Uplifting Arms, Inc.

Hello Uplifting Arms Supporters!

        It has been a long time, so let's recap some of the things we have done since our last post:

1- The Toy Drive was a HUGE success!  Hopefully we will be able to make this an annual event.    Everyone made the evening better than what we could have imagined.  In all, we were able to help about 34 families and their children. 

Prior to the event, each participant filled out a wish-list of items needed or desired and they received a personalized invitation through the mail.  The event was a huge success due to the staff and volunteers who pulled together to make this memorable for our DBI families by donating their time, financial resources and presents.  We even had special appearances from Santa and his official elf.  The guests enjoyed refreshments that included dipping cake pops and pretzels in a chocolate fountain and drinking warm hot chocolate with marshmallows.  The families spent the evening making ornaments, coloring holiday pictures, getting their faces painted, and listening to holiday music.  Each child received a minimum of three gifts and had the chance to take a picture with Santa.  “Thank you very much for doing this,” was a comment made by Mrs. Gordon, a parent of one of our participants, as she expressed her gratitude to one of the event coordinators. 

2- Read Across America Day Celebration.  A huge thank you to Langs Little Lambs and Volunteers from Drop Back In Academy for helping make this event memorable! 
 

March 2nd 2012 marked the annual celebration of Dr. Seuss' birthday, which has officially become known as Read Across America Day.  The students at Potter's House Drop Back In Academy volunteered with Uplifting Arms, Inc. to read to the Preschool children at Lang's Little Lambs Preschool.  The students worked diligently, in advance, to create props that went along with their stories to make their reading experiences interactive and exciting.  They read stories such as "There's a Monster at the End of This Book," "Itsy Bitsy Spider" (with a little twist at the end), "If You're Happy and You Know it," "Dr. Seuss' ABC Book," and “Pooh and Friends 123s.” "This was so much fun," exclaimed Aanisia Devine, one of the volunteers.  All of the children, whose ages ranged between 2 and 4 years old, received a prop that they used during the reading of the story and they were even allowed to take the prop home to show their families.

3- Easter Egg Hunt:  Uplifting Arms hosted an Easter Egg Hunt for families and friends of the Cedar Bay Community.  We had volunteers who made baskets for each child, donated candy and stuffed and hid the eggs throughout the playground.  A special thanks to Green Pointe Homes for donating sandwiches, chips, and drinks.  We hope that this too will become an annual event for Uplifting Arms, Inc.