EJ plans 2 do fundraising run then but SHOULD B getting proper rest & TLC between now & then. R U paying attention, EJ!?!
Attention Please!!!
Invisible Youth Network has declared Saturday, October 10, 2009 as Youth Outreach Day--and hopes to make this a regular event scheduled for the second Saturday in October in the years ahead. So, what does this mean to you, the reader? In short... How might you participate in this event that is designed to reach out to homeless and/or otherwise at-risk youth? There are many things one could do when it comes to participating in something like this, and you can do one of more of what I'm about to suggest--and/or even think of some of your own. A few suggestions to get you started (some of which can be started right on October 10, and others that will need some pre-October 10 preparation):
- Prayer and/or positive thoughts is always a great starting point--but it's just a starting point, as we're expected to put wings on our prayers and to convert our positive thoughts into positive actions.
- Once you have studied this information in order to know more about what this event is all about and its possibilities, write to your elected officials (everybody from the Mayor/Town Council right up to The President of The United States--or, if you're from another country, whomever the powers-that-be are there) asking that they might declare the second Saturday in October as Youth Outreach Day--not as a holiday where people get paid leave from work but just as one of those holidays that appear on calendars such as Groundhog Day, Sweetest Day, etc.
- While you're contacting people, you might also include your local media and some of your favorite celebrities asking them if they would get involved in some way when it comes to celebrating this special day.
- Become familiar with our mission by visiting our website and checking out our online directory in order to learn about at least some of the places online where IYN is represented. Perhaps, you might find some groups and/or activities of which you might want to be a part. You might also like to check out our volunteer page and see what is needed there that might be a match for you and/or somebody you know.
- October 10 would be a great day for businesses to give a percentage of what they take in that day to Invisible Youth Network and/or any local agencies/churches/etc. who are doing something positive for homeless and/or otherwise at-risk babies, children, teens, and young adults. If you are a business owner, you might consider doing this. If you don't own a business, you can still discuss this with those who own/manage the restaurants, stores, and other establishments in order to encourage them to do this.
- At the time of this writing (September 19), we have a growing number of chapters/affiliates of IYN, one of which is out of a high school. You can find some of them here and here. We would like to encourage more high schools to start chapters by contacting us to find out the requirements (which are, actually, quite simple). What would be wonderful would be for several high schools to start chapters and, then, have their first order of business (fundraising) to occur on Youth Outreach Day with some suggestions being (but not limited to): bake sale, car wash, walk-a-thon, talent show, showing classic movies (complete with popcorn) in the school auditorium for a small admission fee, having a carnival.
- Get with your neighbors and have a yard sale with all money taken in going to IYN. Note: I'm running out of characters to post any more of this, so... This article can be read in full by going here.
This post was modified from its original form on 01 Oct, 4:47
I GATHER UH, I'M DOING A RUN FOR HOMELESS KIDS. UHM I HAV ALOT OF PPL ASKING ME ABOT IT. I WOUD LIK 2 BE ABLE UHM 2 DO THAT. I FEEL LIC IT WOLD BE AN HONOR 2 HELP THIS KIDS IF UH I CAN. SO I'M TRYING 2 GET UP FOR THAT. I'M TOLD I DO IT IN TORONTO. I HOP I CAN DO IT. UH, I'M WINGING IT RITE NOW, BUT I'D LIK UH 2 BE ABLE PERSONALE 2 HELP IN THIS AREA. THAT 2 ME MEANS UHM THE MOST. 2 MAC A DIFFERENCE. I'D LIK 2 MEET SOM OF THESE UHM KIDS IN PERSON. SO I'M LOOKING FORWARD 2 THAT.
You take care of yourself first and foremost--but we'd be glad to have you running, if you're up to it by then.
