Hey guys! As many of you know, Fur-Ever Friends and the humane society have been working towards a tethering ban in Forsyth County.  Politics is a complicated dance and there has been a lot going on behind the scenes. To most, this ordinance seems like a no-brainer, but we still need your voice! Forsyth County Commissioners are finally considering a tethering ordinance to protect dogs from this brutal practice. Now is the time to get involved- show them your support by showing up on Monday. You will not need to say anything at the meeting, just bring a friend or two or three and stand with us for the rights of these animals.  Twelve cities and counties in the state already have a tethering ordinance and now is the time for ours!

"Butters"

You may remember the LySandra Chambers case in our county this summer. She let one of her dogs starve to death in her backyard. Her other dog, Butters, was found emaciated and chained to the back steps with no protection from the elements. We have all felt the frustration that there was nothing we could do to help a chained dog- NOW YOU CAN! If you are unable to attend on Monday, you can still have an impact. Please call the Commissioners listed below and tell them you support a tethering ban in Forsyth County. And please feel free to contact me with questions or for more information. Thank you so much, together we can make this happen!

Filed under: Blink's Hike 2010 ]]> http://blinklove.wordpress.com/2011/08/05/we-need-your-help/feed/ 0 blinklove Unchain Forsyth Chained Unchain Forsyth Chained Forsyth Dog Chained dog Monday Meeting http://blinklove.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/meet-mango/ http://blinklove.wordpress.com/2011/06/22/meet-mango/#comments Thu, 23 Jun 2011 04:43:18 +0000 blinklove http://blinklove.wordpress.com/?p=729 ]]>

Please welcome the new addition to the BlinkLove family.  We have started calling this sweet boy Mango.  He has had it rough and we are happy to foster him through his recovery period or as long as it takes to find the right home. Mango was picked up by a student who saw him pushed out in the front yard of a known dog fighting house.  The student was shocked by the condition of the pit bull and asked, “Hey, is this your dog?” The men looked at him, turned around, and went inside.  The student picked up the poor dog and took him home.

You animal people know how your name gets out there! So luckily, I got called last Thursday. The student had contacted a nice woman named Michelle who eventually was given my number.  She had started visiting the house where Mango was currently staying in the backyard.  She wanted to take him to a vet so we all met there.  My heart sank when I saw him. Skin and bones with missing fur. He had open wounds with gnats swarming around them.  He was interested in the dried chicken I brought, but other than that, seemed like a zombie.  I spoke with the vet and she said they had started treating him for mange.  He got his vaccines and will be neutered as soon as his skin starts clearing up.  He is no longer contagious, but it will take a couple of months for the rest of his fur to grow back. The student said he wouldn’t be able to keep him, so I offered to start fostering him on Monday.

Well Monday would just not come soon enough! I literally dreamed about him =) He is such a sweet dog.  It is amazing how some animals and people don’t seem to care what they’ve been through and live with such excitement.  Mango is a prime example.  They think he was a bait dog and here he is, trusting us, licking us, and following us around with that contagious pit smile .

So now I write to you with “Mango” at my side.  He is still itchy and we are trying different remedies to relieve his discomfort.  I have not been pleased with any so far.  We are giving him oatmeal baths each day.  We have tried rubbing coconut oil on his skin.  Yesterday I called the vet and she said we could give him Benedryl.  I do not think it has helped, but maybe this is just a stage he has to go through during his treatment.  He is putting on weight really well though and his stomach seems to be feeling alright. Even though he is going through some tough physical stuff, Mango’s attitude is awesome.  He is interested in everything going on and is eager to learn.  He greets visitors with his wagging bare tail and kisses. We gave him a toy which we believe to be his first. He lovvvves it. He also does not seem to mind a little music.

He is extremely food motivated, just like us!  Stephen challenged him with a dog game (the hardest one out of the three I use) and he figured it out immediately! I have had dogs work on this for three sessions and still give up.  He is very intelligent and eager to please.  I personally think he would be a great candidate for the New Leash on Life Program =) . I went to the store to get him some good food and by the time I got back Stephen had taught him to sit, lay down, and stay! Michelle said the only negative behavior she noticed in him was when she tried to take his food away. She thinks he had to fight for food where he was living before.  To address this, and just because it is fun, we have been doing focus training with him when we feed him which has him eating out of our hands.  Michelle said she had him around her dog and kids, and he was great.

