Tookie’s Toys is launching Links of Hope, a month-long fundraising event for Ella’s Miracle benefiting Ella Newmiller. Ella is a five year old Raleigh, North Carolina girl who is battling an inoperable brain tumor.

During this event, Tookie’s Toys will be constructing a paper chain made of links purchased by donors. Names, messages, thoughts and prayer can be written on the links. The chains from both Tookie’s Toys locations will be combined at the end of the event and presented to Ella as a visible reminder of the community’s support. Links will be sold for $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00 and will be available throughout October. All funds raised from the project will benefit the Ella Newmiller Fund.

Not in Raleigh? No worries, you can still pick up a chain or three here…

About Ella’s Miracle

Ella’s Miracle is a support network for Ella Newmiller and her family as they battle Ella’s inoperable brain tumor. For additional information about Ella and her family, visit www.ellasmiracle.com.

About Tookie’s Toys

Tookie’s Toys is a Raleigh, NC based family owned and operated specialty to company with stores in Cameron Village and Falls Village. For more information, visit www.tookiestoys.com or contact Katherine Hodges at 919-828-5574.

Are you in the Raleigh/ Durham/ Chapel Hill area? Come support a wonderful cause and have fun with the whole family! The WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run celebrates the Girls on the Run organization and its commitment to helping make a difference in the lives of girls everywhere.

The WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run brings together the greater Triangle community to celebrate young girls along their journey to choosing healthy lifestyles
and adopting a strong sense of self.

Join the fun at the UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont in Chapel Hill as we gather for the 6th Annual WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run on Saturday, April 19th at 9:00am. The event consists of 5K run/walk, 1 mile Fun Run and a 200 yard dash. After the race, please join participants and volunteers at our finish line festival. This year’s festivities will include free food, drinks, games, music, a silent auction, and more fun activities for the entire family! Proceeds from the silent auction and race will go towards Girls on the Run of the Triangle. To register for the run in support of Girls on the Run on April 19th- please visit www.gotrtriangle5k.org

Celebrating Girls on the Run
6th Annual WonderGirl 5K & Fun Run
Saturday, April 19, 2008
UNC Wellness Center at Meadowmont in Chapel Hill
www.gotrtriangle5k.org

A Fun Filled Family Event to Help Cure Juvenile Diabetes

Saturday, September 8th – 10AM until 4PM
Join Tookie’s Toys and the other merchants of Falls Village Shopping Center as we host a benefit for the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation this Saturday.
There will be entertainment throughout the village including:

• Kids Entertainment -Lower Level by Tookie’s Toys- See below for details!
• Star Wars Characters at Raleighwood
• Atlantic Tire Race Car at Chick-fil-A
• Diabetes information and screening at Chick-fil-A
• Hair Painting at Hair Cuttery
• Root Beer Floats at Fresh Market
• Chick-fil-A Cows
• Fire Truck

How does this benefit JDRF?

• Participating stores donate a percentage of sales to JDRF
• Buy JDRF Sneakers for $1 at select stores
• Register for Prizes by visiting participating stores – you could win while helping a great cause!

Go to the JDRF Information Booth near Fresh Market on Saturday for a detailed schedule of events and for prize registration form.
Kid’s Entertainment Schedule at JDRF Benefit
10 AM – Trish Miller, Children’s Music – www.trishmillermusic.com
11 AM – Stacy Clearman’s LittleLand, Children’s Music – www.stacyclearman.org
12 Noon – Storybook Safari, Creative Storytelling – www.storybooksafari.com
12:30 PM – Dinosaurs Rock, Dinosaur Presentation – www.dinosaursrocknc.com
10AM – 2PM – Oogles n’ Googles, Crafts & Activities – www.ooglesngoogles.com
10AM – 3PM – Dinosaurs Rock, Dinosaur Exhibit
10AM – 3PM – Storybook Safari, Children’s Activities
11:30AM – 3PM – Captain Pete the Party Pirate – www.captainpetethepartypirate.com

Looking for a place to watch fireworks this 4th of July in the Triangle area? Here’s a list of events happening July 3rd and 4th.

Tuesday July 3rd
FUQUAY-VARINA: 6 p.m., South Park. Fireworks, live music, food and carnival rides.

GARNER: 5 p.m., Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Road. N.C. Symphony performs at 8:30 p.m. Fireworks start at 9:30 p.m. Information: 662-5703.

