Conduct a used book drive. Collect and donate books of all kinds (children's, fiction, non-fiction). Donated books will be sold at one of the three Bookworm Bashes. Proceeds will go to benefit Senior Adult Services, a non-profit agency dedicated to improving the lives of seniors and caregivers facing the challenges of aging in Carrollton, Addison, Farmers Branch, and Coppell.

For more information, or for assistance in planning your drive, contact Frankie Wilford at 972-242-4464 or email: Frankie.Wilford@SeniorAdultServices.org

The Bookworm Bash will be held at the Addison Pavilion, 4970 Addison Circle Drive in early November.

The Arc of Dallas is a non-profit organization whose mission is to improve the quality of life of individuals with mental retardation and related conditions. Lack of social interaction is often cited as one of the primary areas of concern for teens and adults with disabilities. With the assistance of volunteers, the Arc of Dallas hosts a variety of events to provide social interaction. Girl Scouts can become involved by participating in Saturday night dances for teens summer camp opportunities, or evening continuing education opportunities. They can assist with refreshments, act as dance partners and help provide a fun atmosphere. The dances are held throughout the year at various locations within the Dallas Metroplex.

For information on volunteering, contact April Allen at The Arc of Dallas (214) 634-9810 x106, email Aallen@arcdallas.org.

Long Term Service Project:
The Adopt-a-Nursing Home program promotes coordinated Girl Scout volunteer involvement with Texas long term care facilities to strengthen and enhance the quality of their residents lives. As part of the program, the troop and the facility adopted agree to participate in the program for one year, with a minimum of four visits and may renew this agreement in one year increments. It is encouraged for troops to continue serving the same facility each year but this is not required. To participate in this program, complete the form below. Adopt-a-Nursing Home Agreement

Patch Program:
The Girl Scouts of Tejas Council, in partnership with other councils across Texas and the Texas Department of Disability Services, offer a Patch Program for troops. For more information, see TIPS or download the form below.

Suggestions
If you just want to do a one time visit or decided to adopt a nursing home, listed below are just some of the ideas that have been successful. To discover what the needs are of the facility your troop will visit, be sure to check with the Activities Director for current needs.

1. Spend time one-on-one with residents
2. Help decorate for holidays & special occasions
3. Deliver hugs and smiles
4. Assist or lead Texercise classes
5. Lead a sing-along
6. Perform skits
7. Play board games
8. Put puzzles together
9. Decorate resident's doors
10. Send hand-made birthday cards
11. Plant flowers or butterfly gardens outside resident's windows
12. Help serve meals
13. Start a quilting or knitting group
14. Record resident's histories with audio or written formats
15. Hold hands
16. Have a dance
17. Throw birthday parties
18. Stage a fashion show then and now
19. Read to residents
20. Help write letters to family members
21. Let the residents teach you a craft or song
22. Christmas Caroling in the hallways or lobby
23. Make Welcome gifts for new residents
24. Celebrate Arbor Day by hosting a tree planting ceremony
25. Design and decorate a bulletin board at the nursing home (maybe a Girl Scout board with pictures of the girls)
26. Hold hands!
27. Find out which female residents (and staff) were Girl Scouts and write down their experiences. Share stories through a resident's newsletter or facility bulletin board.
28. Make bone-shaped pillows to help support necks, backs or knees.
29. Host an old-fashioned ice cream sundae (be sure to offer sugar free treats)
30. Make or decorate picture frames for residents to display favorite pictures
31. Take along a camera for great shots of girls with residents present them as gifts in picture frames made by the girls
32. Plan and perform a puppet play for the residents
33. Hold a bridging ceremony at the nursing home
34. Make door wreaths for residents doors at Christmas
35. Make lap blankets
36. Have a manicure day with the girls painting the nails of the residents
37. Read aloud stories or poems
38. Create or maintain resident's libraries
39. Sew buttons on clothes missing buttons
40. Call bingo games
41. Read the Bible out loud
42. Have a wheel chair wash
43. Assist residents to dance, even those in wheelchairs
44. Be a hugger!