Side note, did you know that they used to call Pit Bulls “nanny dogs?”  In the early 20th century, they were the most popular dog to have as a family pet.  People have trouble believing it these days because of the unfair reputation they have been given over the last twenty years.  But they were once as popular as labs and goldens are now.  Remember Petey from the Little Rascals? And a pit bull lived in the White House with Teddy Roosevelt. Mark Twain, Laura Ingalls Wilder, Thomas Edison, Woodrow Wilson, John Steinbeck, Helen Keller, and Fred Astaire have all been proud pit bull owners.

Helen Keller and her pit bull.

We are already attached to this guy, but let us know if you are interested in adopting Mango, know someone who might be, or have any questions about him!

Thanks for all you do,

Heather + Stephen

Squeaky the indoor pig- ready for his next lovely home.

Wow, I can’t believe tomorrow is my last day as an intern at Best Friends. These five weeks have been absolutely incredible. I will be sad to go, especially saying goodbye to three animals in particular.

I was definitely looking forward to spending some time in the Parrot Garden, but I did not expect it to become my main area of focus.  How I have absolutely fallen in love…After volunteering in the area, I thought it would be cool to learn basic care for a parrot in hope to perhaps be a foster home in the future.  However, manager Jackie pushed me to take on a project bird.  I was worried, thinking with my complete birdnorance, I had no way of being beneficial to a parrot in need.  She then told me about Maggy.

Maggy was abandoned in an empty house for weeks when her family moved out and left her.  I know, we all ask, how can people do this? But luckily enough, she was brought to the sanctuary. Understandably, Maggy has some hard core trust issues.  She is wary of everybody and is easily frightened.  The staff at Parrot Garden have a lot of birds to look after and unfortunately do not always have the time it takes to build a solid relationship with a bird as frightened as Maggy.  That is where they wanted me to come in.

They asked me to sit next to Maggy’s cage and simply read a book out loud.  They thought it might sound strange to me, but I thought it made perfect sense.  Get her used to a human who shows her interest but in the most non-evasive way possible.  Jackie explained that reading aloud promotes a rhythm in the human’s voice that the birds find soothing.  I immediately got started.

Sweet Maggy is ready to go home with someone willing to make the steps to connect with her~

So an average day for me when scheduled in the garden was to assist in cleaning cages and the floor and then begin reading.  It would not take long for me start becoming a little hoarse as it is a bit dusty in these parts.  Reading out loud was nice, but I thought if I was being more creative and doing what I normally do to have fun, I would promote even happier energy and be better company for the birds.  So I asked if I could bring in my ukulele. The staff approved and I brought my lovely Christmas present- thanks Stephen!- the next day I volunteered.

I had started making a song for Maggy and sat sideways next to her cage as I normally did. Sitting sideways and a little lower then where a bird is perched is the least threatening position.  They can be intimidated from being approached head on and their predators attack from above.  But in sitting next to Maggy sideways, it had me facing a Yellow-crowned Amazon named BooBoo. I didn’t know much about BooBoo except I wasn’t allowed to clean his cage because he had drawn the most blood from volunteers.  I was told he showed very little body language which made people afraid of him.  They couldn’t tell what mood he was in  or when he was about to bite.  He hadn’t really connected with anyone and acted as if he wanted staff to leave him alone.  I was safe with him confined to his cage, I just hoped my voice didn’t disturb him. So I was sitting on the ground and I started finger picking and then some strumming.  Who could have expected what would happen next!

Maggy cocked her head and stared at me.  Her eyes became more of an almond shape, showing she was relaxed.  She puffed up and rested on one leg, both signs of comfort and relaxation.  And what did Booboo do? He climbed down to the bottom of his cage and began pacing back and forth.  I had started reading about birds but wasn’t sure at the moment if he was happy and excited or being territorial. Birds consider their cages their nest so often feel a need to protect them. I started singing and Booboo gave a few chirps and a whistle! This was absolutely incredible. You see, the amazon’s used to be free-flighted in a large aviary.  But one Amazon named Rico started a war that led to a good bit of injuries.  The Amazons had to be caged.  Since BooBoo was returned to a cage, he hasn’t muttered a sound.  So these few little chirps meant a lot! Not only that but he started raising up his shoulders and pushing his neck forward. Knowing that many birds dance, I took this as his awesome signature move.  I later was told that he was actually regurgitating his food, a very sweet notion.  And get this- the next morning when I walked in I was greeted by Booboo’s voice loud and clear, “HI!”