WAKE FOREST: 5:30 p.m., Wake Forest-Rolesville High School’s Trentini Stadium. Fireworks, games and live entertainment. Admission: $5 for ages 7 and up. Information: 554-6196.

Wednesday July 4th
BENSON: McLamb-Tart Road off of U.S. 401 South/Wall Street. Fireworks after dark.

CARY: Regency Park. Fireworks at 9 p.m. (*Large Event*)

CHAPEL HILL: Kenan Stadium, UNC campus. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. (*Large Event*)

CLEVELAND: Cleveland Fire Department. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

DURHAM: Durham Bulls Athletic Park. Fireworks begin after 9 p.m.

GARNER: Lake Benson Park, 921 Buffaloe Road. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m. Tuesday.

LOUISBURG: Louisburg High School. Fireworks begin after dark.

RALEIGH: N.C. State Fairgrounds. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m. (*Large Event*)

PINE LEVEL: Sam Godwin Park. Fireworks at 9 p.m.

SELMA: Raiford and Railroad Streets. Fireworks at 9:15 p.m.

SMITHFIELD: Town Commons Park. Fireworks at 9:30 p.m.

ZEBULON: Five County Stadium. Fireworks begin after the Carolina Mudcats’ 7:15 p.m. game against the Jacksonville Suns.

Join Tookie’s Toys, PolkaDots/Be-Tween and Baskin Robbins for a fun filled family concert featuring Sandbox Kids and Family Fun Band on Sunday, May 5th from 4:00PM – 6:00PM at Cameron Village. Bring your chairs or blankets. Concert will be held in front of the sponsoring stores. Enjoy $1 Kids Scoops at Baskin Robbins. For more info call 828-5574 or visit tookiestoys.com.

About Sandbox Kids and Family Fun Band: Sandbox is a four-piece Raleigh/ Durham/ Chapel Hill band specializing in twangy, upbeat traditional children’s music. We are well known for our exceptionally fun, interactive performances and a strong vocal presence. We target 1-8 year olds, but our music appeals to folks of all ages. Learn more about Sandbox Kids and Family Fun Band at www.sandbox-band.com

Earth Day is April 22nd, and no matter where you live in North Carolina, there is plenty going on! Are you looking for events and activities for you and your family? You need look no further than the Environmental Education Calendar hosted by the Office of Environmental Education. Simply type in your zip code and how far you are able to travel. It’s that easy! Even better…it’s not just for Earth Day! You can use the new calendar any day of the year to find fun, educational outdoor events and activities happening across North Carolina!

Come celebrate the color children add to our lives at the first annual Black & White Bash, a benefit for Playspace Children’s Museum in downtown Raleigh. Hosted on Thursday, May 17th, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. at the Exploris Museum, the Black & White Bash features a live and silent auction with fabulous items up for bid, live jazz by Laura Ridgeway & Friends, catering by Lady Fingers, black and white attire and desserts by Hereghty heavenly delicious. Tickets are $45 per person for members, $50 for non-members, and can be purchased by calling Playspace at 919-832-2617, online at www.playspacemuseum.com/bash/ in person at Tookie’s Toys or Playspace Children’s Museum. Proceeds will support Playspace’s mission of advancing young children’s creative, social and emotional development through hands-on, interactive play – paving the way for success in school and later in life.

When our kids are young, they need us every second. As they grow older and more independent, they need us less and less. So how do you continually maintain a strong family unit? We found a way that worked for our family:

My son was five when ‘it’ started. He went from a needy infant and toddler that needed my undying attention every minute to a sports fanatic who suddenly was only interested in talking to his dad and uncles in a foreign language of statistics and rosters. Determined not to lose him (and equally determined not to become immersed in a subject I despised) I decided we needed to find a common interest that both of us could enjoy. What we discovered was so much more. Read how finding a shared passion has brought my son and I closer together and we urge all families to find a passion of their own.

My son was involved in tae kwon do so I decided I would try it, too. Little did I know then that I would become so thoroughly absorbed in the sport. Tae kwon do has become our shared passion, our common interest, our mother-son language together. Here is what my son, Jarod, now age 8, and I say about taking tae kwon do together:

· “Everyone Gets Exercise” – Not only does the physical training benefit both of us now, but it teaches him an early lesson that exercise should be a lifelong habit. Because we are so committed to our training and enjoy our time together, there is little time left for plopping on the couch and gaining pounds.

