A local woman has found a niche in making your cakes a true specialty.  Paula Vega, mother of three children and RN finds the time to dive into her passion – making stylish, personal cakes.  Although you will find a classic with beautifully arranged flowers, you will also find cakes shaped like your purse, a golf green, soccer ball, and  a heart. Not to mention flavors that will melt in your mouth.

What does a cake have to do with Fashion & Style?  If you are a diva with a need for the newest look in purses, shoes and clothing, you will have to agree that when it is time to host a party,  the food has to be top notch. Taste great and look great.  Sweet Temptations Plus will provide that unique conversation starter – you will be amazed at how a cake can give a indication of your style & fashion preferences.

You will find more information here:   http://sweettemptationsplus.com/default.aspx

Bon Appetite Fashion Divas!

“So, what is so special about that,” you might ask? Well, Children’s PLACE operates on a sliding fee scale based on income. Children who come on a part-week basis pay a portion of the weekly fee plus a dollar a day. There is a $10 application-processing fee due when applying for services and an enrollment fee due upon admission to the center. This allows working families with low incomes to ensure that their children are receiving education and child care services that are vital to the future development of our children; educational opportunities and care that might otherwise not be possible for a low-income household. Tuition is payable in cash, or via Title XX reimbursement from the State of West Virginia.
Children’s PLACE employs 23 paid employs and two volunteers. They have an Executive Director, and a Board of Directors.

How Can You Help?

Donate.
Children’s PLACE is always in need of toys, craft supplies, and books, books, BOOKS! Did you know that literacy is significantly higher for children that not only have access to books, but have ownership of books? At Children’s PLACE, clients are given access to books that they can keep; this increases their chances at literacy, and depletes the organization’s supply of books. Because Children’s PLACE receives no state or federal funds, they are always in need of funds to replenish books, paper, and art supplies. Donations made to Children’s PLACE are tax deductible.

Volunteer.
Several times a year, Children’s PLACE has “work party” days, where minor maintenance, cleanup, and other tasks are performed by staff and volunteers. Let them know you are interested in helping, and they’ll let you know when the next work party is scheduled; they feed volunteers lunch, and in a few hours, everyone pitches in to get things done. I have done a couple of these, and always feel good at the end of the effort, and typically make a new friend in the process! Sometimes, volunteers with repair skills are needed to make repairs outside of the scheduled work parties. Children’s PLACE relies on their qualified volunteers to help stretch their budget and serve as many children as possible.
Additionally, qualified volunteers are needed to assist the teachers in the classrooms, and with child care. To volunteer in this capacity, you must attend a free orientation. Additionally, classroom volunteers must have a physical, TB test, background check and drug screen to be eligible. All staff must have a child development, or equivalent, credential.

Serve on the Board of Directors.
Children’s PLACE has a local-citizen Board of Directors. Perhaps this is a way for you to help. Board members serve three year terms, with a three-term limit. There are some other details that may be of interest to you; contact Children’s PLACE if you are interested.

Support the Fundraiser.
Children’s PLACE has an annual Monte Carlo Night fundraiser. Come out and try your luck, have a nice evening out and contribute to a great cause!

For more information:
Children’s PLACE website: http://www.childrensplaceinc.com
Children’s PLACE, Inc.
625 Richmond Street
Huntington, WV 25702
304-525-8586

-Ed Dorsey

Now, on with our first installment in what I hope will be an ongoing series!

Faith in Action of the River Cities Helps Local Folks in Need

Faith in Action of the River Cities (FIARC) provides free, non-medical assistance to the elderly and adults with disabilities in Cabell and northern Wayne Counties in WV and Lawrence County, OH. The organization’s mission statement is “Joining people of faith into one fellowship to serve others in need of assistance.” Currently, FIARC has 185 active care receivers on file, but this number fluctuates due to changes in health, living arrangements and new applications.

FIARC has a staff of three part-time employees, who orchestrate the pairing of volunteer caregivers with care receivers, train volunteers, and raise the funding necessary to support this vital mission. At present, there are 65 volunteers, including an all-volunteer Board of Directors. FIARC operates solely on grants, donations, and fundraiser revenue, and does not charge the recipients of its services or any third-parties.

Faith in Action (FIA) was started through a grant from the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation in 1996, and has been self-sustaining through the support of the community. FIARC remains an active member of the FIA National Network, which functions as a resource for all FIA programs throughout the country.

How You Can Help:

Donate. FIARC receives no federal or state funding and does not charge for services provided; they exist on donations as well as grants and fundraising projects.  You can go to the FIARC website (see below) and donate via your PayPal account, or donate by check to 848 Ninth Avenue, Huntington, WV 25701.

Volunteer. FIARC is always in need of new volunteers as they lose some each year to their own health and/or family issues and geographical moves. FIARC is especially in need of more volunteers in certain geographic locations, so give them a call! (See bottom of article for full contact information.)

NOTE: All volunteers must attend an orientation/training session and must pass a background check.  The training takes about 2-2 1/2 hours and training is held periodically throughout the year, or can be scheduled to fit the volunteer’s schedule.  At the training, the volunteer is asked to choose the types of assistance and the days & hours they are interested in helping. Volunteers typically help from as little as 2-3 hours a month or as much as 5-6 hours each week.  FIARC does not require any minimum time commitment — whatever works best for the volunteer.

Support the Fundraisers.

FIARC holds fundraisers throughout the year, where folks can enjoy a fun activity, and help support the financial needs of the organization at the same time! In the Spring, the Annual Chocolate Celebration is held at the Huntington Mall on a Saturday.  Chocolate vendors sell samples of their desserts and gift baskets are for sale by silent auction (or cash-and-carry for declared value). During the winter holiday season, the local Celtic band Blackbirds and Thrushes performs a concert series at Heritage Farm, with all money raised going to FIARC.

For more information:

Faith in Action of the River Cities (FIARC) website: http://www.fiarivercities.org

National Faith in Action (FIA) website: http://www.fianationalnetwork.org

Faith in Action of the River Cities
Rose Thornburg, Executive Director
848 9th Avenue
Huntington, WV 25701
877-367-1271
fiarc@comcast.net