I will do all I can for the youth in my area , in Ontario, Canada and all of Canada by contacting the council/mayor and representatives in the government. I know of a website that I can find out what representives are ministers of health and so on so I will send my email out to whoever comes closest to someone who could present this to the government. As well as gettin in touch with our local government representative. I had seen him on our local channel on tv for alot of events and he always seemed like such a nice man. Then I met him at a local event that is held every year back in the beginning of the summer for Walk For the Cure and it was also to support those who have cancer, honour the memory of those who have passed on from cancer and to celebrate survivors of any kind of cancer. Anyway when I met him I only intended to make it short so as not to take up too much of his time but he wanted to talk to me for a while. He also is a cancer survivor and he is a wonderful, kind and caring person I am so happy we have someone like him to represent us. Since he is such a caring man and so open and all I think I will actually make an appointment with him for when he is in town and bring my letter with me so that I can discuss the importance of all we need to do to support our youths. I am sure he will do all he can and there is something else I want to talk to him about that I will have a letter typed up for too. It is an idea I have had for a few years but I have needed to work on my over all health with my physical health having needed attention with getting in better shape, as good as possible. Too many accidents and falls and too much damage for it to have been able to be done in a short amount of time. Chronic pain is stressful too so I couldn't take one too much too soon. My idea comes from our city not having a youth center to give the youth of our city somewhere to go to gather and have fun. I have planned it all out already and know at least one place I could get some funding from to help start a bank account for it. I am also a good fundraiser with a whole ton of ideas now I just need to talk to our member of parliment and get his support for it which will go a really long way to help bring it into reality. I also want to see a skateboard and bike park in our city which I will also work on and I know I can get a few people on board for that from local bike and skateboard stores. As well as having some young people to be involved too so they can give their input on what all they would like to see these projects include because after all it is for the youth so I believe they should have a say in things too. I will advertise for volunteers after I find a place that will let us meet like one of the churches probably will they do for alot of good causes. Even just for some coffee groups and such that are open to anyone. Okay now I am getting really enthusiastic again and here I was trying to decide what kind of volunteer work I could do. Well there is no reason for me to put this off any longer I now have a network of people I know in the city that I didn't have before and I won't let anything stop me even if things go slow at times or seem to be at a standstill. I am a patient person I have been waiting a long time for a good time in my life to start this. I am starting back to college probably in the new year and I am looking to get another p/t job but that still leaves time for this too as far as I am concerned. Thanks alot all of you who were involved in thinking of the Youth Outreach Day. I haven't forgotten what it is like to be a youth and I have alot of good ideas of my own for what I know the young people would like but as I said I want some of them to be involved in planning it all too. I will also need help in fundraising but I am planning on seeing what I can do to get the government to help as much as possible. I already know one foundation that I am sure will help. My plan for when it is finished is to make sure the adults are responsible adults to help supervise everything by having applications and a police check required. I want good role models to be helping with the supervising and management. If they have made a mistake in the past it may be overlooked depending on what it is and they have to be good with young people and able to relate to them. I intend too to have all kinds of pamphlets and such relating to all kinds of needs and education young people may have a need for at times. In the that way we could steer them in the right direction for what they may need help for. We would be there for them but more to listen if they need someone to not to try to act as counselors and anyone who volunteered there would have to be aware of that and if they do try to start doing that in serious matters they would not be able to stay. It will be a strict rule for the volunteers that we are there to listen if they approach us and ask to talk about something but not ever to tell them what they should do. There are people who they can see for that who work in that capacity. We would tell them their options and they could talk about it that would be fine. The course I am going to be taking is small business management so I would,come to think of it, qualified to run the center myself. I have other plans of my own but there is no reason why I can't do both with some help. Well I better end this so I can get ready to go do some errands. Talk to you later. Take care everyone. Peace, Ariel
THX FOR ALL U DO & R TRYING 2 DO FOR THE HOMELESS. EVERY PERSON, EVERYTHING MEANS SO MUCH 2 THEM. ITS NOT EAZEE LIVING ON THE STREETS. ESPESCIALLY WHEN WINTER HITS. KEEP UP THE GRATE WORK. PEACE EJ/EDGE. I'D SEND U A STAR, BUT DON'T THINK I CAN. NOW. CATCH U ON THE FLIP.
THX. WE NEED ALL THE SUPPORT & HELP WE CAN GET. ENCOURAGEMENT ALWAYS HELPS. PPL CAN RUN A LONG WAY ON SUPPORT & FEELING LIK THERE APPRECIATED. PEACE EDGE.
Youth Outreach Day is a wonderful cause, that I'm all for and I will try to do my part. I will write Represenatives and the President. I wrote the President on the homeless children and he got back to me with in about 9 months I just got a letter back from him last month. The letter acknowledged the world situations being bad and that he would try to do his best to make things better. I was totally surprised by the letter. He thank us for praying for him and his family. So I will surely get back to him and approach him on the Youth Outreach day being October 10th. Thank you AJ for your wonderful encouragement and select ideas, It helped me to think of other things I can do. I was going to do my craft sale this October 10th for the Youth Outreach Day, but Larry had to use my table for his Job long story but anyways I will have to have the craft sale soon. I have 10 wooden crafts to sell, also 10 Mice book marker made out of posterboard with yarn whiskers and tail, also 10 fans made from posterboard and they are in the shape of an elephant, butterfly and an owl. If i get $1.00 an item it will be around $30.00 That will be great and worth all the effort. I am not running out of steam I'm just praying the Lord gives me new ideas to do so that I can continue to create crafts that people will donate for. Well i need to start on my letter to the President. I have to go to the court house and get the Represenatives addresses, as I don't have them right now. Thank you EJ for your great contributions. also. Take care and stay safe everyone and Pray on October 10th to God To help make Youth Outreach Day an original event that is placed on the calendar to help others in the world become more aware and care. God Bless this prayer and answer our prayers for this. Blessings and peace. Yvonne
Today Saturday, October 10, 2009 Youth Outreach Day, let us reflect on the estimated 1.5 million homeless youth walking the streets of our cities within the United States.