We would like our troops and service units to adopt this project on an annual basis. Birthday boxes can be built and delivered to various agencies through out the year. Agencies could be for youth or elderly, the choice is yours. Listed below is the recipe for a birthday box.

Birthday Box Recipe

1 cake mix (any flavor) 1 frosting mix (can or box, any flavor) 1 package birthday candles 1 supply of partyware (plates, cups, forks, napkins) 1 festive set of party decorations (streamers, balloons, party hats) 1 birthday gift (child or elderly person, either gender) 1 birthday card 1 fun activity to help celebrate (games, music, crafts)

One of the activities for the Girl Scout Birthday week will be to build and distribute birthday boxes in your community.

Making Everyday Earth Day

Protecting our nation's environment is of paramount concern to all Americans, as reflected in national polling results that consistently rank the environment as one of the top three priorities among consumers. In the past, most environmental programs have focused on either repairing damage that has already been sustained, or attempting to return the environment to its original state prior to the advancement of industrialized societies. While these retroactive concepts of environmental protection are critical to cleaning up existing problems, the proactive solution of Earth 911 is an unparalleled response to today's environmental issues. It is the mission of Earth 911 to empower the public with community-specific resources to improve their quality of life. While sustainable prevention programs are by far the best way to protect our nation's environment, the costs associated with many of these programs can be astronomical. That is why the use of this Public and Private Sector Partnership is so important in effectuating prevention ideals. Through the Partnership, economies of scale and scope are achieved, promoting this public service across the nation and centralizing environmental resources into one user-friendly network. Make a single toll-free phone call to 1-800-CLEANUP or visit http://www.earth911.org to access community-specific environmental information.

The Family Place provides shelter, counseling and outpatient services to victims of family violence and to their children. Our thrift store has ongoing needs for gently used ladies and children's clothing, furniture, appliances and decorating items. In addition, Supportive Living needs linens, sets of dishes and flatware, and all basic items needed to set up a new household. The shelter needs all baby products (car seats, high chairs, strollers, etc.)

To obtain more information, contact Nancy Scripps at nescripps@familyplace.org or 214-443-7714.

Good Turn Project is a collaborative service opportunity with local Goodwill Industries and Girl Scouts of Tejas Council to help people with disabilities or other special needs obtain job training. Girl Scouts will be collecting thousands of pounds of usable clothing and household items that Goodwill can sell in their stores. The money from these sales funds job training for people in the community, helping them find jobs and be independent.

Here's how Good Turn Project works: Between October 1 - 31, Girl Scout Troops/Groups can collect usable personal and household items and take bags to a Dallas Collection Center. Each girl who collects at least 2 or more bags (7-10 gallon size, 2ft x 2ft) will receive a FREE patch as long as patch supply is available.

Patches will NOT be available after October 31. The troop with the most donated goods will receive a FREE Pizza Party.

Mail original Goodwill receipts with the Good Turn Project Report Form in the forms section to Girl Scouts of Tejas Council, 6001 Summerside Dr., Dallas TX 75252.

Attended Donation Center List - Dallas

Habitat for Humanity International is a nonprofit, ecumenical Christian housing ministry. HFHI seeks to eliminate poverty housing and homelessness from the world, and to make decent shelter a matter of conscience and action. Through volunteer labor and donations of money and materials, Habitat builds and rehabilitates simple, decent houses with the help of the homeowner (partner) families, then sells them to partner families at no profit, financed with affordable, no-interest loans who have already invested hundreds of hours of their own labor sweat equity into building their Habitat house and the houses of others. The homeowners monthly mortgage payments are used to build still more Habitat houses. South Collin County Habitat for Humanity (www.habitat-scc.org) is very interested in working with Girl Scout troops or service units in Plano, Allen, Wylie, and surrounding communities.