· “You can Talk About What You Learn” – I am continually impressed with the retention capabilities of my eight-year-old son. While I struggle to recall facts about Korean history for our black belt test this May, he spouts them off without any hesitation. Tae kwon do also promotes life skills that are in sync with our family values: respect, integrity, dedication. I enjoy explaining to him what these values mean to me and giving him examples from my own life. I am amused at his surprise that I had an entire life before he was even born!

· “You Can Give Hints To Each Other” – Training for a black belt is serious work and there is a lot to remember. By taking classes together, we help each other over the tough spots. As we are both learning and training, this puts us on equal level as opposed to other aspects of our lives where I am typically the teacher. The confidence and pride radiates in him when he is able to explain to me something I am doing wrong or help me with a difficult move that he is expert at.

· “You Can Cheer For Each Other” – This is the best part. My heart nearly melts after I perform a poomsay and I catch Jarod out of the corner of my eye give me a thumbs up. There is nothing better than hearing “Good job, Mommy”. We high five each other during class and support each other during tournaments. He sees me trying my best and I know this inspires him to try his best, too. I am amazed at the confidence he has gained during our training, often competing in front of hundreds of people without any nervousness at all (while Mommy is trying hard not to keel over!)

· “You can have fun together and families can work together” – No doubt training at tae kwon do with my son is terrific fun. It’s hard work, but that’s part of the fun. We see entire families training together at our school, White Tiger in Cary, and observe them cohesively discussing and practicing together. We are not the only ones who have discovered that families that play together, stay together.

In a time-compressed hectic world, there should always be time carved out for special family interaction. We found ours at White Tiger in Cary, North Carolina; you can find yours, too. Simply uncover an activity that all of you enjoy and do it together!

Have you ever taken a close look at the other women around you while you were eating out? Chances are that many of them are “hunched” over and often complain of various body pain and discomforts. Hopefully, those most affected by musculosketal injuries, and/or predisposed discomforts due to heredity, are seeking the advice of a competent physician or licensed chiropractor. However, what I have observed from my experience as a certified personal trainer and group fitness instructor (as well as, being a “forty-something”, mother of two!), is that so much of our aches and pains may be relieved by simply becoming aware of the many changes that our bodies go through during pregnancy and postpartum.

In the 1970’s and early 80’s pregnant exercisers were not the norm. In fact, pregnant women were considered “delicate”. Unfortunately this “myth of the delicate condition” is still alive and well today. It is amazing to me that even in 2007, my perinatal fitness students tell me stories about total strangers coming up to them while they are exercising , saying such things as, “Are you sure that is safe for you and your baby?” If these observers introduced themselves as certified in perinatal fitness, I might listen to them. Otherwise, their comments would lead me to believe that they are unaware of the vast amount of research available today that supports the benefits of exercise before, during and after pregnancy.

Sheila Watkins, founder of Healthy Moms® Pre and Postnatal Fitness Programs, has made it her life’s mission to provide safe and effective perinatal fitness programming to this special population, as well as educate those health and fitness professionals who wish to work specifically in the field of perinatal fitness and wellness. Using peer reviewed and medically based research, she developed a national certification for childbirth educators, nurses, physical therapists, and fitness professionals, etc. (anyone passionate about working with this special population). In 2001, Healthy Moms® continued to address the needs of women during the childbearing years by expanding their class offerings to include a variety of options. Healthy Moms® classes allow moms to learn safe, effective and fun exercises that they can do before, during and after pregnancy.

You’re probably wondering what all of this has to do with aches and pains specific to moms. When a woman becomes pregnant her body undergoes vast changes:

• Hormones are released to prepare the body for delivery.
• Ribs expand
• Increased weight of baby, organs and breasts, puts strain on upper, lower back and shoulders. Mom’s hip, leg and gluteal (your rear end) muscles have to work harder than usual to support growing baby.
• Blood volume increases

So – is there any wonder why we don’t look or feel the same? Our bodies have just undergone a tremendous transformation! Does that mean it has to remain that way? Not necessarily! The best advice a woman’s caregiver can give is encourage her to exercise while pregnant, as well as after baby comes. Realizing that all women are at varying fitness levels, a certified trainer or group fitness instructor is trained to show modifications as well as variations to cater to each individual participant. Hopefully, the instructor has been trained and certified specifically in perinatal fitness. Having this knowledge, the instructor is sure to focus attention on muscles most affected by pregnancy. In other words, strengthening and stretching the postural muscles, allows mom to deal with lifting baby (as he/she grows), and carrying all of the “gear” (i.e. carseat, diaper bag, etc.) that comes with him/her. Moms will feel (and see) a big difference in how they carry themselves and baby!

