GRG of Brevard October 2013 Newsletter

GRG of Brevard

October 2013 GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN OF BREVARD COUNTY, FLORIDA INC.

ISSUE # 149

UPCOMING EVENTS Holiday Season The holiday season is right around the corner. Planning is underway for the Children’s Holiday Celebration. It will be at the Kiwanis Island Pavilion on December 21st. If you are interested in volunteering please contact Lou Ann Hawes at grg.brevard@gmail.com or the office 321-631-7776. Also The Elk’s club will be entertaining our grandchildren on December 15th.

GRG of Brevard will have a limited amount of holiday meal assistance for Thanksgiving and Christmas; please sign up early at the office or support group meeting to ensure availability.

If you are requesting toy assistance for the holidays you will need to have attended at least two support group meetings or training classes during the year.

Please contact us at 321-631-7776 with grade/age/gender of child(ren) first name of child, grandparent’s name, clothing size, and wish list.

We will be sponsored again this year by the Elk’s Club and Kids Without Christmas.

More information will be available at the upcoming support group meetings and in the November newsletter.

Everyone expressed their enjoyment of the event. We have a zoo pass for two adults and up to 6 children. If you are interested in using this pass you can keep it for a week (only) call (321) 6317776. We also have 6 free passes just for kids.

HALLOWEEN HAPPENINGS

RIGHT ON TARGET! Our TARGET training was a great success. Thank you for taking the time to attend, and thanks to all of our wonderful speakers.

Hope everyone had a great Grandparent’s Day. Twenty five grandchildren and their grandparents took advantage of free admission to the zoo on Grandparents Day. The zoo is a wonderful outing for grandchildren.

Just a reminder: please be sure that your grandchildren’s costumes are safe and someone is with them while going out.

Boo At the Zoo Oct 11-13, 18-20, 25-27 at 5:30 pm

Brevard Zoo 8225 N Wickham Rd Melbourne, FL Viera Fall Festival and Oktoberfest Friday, Oct 25 - Sunday, Oct 27 Friday: 6 pm, Saturday: 8 am - All Day, Sunday: 10 am - All Day Brevard County School District 2700 Judge Fran Jamieson Way Viera, FL.

[Pick the date] [Edition 1, Volume 1]

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Issue 149

GRG of Brevard

SENIOR COUNSELING If you sometimes feel that your new or continuing job of parenting again causes you concerns and you just want to discuss issues with a professional please call our office for an appointment. Cliff Valentine, LMHC, has volunteered his time each Friday from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. Each session lasts an hour and is held at our office located at 123 Barton Blvd, Rockledge, FL. Please call (321) 631-7776 to schedule an appointment.

E-NEWSLETTER Are you interested in receiving an online version of our newsletter rather than a printed version? Please send an email to grg.brevard@gmail.com and include your name, email address and mailing address to insure we update your record accordingly!

Thank you for helping us save on printing costs so that more of each dollar can benefit children and families.

UPCOMING TRAINING CLASSES COMPUTER CLASSES conducted by Bill Hobson If you would like to know more about what your grandchild is doing on the computer or if you would like to be more proficient on the computer please call 321-631-7776. Class schedule will be based on number of participants.

DILIGENT SEARCH CLASSES conducted by Lillian Hobson When you start a case to get custody, guardianship or adoption of your grandchild, and you do not know where the parents are located, legally you must do a diligent search for their location. If you do this yourself it lowers the cost of legal expense. If you would like to participate please call 321-631-7776. Class schedule will be based on number of participants.

WOULD YOU LIKE TO WIN A $25.00 GIFT CERTIFICATE? We have packages of rice and beans supplied to us by the Central Brevard Sharing Center. Some of you have already received these packages. We have many more packages available. We have tried adding chicken, beef and pork to the rice and have come up with a complete meal. If you can come up with the best recipe for making the rice and beans “the best ever” you will be awarded the gift certificate.

Our judges will be Mary Ann Sterling, Priscilla Livingston, Amy Oliver and Cliff Valentine. Be sure you bring your concoction to the GRG Office on Friday mornings in the month of October and enough for 4. Good Luck!

OCTOBER 2013 ~ MEETINGS If you newsletter gets to you late remember the time frames for meetings are the same each month Tuesday, October 8th – Club Esteem Support Group Meeting Libscomb Street Community Center 10:00 – 11:30 am.