Contact Gwen Walters for more information: email youth@habitat-scc.org, phone 469-438-8581 or the South Collin County Habitat for Humanity office 972 398-0634 (voice mail) Check the Habitat for Humanity International website at www.habitat.org for information on other local Habitat for Humanity affiliates. Examples of what different age youth can do to help are listed:

Youth Opportunities (Ages 14 and Up)

Construction

South Collin County Habitat for Humanity will build two houses with youth between November 2006 and April 2007. Girls 14 and over are eligible to participate in construction of the homes.

Youth Opportunities (Ages 7 to 13)

Landscaping on Habitat Homes

Carpentry Projects

• Off Site Construction Projects to include: Mail box, Picnic Bench, Play House, Dog House, Bird Houses, Toy Box, Book Shelf, Storage Shelves for Tools Trailer, Saw Horses for use construction sites, etc.
• Build/Erect a Swing Set
• Make House Number Sign or Sign with the Family's name for a new home

Construction Site Volunteer Support

• Serve Snacks, Hot Chocolate, or Meals to volunteer work crew

Working with Family

• Help stock a new home with kitchen supplies, household consumable items, bathroom supplies.
• Decorate a bedroom for a child of a new Habitat family.
• Baby-sit for a Family's children, be a study buddy, tutor, or mentor children of a family
• Have a Christmas Party for a Family
• Have lunch with Habitat family
• Mow lawn, rake leaves, plant flowers, etc
• Help a family move into their new home
• Rent-a Worker (house cleaning, yard work, home repairs)
• Help a family wallpaper or customize their new home
• Help stock a new home with bathroom

Other

• Habitat Office Helper Help with mailings, send thank-you notes to volunteers, etc.
• Help with a House Dedication
• Keep Habitat vacant lots mowed or maintained
• Work with newspaper to create and publish an article about Habitat or interview a Habitat family on how Habitat has impacted them and write about their experience to publish in a local newspaper, area magazine.
• Design a poster or brochure for Habitat use/circulation. Take photos at work sites.
• Help younger Scouts build bird houses, house collection boxes, etc.
• Make signs for HFH work sites
• Make a time capsule containing photos of the house build and dedication, family members, current events.
• Write a drama about poverty housing.

Habitat is always eager to hear your idea. Alternatively, ask what else can be done.

This website sponsored by Xerox, Inc. gives you an opportunity to send a free printed postcard to U.S. military personnel stationed overseas showing your support and appreciation for their service to our country. Visit www.letssaythanks.com, to pick out a thank you card, personalize your message and hit send. Xerox will print it and send it to a soldier that is currently serving. You can't pick out who gets it, but it will go to some member of the armed services.

Reuse-A-Shoe is a key component of Nike s long-term commitment to waste elimination by helping to close the loop on the life cycle of literally millions of pairs of old, worn-out or otherwise unusable athletic shoe material. For more information about the National Recycling Coalition, visit their website at www.nrc-recycle.org. Two Texas collection sites are:

Luke's Locker, 3607 Oak Lawn, Dallas, TX 75219; 214-4281290. Our retail partners can accept only small quantities, 10 pairs or less. Please call ahead to inquire regarding a larger donation.

City Of Huntsville Recycling Drop-Off Ctr, 595 Palm St., Huntsville, TX 77340. Drop-off times: 9:30 am - 5:30 pm, M-S.

Operation Happy Sock creates and delivers catnip toys to homeless cats in animal shelters and foster homes. Volunteers of all ages make simple toys, called Happy Socks, by stuffing catnip and polyester fiberfill in the toe of a sock and tying a knot at the ankle. Simple, but a GREAT catnip toy! Happy Sock catnip toys are more than mere playthings, however. For stressed-out cats stuck in strange surroundings, a whiff of catnip can be very therapeutic, and a big, fluffy Happy Sock is the feline equivalent of a cuddly teddy bear.