Booboo climbed right to this very spot and hung out. He's looking to join your band, so go pick him up!

I have brought my ukulele just about every time since.  Booboo now steps up for me when I open his cage and will hang out on my arm even when I walk him outside.  When I am playing he likes to wander around on the floor near me and occasionally climbs up on the ukulele. I like that Maggy watches me positively interact with Booboo.  I hope seeing his confidence in me has brought her a little more trust.  I would not say she truly trusts me yet, nor are we very bonded. But I think she does know that I have no intention of  hurting her and she shows signs of enjoying my company.  My favorite joy in interacting with Maggy is the last two times I have sung for her, she has closed her eyes and started drifting to sleep. =)

So tomorrow morning is my final scheduled time in the Parrot Garden.  I do not cry much, but a few tears have fallen.  I have faith that Maggy will continue to build her trust in humans. She is in a safe place now and hopefully she will come to realize that. She is such an interesting bird. She would really blossom in the perfect home. I know she wants to come out of her shell, I have seen her start to say something a few times.  It would be nice to be able to stick around and keep spending time with her, but Best Friends has a good number of volunteers who can continue reading to this lovely young bird.

As for Booboo! Sometimes the animal picks you, you know? Many people have asked me if I will be adopting him.  Well one of the reasons there are so many homeless birds is because people do not realize what a commitment they are. Most of these parrots will live to be 80-100 years old. Though I don’t believe one can rate intelligence, scientists say parrots are about the level of a 3-4 year old.  So having a parrot is like having a toddler that never grows up, goes to college, or moves out. Because of how dangerous a home can be, they need to be in their cage when left alone and you really can’t leave them alone for more than a couple of hours. Though raised in captivity, parrots are still not considered domesticated. They have their primary need to be part of a flock.  When they are left alone for too long they are traumatized and often turn to self mutilation.  So really the ideal home is someone who is retired, works at home, or can take their bird to work.  That is why adopting Booboo is not a very responsible decision for me.  My future career is in the air and in Winston I do a lot of pet sitting and house sitting and am often away from home for several days. I have still been thinking about it even so.  However, Best Friends wisely warned us inters: “It is a good idea to decide ahead of time if you want to adopt an animal while you are here”. I had no intention of adopting.  At this stage in my life I am most beneficial as a foster parent.  So I had to feel my feelings and think my thoughts and put them together.  What had I really set out to accomplish? Bringing a bird out of his/her shell to become more adoptable.  What had I done? Just that.  Booboo gained trust in me and therefore more trust in humans as a species.  I am confident that he will continue to open up with the staff at Parrot Garden and even the volunteers too. Especially if they bring  a little music with them.  =)

Chaplin lovvves to jump on the bed and roll under the pillows. Haven't you been wanting someone to snuggle with?

And Mr. Chaplin.  Ya’ll know I love this dog.  He is such an awesome guy.  He has been on sleepovers with me and we have enjoyed many outings together.  One issue I faced in working with Chaplin was consistency.  I would tell him “four on the floor” and he would stop jumping on the door of his cage.  I would walk in and if he jumped I would turn away from him and deprive him of attention.  He is a quick learner and would soon calm himself and sit down.  Then I would reward him with attention.  I told you guys before that he is a bit mouthy,  When people enter his run, he normally would jump and start biting at their arms.  They would say, “no, stop” and push him back. To him this said, “hey, we are playing!” So once  I learned how to communicate with him, our relationship grew.  The problem is we would work on this but then volunteers who didn’t know would come in and give him attention again for jumping.  I wouldn’t see him for a day and he would be back to square one.  This is one reason Chaplin would really benefit from a home.  He needs that consistency to show him the proper way to behave. Because he wants to. He is desperate to please.  When in my house, he would follow me around from room to room and enjoys the company  of others.  He loves loves toys, female dogs, and massages. I know, who doesn’t.  One odd thing I noticed about Chappy was his fear of ceiling fans.  In one apartment I was staying in, I was trying to turn a light on and accidentally started the fan.  He freaked.  He crouched down and looked for a place to hide. He was even afraid of me.  So we slowly worked on getting him used to the fan.  The next time I had him over, I waited until he was in a relaxed state.  I had some treats ready and pushed the fan a little bit with  my hand.  He looked up and became fearful, but I immediately re-directed him and then rewarded with the treats. We kept this first session very short, just about 20 seconds, and that was all for the day.  Within four sessions over four different days, he maintained a completely calm state of mind even with the fan blowing full force. Woohoo!

