JULY 2012
ISSUE #134
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard A NEWSLETTER FOR GRANDPARENTS AND OTHER RELATIVES IN A PARENTING ROLE.
WELCOME to the new edition of our newsletter! I hope that you find it to be informative, educational and entertaining. Mary Ann Sterling, Executive Director
Happy 4th of July!
Support Group Meetings for July 2012 Please note meeting location changes for this month only! Tuesday, July 10th – Titusville Support Group Meeting 805 Century Medical Dr, Building B, Titusville. This group is partnered with Parrish Senior Solutions. 10:00 – 11:30 am Titusville members- our last meeting no one showed up, if you are interested in continuing this group please contact us.. Call 321-631-7776 or 32-.848-8006 Thursday, July 12th – Club Esteem Support Group Meeting 10:00 am. - This month’s support meeting will be held at PUMP IT UP located at 4195 W. New Haven Ave (192), West Melbourne, FL (next to Sam’s Club). Entrance for children will be covered by GRG, adults are free. Tuesday, July 17th – Central Brevard Support Group 10:00 am - This month’s meeting will be at The Dinosaur Store located on East 520 Cswy, just west of A1A. Entrance for the children will be covered by GRG, adults are free.
DON’T KNOW WHERE TO GO? CALL THE WARM-LINE! 321.631.7776 Get answers to questions on custody, guardianship, adoption issues, public benefits, legal services, support with groups and other community services. When you call, be prepared to leave a message and contact number.
E-NEWSLETTER Help us Go Green and be environmentally responsible. The newsletter can be delivered to you each month via email. This new capability could enable GRG to save up to $4,000 each year in paper and printing costs. If you would like to receive your newsletter via Email, send your name, current mailing address and the email address where you would like to receive the newsletter to grg.brevard@gmail.com
Thursday, July 26th – Beach Side Support Group. 10:30 am – This month’s meeting will be held at Brunswick Lane Bowling Alley located at 1099 Wickham Rd., Melbourne, FL (near intersection of Sarno Rd. and Wickham across from Wal-Mart’s). Children will bowl and be treated to a hot dog. Entrance for the children will be covered by GRG. South Brevard Support Group Meeting This support group is suspended at this time until further interest. Please contact the office for more info.
GRG OF BREVARD
123 Barton Blvd. Rockledge, FL 32955 321.631.7776 office • 321.848.8006 cell www.grg-brevard.org
JULY 2012
THE CHILD FIRST PROGRAM
WE WOULD LIKE TO THANK THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS FOR THEIR CONTRIBUTION TO GRG OF BREVARD!
ISSUE #132
SUMMER FOOD PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN
Family budgets are pretty tight these days. When the school year ends, so do free meals for the children who depend on them most. There are resources available to help families make ends meet in these tough times. There are approximately 21 Summer BreakSpot sites around Brevard County that provide free meals and snacks to low-income children through age 18 when school is out for summer vacation. To find the Summer BreakSpot sites nearest you, call the Florida Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services toll-free at 1-800504-6609 or visit www.SummerFoodFlorida.org.
Brevard Zoo Through the efforts of a great friend of GRG we have once again received six passes to the Brevard Zoo. The pass will get 2 adults and up to 4 grandchildren in free of charge. If you are interested you must request the pass and have it back in an allowed amount of time, so that other grandparents can utilize this great gift. Please call the office at 321.631.7776 and leave your name and telephone number to acquire the pass.
LEGAL ASSISTANCE
And A Special Thanks To: Memaw’s Restaurants, Parrish Senior Center and Club Esteem who provide meeting space for our monthly support meetings. Our community partners who work by side with us to create a better world for children and families. Thanks too to our faithful volunteers and donors across the county.
There will be new requirements for legal assistance. Individuals will sign a contract with the organization upon receiving legal assistance. This contract requires that the member stay in contact with GRG and let them know when they meet with the attorney, the issues discussed and the final outcome. Also if a change of address or telephone GRG must be notified. Unfortunately, these conditions are not being met by the members receiving this service which has jeopardized the conditions of continued legal services. In the future in order to receive legal assistance the individual must be a member and have attended two support group meetings. If you work other criteria can be arranged. Due to the high demand for legal assistance our funds are very low at this time. When we receive more funding you will be notified. If you have received legal assistance please call and give the requested information to GRG as we have to keep records in order to receive future grants.