A very large per cent of them victims of mental, physical and sexual abuse.
How can we reach out to these kids and make a difference?
Russell
IT'S A BIG DAY FOR HOMELESS YOUTH. NICE 2 READ SO MANIE PLANS FOR 2DAY. ALL THE BEST 2 EVERYONE WATEVER U R DOING FOR YOUTH OUTREACH DA. HOPEFULLY IT WILL BE A GRATE ONE FOR BEING ABLE 2 REACH OUT 2 ALL THESE STREET KIDS, NO MATTER WHERE THEY R. THEY NEED OUR HELP, NOT YEARS FROM NOW, BUT 2DAY, YESTERDAY & TOMORRO. FOR ALOT, THERE WON'T BE A TOMORRO. SO WATEVER U CAN DO, YOUR ALL STARS FOR EVERYTHING U R DOING FOR THEM. GOOD LUCK 2 U. PEACE EDGE.
Have a prosperous Outreach Day for the homeless. I'm busy with my 12 year old today, but will add some money when I send EJ's run money. Hope you don't have any difficulties during it Son. Don't push yourself. Kudos to you all. Riv.
Thanks for making the run, EJ--but be sure to take some time out if you get to feeling a little punk. River & Ariel, thanks for adding to EJ's run money. Happy Thanksgiving Day to all of you North Of The Border! We give thanks for people like you!!!
Yvonne! You're nothing less than amazing, and I speak for everybody when I say I'm so glad that you're back here!
At this time, I'm decorating a couple of my RPGs (SuperPoke! Pets and FarmVille) to celebrate the day. I have the first one all finished, and here's the link to it...
Plus, I'm also joining Yvonne in a letter-writing campaign. By this time next year, I hope that Youth Outreach Day will be an official holiday on the second Saturday of October.
For now, we're off to a great start and have something on which to keep building...
Our event kicked off in Balboa Park at approximately 9:30 Am by the time we were all set-up, on the weekends 1,000's flock to Balboa Park for a variety of activities. Many stopped by to see what was going on with us, many of them left and came back with more food for the cook-out, things for the kids and so much more.
I rejected all donations and suggested that they be given directly to the kids.
Some of our kids were taken away for short shopping sprees and brought back and some of our kids were offered places to stay due to their kids being in college or in the service.
I bailed-out after approximately 4 hours, it is still going on and more than likely will until dark. I left Matthew and Jo Jo behind to keep things going and with a handful of friends they will.
To everyone who made this a special day for the kids, good karma knows where to find you.
A special thanks to E.J. for his runs, as always he is there for the kids.
I join Ainsley in wishing everyone in Canada Happy Thanksgiving.
This post was modified from its original form on 10 Oct, 14:16
What a wonderful report!!!
Sounds as if our San Diego kids are still having a blast while you're getting some much-needed rest! Please tell us more when you know more!
I've just finished putting the finishing touches on my FarmVille plantation and will be taking some pictures of the festivities there after I send out some invitations to come visit. I'm FAR from being through celebrating YO-Day and will be keeping you posted. I even have some post-YO-Day activities planned!
Glad to read of all the youth outreach happenings, but am concerned that our young one, EJ, has proceeded with his run, I am trusting that he must of felt able to and will head his Mom, Rivers, words on not pushing himself.
Bless you EJ, and may you always know in your heart how loved and beautiful you are!
As stated elsewhere, my plan in honor of youth outreach day is to get those among the teens that are in & out of my house that have dropped out of school to get their GED's.
