This summary is to keep you “in the know” about outreach projects and activities which are available for your participation!  We are always seeking volunteers! New ideas are welcome! Mark your calendar for the Second Saturday of each month to attend the Girlfriends Care meetings in Coastal North County San Diego!  If you’d like to be on the mailing list for the Inland Group which meets on the Last Saturday of each month, please respond to this email.

Prayer Pillowcases was today’s program focus and mini-project for this month’s brunch meeting at the Laguna Del Mar Clubhouse in Carlsbad.  Flannel and monetary donations to purchase fabric were collected in preparation for the winter campaign to provide Prayer Pillowcases to the poor, homeless, and those in transition.  This project involves Girlfriends who sew the cases, KidzCare who decorate and pray for the person who will receive the gift, and others who deliver the cases to the recipients. Anyone interested in cutting, iron, and/or sewing should contact Linda at nfpteacher@att.net. If you would like for your child to be involved, contact Ellen at ellen@girlfriendscare.org.

OTHER VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

GFC Gift Bags - The simple creation of a gift bag filled with toiletries, make up, journals, pens, or other “girlie” items can give a women in crisis or transition a feeling of hope and encouragement.  If you have items to donate and/or want to help prepare the bags, contact Diana at dianarichardson@roadrunner.com or Sharon at s_dudzinski@yahoo.com 

Kidzcare - The kids have been busy bagg ing RiceNBeans for food boxes for the working poor through Brother Benno’s. A new project coming up is collecting new or gently used “Jeans for Kids” for the families living at Solutions for Change.  KidzCare will also be helping with a garage sale in the fall with proceeds to benefit outreach projects of Girlfriends Care. To find out more or to sign your child up, contact Ellen at ellen@girlfriendscare.org.

Celebrate Kidz Parties.  The next event will be an “End of Summer Party” held at Family Recovery Center on August 15th. If you want to donate small toys and prizes for games OR if you want to volunteer your time, contact Therese at therese@girlfriendscare.org or Rene at rkiehm@gmail.com

GFC Breakfast Club.  If your heart is pulled towards feeding the poor and homeless, we still need more volunteers for the GFC Breakfast Club on the 3rd Saturday morning of each month from 9:30 AM - Noon.  Those interested in putting their name on the serving roster, please contact Barbara at Barbara@skintradespa.com.

GFC-Inland, our new group led by Laurie and Diane which meets in the Rancho Bernardo/Poway area, is hosting a BBQ picnic on July 25th at Dixon Lake in Escondido for the women and children of St. Clare’s Home for Women. They are looking for Girlfriends and families who would like to join them and/or donate food for this event.  For more information, contact Laurie at rembree@sbcglobal.net.

Bread of Life Dinners by GFC - Like to cook and to share the bounty with others?  On the 3rd Tuesday of each month from 5:30 - 7:30 PM, Bread of Life is the site for serving food to as many as 150 homeless.  We can accommodate a limited number of children and teens to serve also, as long at they are accompanied by a parent. Contact Christina at crossbays@aol.com.

TeensCare - Some of our teens are currently serving food to the poor at Brother Benno’s and Bread of Life on a regular basis. We are seeking Adult Sponsors to guide the teens in projects.  If you would like more information on future teen projects, have ideas you would like to organize, or have a teen (13-18 yrs) that would be interested in participating, please contact us at teens@girlfriendscare.org.

Casa’s New Directions - This program helps 18 year olds to successfully transition from foster care/institutional care, to independent living as adults by teaching and mentoring life skills. “Dinner on a Dime”, our model for the basic cooking series includes 4 monthly sessions and ends with the gift of a crockpot to the young participants when they have competed all classes. Contact Chris at crossbays@aol.com to find out how you can get involved. More volunteers are needed! 

Busy Hands - Ann connected with some of the women at Nettie’s House and they are now discussing starting a knitting or crocheting group. These activities provide meditative value and increase coping skills……and are a wonderful way to form relationships. An added value may be the ability to supplement income with hand-sewn goods. Find out more from Ann at asecord@prodigy.net.

Casa de Amparo - if you want to work on a project for this residence for abused and neglected children, email Geneva at genevalago@yahoo.com..

In His Grace Ministries - Our long time Girlfriend Pam  ;does outreach both locally in North County and abroad. She will be traveling to Uganda and Israel in November to deliver bibles, oxen, ploughs, mosquito netting, malaria medicines, etc.  She requests our prayers and support. You can reach her at psalm118@sbcglobal.net 

StandUp For Kids - This non-profit organization helps age 21 and younger homeless and street-kids to get off the street.  Learn more at www.standupforkids.org. or contact Gini at gini@girlfriendscare.org. 

Music & Arts for Kidz - Carol at carol@girlfriendscare.org. 

Prayer & Praise Bulletin - Marlene at marlene.malone@cox.net

Seeking Volunteer Leaders,  Grant Writer and TeensCare Adult Sponsor(s) needed. For more information, contact Gini at gini@girlfriendscare.org.

FUN AND FUNDRAISING!

“Make Your Something Count” Benefit Concert - Carol reported on activities to support the ability of GFC to give back to those in need. Anyone interested in helping with the music fundraiser in the fall, please let Carol know at carol@girlfriendscare.org. This will be the largest fundraiser for us this year with a silent auction, raffles, tasty foods, and live music! 

“Hearts for Change” - anyone interested in having a “Hearts for Change” collection container to drop their loose coins at the end of the day should contact Carol.

Outdoor Summer Bazaar - Gini asked for volunteers for the July 25th bazaar that we are participating in at the Carlsbad Village Art & Antique Mall located at 2752 State Street in the heart of Carlsbad Village. This should be a fun event with food, drink, music…and dozens of other booths to visit. Profits from the GFC booth sales will go to the “Girlfriends Care Fund” to be used to mentor and coach women in crisis and transition.  The women living at Brother Benno’s and Nettie’s House will be the beneficiaries of this event. To sign up to help contact Gini at gini@girlfriendscare.org, or just drop by and shop!
 
GFC Boutique - Stop by and visit the Girfriends Care Boutique inside that same mall which features home-sewn, hand-crafted items, and other re-gifted treasures that will appeal to women of all ages. Gayle is one of our busiest seamstresses, sewing new creations of hanging organizers, fabric gift bags, dispensers for plastic bags, and many other goodies. Thanks to her husband Kay who created new signs for the boutique to highlight th e mission of Girlfriends Care. We are accepting donations of any items appealing to women. Gini at gini@girlfriendscare.org.

 MARK YOUR CALENDAR NOW!
 August 8th - The GFC Summer Family Potluck Picnic is schedule at Aviara Community Park in Carlsbad. We need help with the children’s games!  Respond to this email if you are interested.

September 12th - The Annual Luncheon will be at Bellefleur Winery & Restaurant located in Carlsbad Company Outlet Stores. Pease plan to attend and bring a friend.

We are seeking volunteers for a variety of projects and tasks!  If you have some gifts and talents you’d like to share and develop, choose something that stirs your passion… then raise your hand to give it a try!    “No One Can Do Everything, But Everyone Can Do Something.   Make Your Something Count!

  Girlfriends Care offers a “smorgasbord of outreach” from which to choose. You decide what interests you and what role you want to play. Discover your passion area….where your hear t is….then step forward. We want to help people to balance their lives as they find ways to give unto others .

GFC is a 5013C non-profit, and we are able to accept tax deductible donations.  Your support goes to help the hungry, the homeless, and the hurting right here in our own neighborhoods.