As many of you know, many of the refugees of the hurricane have found their way to Little Rock (20,000 so far), which is where I live.
I just saw a report that the hundreds of children at the various relief centers around town are bored out of their wits and extremely restless. We all know what they need. They need a positive way to channel some of that energy and cope with the stress of losing everything... They need some exercise!
Needless to say, as chairman of the Governor's Council on Fitness, I am organizing some group exercise activities to help with the situation. I am also now accepting donations for fitness related equipment (jumpropes, baseballs, outdoor games, etc). Academy Sports is setting me up with a gift card and an employee discount to buy fitness equipment to take out to the centers and get the kids moving.They also contributed $50 to get the card started. Any contributions will be used to increase the credit of the card. Give any amount you like. If all you can spare is $10, that is excellent. If you can do more, that's great too. All donations are appreciated.
If you have already made a contribution of some kind, obviously your help is greatly appreciated. If you have not gotten around to it yet and are looking for something worthy, please consider this.
I don't know how to accept paypal, so if you want to contribute, please just send a check or money order (payable to Jean-Paul Francoeur) to:
JP Fitness
425 W Capitol, 29th Floor
Little Rock, AR 72201
Call me at my fitness center at 501-399-9355 if you need to talk with me first. If you send a check, also drop a note in there with your screen name so I know who to thank.
Way to step up JP. You know we stopped at Barton on Saturday and they said they couldn't take any more donations there because they were swamped. This is a great way to get stuff in. I have outdoor roller skates and a kid's bike that someone needs to put to good use. Since Academy is helping you out on this, can they set up a donation box for you like Kroger has for food banks where people can purchase items themselves then leave it at the store? I think people feel good about being able to personalize charitable giving by actually shopping for items themselves and it would be SO easy to pick up a frisbee or a whiffle ball set on the way to the check out counter. Oh, and when you need volunteers to go down and play with them...CALL US!
__________________
The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'.
guys, i know this is a pet peeve of mine but can we PLEASE stop calling them refugees? they're evacuees and displaced homeless now. i don't know why it bugs me so much but it does.
JP, I've got two bikes at my parents house (kids bikes) that haven't been used in years. Do you have any need for bikes? if so I wonder how long of a drive it is down there from here.
We have an annual rafting trip coming up in a couple of weeks, and because some of the friends going are doctors and engineers, they are looking to see if there are organizations on the front line that can use our time to volunteer instead of the rafting. Don't yet know if it will pan out or if the relief efforts just need cash, but many feel the same way as you DiBatista.
Just wait Java, word is the evacuees will be spreading out soon to relieve the stress of so many being in just a few places. There is a chance your area may have people coming in, contact your local red cross and ask!
__________________
The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'.
ODBG,
I don't plan to just deliver goodies, I am coming in with as much positive energy as I can muster and I am going to rally them up and get them to expend some energy exercising or playing games. I am going to want to find a volunteer at each location to go over every day and get the kids doing something.
It is highly disorganized and chaotic, so I am not counting on the volunteers there to help me organize anything. I kinda have to get things moving myself.
Java, I can't remember where you live, but if you want to bring bikes down that would be great. Don't do it if its a major drive though. I am sure that there will be some kids who have lost their bikes in this mess.
hey JP,
I figured that's what you meant. We've signed up to volunteer for the Red Cross next week but if they don't call us, we (all 3 of us) will go with you when we have free evenings to help you out. I bet I can set up a mean game of red rover red rover!
__________________
The difference between 'involvement' and 'commitment' is like an eggs-and-ham breakfast: the chicken was 'involved' - the pig was 'committed'.
Yeah ODBSGirl-- they're here in charlotte as well, but i don't know of anything being done. our radio host that i work for will be going down to the coliseum tomorrow night so i'll know more tomorrow [img]smile.gif[/img] .
Originally posted by JavaJunkie: guys, i know this is a pet peeve of mine but can we PLEASE stop calling them refugees? they're evacuees and displaced homeless now. i don't know why it bugs me so much but it does.
Linear Mode
