Post by donna on Mar 31, 2009 18:53:56 GMT -5
This was originally posted on TDH site, but I wanted to bring the information over here, so that any JCM'er that would like to join with us in service, may see what we have planned and come along too. You may pm me with any questions, or to say that you will be joining us. Thanks!!
INFO
I am excited and enthused to rally the Dreadhead troops for a service project that will honor friendships, family and love; all things that the Dreadheads (and Jason) represent!! Read all the info below (sorry it is a lot!!!) and post your thoughts and replies that say you are going!!! PM if anything is not clear. WHOOP, I CAN”T WAIT!!!
Based on the poll I took on the Chatter thread at TDH, Rockwall, TX was the location that received the most votes for the location of our service project. I know most of us cannot take a lot of time away from work or our families, so I have tried to plan for a long weekend, instead of a week long trek. I also tried to be mindful of the weather in Texas (summer can be hot!), and also our varied physical skill levels. Keeping all that in mind, I have set a time and have found some projects for us to choose from (with a day left for recreation and reflection). I have also researched flight costs from various cities, and have found a VERY reasonable hotel accommodations that will be even more affordable if we bunk together. Of course, sharing transportation with a minivan rental will also save on expenses. All these details are laid out below!!!
The project will take place in May, and I really wanted to correspond with the anniversary of Jason’s homecoming last year, but that collided with Memorial Weekend, so instead I have chosen, Thursday, May 14 - Monday, May 18. With these dates, we also avoid Mother’s Day. I’m hoping most people will be able to travel to Dallas sometime on Thursday, May 14th and we will perform service projects on Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th. Sunday, May 17th will be a day of fun, and Monday, May 18th will be our travel day back to our homes and families. Of course, some people may choose to fly out on Sunday, if that is easier.
First, the projects we may choose from.
I have been in contact with several agencies in the Dallas area and have found the following causes to get behind:
Alley’s House
Alley’s house is an organization in Dallas that supports teen mothers. They have a 1 day service project organizing their donated goods (diapers, formulas, etc.) area. They have a group coming in April, and will let me know if they will have the same need in May. We may also combine this with a supply collection drive prior to leaving.
Goodwill Industries of Dallas
Goodwill has various needs where we could help at their warehouse in Dallas. On the grounds, they need their perimeter fence painted. In their office, they need closets and filing systems de-cluttered and organized. They also need some people to help archive 80 years of photographs, both tangibly and digitally.
I have emailed this organization, and I am waiting for a response. I may call them later this week if I haven’t heard from them.
Central Dallas Ministries / Central Dallas Community Development Corporation
Help is needed with painting, landscaping and general carpentry for individuals at their home.
Central Dallas Ministries Resource Center and Food Pantry
Help is need at their Dallas location. We would be stocking shelves in the food pantry, unloading trucks, sacking groceries, doing general cleaning and helping neighbors carry groceries to their car. (We must wear closed toe shoes, and no tank tops). Volunteers needed M-F only, so this would be a Friday project. I will email or call them this week to discuss this opportunity.
PediPlace
PediPlace in Lewisville, TX provides high quality healthcare for children of Denton County who have no access to such services due to economic, geographic and/or cultural barriers. They have a need for volunteers to assemble shelving and organize their offsite record storage facility. They also need help with their gift bags for first time parents of new born children. At PediPlace parents of new born children attend an education class at the child's two week check-up. Gift bags include items used in the instruction and help provide proper care. Volunteers can both provide the items for each bag and/or assemble them. Up to 500 bags are needed annually. If we choose this option, we can assemble the bags and hold a donation collection before we leave.
Habitat for Humanity One Day Build
I have been in contact with Dan from Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. They are sponsoring a HFH build that is an ongoing project which they work on each Saturday. We can definitely help here, but it could only be Saturday. Dan also said that there is a need for help in the Lake Rockwall Estates, which houses many seniors and hispanic people. There are several properties that are in need of repairs.
Habitat for Humanity Multi Day Build
There is a 5 day build that is taking place in McKinney, TX. There are two houses, two doors down from each other that are being built. We could work Tues-Sat, if we were going to be there that long, but I can ask if we can just work one day, if we decide to go here.
Second, we have to get there!!
Below are airfares from several large cities across the US. I think the the fares are reasonable and are fairly consistent across the country. I am assuming that we travel on Thursday, May 14, and Monday, May 18 and I list non-stop flights (if available). I was trying to choose the cheapest flights, and ones that would arrive around the same time, so that we could carpool easier. These fares are from farecompare.com. They are not the only flights available, just ones I found that were cheapest and most convenient.