"What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." ~ Ralph Waldo Emerson PAGE 2
JULY 2012
ISSUE #134
SOCIAL SECURITY INFORMATION
You can apply for Social Security or SSI payments for your grandchild by calling Social Security toll-free at 1-800-772-1213 or by visiting your local Social Security Office. If you are applying for SSI payments for your grandchild you should have his or her Social Security number and birth certificate with you when you apply. Taken from Social Security brochure entitled, “Benefits for Children with Disabilities.” www.socialsecurity.gov This Month’s Shining Star: Ralph and Jane McDuffie of Rockledge adopted their greatgrandson, Jesse, on Tuesday, June 5, 2012. Here is the happy family with Judge Turner who presided at the proceedings. Jesse has been a part of Ralph and Jane's home since the day he was born eight years ago. The adoption rounds out a happy story of eight years! TELL US ABOUT YOUR GRANDCHILDREN If your grandchild has had a special event or done something you would like to share please write an article. Send a picture along with the article as grandchildren like seeing themselves in print. Email: grg.brevard@gmail.com A SPECIAL THANKS TO THE WELLS FARGO BANK We have received a $1,000 grant from the Wells Fargo Bank. We wish to express our heartfelt thanks for such generosity.
QUARTERLY MEETING GRG BOARD OF DIRECTORS YOU ARE INVITED!
This meeting will be held on August 3, 2012, at 10:00 AM at the Rockledge City Hall, 1600 Huntington Lane, Rockledge, FL (located at the corner of Barton Blvd. and Huntington Lane not far from our office). The Board of Directors will be present and all members are invited to attend.
REALITY CHECK PROGRAM Opening a person’s eyes to the consequences of bad choices is the first step in helping your loved one. The Reality Check Program helps Juveniles see where they are headed if they keep making bad choices. Understanding what the prison system is REALLY like opens eyes. It’s about choices and making good decisions. If you have a child between 11 and 18 that needs guidance with their behavior this is a wonderful program. July 19th. 1–3 PM, Hampton Inn – 130 Sherriff Dr., Viera (Back of Bob Evans’s Restaurant at the corner of Wickham Rd. and I-95) Call 321-631-7776 or 321-848-8006 for sign up.
Once again the River Cruise will be provided at the Annual Children’s Summer Picnic
HELPING HAND RESOURCES We have infant/toddler supplies available. These items were made possible by our grant from the Brevard County CBO. All supplies are new. Please take advantage of these wonderful items. Call the office for more information 321.631.7776.
Thanks Capt. Mark & 1st Mate Michelle!
INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING WITH GRG OF BREVARD? CONTACT MARY ANN STERLING AT 321-631-7776 OR EMAIL: GRG.BREVARD@GMAIL.COM VOLUNTEER TRAINING COURSE WILL BE HELD IN AUGUST - AFTER THE CHILDREN RETURN TO SCHOOL
UPCOMING GRG of Brevard EVENTS ***Annual Children’s Summer Picnic – July 7th , 12noon – 4:00pm at Kiwanis Park, 520 Cswy Merritt Island (1/2 mile east of Merritt Square Mall) Please RSVP at 321-631-7776 or grg.brevard@gmail.com – please let us know how many children will be attending and their ages. Hamburgers, hotdogs and drinks will be provided, please bring a covered dish to share. Bring a towel, bathing suit and sunscreen for the waterslide. ***GRG of Brevard Open House – Saturday, September 8th 2012 (More to come next month) PAGE 3
HELP THE GRANDPARENTS AND CHILDREN OF GRG OF BREVARD BECOME A MEMBER AND/OR FRIEND Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County FL, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation. All gifts are deductible on corporate, foundation and individual tax returns to the extent provided by state and federal laws. Members of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL, Inc. receive our newsletter and invitations to events where they can meet others in similar situations
I am raising children who are not my own I am their:
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[ ] Grandparent Date:
[ ] Aunt / Uncle
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[ ] Sister / Brother City/State:
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[ ] I am not in this situation but I want to join GRG of Brevard because I am interested in what you do.
Phone: Email: [ ] Annual Membership $20
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Please make your check payable to: Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard
Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL, Inc. 123 Barton Blvd. Rockledge, FL 32955
ADDRESS LABEL
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