buildings, that we rennovated, on campus. It was truly a blessing to see it in final form.

The carpet had been laid, the furniture was loaded in, and all the window treatments were finished off.

It felt so cozy and relaxing to sit in such a beautifully renovated area. The artist, who did the murals in main waiting room, painted it as if it were on the beach. The colors were inspired from his work, done in all sands, grass greens, and sky blues. It felt like I was on vacation.

Those that have to visit there for such horrible circumstances, by no means will forget why they are there. However maybe the environment they're in will at least help them while they're there.

It's so nice to have started a project that rippled into something so huge for this much deserving organization.

The entire community embraced this project to include major companies within city limits. And because of that we had everything donated as far as the decor, furnishings, and carpet. It was truly a miraculous turn of events.

THE C.A.R.E CENTER X-treme Mini-makeover 2011

2011-05-21T07:55:00.000-07:00

The C.A.R.E. Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization and Nationally Accredited Child Advocacy Center. Serving Oklahoma County, The C.A.R.E. Center provides investigative forensic interviews and medical examinations in a child friendly setting for professionals who investigate child crimes.

Working together as an independent member of an interdisciplinary team with medical professionals, law enforcement agencies and child protection services, The C.A.R.E. Center staff provides the most efficient and comprehensive services to children and their families that provides everything from counseling for child and family, a safe haven, and funding for forensic exams and mental and physical support with counseling and doctors appointments.

While the staff, at The C.A.R.E. center, is active and present in the lives of so many hurt children – they are unable to focus on their building, which was built circa 1980's. It is outdated & overdue for a renovation.

Our X-treme mini-make over team has adopted two rooms to transform in order to make the lives of these children, their families, and the staff at the center a little easier.
In order to complete this task we need the following:

- Up to 40 volunteers for manpower with painting and moving furniture.
- Arts/Crafts Supplies for the children’s art room at the center.
- Gently used or new toys for a broad age range of children.
- Someone with Interior Design expertise to donate their time/energy.
- Gift cards to a home improvement store for paint, paint supplies, and décor supplies…or donated paint and supplies.
- Gently used or new furniture: love seat or small couch, stuffed chair, coffee table, small interview/kitchen table, 4 office chairs, lamps/lighting, and a small throw rug.
- Metal shelving unit for some electronic equipment - used during child interviews.
- A restaurant to cater a lunch for either Saturday or Sunday or both, so the volunteers are fed during their efforts of goodwill.

The dates we will be working are July 29th, 30th, and 31st. However, the bulk of the work will fall on the 30th and 31st.

Please consider the opportunity before you. If you’re unable to help in any of the ways above, but would like to help in some way the C.A.R.E center runs on donations, as they are a non-profit organization.

Their website is: http://carecenter-okc.org/

Thank you for help and willingness to make this project happen. If it brings a smile to one child, then we’ve accomplished something wonderful.
Warmest Regards,
Kim

THE C.A.R.E CENTER

2011-05-05T07:30:00.000-07:00

In life we run across many different types of people. Some that say they want to make a difference, some that applaud those who make a difference, and others - who try to make a difference by taking action.

Taking action is an important step to making a ripple effect in your own community. As one person, you can't change the world! BUT ... you can change a circumstance around you that can lead to change, which can effect many people. How amazing is that thought? You can change lives with one action - good or bad. So, lets focus on the good!

There is a local organization in Oklahoma City called the C.A.R.E. Center, which stands for 'Child Abuse Response and Evaluation Center'. They are a wonderfully caring place.

The C.A.R.E. Center, Inc. is a non-profit organization and Nationally Accredited Child Advocacy Center. Serving Oklahoma County, The C.A.R.E. Center provides investigative forensic interviews and medical examinations in a child friendly setting for professionals who investigate child crimes. Working together as an independent member of an interdisciplinary team with medical professionals, law enforcement agencies and child protection services, The C.A.R.E. Center staff provides the most efficient and comprehensive services to children and their families that provides everything from counseling for child and family, a safe haven, and funding for forensic exams and mental and physical support with counseling and doctors appts.

Their building was built circa 1980's, which means it's not dillapidaded but it's outdated. It's way overdue for a renovation. And the children there, who need to feel comfort, are sitting in a house that feels like grandma's stuffy living room instead of a room that is calming and warm.

On top of this - legislation has cut a lot of funding over the years in certain aspects for non-profits. So buying new toys for the younger children and keeping art supplies for craft time is not an option. Donations are a must to run a successful operation!

The group is creative and has some pretty amazing fund raisers, like their Celebrity Waiter's Gala. My husband & I actually participated in this gala this year. This is how I know how amazing these folks are that donate their time and energy to making a healthier environment for these kids.

The kids that the CARE center receives are the worst case scenarios - the ones you see on the news. And their interview numbers are getting higher as in they see more kids now more than ever.