There are a lot of stereotypes about pit bulls. One thing I liked about being with Chaplin is I trusted him completely.  I would feel comfortable enough to lay treats on my face, stick my head in his mouth, and pull his tail.  But also being a girl living alone here, it felt good to have him appear as such a tough guard dog.  So to those ladies who don’t mind scaring off the bad guys, think about adopting a Pit! Chaplin would be great in a home with someone who has a lot of time to spend with him. He is three, but acts even younger, and has a good deal of energy. He is a complete sweetheart.  If you are interested in meeting him, Maggy, or Booboo, please contact Best Friends! http://www.bestfriends.org/aboutus/staffdepartments/index.cfm

I have adored my time here.  Best Friends is an incredible sanctuary in a very beautiful place.  Every animal has their specific needs met and are treated with such kindness.  I learned about many education and outreach programs Best Friends has started that are helping animals everywhere.  It is a great non-profit to  get involved with and learn from.  Hope you get the chance to visit!

Filed under: Blink's Hike 2010 ]]> http://blinklove.wordpress.com/2011/05/03/5-weeks-too-fast/feed/ 1 blinklove Squeaky MAGGy BOOBOOOOOO Chaplin ut http://blinklove.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/the-update/ http://blinklove.wordpress.com/2011/04/07/the-update/#comments Fri, 08 Apr 2011 03:45:41 +0000 blinklove http://blinklove.wordpress.com/?p=676 ]]>

Hello everyone!

 It has been a while.  Hope all of you have been enjoying yourselves. 

 I wanted to announce the total amount of money raised from Blink’s Hike. 

Are you ready?

$16,353.95  to help animals in need!

Woot Woot!

Thank you so much, you made it happen!

The money is in the process of being donated -

40% to The Forsyth Humane Society’s “New Leash on Life” Program,

40% to Franklin and Peabody Morykwas Fur-Ever Friends General Fund,

and 20% to Best Friends Animal Society’s “Puppies Aren’t Products” Campaign.

Thank you!

******************************************************

A Blink’s Team Update: Charles is living with Stephen’s extended family.

 We are assured he is given a lot of attention, tons of love, and remains very happy.

~Cowboy Charles and Bodi~

Stephen is working in Winston-Salem. Upon our return to Winston, he joined the board of Fur-Ever Friends.  Together we coordinate Fur-Ever Friends volunteers for the animal shelter to keep the doors open on Sundays so he is there every weekend. He is a busy man! During his very little free time, he loves playing golf.

As for me, I am in the second week of my internship at Best Friends in Kanab, Utah.  It is INCREDIBLE.  There are five other interns, all girls, and we get along famously.  I am constantly astounded by how much we have in common.  One of the things I was looking forward to in coming out here was to be surrounded by like-minded people with a common goal.  It is just riveting to constantly be submerged in animal talk.  The people here are some of the most compassionate and motivated that  I have ever met.

~just one of the many adoptable adorables~

And oh, the animals! During the first week of our internship we spent time working in all the different animal areas (cats, horses, dogs, pigs, parrots, wildlife). I have decided I want to focus mainly on dogs, pigs, and parrots.  I have picked a project dog. His name is Chaplin and he is a big black Pit.  When going around the sanctuary and being introduced to all the project dogs we had the option of picking, he wasn’t immediately first on my list.  As his caregiver was telling us about how he has an issue with jumping up on people and mouthing (biting out of play and excitement) them, we turn to see him chewing on the metal bars of his cage.  I know you’re thinking, “Why wouldn’t she want the big Pit Bull that jumps and bites and trades Kongs for jail bars?” But yes, for some reason it took a little push to pick him.  I actually went back to ask again about his run mate, but the caregiver said, “Out of the two of them, Chaplin could really use it more”.

