Teaching children the value of giving back to their community has a long reaching impact. Involving our children at an early age in charitable organizations instills valuable characteristics: Sympathy, Generosity, Kindness, Compassion, Confidence, and Self Realization. For these reasons, Gail Graves, DBL’s past president implemented a new committee called the Minor League. Under the exceptional leadership of Laurie Dickson and Stacy Hays, DBL hosted their first Kids in Motion event in January of 2011 for the children and grandchildren of DBL. The kids were all asked to bring a non perishable food item to donate to the Denton Food Bank. They had a wonderful time making picture frames for the residents of Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home and cutting out Dog Biscuits for the Denton Animal Shelter. All the children involved created a thumbprint bowl that was later auctioned off at the annual DBL Charity Ball. While the children made their crafts, they were serenaded by the Children’s Childbloom Guitar Ensemble. The very talented Polly Maynard wrapped up the event with a private performance for all the children.

As successful as the event was, there was one thing missing- more children! This year our current president, Jacqueline Jackson would like to extend this opportunity to all the children in our community. “ DBL has a great opportunity to teach all children the importance of giving back to our community.” Our 2nd Annual Kids in Motion event will be held February 4th from 10:00 to 11:30 at the Center for Visual Arts. Once again, Time to Kiln has graciously donated an item for the children to put their thumbprints on. We will be creating another craft to take to Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home. They can make blankets for the animals at Denton Animal Shelter. Finally, they have the opportunity to bring a smile to the face of a resident of Dogwood Estates by creating a hand made Valentine’s Day card. Children will have a further opportunity to directly see the impact they have had by signing up for afternoon field trips to take place throughout the month of February to deliver their wonderful creations.

This event is completely free. We simply ask each child to bring a new or gently used book. Although we have yet to identify the ultimate beneficiary, we see a need to help towards the solution of ending illiteracy in our community. As Dr. Seuss once said, “a person’s a person no matter how small.” This is an excellent opportunity to get our children involved with helping others in the community. Even a small child can make a huge impact.

For more information regarding this event or to make a reservation, please contact Lucy Huff at lucyfhuff@hotmail.com or 940-566-5955. We do request a reservation is made by January 20th. We want every child who wants to have the opportunity to be involved in all the crafts.

Families are supported by assistance in their loved one’s development, making them a stronger family member, and by providing a positive and safe environment for the care provider to bring their family member during the day.  The fundamental goal is for the parent/care provider to have the ability to continue on with their lives at work, home and in the community. Professional nurses and staff work directly with and provide for clients throughout each day. Developmental services are provided to individuals with disabilities and special needs in areas including vocational, educational, medical care, personal life skills, health and fitness training, and therapeutic services in art, music, pets, recreation, technology and many more.

There are an estimated 55,000 plus people with developmental disabilities and other special needs in the Denton County area alone.   This population has some of the greatest needs for society’s support, acceptance and inclusion, yet most often it is the most neglected. Awareness and education is key.  Understanding will lead to tolerance, tolerance will lead to acceptance, acceptance will lead to inclusion, and inclusion will lead to a significant increase in more productive citizens that contribute to and help strengthen the community.

Day Stay for Adults is a registered non-profit 501(c)3 charitable organization. As with many charities, they rely significantly upon donations of services, goods, supplies, and financial support. They are very appreciative for gently used items to add to the centers to help make them ‘home’. Many of the clients are low income and/or unemployed.  Day Stay strives to keep fees and expenses as low as possible. There are very limited funds for Medicaid clients, and the day to day minimally required operations are costly to provide the medical and social care to the clients. Please see our website for a Wish List of donated items needed.

With two campuses, one in Corinth and one in Lewisville, volunteers are needed on a daily basis, both young and old, individuals or small groups. Supporting people with special needs is one of the most rewarding ways to contribute time to your community and learn more about acceptance and social change.  Clients look forward to making new friends, and enjoy interactions with new people. There is a variety of ways you can get involved, and you don’t need specific experience.  Some of the activities include: arts and crafts, games, office support, reading, exercise/fitness or pet therapy.

With the holidays approaching and the charitable gift-giving season, please consider those at Day Stay for Adults. It is the community support and individual giving that allows Day Stay to serve persons with disabilities and their families.

For volunteer opportunities, contact Davita Goodall, Denton Campus at 940-383-8371
or Helen Gaffney, Lewisville Campus at 972-317-1515;  www.daystay.org

Denton County Friends of the Family (DCFOF) was founded in 1980 and began with a staff of two, 32 volunteers, a 900 square foot shelter, and $10,000 in funding. In thirty years the agency has grown to a staff of 50, hundreds of active volunteers, a 4,400 square foot shelter, and over 1.5 million dollars in funding. Denton County Friends of the Family is dedicated to providing compassionate and supportive services to those impacted by relationship violence and sexual assault while partnering with the community to promote a society free of violence.