Ready to start Operation Happy Sock with your Girl Scout Troop? Then please contact Martha Powers at happysock@cox.net or 703/383-9003 and ask for your Operation Happy Sock Info Kit. You ll receive a Word document that includes ready-to-use signs for collecting sock donations (featuring Hugger the Happy Sock mascot), suggestions for finding affordable supplies locally, and step-by-step instructions for each phase of the project.

A One Warm Coat collection is an easy and convenient way to help people in need in your community. Our goal is to provide any person in need with a warm coat, free of charge. We want to help you or your troop create a successful and fun event. Your troop selects the dates of your coat collection and the agency to receive the coats (the coats must be given for FREE). Then, tell One Warm Coat about your collection plans by completing and sharing the Share Your Plans form. Upon completion of the project and paperwork, One Warm Coat will send you a Certificate of Appreciation. For more information or to register, visit onewarmcoat.org.

The Girl Scouts of Tejas Council and President George W. Bush share a mutual goal to pass the tradition of volunteerism and community service on to the next generation of young Americans. All types of service that strengthen community qualify for this award. Service must be done within a 12 month period. Awards must be requested by council. Recipients of this recognition receive a pin and a certificate. For more information and to download a nomination form, visit www.presidentialserviceawards.gov. Submit completed nomination, timelog of service hours and fees to Carmen Pesina, 6001 Summerside Dr., Dallas, TX 75252. Allow 10-12 weeks for receipt of awards.

Since 1982, Rainbow Days, Inc. has led support groups and life enrichment activities with children and families teaching coping skills to overcome adversity and hardship. Rainbow Days helps fill the gap in the continuum of care for homeless families and interrupt and prevent the intergenerational cycle of family chemical dependency and homelessness.

NEEDS:

• handmade encouragement gifts for mothers
• pre-school activities or packets
• decorated frames or words of encouragement
• baskets of toiletries (hygiene) kits for all ages
• help with assembly of Learning Tool Kits
• Birthday boxes

(for example: wrap yarn around cardboard, punch holds in lacing bear). Kit is used to assist parents in teaching children basic life and educational skills.

For more information contact Lynette Smith at 214/887- 0726.

2205 Los Rios Blvd., Plano
The Collin County Rainbow Room is one of many throughout Texas. It is a store-like setting where caseworkers from the Children's Advocacy Center can access needed items such as clothing, shoes, health and beauty products, toys, and baby goods for children from birth to eighteen years of age who have been affected by abuse and neglect. All of the items are new and free of charge. The Rainbow Room helps an average of 96 children per month and relies on the support of the community through donations of items or cash.

There are several ways your troop may assist these children: Donate NEW items listed above for the Rainbow Room. Also provide individually packaged snacks (please no peanut products), juice packs, Gifts of Caring G.S. cookies, and any small gift items such as candles and frames that could be used as appreciation gift.

Tours of the Center are available once a month on Saturdays between the hours of 10:00 am and 2:00 pm. For dates and more information Contact Janet Davis at 972-633-6704.

Presents ~ BOXES OF HOPE
Bringing Hope for a brighter tomorrow to East Texas Children . . . Gather NEW travel size items such as shampoo, toothbrush, toothpaste, brush, comb etc and fill decorated shoe boxes, gift bags or plastic size shoe boxes with travel size toiletry items. The boxes or bags will be distributed to abused and neglected children coming into the custody of Child Protective Services in East Texas. Contact Jennifer Biggar 973-791-3438 or Nancy Eldridge 903-233-5228.

EL CENTRO THEATER, Main and Market Street
ROSEWOOD CENTER, 5938 Skillman
214/978-0110

DCT is looking for enthusiastic, energetic volunteers to serve as Showmakers . Responsibilities: Assist the house manager, serve as greeters, distribute programs, assist with tickets, help with concessions, and clean up after the show. Benefits: Enjoy the performance, meet the cast, learn about theater production.