From City/Airport Airport Airline Flight # Depart Arrive City/Flight Depart Arrival Total Price
Atlanta, GA ATL Delta 1921 1:35 PM 2:54 PM $216
DFW Delta 1924 1:21 PM 4:27 PM
Baltimore, MD BWI Airtran 421 12:21 PM 2:31 PM $246
DFW Airtran 921 3:11 PM 7:11 PM
Chicago, IL ORD United 7558 7:00 AM 9:32 AM $246
DFW United 5987 12:46 PM 3:04 PM
Los Angeles, CA LAX United 6229 8:15 AM 1:14 PM $246
DFW United 6219 6:15 PM 7:40 PM
Newark, NJ EWR Continental 1135 11:45 AM 2:31 PM $306
DFW Continental 1134 10:19 AM 3:00 PM
Orlando, FL ORL AirTran 929 10:51 AM 12:43 PM $206
DFW AirTran 920 1:23 PM 1:23 PM
Philadelphia, PA PHL USAir 1273 11:25 AM 1:58 PM $246
DFW USAir 740 1:00 PM 5:15 PM
Pittsburgh, PA PIT NWA 1558 9:30 AM 10:39 AM DET/389 11:56 AM 1:51 PM $242
DFW NWA 3526 11:35 AM 1:03 PM DET/2205 2:00 PM 4:58 PM
Portland, OR PDX Alaska 1544 8:40 AM 2:25 PM $365
DFW Alaska 661 2:05 PM 4:17 PM SEA/2057 5:00 PM 5:50 PM
Washington DC IAD United 7678 8:30 AM 11:02 AM $226
DFW United 7678 11:45 AM 3:50 PM
Third, we have to stay there awhile!!
I have found the Hawthorne Suites, in Richardson, TX, which is very close to Rockwall and Garland. The Hawthorne Suites are a Wyndam hotel and have 2 bedroom suites that have a queen bed, a king bed and a pull out sofa. They also have a fully equipped kitchen, free wireless internet, complimentary full hot breakfast daily, complimentary dinner and cocktails Mon-Thur evenings (we would only get one night of this), an outdoor pool, laundry facilities and a shuttle service for within a 7 mile radius. It is .2 miles from a Starbucks and several restaurants are nearby. All this for $99 per night!! So if we split that by 4 or 5, the cost in very reasonable. Plus we will be able to keep beverages and snacks in the refrigerator!
Fourth, we have to travel while we are there!!
Several of the major car rental agencies have minivans available for about $60 a day. Since they can comfortably hold 6 adults, we can share this expense to, making it very reasonable.
Lastly, we have to relax and party while we are there, too!!
Sunday, we can go to Sunday Service at Lake Pointe Church, in Rockwall. The service times are 9:30 am and 11:00 am. After church, we can go to lunch at Lake Bella Harbor in Rockwall. There may be a boat cruise or something.
INFO
I am excited and enthused to rally the Dreadhead troops for a service project that will honor friendships, family and love; all things that the Dreadheads (and Jason) represent!! Read all the info below (sorry it is a lot!!!) and post your thoughts and replies that say you are going!!! PM if anything is not clear. WHOOP, I CAN”T WAIT!!!
Based on the poll I took on the Chatter thread at TDH, Rockwall, TX was the location that received the most votes for the location of our service project. I know most of us cannot take a lot of time away from work or our families, so I have tried to plan for a long weekend, instead of a week long trek. I also tried to be mindful of the weather in Texas (summer can be hot!), and also our varied physical skill levels. Keeping all that in mind, I have set a time and have found some projects for us to choose from (with a day left for recreation and reflection). I have also researched flight costs from various cities, and have found a VERY reasonable hotel accommodations that will be even more affordable if we bunk together. Of course, sharing transportation with a minivan rental will also save on expenses. All these details are laid out below!!!
The project will take place in May, and I really wanted to correspond with the anniversary of Jason’s homecoming last year, but that collided with Memorial Weekend, so instead I have chosen, Thursday, May 14 - Monday, May 18. With these dates, we also avoid Mother’s Day. I’m hoping most people will be able to travel to Dallas sometime on Thursday, May 14th and we will perform service projects on Friday, May 15th and Saturday, May 16th. Sunday, May 17th will be a day of fun, and Monday, May 18th will be our travel day back to our homes and families. Of course, some people may choose to fly out on Sunday, if that is easier.
First, the projects we may choose from.
I have been in contact with several agencies in the Dallas area and have found the following causes to get behind:
Alley’s House
Alley’s house is an organization in Dallas that supports teen mothers. They have a 1 day service project organizing their donated goods (diapers, formulas, etc.) area. They have a group coming in April, and will let me know if they will have the same need in May. We may also combine this with a supply collection drive prior to leaving.
Goodwill Industries of Dallas
Goodwill has various needs where we could help at their warehouse in Dallas. On the grounds, they need their perimeter fence painted. In their office, they need closets and filing systems de-cluttered and organized. They also need some people to help archive 80 years of photographs, both tangibly and digitally.
I have emailed this organization, and I am waiting for a response. I may call them later this week if I haven’t heard from them.
Central Dallas Ministries / Central Dallas Community Development Corporation
Help is needed with painting, landscaping and general carpentry for individuals at their home.