~thanks for picture from bestfriends.org of Chaplin~

What is a project dog?  A lot of work! =) No, something that I have been looking forward to.  A project animal is an animal that is having trouble getting adopted due to one or more behavioral issues. I was given a list of possible project dogs and asked to pick one .  It is my job to help the dog become more balanced so he has a better chance of adoption.  I will need to journal about him and what we are working on, maybe this is a good place to do it! I’ll let you know how it goes with Mr. Chaplin.

~they speak beautifully~

I have seen some amazing things in my short time here and there is so much I want to share with you.  I will continue to give updates (soon including videos) of what is going on here and what I am learning.  One thing I can not wait to tell you about and show you footage of is Parelli Training! Wow…Well more to come guys. Keep doing what you love, and let others know about it. 

More soon…

~how lucky we are to know the love of animals~

Please email me at heather@blinklove.org if you have any questions or if you would like to be removed from the email list. Thanks!

“I have a dream all pets have a loveing family.”

After seeing this, Daniel’s parents made a donation to BlinkLove,

which will help homeless animals across the country find lifelong homes.

So much hope for the next generation. Life is good.

Love,

stephen and heather~

Celebrating the beautiful and mischievous life of Ranger Kierstead.

August 15, 1995 – January 21, 2011

While Mr. Kierstead was out of town on business years ago, our family took in Ranger “just for the weekend”. He had become homeless when it became apparent his 4 year old owner was not the ideal companion. Ranger spent the remainder of his years entertaining us. He was clever and not only learned tricks easily, but taught them to the other dogs. He had his own low mounted handle on the door so he could let himself and the other dogs in. He had quite a voice, and could bay with with best of them. He outsmarted us from time to time and found his way to the cat food. To a protein overdose he thought, “Eh, a mere stomach ache, definitely worth it” and continued to ponder more unorthodox activities. If you’ve ever had a beagle, you know…=)

Ranger was great. He was always there for a laugh and we shared a love of the woods. In any other scenario, if he saw the chance for freedom he took it, and boy was it hard to get him back. But let him know that you were a pack and going out on a trail together, and he was your hiking partner, foot to paw. My one Ranger regret would be that I didn’t give him the opportunity to do so more.

One game we did enjoy a lot together was hide and seek. What an incredible sense of smell…I would hide a toy he had sniffed for a couple seconds, and he would seek it out with lightening speed. No matter if it was behind a closed door, under a pile of pillows, on a high shelf, in a row with look-a-likes…This game would go on for a while.

Ranger was put to rest yesterday at the age of 15. It was his time, so his death is easier to handle than some. But most of you know what it’s like. However, the important thing to remember is how awesome his life was, and how lucky we were to share it with him. There are so many dogs and cats (and bunnies and birds…) out there that have lost their home and need us. Thank you guys for all that you have done to help these animals. To all of those who have opened their wallets, their homes, and their hearts, thank you.

“Our task must be to free ourselves…

by widening our circle of compassion to embrace all living creatures

and the whole of nature and its beauty.” – Albert Einstein

Albert Einstein

Thank you so much to everyone who participated in this event and congratulations Dr. Dennis Emerson!  What will be next for BlinkLove? Only time can tell…If you have an endeavor you think Blink should take on, tell us about it =)  For now we will be in Winston-Salem, working and saving money, dreaming about future adventures. Until next time~

Stephen and Heather~

P.S. – We will soon be closing out the BlinkLove account at the Winston-Salem Foundation. They will add up, divide, and send out the donations to the Forsyth Humane Society, Franklin and Peabody Morykwas Fur-Ever Friends, and Best Friends Animal Society.  For more information on how the donations will be put to use, please click here http://blinklove.org/give.html and scroll toward the bottom of the page. If you have yet to donate, and wish to do so, now is your last chance! Please click here https://secured.com/~f2822/ssl_ccgift.php?fnd=t0134 to make a donation. And! If you do not have money to donate, but do have time, please consider contacting us about volunteering with the homeless animals in Winston-Salem.  They can never get enough of your TLC.  The world is made marvelous by the animals that share it with us =)

All this snow…we imagine some of you are thinking about a warm beach!

Well you do not have too much longer to find out the winner of Five Days at Blink’s Resort!!

The winner will be announced for the first time at Winton-Salem’s January Gallery Hop. Come downtown on the 7th from 7 to 10 p.m. and look for your name in the window of your favorite Art Gallery!

In case you cannot make it to Gallery Hop this Friday, we will post the winner on our blog on Saturday the 8th.

Thanks Everyone and Good Luck!

