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

Tue Jan 20 01:58:57 UTC 2009

Awesome job Tampa and East Hillsborough!    Congratulations also to the
newly elected officers and board members for both the East Hillsborough and
Polk chapters! It's definitely shaping up to be a great 2009 here in Florida
with the NFB of Florida affiliate.

Dave

-----Original Message-----
From: nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org [mailto:nfbf-l-bounces at nfbnet.org] On Behalf
Of Sherrill O'Brien
Sent: Monday, January 19, 2009 3:30 PM
To: NFB of Florida Listserv
Cc: Lloyd Matthews
Subject: [Nfbf-l] National Day of Service a great success!

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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