Throughout the years, the agency has remained true to its purpose and mission and operates a variety of programs and services to meet the needs of those seeking assistance. The agency serves over 7,000 individuals a year through the following programs: 24-hour crisis line, 32-bed protective residential shelter, adult counseling program, child and adolescent program, structured community education, violence intervention and prevention, outreach advocacy, legal advocacy and accompaniment, thrift store, hospital accompaniment and involvement in the Sexual Assault Nurse Examiner (SANE) program. Several thousand children are educated each year through our community education programs.

Today, DCFOF is the sole provider in Denton County of shelter and free outreach services to those who have been affected by relationship violence and/or sexual assault. DCFOF receives funding from federal, state and local government agencies, the United Ways of Denton County and Lewisville, corporations, foundations, groups, and individuals. The agency looks forward to carefully designed expansion of existing programs and new initiatives to increase awareness of DCFOF services and to help end the generational cycle of violence.

Community Education is a big part of DCFOF.  They offer programs about the prevention of relationship violence and sexual assault to all parts of the community.  From the Bumbles presentations with children as young as kindergarten-aged to Media Literacy presentations for adults, DCFOF covers the whole spectrum of education about relationship violence and sexual assault.  To schedule a presentation, call 940-387-5131.

Counseling Services are provided free of charge to adult, adolescent, and child victims of relationship violence and sexual assault. There are also services for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse, and significant others and family members of sexual assault survivors. While group counseling is always available, individual counseling will be considered on a case by case basis.

The staff of DCFOF is doing everything in their power to stop family violence and heal the wounds of sexual assault. But, they cannot do it alone. They need YOUR help. Volunteers play a vital part in the delivery of services from rocking babies, painting shelter rooms and helping at the Thrift Store. Volunteers are one of the largest assets Friends of the Family has.  They encourage both groups and individuals to look into volunteering, whether you can give an hour a month or several hours a week. For additional information contact volunteer@dcfof.org or call 940-387-5131.

See page 29 for a special event Head Rush Salon is hosting for Denton County Friends of the Family.

The Apple Tree Project was created by Condell Garden, Executive Director of Interfaith Ministries and is a Denton ISD approved Adopt-A-School Program that works closely with school counselors and staff to equip children in need with essential items needed for school. Currently, over 41% of children enrolled in Denton ISD live in poverty as defined by the Federal Poverty Guidelines. That’s over 9,908 children who may not have the basic items like clothing, shoes, and supplies needed for school.

The Apple Tree Project  is a holistic resource for back-to-school assistance. Our primary goal is to promote success in education by equipping economically disadvantaged children with the essential items needed in order to start off the school year on a competitive level with their peers. The Apple Tree Project is set up similarly to the Salvation Army Angel Tree. Low income families with children in Denton ISD can register their kids to receive a complete set of school supplies, 2 sets of school clothing, a new backpack, and a $25 gift card for new shoes. Each child is represented as an “Apple” that people can pick out and sponsor by purchasing 2 sets of school appropriate clothing. Cash donations will be used to purchase school supplies, backpacks, and shoes in bulk. The children will receive these items on August 20th, in preparation for the start of school the following Monday.

We bring organizations together in a collaborative effort to help more children and reduce service duplication. In 2010, we partnered with twenty businesses, twenty-three churches, nine civic groups, and five foundations to assist 1,224 children with essential items needed for back-to-school. With the community’s help, the Apple Tree Project hopes to assist over 1,300 children with their essential school items. Providing school essentials to children in need is an investment in their educational and overall success.

Families are also invited to participate in a Back-to-School Health and Safety Fair at the First United Methodist Church in conjunction with the supplies distribution. Free services such as immunizations, vision testing, haircuts, and more will be available to Denton County families.

If you would like to donate to the cause, adopt an Apple, or learn more about how you or your organization can get involved, please contact Ann Pape at Interfaith Ministries of Denton, Inc. annpape@ifmdenton.org (940) 566-5927.

Dr. Kelby Trusty, and his wife Shari and the staff at Total Eyecare & Eyewear Gallery established this charity in an effort to help underprivileged children who are challenged in life and the classroom with vision problems. Dr. Trusty presently gives numerous vouchers to area rural school nurses and to Communities in Schools in Denton for free eye exams and glasses. He also works with Interfaith Ministries and Catholic Charities to help with exams and glasses and the local universities, UNT and TWU athletic department to help those students with vision problems. However, the need grows daily and they want to help as many children as possible feel confident in the class room. Many times as a child’s vision diminishes, they do not realize they are not seeing normally because of the gradual decline in their vision. Good vision is imperative to success in the classroom.

