From Skilled Hands

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

I am no longer terrified. The opening for Cups of Kindness was a wonderful testament to the Power of One. So far, we the people have raised over $1200 to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. That’s 8400 nutritious meals.

The benefit continues through January 11, 2009. Items donated by 76 artists will be available for purchase, at 8:00 am,(EST) Monday, December 8th. Please visit our website http://www.CupsOfKindness.net to purchase a piece or to make a donation. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Each dollar donated purchases 7 nutritious meals.

My town was a busy place this weekend. The benefit opening was well attended; folks were riding on the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad, some to visit the Cuyahoga Valley, some to get their Santa, some to go to Heritage Farms to choose their Christmas tree, still others for Christmas in Peninsula. I fully intended to take photos of the benefit but I first I ran out of time; then I ran out of energy.
Ronda’s store

Later, as the snows began to fly, folks came into the Village for the Polar Express, and to see the lights.

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The Chief Marauder of My Town Monday is Travis Erwin. Travis is taking a break until January. Junosmom and Chris are keeping things rolling. Check out their blogs and you’ll find links to bloggers hither and yon.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

10 individuals and businesses sponsored our effort.
76 artists donated
165 pieces of artwork.
We have raised $1097 for the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.
We have provided 7,679 nutritious meals.
The Power of One.

I had fully intended to write about Cups of Kindness and Christmas in Peninsula. And my Wordless Wednesday was just that: wordless.

We’ve been working hard preparing for Cups of Kindness. I am very excited about it—-when I’m not terrified. I have envisioned this for a very long time, and seeing it to fruition when the need is so great is an amazing thing. Kindness is all around us—we just need to take the time to open our hearts to receive it.

The generosity of our community is a wonderful thing. The cyber-community has opened its hearts and spread the word. Amy at Knit Think sent a lovely donation of a cup, some hot chocolate and 2 beautiful cloths with a cup in the middle of each that she knitted. (I apologize for the quality of the photo.)

Judy Merrill Larsen emailed me and offered to send a a couple of signed copies of her beautiful book, All the Numbers. My incredible community of bloggers has helped spread the word. I was trying to list everyone and link to their blogs, but I am too tired—-you know who you are and you have my gratitude and my love.

We now have 74 artists who have donated 164 pieces of artwork to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

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Yesterday, the Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railroad ran a special train of their popular Polar Express. Their passengers were kids with a variety of special needs. Volunteers elves and others came to greet the train and wave to the children as they entered the North Pole.

We constantly prove the Power of One. Keep your eyes open. You’ll see it all around you. And you can pass it forward.

Remember: every dollar raised provides 7 nutritious meals.


Friends and neighbors helping each other.

Five days until the opening of Cups of Kindness. Most of the work has been photographed, and I am working on getting it on the site. More work is still coming in.

I am donating these 3 little pieces, part of a series of wee tiles I have called Sage Trios. They are porcelain tiles, that have been hand carved, bisqued, inlaid with colorants, and the glaze applied over them. Carolyn Birchenall has donated the framing.

Sage Trio III

Sage Trio IV

Sage Trio V

Visit our website: http://www.CupsOfKindness.net to see more work that fellow artists have donated to help our community. It is a great way to celebrate the generosity of 60 artists, purchase artwork for gifts, or for yourself, and to support the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

And if you’re in our neck of the woods, stop by for a visit. You’ll enjoy the Village of Peninsula (population 602), and help an important agency do its fine work

Remember—-each dollar donated provides 7 nutritious meals.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

The Village of Peninsula, Ohio, population 602, is a small town with a very big heart. People help each other. People come here and know they’re home. It’s just like that.

So a year ago, when we first started talking about Cups of Kindness, people said they’d lend a hand.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.
People from all over this big beautiful planet. Artists donated artwork. Just like that. No hesitation. Same with the website, the logo and the photography. Other bloggers said they’d post about it. And they did. Just like that. One member of the Peninsula Police Department brought in a large can of coffee and a package of stirrers for the opening celebration. Her kids are going to bake cookies and help us at the reception. Others are going to play music. And others have dropped change in our Help Us Help the Foodbank jar. It’s just like that here.

So if you’re in the Cuyahoga Valley in Northeast Ohio next Saturday, stop in and see us. You can have a cup of coffee and a bite to eat, listen to music and check out the wonderful artwork at Cups of Kindness. Then wander through the Village and enjoy Christmas in Peninsula. We’d be happy to see you.

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My Town Monday is the vision of the incomparable Travis Erwin, a guy who has a lot to say. He links to other blogs by folks all over Planet Earth. You won’t regret it.
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And the winner of last week’s drawing for Peninsula goodies is OldOldLady of the Hills. She’ll be receiving a package soon.

The Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank does amazing work. Just because. Their mission is simple: ENDING HUNGER.

I’ve discovered some astounding statistics:

**as of a couple of weeks ago, the Foodbank had distributed over 1,000,000 pounds more food than they distributed for the entire year in 2007.
**so far this year, there has been a 29% increase of families with children who need the Foodbank’s services.
**each dollar ($1) donated provides 7 nutritious meals.

Right here in these United States. The people who are in need are our friends and neighbors; folks just like you and like me. Folks who have to decide between medical care and food; between heat and electricity or food.

We the people can make a difference. Over 60 artists from points near and far have donated small scale works of art to help us help the Foodbank. Cups of Kindness is a show and sale of these pieces. All proceeds from the sale of these works will benefit the Foodbank. Please take a look at our website, http://www.cupsofkindness.net. Help us raise a cup of kindness for auld lang syne.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

The Cuyahoga Valley Scenic Railway does a remarkable job of bringing the Polar Express to kids of all ages. Running trains from Akron, Canton and Independence, Ohio to the North Pole, the CVSR, along with hundreds of volunteers, elves and Santa himself, provides an experience that is magical.

We had the pleasure of taking the Polar Express when our children were younger; what a joy to see adults and children board the train and embark on the adventure of going to the North Pole. On the train, voilunteers read the Chris Van Allsburg’s magical story of the Polar Express. Hot chocolate, cookies, a visit from Santa and a special gift make the ride memorable for all who take it.

A few weeks ago, I wrote about Cups of Kindness,our show and sale of small scale artwork. All proceeds from the sale of the artwork will go to the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank.

Hunger does not discriminate; it affects people without regard to background or social status. In our land of plenty, people are hungry every day; they have to decide between paying rent or eating, between medication or food, between staying warm and buying groceries. Of this I am certain: having enough to eat is a right rather than a privilege.

So far, over 50 artists are donating artwork to benefit the Foodbank. The Cups of Kindness website has been donated by Carrick Enterprises; a professional photographer, Ron Wayton, is donating his services so that we have photos of the work on our site. The logo was donated by Teri Schott. Food for the opening is being donated by companies and by individuals who have offered to bake for us. People have walked into our gallery to ask if they can help.

Once again we demonstrate the Power of One. We the people who reach out to our friends and neighbors in a time of need.

If you live in the area, come on down for our opening celebration, Saturday, December 6, from 10-2, at our gallery, Elements Gallery, 1619 W.Mill Street, and at the Peninsula Art Academy across the street.

Enjoy light refreshments, music, and Christmas in Peninsula. You’ll be a part of a very important event. If you’re not close to our neck of the woods, you will be able to purchase artwork online on December 8th. The show will run through January 11, 2009.

Friends and neighbors helping each other.

This week’s My Town Monday has two parts, so scroll down to the next after you have read this one.

MTM: Part the First: The Week that Was

It’s been quite a week in my town, the Village of Peninsula, population 602. We had our first real winter storm, complete with the ever-popular wintry mix and white out conditions. The Village is located in the beautiful Cuyahoga Valley. That means the only way in is down, and the only way out is up. Not so much fun on icy roads.

Folks are gearing up for the holidays in my town. Judy, from Terry Lumber and Supply, orders greenery and bows. The Garden Club decorates the bridge and the Village Hall, and merchants decorate their buildings. I’ll show you photos of this year’s Christmas in Peninsula next week.

Here is a look at a Christmas in Peninsula in another time.

The Village of Peninsula, Ohio, gently resisting change since 1837.

MTM: Part the Second: the Spirit of Thanks
This is Thanksgiving week, a time, for me, at least, of reflection. Our lives are comprised of a series of “moments,” that, in the blink of an eye, can change our experience in ways we could never have imagined.

Blessings come in all sorts of packages, some quite clear and others shrouded in confusion and mystery. It’s been a year of change, of challenge, of transition for all of us. One thing is clear: we are all one. We all live together in our towns on this beautiful blue planet, in this Universe.

I give thanks. I am grateful for the incredible beauty of this amazing planet, for the warmth of family and friends, and for the wisdom of the experiences of those whose lives have touched mine.

**Post a comment and I’ll enter you in another high tech drawing (where I draw a name from a hat) for some Peninsula goodies.

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And, once again, if you are so inclined, please visit Cups of Kindness, our art show and sale to benefit the Akron-Canton Regional Foodbank. Over 50 artists have joined us in lending a hand to our neighbors and friends in a time of need..
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As always, My Town Monday comes to us via Travis Erwin, who understands what is important in life. Check out his site, read what he has to say, and follow links to other writers all over this fine planet.

Email me with your address and I’ll send your gift!