Central Dallas Ministries Resource Center and Food Pantry
Help is need at their Dallas location. We would be stocking shelves in the food pantry, unloading trucks, sacking groceries, doing general cleaning and helping neighbors carry groceries to their car. (We must wear closed toe shoes, and no tank tops). Volunteers needed M-F only, so this would be a Friday project. I will email or call them this week to discuss this opportunity.
PediPlace
PediPlace in Lewisville, TX provides high quality healthcare for children of Denton County who have no access to such services due to economic, geographic and/or cultural barriers. They have a need for volunteers to assemble shelving and organize their offsite record storage facility. They also need help with their gift bags for first time parents of new born children. At PediPlace parents of new born children attend an education class at the child's two week check-up. Gift bags include items used in the instruction and help provide proper care. Volunteers can both provide the items for each bag and/or assemble them. Up to 500 bags are needed annually. If we choose this option, we can assemble the bags and hold a donation collection before we leave.
Habitat for Humanity One Day Build
I have been in contact with Dan from Lake Pointe Church in Rockwall. They are sponsoring a HFH build that is an ongoing project which they work on each Saturday. We can definitely help here, but it could only be Saturday. Dan also said that there is a need for help in the Lake Rockwall Estates, which houses many seniors and hispanic people. There are several properties that are in need of repairs.
Habitat for Humanity Multi Day Build
There is a 5 day build that is taking place in McKinney, TX. There are two houses, two doors down from each other that are being built. We could work Tues-Sat, if we were going to be there that long, but I can ask if we can just work one day, if we decide to go here.
Second, we have to get there!!
Below are airfares from several large cities across the US. I think the the fares are reasonable and are fairly consistent across the country. I am assuming that we travel on Thursday, May 14, and Monday, May 18 and I list non-stop flights (if available). I was trying to choose the cheapest flights, and ones that would arrive around the same time, so that we could carpool easier. These fares are from farecompare.com. They are not the only flights available, just ones I found that were cheapest and most convenient.
From City/Airport Airport Airline Flight # Depart Arrive City/Flight Depart Arrival Total Price
Atlanta, GA ATL Delta 1921 1:35 PM 2:54 PM $216
DFW Delta 1924 1:21 PM 4:27 PM
Baltimore, MD BWI Airtran 421 12:21 PM 2:31 PM $246
DFW Airtran 921 3:11 PM 7:11 PM
Chicago, IL ORD United 7558 7:00 AM 9:32 AM $246
DFW United 5987 12:46 PM 3:04 PM
Los Angeles, CA LAX United 6229 8:15 AM 1:14 PM $246
DFW United 6219 6:15 PM 7:40 PM
Newark, NJ EWR Continental 1135 11:45 AM 2:31 PM $306
DFW Continental 1134 10:19 AM 3:00 PM
Orlando, FL ORL AirTran 929 10:51 AM 12:43 PM $206
DFW AirTran 920 1:23 PM 1:23 PM
Philadelphia, PA PHL USAir 1273 11:25 AM 1:58 PM $246
DFW USAir 740 1:00 PM 5:15 PM
Pittsburgh, PA PIT NWA 1558 9:30 AM 10:39 AM DET/389 11:56 AM 1:51 PM $242
DFW NWA 3526 11:35 AM 1:03 PM DET/2205 2:00 PM 4:58 PM
Portland, OR PDX Alaska 1544 8:40 AM 2:25 PM $365
DFW Alaska 661 2:05 PM 4:17 PM SEA/2057 5:00 PM 5:50 PM
Washington DC IAD United 7678 8:30 AM 11:02 AM $226
DFW United 7678 11:45 AM 3:50 PM
Third, we have to stay there awhile!!
I have found the Hawthorne Suites, in Richardson, TX, which is very close to Rockwall and Garland. The Hawthorne Suites are a Wyndam hotel and have 2 bedroom suites that have a queen bed, a king bed and a pull out sofa. They also have a fully equipped kitchen, free wireless internet, complimentary full hot breakfast daily, complimentary dinner and cocktails Mon-Thur evenings (we would only get one night of this), an outdoor pool, laundry facilities and a shuttle service for within a 7 mile radius. It is .2 miles from a Starbucks and several restaurants are nearby. All this for $99 per night!! So if we split that by 4 or 5, the cost in very reasonable. Plus we will be able to keep beverages and snacks in the refrigerator!
Fourth, we have to travel while we are there!!
Several of the major car rental agencies have minivans available for about $60 a day. Since they can comfortably hold 6 adults, we can share this expense to, making it very reasonable.
Lastly, we have to relax and party while we are there, too!!
Sunday, we can go to Sunday Service at Lake Pointe Church, in Rockwall. The service times are 9:30 am and 11:00 am. After church, we can go to lunch at Lake Bella Harbor in Rockwall. There may be a boat cruise or something.
Thanks for the info!!! GREAT IDEA!!
jcm#444 ~ dh#2036 ~ bus#41 ~ jms#81
