[Nfbf-l] National Day of Service a great success!

Mon Jan 19 23:16:38 UTC 2009

Great job. Happy Martin Luther King Day to all of you as your  chapter worked 
to keep the dream alive. 
Marilyn Baldwin 

In a message dated 1/19/2009 3:26:11 P.M. Central Standard Time,  
sherrill.obrien at verizon.net writes:

Hello  all,

As you recall, the East Hillsborough chapter organized a clothing  and
hygiene products collection for distribution to the homeless in the  Tampa
area.  This was indeed accomplished today at Marion's New Life  Unity Church,
as part of Barak Obama's National Day of Service.  In  all, there were about
25 volunteers organizing the clothing, and packaging  up razors, toothbrishes
etc.  Among the volunteers were a atotal of  five Federationists from the
East Hillsborough and Tampa Bay  chapters.  The Florida Network on
Disabilities was also  represented.

Folks got word of this great project via an article in  yesterday's Tampa
Tribune which Marion wrote, and also from the  USA  service website.  One
couple brought their children so they could  learn firsthand about helping
others.  Of course there was information  about the NFB for folks to take
with them.

There was a steady stream  of donations.  When I first arrived, I asked if
there would be enough  for me to do!  Well, I didn't stop folding and sorting
clothes for  several hours!!  What an awesome experience to see people
responding  so generously with their donations and time!

One large bag of clothing  will be taken to the Spring, a safe haven for
battered women.  These  nicer clothes will be available for women who  need
to look their best  when going to a job interview.  There were  many blankets
and  heavy jackets as well, which will be taken  today in a truck directly  to
the homeless on the streets of Tampa.

Being able to give back in  this way sure lifts the spirits and gladdens the
heart...and helps change  what it means to be blind!

Sherrill

-----Original  Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org  [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org]On
Behalf Of Marion & Martin
Sent:  Tuesday, January 13, 2009 7:07 AM
To: NFBF List
Cc: East Hillsborough  Chapter NFBF
Subject: [Nfbf-l] National Day of Service

Dear  All,
I was asked by the national office to organize and  coordinate an event
on behalf of the National Federation of the Blind as  part of the National
Day of service. This is an excellent opportunity to  demonstrate in a very
real way that the blind are capable of participating  in every aspect of
society, including volunteerism, on terms of full  equality. It is also a way
to make a real difference in the lives of  others.
Pasted below and attached to this message is a news  release I am
circulating. Within the release is the website set up by the  Presidential
Inauguration Committee to promote the National Day of Service.  This website
is very interactive and allows you to post your event and take  advantage of
this nationwide resource. I have had several inquiries about  the event we
are organizing in Tampa from this site.
Please feel free to use the attached release, editing it to promote  your
event, including replacing my name in the quotation or writing your  own. I
have also attached an email mesage i am circulating through my  network that
you can also edit for your own purposes.
Let's all get out and volunteer on the National Day of Service to make
our  world a better place. Together we are changing what it means to  be
blind!

Fraternally yours,
Marion Gwizdala

FOR  IMMEDIATE RELEASE

FROM: National Federation of the  Blind

DATE: January 12, 2009

TO: All Media

CONTACT:  Marion Gwizdala, President

East Hillsborough Chapter

National  Federation of the Blind

(813) 626-2789

RE: Blind to  Participate in National Day of Service

President-elect Barak Obama has proclaimed Martin Luther  King,
Jr. Day, January 19, 2009 as a National Day of Service. The goal is  for MLK
Day to reignite the American tradition of service and volunteerism  across
the nation. The National Federation of the Blind is coordinating  several
events around the country to observe the national day of  Service.

"We want to take  this opportunity to demonstrate that the blind
are capable of participating  in every aspect of society," says Marion
Gwizdala, the President of the  East Hillsborough Chapter of the NFB.

Many view the blind as the beneficiaries of charitable work,  but
the Federation wants to change the public's perception of blindness.  By
reaching out to be of service to the community, they show that the  blind,
like their sighted neighbors, can make a positive impact on the  lives of
others.

The  National Federation of the Blind will conduct a clothing and
personal  hygiene products collection for the benefit of New Life Unity
Church's  homeless outreach program. Items of warm, new or gently used
clothing and  personal hygiene products, such as soap, hand sanitizer,
deodorant,  shampoo, toothpaste, toothbrushes, razors, shaving cream, combs,
and  feminine products, as well as blind and sighted Volunteers to help
collect  and organize donations are greatly appreciated. This project will be
held  at New Life Unity Church, located at 13540 N. Florida Avenue, just
north of  Fletcher Avenue in Woodfield Square, between the hours of 9:00 am
and 2:00  pm.

For more information about the National Day of Service, you may go  to

http://www.usaservice.org

For more information about the national Federation of the
blind's  participation in the National Day of Service, please  contact

Marion Gwizdala, President

East Hillsborough  Chapter

National Federation of the  Blind

813-626-2789

800-558-8261

president at blind411.org

#  # #

If you come..

WHAT: National Day of  Service

EVENT: Clothing & Personal Hygiene Products  Collection

WHEN: January 19, 2009 (Martin Luther King, Jr. Day &  National Day of
Service

WHERE: New Life Unity Church

13540 N. Florida  Avenue

Suite  104

Tampa, FL  33613

(Just  north of the intersection of N. Florida &  Fletcher
Avenues)

TIME: 9:00 am until 2:00 pm

For  more information, contact

Marion Gwizdala

National  Federation of the  Blind

813-626-2789

president at blind411.org

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