THX FOR EVERYONES EFFORTS YESTERDA. THATS WAT ITS ALL ABOT. UHM, OUR TORONTO RUN WENT GOOD. IT WAS SUNNY FOR A CHANGE. 12 OF US WERE INVOLVED. WE GOT A GRATE RESPONSE UH FROM PPL. WENT OUT FOR A TURKEY DINNER AFTER. THEY REELE LIKED THAT. I WOULD ALSO LIKE 2 MENTION, UH ARIEL IS SENDING A MONEY ORDER 2 ME 2 ADD 2 THE RUN MONEE, PLUS YVONNE IS DONATING 30.00 2, WHICH WILL ALL BE SENT 2 RUSSELL FOR HIS STREET KIDS IN CALIFORNIA . SO, THX LADIES. YOR THE BEST. MUCH APPRECIATED BY THE HOMELESS KIDS. U MAC A POSITIVE DIFFERENCE IN THIER LIVES. I'M GOOD. THX FOR THE CONCERNS. RUSSELL, THX FOR YOR COMMENT. UHM , I GUESS THATS ABOT IT. YOR ALL THE BEST. GIVE YOURSELFS A PAT ON THE BAC. PEACE EDGE.
Glad the run went well, and it is you who should get the pat on the back...plus a great big hug! thanks for sending that green star last night young one, had been looking for you and River to find out how run went, so was happy seeing that star and knowing you where home.
Well done EJ .... You make us proud yet again LIL brother ....
Now rest up an rebuild your own strengths .
Blessings ......X
Here's what I did with Throw Rug's habitat on Youth Outreach Day...
Youth Outreach Day 2009 At Peaceful Park!!!
Here's what it looks like now...
Throw Rug and I are going to use this latest habitat to kick off Operation Lamp Post.
Whenever cash donations total up to another $100, a lamp post will be added to this habitat.
Whenever IYN Headquarters five more packages of wish list items (whether they're small packages like large envelopes full of gift cards or huges packages filled with all kinds of food, clothing, etc., they will count as one package apiece), a lamp post will also be added.
After 25 lamp posts have been added, Throw Rug and her friends will be placed in a much more cheery habitat for a holiday celebration!!! Will it be Halloween, Thanksgiving, or Christmas?
Hopefully, it will be by or before one of these three holidays when we reach this goal...
This post was modified from its original form on 11 Oct, 6:57
Congradulations to everyone who was involved on Youth Outreach Day. Looks like it was a big sucsess for all. This thread is impressive. Good job all.
By next year, Youth Outreach Day should be a household word and celebrated like Valentine's Day, if I have my way about it!
You, EJ, Ariel, Nan, and Sandy (not visibly active with us now due to having a lot on her plate, but she has written a lot of great articles about us and used her crafting talent to raise funds as well) have been especially good about getting things going North Of The Border!!!
Thank you Russell, AJ, EJ and Everyone that participated in the Youth Outreach day. I'm so glad that the run and Balbola Park cook out and all went well. I mainly prayed as my hands were tied not being able to do my craft sell, for donations had to be postpone until October 16th But it will get done then. Wow Russell I'm so proud of you for having a cook out for the kids, and for all the help, caring and kindness you show to these kids, they at least knew they were important and special yesterday. EJ you are great being Ill and still doing the run. Thank you! Thank you Russell Aj and Ej, River and Ariel and all others that care about these homeless children. Please remember to write the President, represenatives and congress on Youth Outreach Day becoming a national event on the calendar. I almost got mine done going to take it to the library tomorrow and have it printed off. I still have not found the spot on the web that has all the addresses to the President, Represenative and Congress. Have a wonderful relaxing Lords day everyone. I want to also thank all the other participants that are members that did something for Youth Outreach Day, Thank you! Love, hugs, Peace and prayers for all of you! Yvonne
JUST ADDING 2 THIS, YVONNE SOLD HER CRAFTS & MADE A DONATION 2 HOMELESS YOUTH FROM THE SALES. ARIEL 2 SENT ME & MOM A CHEK, FOR THE STREET KIDS, WHIC WILL BE SENT ON2 RUSSELL AS HER OUTREACH CONTRIBUTION. THX LADIES. U R SO ALL THAT. ARIEL, YVONNE THX FOR ALL U DO & YOR SUPPORT ON Y.O.D. PEACE EDGE.
Congradulations to all. It seems as if this special day was quite a success. Good job everyone.
Ariel just recently signed our petition to make the second Saturday of each October Youth Outreach Day, and she wrote such a beautiful message to go with it! I'm just about to go over and give her a green star for everything she does!
Wasn't able to, as not enough time had passed between now and the last time I sent her one!!! I think she deserves some kind of very special award!!!
Our very first Youth Outreach Day was a very successful grass roots endeavor. We're looking forward to celebrating it "officially" in 2010 and all subsequent years.
Because this is now history, I'm closing this thread after one more reminder to please sign our petition to make an officially-recognized Youth Outreach Day a reality...