Prince Cowboy Mojave Charles is coming to Winston!

This Friday, November 5th, Blink’s Team will be joined by Cowboy Charles at the Downtown Winston-Salem Gallery Hop to greet new and old friends for the first time since returning from their ultra-hike.

Along with Charles, Heather, and Stephen, the BlinkLove table will also host a couple of surprise guests who have some incredible stories to tell.

Cowboy Charles will be proudly trotting around and is eager (I mean this, Cowboy Charles has never known a stranger) to meet everyone. This is a chance like no other to meet a dog that exemplifies the forgiving and resilient nature of the species. No matter the struggles Charles had being abandoned in a scolding and unforgiving desert, today he is full of joy and life and can’t wait to share it with everyone.

BlinkLove is also proud to announce the first-ever “Blink’s Resort” where one lucky contestant will enjoy 5 FREE days at Oak Island Beach in a beautiful house that can accommodate up to 12 guests. Friday’s Gallery Hop will be your first chance to pick up some $2.00 raffle tickets and give yourself a great shot at winning this incredible vacation prize. And what a bonus it is to know that 100% of the raffle proceeds will go directly to Animal Rescue! A rare win-win opportunity you can’t miss.

So come on out this Friday, November 5th from 7 p.m. – 10 p.m

You can find us at 6th and Trade Street in front of Urban Artware. We look forward to seeing you!

In order to thank you for all of your support and motivation, we are planning a party we hope you will enjoy.

More to come!

Yesterday, Stephen, my mom, our friend Benji, and I visited the Forsyth County Animal Shelter on Sturmer Park Circle.  They have a beautiful variety of dogs and cats right now, so if you are interested in adopting a new companion, go check them out! But if you are not able to adopt at this time, yet do want to make a difference, I have an idea for you: Become a volunteer for Fur-Ever Friends and help us keep the shelter open on Sundays.

The shelter used to be closed each Sunday, eliminating adoptions and leaving the animals to sit in dirty cages throughout the day.  However, Fur-Ever Friends volunteers have re-opened the shelter each Sunday allowing the animals to be available for adoption along with giving them all TLC they deserve. But we need your help! Lately our numbers have been dwindling and we have not been able to benefit the animals as much as they need.  We want to keep this program going so we can keep improving the rate of adoptions and the happiness of the animals, but we need more volunteers.

Raja is ten months old, and ready to go home!

What would you do as a volunteer?

Whatever you want! Each dog needs a good long walk and a lot of love.  If they do not get out enough, they have no way of releasing all of their pent-up energy.  Then, when a family visits with a dog in the room, the dog is overly excited and can scare off a potential adopter because of all this excess energy.  Your help exercising these dogs gives them a chance for their true personality to shine through in a meeting with a possible furever home.

Jersey is a beautiful girl with bright blue eyes.

The pens are indoor only, so sometimes these guys can’t help but make a mess in their cages.  Keeping clean cages is important for the animal’s health and general well-being.  A cute dog with a clean cage is also more appealing to a potential adopter, and that’s what we need.  Help us keep these cages clean!

If you have been to the shelter, you have certainly noticed the puppies in their small cages.  These pups aren’t allowed to be put on the floor, and rarely receive the attention they need. They are just dying to be held, and you are the perfect person to hold them! The more contact they have in these early months of their lives can have a big impact on the positive dog they become.

Johnny is a gorgeous Lab mix just over two months.

Dishes, dishes, and laundry…not the most fun activity, but it’s important for the cats and dogs (and bunnies!).  And I have met a few of the rare dishwasher-lovers, so I know you guys exist! We certainly won’t make any volunteer do these deeds, but if you want to, more power to you =)

Who can resist Hot Fudge?

If you want to help, but do not want to be outside or do the dirty work, help us behind the counter with potential adopters that come to the door.  There is a place here for everyone, and anything that you do to help will be of great benefit to all the animals in the shelter.  It’s good for them, and it is most certainly good for you too!

Click here to fill out the application:

http://www.fureverfriendsnc.org/contact-us/

After you sign up and take the orientation, you will receive an email each week asking if you want to volunteer the upcoming Sunday.  If you aren’t able to make it that week,  no need to respond, but if you are, let us know so we can have an idea of what we are working with.  Thank you guys so much for taking the time to consider this, I look forward to volunteering with some of you!!