So here's my project:

I am going to adopt a room to redesign. I'm going to travel to the house next week to see it - in order to know what the space is like. This way I'll know the decor in place and design wise, I'll know what is needed.

I will be updating you with information on when this mini extreme makeover will take place, becuase we'll need gently used and unwanted furniture, drapes, and man power. We'll need art/craft supplies and gently used toys.

We'll need VOLUNTEERS LIKE YOU, who can donate your time to making one child feel better.

Imagine a child, who has been beaten ... hurt inside and out, who is sitting in a room for counseling. A room that is re-done to make them feel as ease. A room with a photo art project on the wall that portrays innocence and warmth. A room that gives a feel of comfort.

If you can help one child feel secure while they have to deal with all their struggles with a soft pillow on the couch, instead of grama's stiff chair - would it be worth your time to help out?

I know we're not changing the world and making child abuse go away. We can't control what people do. We can support the CARE Center, a safe place, by providing a comfortable room.

If you're in OKC and able to help, please leave me a comment. If you're not in OKC and want to send any donations to the CARE Center - that would be greatly appreciated to.

If you found a balloon ...

2011-02-13T15:51:00.000-08:00

Today we launched 25 balloons in effort to reach those around us. It started as a school project - 'to do something for someone to show you care'. The glitch was that it had to be anonymous, and it had to be done on a deadline. And when the snow pounded down in Oklahoma City & hit and hit and hit again, it wasn't easy to get out of the house to do much for those around us in time to turn my son's project in.

Hence - balloon lift off. We thought it would be the best way to reach those around us. We sent one balloon off last week in time for our son's project...and decided to launch the rest this weekend in time for Valentines Day.

We sent off 25 balloons with a simple message attached.

We believe that God's love is a very powerful thing, so we want those around us to feel how big that is in their life too.

Our family is hoping that if a balloon found it's way to you - you might be inspired to look up into the sky and think about his love for you. Sometimes life can throw us curve balls. For example - the economy, sickness, divorce, death ...

The bottom line is that life isn't always easy, but God is always there for us lifting us up in times of need. We wanted these balloons to be a symbol of that. Know that someone out there cares for you, and if you're in need of prayer - please feel free to leave us a comment. Know that no matter where you are, He's there for you. You only have to open up your heart ... and ask.

If you found a balloon - hopefully the message attached is still intact. We weren't sure how the wind and elements would deteriorate the note.

We would love to know what day and date you found the balloon and where you are. We want to keep track of the responses on a map.

Balloon Lift Off

2011-02-10T15:05:00.000-08:00

It's 30 degrees outside, and our little test balloon went flying up into the cold cold sky. We tied our message to it that read as so:

'This balloon found it’s way to you for a reason. No matter who you are, or where you are in life … please know that God loves you and that you’re special.

Please log on to the following web address and leave us a comment. Let us know where you found the balloon, and what your thoughts are.'

We left the web address as a tag line at the bottom and sent it on it's way.

We're going to send the 24 additional balloons up to flight on Saturday, when it's warmer. Hopefully most of the snow to have melted by then, so if by chance our balloons pop and land in someone's yard - the ink won't run from getting wet from snow or ice.

Here are a few lift off pics from today's send off. My son is super excited to see if anyone receives the balloon and responds. So if you're the one recipient from today's lift off - please leave us a short message.

Where are you?
What is your first name?
How did you find the balloon?
How did it make you feel?

This is a science and good will project rolled into one.

and away it flies ...

School Project

2011-02-05T06:59:00.000-08:00

My son and I have been tasked by his school to come up with something to show others love and compassion. This great school project is in honor of St. Valentine himself. It's supposed to be anonymous so that the person on the receiving end only feels the end result, without knowing who did something thoughtful for them.

We've pondered over it for days. His first thought was that he wanted it to reach a lot of people, so I suggested starting a coat drive...but this project has a short turnaround time and we'd have to plan in advance for that. So that is a project tabled for another time, as I want this to be an ongoing theme in our family ... doing something for someone else in need, to show we care.

Our second idea was genius! Make dinner for some friends of mine, that are going through a rough patch medically and emotionally. And 'Project Dinner' was on a successful track until SnOklahoma blew in and kept us trapped in our home for days on end. Now we have no access to this person's home for the time being, and again this project is due any day.

So hopefully our last idea is one that will stick, along with all this snow and ice! We're going to inflate a bunch of balloons and attach an uplifting message to whomever ends up with this balloon in their possession. Once inflated, and our message is attached - we will go outside and let our project of love go flying into the winds. I only hope that they go further than my neighborhood!

So if you have stumbled onto my little blog - know that I will post as we begin starting our process within the next few days. And once this project is over, I hope you all will continue to come back as I will have ways we all can contribute to our neighborhood.

Thanks ~ Kim aka Wornoutwoman