Children’s Vision for Tomorrow provides vision services for needy school children, ages pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.  Students, referred by their school nurse, will receive eye exams, frames and lenses from participating eye doctors.  Benefits will be provided to area schools through a voucher system as funds are available. Through your donations you can help this local charity provide much needed services right here in Denton County.

Our goal is to raise money to provide vision services to 888 school children in the next year.  It is estimated a contribution of $88 will change a child’s sight and open up opportunities for success in the classroom and success in life.  We raise money by hosting events in the area throughout the year.

You can help Children’s Vision for Tomorrow by:
•    Being a golfer at our inaugural Golf Tournament on May 16th at Oakmont Golf and Country Club, sign up at glasses4kids.org
•    Joining us as a tournament sponsor
•    Donating auction items for our silent auction following the golf tournament
•    Joining us as an ongoing business partner supporting our local students
•    Volunteer in bringing services to the schools and success at our events
•    Going to our website at www.glasses4kids.org and making an online contribution

Denton Christian Preschool

The School That Love Built

Founded in 1970 by a group of concerned Denton citizens, representing 17 different churches who believed that the first few years of a child’s life are the most important. Since then, a group of dedicated professionals and volunteers have taught, fed, loved, and nurtured three and four year olds who are considered to be at-risk for succeeding in public school without early intervention.

Denton Christian Preschool was founded on the belief that by preparing at-risk children for public school, we could help break the cycle of poverty.  And after 40 years of service, the statistics support this original premise.

FRCNT has been recognized for outstanding programs and services by Children’s Trust Fund of Texas, March of Dimes, Texas Dept. of Transportation, Nat. Highway Transportation Safety Admin., U.S. Mayors Conference, Points of Light Foundation, Practical Parent Education, University of Michigan, UNT and TWU.

FRCNT’s award-winning programs include:
•    Prenatal classes
•    Teddy Bear Cottage – incentive program provides
support, coping skills, and parenting skills for
new parents
•    Parenting skills classes and workshops
•    For Kids’ Sake – skills-building workshop
for divorcing parents
•    Substance abuse prevention and intervention
•    Child car passenger seat safety

Family Resale is a major source of dollars to fund the agency’s award-winning programs. Our customers enjoy an upscale shopping experience at resale prices. Family Resale sells clothing, shoes and accessories for the entire family plus housewares, books, DVDs, and jewelry. Quality, gently used donations are always welcome. Our volunteer teams process donations and provide super-friendly customer service. Family Resale is located at 218 W. University at Bolivar in Denton.

Family Ties Luncheon and Silent Auction is our annual fundraising event. We are currently preparing for our upcoming Family Ties event which will be held February 24th at Denton Country Club. We extend a warm invitation for you to join us!  For information on sponsorships or auction donations, contact Fran Moore at 940-566-1800, ext 105 or fmoore@familyresource-nt.org.

The Family Resource Center of North Texas, a 501c3 non-profit agency, is located at 1316 East McKinney Street in Denton.
You can find us on the web at www.familyresource-nt.org

Every year, the bikers host two Toy Runs that benefit Denton County Toy Store and Shop With A Cop.  A food drive is held along with the runs, with the collected non-perishables donated to local food banks.

“We do this from our hearts,” says Kelly McColpin, Run Coordinator for the group. “We’re more than just black leather and loud bikes, we are people who know how hard life can be sometimes, and we want to help where we can.”

Denton ABATE has sponsored a November Toy Run for 13 years, and recently added a Christmas in July Toy Run in memory of one of its members, James “Scruffy” Stevens.  Last year’s Toy Runs drew more than 500 people who donated money, toys, and food to needy families and children.

Sue Hill of Asbury Methodist Church, who spearheads the toy distribution, says “Toy Store provided gifts to over 2200 children last year. Denton ABATE has supported us for longer than I can remember, and when we ran out of toys on distribution day two years ago, they started a second Toy Run.  ABATE has truly blessed us through the joy evident in their giving each year.”

The Toy Run brings together bikers (and a lot of non-riders) from all walks of life, some who are ABATE members and some who just want to contribute to the effort.  The long line of motorcycles include both big chrome Harleys and brightly colored sport bikes, both vest-wearing club members and clean-cut recreational riders, both men and women.

“Charity really is an equal opportunity thing,” says Chapter Coordinator Rick Boland.  “We have everyone here for the same purpose – helping out people who are having a hard time making ends meet during the holidays.”