There is another muscle group that deserves attention no matter what stage of life a woman is going through. This group of muscles is called your perineum and pelvic floor muscles. Perhaps I’m in denial, but are the women on TV wearing “adult” diapers looking a lot younger than usual? I can remember when this invention was first marketed, thinking to myself, “I’ll have to wear those when I’m REALLY old!” Now it seems like the women in the commercials are my age! I can happily say I have never worn a pair, and look forward to never having to buy them! Yes, your perineum and pelvic floor muscles are often neglected in your muscle strengthening routine. It’s o.k., I am sure the reason for this is that no one (including your caregiver) has showed you the correct way to strengthen and release them! By the way, if you believe a good strengthening exercise is stopping and starting the flow of urine, you are mistaken. This type of “practice” can set you up for a not so nice urinary tract infection! It is, however, o.k. to “act as if” you are holding your urine. There are also many resources out there to teach you easy and effective exercises so you don’t have to pee on yourself the next time you laugh (or cough) while on your next date to the comedy club, or jumping on the trampoline with your kids.

Attending classes like those offered by Healthy Moms®, will empower you with the knowledge of a well rounded exercise program that is safe and effective for your body and your baby. You may be saying to yourself, “Now that baby is here, I don’t want to leave him/her in a nursery, or I can’t afford a sitter and I feel guilty taking time away from my child.” We, at Healthy Moms®, realize this dilemma; and for that reason have developed numerous classes for mom to exercise WITH baby like our, Powerstroll®, AquaMom &Baby, Mom& Baby Yoga, Abdominal Recovery/Introduction to Pilates, as well as many more classes.

As your baby grows, there will be more demands on your body. Taking the time to exercise and focusing on the muscles most affected by pregnancy, will allow you to enjoy active time with your children as they grow, feel great and maybe save you some trips to the chiropractor. Oh, and while eating out, your great posture will be the topic of conversation at the other tables around you!

Written by Marybeth Winstead, Owner and Certified Perinatal Fitness Instructor, Healthy Moms® of the Triangle, LLC
Partner and President of National Business Opportunities/Licensing,
Healthy Moms® , LLC
Certified Group Fitness, Pilates, and Personal Trainer
For ”Clever Parents”

See the Clever Parents vidcast featuring Marybeth and HealthyMoms.

Looking for a fun activity for the family? Bundle up and light up Fayetteville Street with Raleigh Mayor Charles Meeker. The first-ever holiday lighting of what has been newly dubbed “Raleigh’s Main Street” kicks of this afternoon, December 8, at 5pm. Take a carriage ride and enjoy the holiday carolers while watching thousands of white lights in the trees lining the street.

“We hope this is something that can become an annual event,” said Tracey Lovejoy, vice-president of the Downtown Raleigh Alliance. “Since Fayetteville Street was reopened to traffic, it really has become Raleigh’s ‘Main Street’. We had tremendous success with the Christmas parade this year and we’re looking forward to making the street beautiful for the holiday season.”

Looking for a fun weekend activity? Check out the 12th annual self-guided walking tour of historic homes and buildings in the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood next Saturday, December 2 from 3pm-8pm. Walk through ten historic homes and buildings and learn about the structures’ history while enjoying the beautiful oak trees and wide sidewalks that make up the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood. The neighborhood represents the merging of two 1905 suburbs (yes, these two Raleigh “suburbs” were inside the beltline and near what you know today as Glenwood South). More than 75% of the homes in the Glenwood-Brooklyn neighborhood retain their historic character, securing the neighborhood’s spot on the National Register of Historic Places.

Tickets can be purchased in advance here for $8 or for $10 on the day of the event at Jenkins Memorial United Methodist Church, which is also the starting point for the tour. The church is located at 725 North Boylan Avenue on the corner of Devereux Street. Tickets include a tour guide booklet and map to the featured homes, along with descriptions of the features and history of each home.

Visit the Historic Glenwood / Brooklyn Neighborhood Association website.

Do you live in Raleigh and have young children? If your answer is yes and you don’t know about Project Enlightenment, take a moment to read about this wonderful (mostly free) resource.