(This meeting is always the second Tuesday of each month) Thursday, October 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 (This meeting is always the second Thursday of each month) Tuesday, October 15th – Central Brevard Support Group GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge 10:00 – 12:00 am (This meeting is always the third Tuesday of each month) Thursday, October 17th – South Brevard Support Group Meeting Memaw’s Restaurant, 4916 Babcock Blvd, Palm Bay 6:00 – 7:30 pm (Dinner is available at member's expense) (This meeting is always the third Thursday of each month) Thursday, October 31st – Beach Side Support Group Memaw’s Restaurant, Indian Harbour Beach, 9:30 – 11:30 am (Breakfast is available at member's expense) (This meeting is always the last Thursday of each month)

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Issue 149

GRG of Brevard

A MESSAGE FROM DCF CENTRAL REGION DIRECTOR

ATTENTION MEMBERS This is a special request to all grandparents raising their grandchildren. Please try to attend our support group meetings. We have speakers with very helpful information and hope that you will consider coming to these events.

If we have assisted you in anyway, please come and share how we have helped you and tell us how this assistance has provided much needed information to help you in the rearing of your grandchildren.

If you have a great story or news about your grandchild please let us know; we would love to publish it in our newsletter.

Older children are welcome to submit stories, photos or poetry.

Please email grg.brevard@gmail.com We had a great article in Senior Life for Grandparents Day. Pictures of our Priscilla Livingston and Linda Taylor and their grandchildren were featured. Be sure and pick up a copy.

Help is just a Call Away: Office: 321.631.7776 Cell: 321.848.8006 123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge FL 32955 www.grg-brevard.org GRG of Brevard offers information and referral to assist you, support and discussion groups to connect you and educational workshops to inform you.

"BILL" D'AIUTO As summer comes to an end and we enter into the fall season, I reflect back on the wonderful events that were held over the past several months to benefit this great community.

Members of this community came together and provided camp experiences, food to those in need and held school supply drives to ensure every child begins the new school year ready for success. I continue to be astonished by what we can accomplish when we all work together.

As many of you are aware this agency (DCF) continues to transition leadership as we welcome Interim Secretary Esther Jacobo to her new role as the head of this Department. She brings a wealth of knowledge, experience, passion and a renewed sense of public service to the position.

The Central Region ACCESS Program is diligently at work. During the month of December the new Medicaid Eligibility System will go live. There will be one application that customers will utilize to apply for benefits. This single application will be used to determine their eligibility for Assistance with Insurance Premiums, Medicaid, or CHIP (Children Health Insurance Program) currently known as Healthy Kids.

Thank you for your continued support in making our communities safer and healthier. Together we will create a brighter future for the citizens of Central Florida.

Warmest regards, Bill

THANK YOU FROM A GRANDCHILD Sabrina – Granddaughter Mac and Elly McInnis

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I’d like to thank the Grandparents Raising Grandchildren organization for sponsoring and assisting me in attending youth summer camp.

First I attended Wekiva Youth Camp (sponsored by the Federation of Garden Clubs). This is a nature camp for kids grades three to nine.

We do many things such as hike on nature trails, swim in the springs, do crafts, sing funny songs, and have interesting evening programs. I’ve been going to Wekiva Youth Camp since 2003, and I love it. This year was a little different for me, though.

I had to be invited back to attend the Leaders in Training (LIT) program.

This is a program that prepares its participants to not only be counselors, but to be effective leaders in our schools, homes, and communities. In this program, we learned many effective public speaking skills, interview protocols, and made many new friends.

The second camp I went to was Shiloh Adventure Camp. This is a Christian based camp for boys and girls ages fifteen and under. We do many activities such as canoeing, fishing, paddle boarding, tubing, sailing, swimming, crafts, and daily devotions. This was my second year attending, the first year I was also sponsored by Grandparents Raising Grandchildren.

Once again I’d like to express my sincere appreciation to grandparents Raising Grandchildren for sponsoring me. Thank you.

Sabrina NOTE: Shiloh gives scholarship’s each year.

GRG

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It is so nice to get a letter of thanks from a grandchild.

Please let us know if your grandchild has something that they would like to share and send a picture.

“I know God will not give me anything I can’t handle. I just wish He didn’t trust me so much.” Mother Teresa

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Issue 149

GRG of Brevard

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 Name

I am raising children who are not my own I am their: [ ] Grandparent [ ] Aunt / Uncle

Date:

[ ] Sister / Brother

Address:

[ ] Other (please specify) [ ] I am not in this situation but I want to join GRG of Brevard because I am interested in what you do.

City/State: Zip: Phone: Email: [ ] Annual Membership $20

[ ] Annual Corporate Membership $500

I want to be a friend of the GRG of Brevard and enclose an additional donation of: [ ] $25 [ ] $50 [ ] $75 [ ] $100 Other: $

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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