The Denton ABATE Memorial Toy Run and Food Drive is being held on November 20th at noon, starting at Stonehill Center (formerly the Factory Stores) and proceeding to the toy drop-off at Asbury Methodist Church.  The run will continue to American Legion Post 88 in Lake Dallas, where a party including great food and live music will continue throughout the day. Entry is one new unwrapped toy and a nonperishable food item, or $10.

For more information, call Mandy at 940-368-7189 or email tarynwithat@hotmail.com

September 18th  •  6:00 pm
Silver Eagle Suite
“Havana Nights”, a recreation of the 1940’s-50’s Tropicana nightclub scene in Old Havana, featuring live dancers, authentic cuisine, and the thrilling Sax and Big Band sounds of Johnny Reno.  A silent and live auction, award ceremony, live music and dancing will add to echoing the yesteryear tunes of that era. Tickets are $125 per person and benefit the needy clients of Health Services of North Texas; please contact HSNT at (940) 381-1501 for more information or to purchase tickets.

Access 1st Capital Bank presents The Greater Denton Arts Council’s Fourth Annual Wild Beast Feast

September 25th  •  5:30 to 9:30 pm
North Texas Fair Grounds
A great fun family event for the entire community that features cooking teams from the community preparing a wide variety of “Wild Beast” dishes.  Thad Bounduras and the Fun Addicts will provide live music.  A live auction will be held.  Cooking teams will vie for Best of Beast. All proceeds benefit the Greater Denton Arts Council’s programs and projects.  Don’t miss the great event!
Margaret Chalfant 940-382-2787 or exdir@dentonarts.com
dentonarts.com

Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home Eighth Annual Fall Family Festival

October 9th  •  10 am to 4 pm
Cumberland Presbyterian Children’s Home Campus
1304 Bernard St.  •  Admission is free
We’ll have giant inflatable’s, pony rides and a petting zoo, a hayride and pumpkin patch, carnival games, a car and truck show, festival food, and much more! All proceeds from the event support CPCH’s programs for vulnerable kids, teens and families.

Denton Alumnae Chapter of Sigma Alpha Iota Annual Benefit Musicale

October 17th  •   3:00 pm
First Presbyterian Church of Denton
The Sundance Brass Quintet, comprised of faculty members from the University of North Texas and TAMU-Commerce, will be performing.  All donations benefit music scholarships at UNT and TWU.

Denton Benefit League’s
Eighth Annual Sensational Settings
October 26  •  Denton Country Club
“Every Day’s a Holiday”
For information dentonbenefitleague.org
or call Karen Milnes 940-497-4191

Our Daily Bread serves a noon meal Monday through Friday to the homeless and those in need. No questions, paperwork or sign-in. Just a desire to provide a daily meal in a safe environment for all who are hungry, as well as physical and emotional support for the needy people of Denton County. Our Daily bread located in the kitchen and fellowship hall of St. Andrew Presbyterian Church at 300 W. Oak Street in downtown Denton. A professional chef, assisted by volunteers from more than 26 local churches and other community organizations, prepares and serves an average of 175 meals a day, Monday-Friday (12:00 noon until 1:15 pm daily, except Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day and New Year’s Day). Also, snack packs are being offered to patrons for the weekend, when Our Daily Bread is not open.

The program is dependent on the gifts of time, talent and treasures generously given by a large community of volunteers and donors. Individuals, church partners, local business and community groups support the program through volunteer hours, money, grants, goods and prayer.  These folks participate in a wide variety of activities in support of Our Daily Bread, including meal preparation, serving and clean-up, produce and commodity pick-up, agency coordination, special holiday distributions, and fund-raising.  Our Daily Bread receives no local or national funding.

Clients also have other programs available to meet their needs. A volunteer Program Director works closely with clients, referring them to appropriate agencies such as HOPE Inc., Interfaith Ministries, Family Resource Center and area Clinics.  Bus tokens and gasoline vouchers are made available for necessary transportation needs.  Hygiene products are distributed as needed and a nurse is available once a week for blood pressure checks.

The food is good, nourishing and filling.  The hearts of those who serve and those who are served at Our Daily Bread are filled too, with gratitude. There are many types of volunteer opportunities, as well as supplies and food items that Our Daily Bread always needs. Or, just come and visit.  Homelessness is isolating, and you can help by starting a game of chess or checkers, or discuss the latest book you read. Come be a part of something that makes a difference in Denton County.

For more information, contact Helen at 940 262 0871
or Billie at 940 271 4712, www.ourdailybreaddenton.org