Requirements: Girls must be ages 10 or older. Reservations must be made ahead of time. Check in with the house manager 1 hour prior to the performance. Remain 20 minutes after to complete tasks. Total time 2 to 3 hours. Wear Girl Scout uniform or nice clothes with Girl Scout pin.

When: September 2006 - July 2007
Fri. 6:30 - 9:30, Sat. 12:30 - 3:30
(Also, the last show of the Summer has 10:30 am, Saturday performances at El Centro.) Sun. 12:30 - 3:30, 3:30 - 6:30
Minimum: Rosewood theater - 2, El Centro theater - 3
Maximum: Rosewood theater - 8; El Centro 6
Extra Girl Scouts can purchase tickets for a reduced rate of $10 per ticket.
Leaders! Please notify the Children's Theater if your troop cannot honor the commitment to serve as showmakers - and please be on time.

"Let me win. But if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt." (Special Olympics Oath)

Special Olympics is a non-profit program of year-round sports training and competition for individuals with mental retardation. Special Olympics holds competitions at the local, state, national and world levels with the help of thousands of volunteers. The Special Olympians train in all types of sports. Competitions feature all the pageantry of the Olympic movement -- torch runs, opening ceremonies, and awards.

Special Olympics helps people with mental retardation become physically fit and grow mentally, socially, and spiritually. It also believes that consistent training is required to develop sports skills.

Girl Scouts can become involved in a number of ways -- as volunteer coaches, trainers, or athletes. They can also hand out awards, run concession stands, and serve as official cheerleaders. A list of program locations and contacts for each state can be found on the Special Olympics Web Site: www.specialolympics.org.

Presented by Texana Living History Association
214-906-5792
& Farmers Branch Historical Park
Farmers Branch Historical Park
2540 Farmers Branch Lane, Farmers Branch
Saturday, April 14, 2007
Noon-5:00 pm
(Volunteer opportunities available from 9:00 am 7:00 pm)

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: Adult and girls 4th grade and older may earn Community Service or Leadership Hours. Arrangements must be made in advance in order to volunteer. All volunteers receive free entrance and a free event patch. Volunteers may work a 3-hour shift or the entire event. To earn Community Service Hours: volunteers may choose to assist with one of several pre-planned activities which range from helping at the Girl Scout Information table to demonstrating at an 1800's camp station. Please see event listing for examples of activities at the event. All necessary training and supplies will be provided. To earn Leadership Hours: girls will plan and implement an activity station. All activities must have prior approval by Kathy Ogle, meet Safety Wise standards, be appropriate for the event and assist girls to complete badge work. Texana will provide funding for supplies.

You may register as an individual or as a troop.

To Volunteer contact Kathy Ogle 214-906-5792 or kathy@texanalivinghistory.org. Additional information may be found at www.farmersbranch.info/parksrec/historicalpark.html or at www.texanalivinghistory.org

Texas Trees Foundation holds volunteer work days to plant, transplant and learn about trees every first and third Saturday of each month from 8:00 am-12:00 pm in Dallas. For more information about volunteer work days visit www.texastreesfoundation.org.

The tradition that is the Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot has been enjoyed by over 26,000 individuals and families every Thanksgiving morning for the last 38 years! Your girls and their families can be a part of the experience and help abused and homeless teens in the Dallas Metroplex through volunteering your time. The Dallas YMCA Turkey Trot benefits the Community Services' YMCA Casa Shelter, YMCA College Scholarships and more exciting programs that build strong kids, strong families, and a stronger Dallas community! The 8 Mile Race begins at 9am and the 3 Mile Fun Run/Walk begins at 9:15am.

• More Information
• Registration Form

"Who Cares? You Can!"

"Who Cares? You Can!" is the official guide to cool volunteer opportunities for folks under 21. The book provides information about the needs of 150 different agencies in Dallas, Collin and Tarrant Counties and has sections detailing types of service needed, age groups needed, whether or not projects are suitable for groups and geographic locations of projects. Information may be accessed online in PDF format at www.volunteernorthtexas.org or www.powercrew.org.