Snow Angels

Well. According to weather.com something bad is going to happen tomorrow. White, moist, fluffy balls are supposedly going to fall from the sky. As a born and raised Southern California boy, I don’t see too much of it. It is called snow. Pros of snow: it covers up our lawn that could be receiving better maintenance. Cons: it is cold and makes for a barricade between my front door and the rest of the world. Well for those of you who do enjoy the snow, there happens to be a service group that you can get involved with. They are the Snow Angels.

The Snow Angels are a seasonal service organization that operates every time that there is snowfall. Volunteers shovel snow on driveways and sidewalks for the elderly, physically disabled, or others who can not do it on their own. Students are assigned 1-3 driveways/sidewalks and are responsible for clearing off their assigned areas after each snowfall. Shovels and salt for ice are either provided by the organization itself or the homes of those receiving the service.

Don’t get intimidated by the physical labor. It’s fun. You can be helping others while having a snowball fight with your friends. Now that we are approaching the unavoidable snow season, join the club.

Contact Information:

Nick Vigil or Kailey Johnson

snowangels@byu.edu

facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Snow-Angels/117047623638?ref=ts

yserve page: https://centerforservice.byu.edu/content/get-involved?frame=organization and search under the organization “Snow Angels”

What's Black and White and Red all Over?

So this past week I had an intramural basketball game. As we were warming up I saw this 6 foot something guy with a green band on his right elbow…playing basketball. Moral of the story…I guess giving blood isn’t as bad as people say.

A happy guy donating blood

What seems like every week in the Wilk Garden area the Red Cross teams up with BYU service organizations to have a blood drive. After filling out a brief questionnaire volunteers can give blood and help out those in need. If you want to give blood, go ahead and be my guest. But to organize a blood drive, you need more than just people giving blood. You need people volunteering in an array of different ways. To volunteer to help with the blood drive, you don’t have to be sticking people with needles. I would probably pass out on the spot. Volunteers are needed to hand out fliers, sit at booths, put up posters, and helping out the blood banks with whatever they need. For more information, send an e-mail to blooddrives@byu.edu and find out how you can help out. There are always blood drives and constantly more volunteers are needed. The next drives are Nov. 15 and Dec. 1 so go ahead and sign up now.

Dear John

Dear John,

  You know ever since you went into the MTC I have been missing you greatly. You were such a great friend and I am glad you are serving the Lord. I am so close to you here at BYU but it feels like you are in a completely different world. I wish I could see you one last time before you left to South Africa…

              

  Does anyone have a friend/family member who recently reported to the Missionary Training Center in Provo? Well it just works out that it is possible to see them again, but with a price. You need to sign up as a VOLUNTEER!!!

  Every week, missionaries have practice teaching sessions where volunteers are given a role to play and the missionaries teach to their needs at a place called the Teaching Resource Center (TRC). As a missionary it is one of the most stressful moments of the week teaching someone who isn’t a fellow missionary. It is a sneak peak of the “real world” for them, but a powerful experience for those who volunteer. Just the ability to be one on one with missionaries teaching about Jesus Christ is something pretty cool.

  The TRC needs volunteers on a constant basis. Monday-Saturday from 8AM-8:30 PM the TRC is open with missionaries ready to practice their teaching skills. The MTC houses over 2,000 missionaries and not all will be speaking English. Volunteers are needed in over 40 languages.

  This past Friday I volunteered in Spanish for 2 hours that I had available in the morning. After about an hour of volunteering I saw a good friend of mine’s little brother who I was able to say hi to and sneak him a Nutty Bar. It was nothing planned, just a random coincidence that I saw this missionary. Please don’t go just to see a special friend. Do it more out of the goodness of your heart solely based on your own schedule.

  To sign up go to http://www.mtc.byu.edu/ and click on the link that says “Volunteers”. Follow the given steps, submitting the language you would like to speak and the best time for you. It doesn’t need to be for 6 hours at a time, but whatever amount of time that you allot.

man's best friend

            “Leah Holley. Room #335. I think this is it,” I said as we approached our destination. My friend and I looked at each other with suspicion as we read the placard next to the door. In the Courtyard at Jamestown, you never know what will happen when you go do random visits. It is an assisted living home in Northern Provo along University Avenue, but there are several types of people there: those who are happy to see you and let you in, others who have difficulty hearing, and those who are grumpy with life. As we signed in at the front desk, there was a list of “Residents to Visit” of those who are new or might be a little lonely and after reading through the list, picked out a few doors to knock and see if we could visit them and make their day brighter. We picked out Leah Holley from the list and knocked, hoping for the best. My friend is a 3-year veteran of making these visits, but this was my first time visiting the Courtyards at Jamestown. Apprehension took over as I heard the door knob churn, then a shorter, white-haired lady open the door and the biggest smile I had seen since making brownies for my roommate crept over her face. I immediately knew that Mrs. Holley and I would become fast friends. This 92 year-old woman lovingly let us in and for over and hour, Leah told us about her life and shared with us some tender feelings about her family and the things she loved.

            In total I think I gave up between 1 ½ - 2 hours of my personal time that I could have spent taking a nap, browsing the internet, or any other useless activity. Instead I was able to give something that I do well to my Provo community, helping others to be happy.

Leah with her hand-made blankets

            Towards the end of our conversation, Leah pulled out some blankets that she makes and a few pictures and told us a sweet story of how she was able to donate blankets to an African country. The person who brought over the blankets took a few pictures to give back to Leah and she still has them. It was personally touching to see children wrapped in her Care Bears blankets with beaming smiles of love and affection. Leah will never know those children on a personal level, but her love will be imprinted in their hearts forever.

            Leah taught me that even at her age, people can still serve and help others less fortunate. That is what community service is all about.

            Serving in the Courtyard at Jamestown is so simple it is funny. All you do is go, sign in at the front desk, pick up a list of people who might be in need of a visit, and make them happy. For other volunteer opportunities at the center, talk to the front desk and they will gladly help you.I promise you won't regret it!

Courtyard at Jamestown

3352 N. 100 E.

(801) 377-3730

info@courtyardassistedliving.com