Project Enlightenment is a comprehensive early childhood education and mental health program within the Wake County Public School System. Since 1969, Project Enlightenment has offered workshops, resources, consultation and education services. Here’s the breakdown of some of the services offered:

Resource Center. The resource center includes a lending library, a vast resource of early childhood information including books, videos, activity ideas and a ‘make and take’ area with more craft supplies and tools than you can imagine. Open Mon-Fri 8:30-5 during the school year. (Open until 8pm on the third Thursday of each month.) Call 919-856-7804 for availability of the production area.

Workshops.

• Parenting 911. A monthly parent group guided by Project Enlightenment parent educators for a “short course” on typical developmental issues and behaviors of young children. Learn ideas and tips on how best to handle these milestones as your young one grows. ($10/meeting)
• Additional Workshops. Additional workshops are offered on a wide variety of topics such as potty training, the spirited child, positive discipline and more.

Child Behavior and Development Counseling. Free short-term counseling to help parents with concerns about child behavior, development and family issues involving young children. Call 856-7774 to schedule an appointment.

TALKline. Have a question about your child’s development, behavior or other family issues? TALKline is a free phone service answered by professional staff memebers of Project Enlightenment Monday through Thursday from 1:00-2:30pm and Tuesday through Friday from 9:00-10:30am. Call 856-7800 for this free service.

IDEA Screening. Free developmental screenings for 3 and 4 year olds. When an area of need is identified through the screening, the child is referred to Wake County Public Schools Preschool Services for further evaluation and eligibility for special programs. Call 856-7774 to schedule a screening appointment for your child. Free.

Visit the Project Enlightenment website for more information – projectenlightenment.wcpss.net

Bonus: Baby Playgroup is a FREE workshop for parents and their baby age 3-12 months old and meets at Playspace Children’s Museum located off Glenwood Avenue (South) behind The Creamery. Bring your baby and participate in play activities that promote learning. They’ll also answer specific questions about you and your baby. Free parking available. Call Playspace at 832-2617 to find out more about times and to register.

In driving distance from Raleigh, you have two options for a fun baseball outing and day-trip, the Durham Bulls and the Carolina Mudcats.

* Durham Bulls – The Triangle’s minor league baseball team located in Durham. See the schedule, learn about the team and order tickets online.
* Carolina Mudcats – North Carolina minor league baseball team located in Zebulon. Visit the website for tickets, roster, and fun ‘Muddy the Mudcat’ activities you can print.

The North Carolina Museum of Art took 164 acres of land from a now-relocated state prison and turned it into a park for visitors to enjoy. One highlight is the Art Park which consists of a trail lined with temporary and permanent works of art – some of which are perfect for children to climb through! Learn more on the North Carolina Museum of Art website.

Head outside in beautiful weather and visit one of Raleigh’s many wonderful parks. A few of our favorites are:

• Banbury. Tucked between Glenwood and Wade near Cantebury, this park has swings, a sandbox, and a fun climbing and sliding play set. It’s next to a hill and a soccer field – perfect for children who like to run and run and run. 1700 Banbury Road, Raleigh, NC 27608.
  
• Laurel Hills. The best thing about Laurel Hills is its gigantic wooden structure that kids can climb up, down and through. Slides, bouncing bridges, and tires are a few of the many highlights of this great play set. 3808 Edwards Mill Road, Raleigh, NC 27612, Phone: 919-420-2383.
• North Hills. Hidden behind a baseball field off of Currituck, this park has two different playground structures, a covered picnic area and a large sandbox with toys. The playground base is wood chips, which beats sand if your toes are exposed. 100 Chowan Circle, Raleigh, NC 27609, Phone: 919-870-2880
• Pullen. The king of all the Raleigh parks – did you know Pullen once included a petting zoo for children? Pullen is a great spot for picnics, feeding ducks, walking and playing. There are three separate playgrounds suited for younger and older children. For the price of $1 per person (over 14 months) ride the carrousel ride, take a ride around the park on the train, little ones can even ride small boats on a circular covered water track. Rent a pavilion for your next birthday party. 520 Ashe Avenue, Raleigh, NC 27606, Phone: 919-831-6468
  
• Roanoke. Hidden away in Five Points, this shaded gem boasts ride-on toys, slides for the very young, swings, a jungle gym, and a basketball court. 2 picnic tables (one with a pavillion). 1500 Cherokee Drive, Raleigh, NC 27608.
  
