Hi FANS Network Routers,
Happy New Year! Thank you for all that you do to support individuals with disabilities and their families. Start out the New Year right by helping someone in our community. There are specific needs you can help with, as well as ongoing initiatives you can become part of anytime. There is something for everyone if you want to help.
Per your discretion, please forward this or parts of this to anyone who might be interested and post in your social media sites, church bulletins, company newsletters, or any other channel of communication you feel appropriate. Together we make a difference. Anyone can contact me if they want to help at [log in to unmask] or 513-785-2813.
Specific Tangible Needs
1. Baby bed/crib for three year old with sides. The little guy only weighs about 25 pounds.
2. Large yoga ball and mini-trampoline for child with autism
3. Folding chairs for kitchen table (very small kitchen)
4. I-PAD for child with autism
5. Two “Alert me ID bands” for child with autism. Cost is $53.80
6. Noise canceling headphones to help child focus
Specific Assistance Needs
1. Volunteer to take a person to food pantry and/or laundry mat few times per month
2. Snow shoveling
3. Grass Cutting (planning for the spring needs)
4. Volunteer to take a person grocery shopping
5. Assisting with housekeeping/cleaning
6. Homework buddy after school for students with special needs
7. Rapid Prompting Method (RPM) tutoring for child with autism. This would be great opportunity for special education student, but prior experience not necessary.
8. Assistance with minor electrical work (need to be an electrician)
9. Assistance with plumbing issue (need to be a plumber for this one)
10. Assistance in learning how to use Facebook.
On-Going Initiatives
1. I-Connect - Volunteers are needed to become “social companions” to help individuals with disabilities become more active in their community, meet new people, join groups and associations, and/or develop friendships. Volunteers will be paired with a person with a disability and they will be trained on strategies of community connecting that tap into the strengths and interests of the person and the community where they live.
2. Kindness Couriers - Volunteers needed to pick up and deliver donated household items to individuals with disabilities in need.
3. Caring Craftsmen- The Caring Craftsmen are volunteers who help individuals with disabilities and/or their families with much needed home repairs or projects they could otherwise not afford or complete on their own. A little bit of help goes a long way.
4. Game Night - Volunteers are needed to help at Game Night for Teens with Disabilities the first Tuesday of every month from 4 PM to 6 PM starting in February.
5. Meal-A-Month – make someone’s day by making and delivering a home cooked meal or even just a dessert one time a month.
6. Inside-Out-Art Studio – volunteers needed to help in an art studio run and operated by artists with disabilities in downtown Hamilton, Ohio.
7. Make a House a Home – new initiative started by a parent group to provide household items for young adults with disabilities who move into the community for the first time. Donate gently used or new items to get them started.
8. Parent’s Night Out - The "Pause for Parents, Play for Kids" program gives parents and caregivers of children with special needs a night out. A variety of "PAUSE" events are scheduled throughout Butler County. Parents will register their children ahead of time and will drop off their kids at the event. The events will be fun for the kids and each child will be paired with a volunteer "buddy.” We need volunteers as well as gift cards to bless parents, craft supplies, and dinner donations to feed the kids and volunteers.
9. Gift Card Give Away - We have had gift cards donated for haircuts, home repair supplies, restaurants, entertainment venues, gas cards, groceries, and much more. It is amazing when a family is struggling to survive and don't know where to turn ... and then they receive a gift card from someone in their community. There are often tears of joy when we drop the card off and tell them their community cares about them. Cards of any value can be donated. Tickets to any type of entertainment events are also welcome - Reds Tickets, play tickets, concert tickets, Kings Island tickets, etc.
10. Diaper Pantry – Donate diapers to help families in need with young children with disabilities. Please click her for flyer
Thanks,
Scott
Scott Osterfeld, M.S.
Community Outreach Coordinator
Butler County Board of Developmental Disabilities
282 N. Fair Avenue
Hamilton, Ohio 45011
Cell – 513-300-7038
www.facebook.com/ButlerCountyDD