• Shelley Lake / Sertoma. Bring a stroller and take a walk around Shelley Lake, then feed the ducks and seagulls that gather near the start of the loop. Settle into a picnic table for lunch and let the kids free on the playground. There is an area for younger children and one for older children as well as baby and big kid swings. The play set for older children boasts a climbing wall! Don’t forget to bring sunscreen – there’s not much shade to be found here. 1400 W. Millbrook Road, Raleigh, NC 27612, Phone: 919-420-2331

For directions as well as a full listing of all of the City of Raleigh Parks and Recreation facilities, visit this website.

The Asheboro Zoo, located 75 miles west of Raleigh, is nationally recognized as one of the nation’s finest zoos. It is the nation’s largest walk-through natural habitat zoos and is home to polar bears, sea lions, river otters, alligators, elephants, gorillas, baboons, rhinoceros, giraffes, and zebras, to name a few. The 37-acre African Plains exhibit alone is as large a many entire zoos. Visit the Asheboro Zoo website to plan your adventure.

Discover fish, turtles, waterfalls, butterflies, snakes, dinosaurs and more in this four-story museum for parents and children alike. Admission is free. The museum also offers these special free programs:

• Meet the Animals. A must-do for children who love animals. Monday through Friday at 11am. Recommended for ages 2 and older. Presentation lasts approximately 25 minutes (3rd floor).
• Live at the Museum – Science Show. 10:30am and 11:30am Monday through Friday. General animal presentation (1st floor).
• Discovery Room. Let your child play in the museum’s interactive room for children. Tuesdays through Fridays 1pm-4pm.
• Butterfly Room. An enclosed tropical space with hundreds of butterflies flying free, turtles in a small pond, a sloth (generally asleep near the ceiling) and a (caged) tarantula! Tuesdays through Fridays, 1pm-4pm.

Admission is free. Visit the museum’s website for directions and more information.

Meet Elizabeth Jordan. The birth of her son Jack in 2004 got her thinking about the big picture and she asked herself what did she want to teach him? Share with him? What life lessons should she expose him to? A life long volunteer and non-profit director, Elizabeth knew that she wanted to teach Jack the value of giving back. Figuring other parents were thinking the same thing, Kids Connect was born. Kids Connect¸ a non-profit organization based in Raleigh, North Carolina, connects families with volunteer opportunities.Elizabeth realized that it was important for her to portray that the world was a much bigger place than their backyard, neighborhood and town. ‘I wanted Jack to understand that he is part of a community – many communities really,’ she said. ‘And that it is incredibly important for him to take an active role in making those communities a better place.’So, you’re a parent. You’re busy. You want to be involved… but how? ‘Knowing how busy today’s parents are, I wanted to make volunteering as easy as possible,’ says Elizabeth, ‘to do the legwork for them so that all they have to do is to go to one site, browse the list or check out the calendar and with a couple of emails have something set up.’ And if that spawns something greater, to ‘spark their interest and help them to see the possibilities – to get the ball rolling and then allow them to take over and create the experience they want for their kids and family,’ well then Elizabeth is that much happier.

And what if your children are too young? Really, it’s never too early to start exposing your kids and sharing these experiences and values. ‘Jack (13 months) may not get much out of it yet, but there are things we can do that will benefit others where he’s not in the way.’ Like bringing lunch to a Habitat for Humanity site or participating in the AIDS walk. ‘And there are things we can do that he actually adds value by being there – like participating in a Halloween party at a retirement center.’

On the Kids Connect site, people can volunteer as an individual, family or group. Some activities are OK to “just show up” for and there are ideas for projects people can organize or coordinate on their own, some with minimal effort. There are one-time activities and activities that people can commit to on an on-going basis, activities where you won’t really connect with other families (like a Meals on Wheels route) and then some where you will – like the Kids Connect Holiday Party or Relay for Life. There’s also a bulletin board that people can post any projects they are spearheading – like a yard sale where proceeds go to Katrina victims.

So for those of you outside of Raleigh, check out the ‘on your own’ section of the Kids Connect website that gives some great ideas for how to volunteer in your own community.

So what’s been the best part of starting Kids Connect and involving her son? ‘Meals on Wheels – it’s sort of a family tradition. My grandfather did it for years, my mom does it, I did it before having Jack and now having him do it with me is pretty special. At his age he obviously doesn’t get what we are doing, but his being there brings a lot of joy to the residents that we deliver meals to. He loves interacting with people, so he gives a lot to them. It’s fun.’

For more information and to get involved, go to www.kidsconnectnc.org.