Valentines for Veterans

Students and volunteers at theplace2b have been creating beautiful Valentine cards this week.  Each of them has a special message of thanks for the service and sacrifices the veterans have made for our country.  The artists used pink, red, and white paper.  They also used markers in a variety of colors, glue, ribbon, and scissors that cut in straight, zigzag, or other unusual patterns.

As we worked, some of the students told about relatives they had that were veterans.  Some had earned awards for bravery and valor.  Some dealt with PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder).  It was clear that the students respected the military personnel that they knew and the sacrifices the veterans had made.

We hope that our readers will join us in thanking local veterans for their service.  Gather some craft supplies and encourage your family members to create some very special Valentines.  Send those wishes to some very deserving veterans at…

Iowa City VA Health Care System
601 Highway 6 West
Iowa City, IA  52246

Meet Helen and David Popp

Helen and David Popp are a wonderful husband and wife team that volunteer on Fridays.  They were instrumental in getting theplace2b off the ground and have continued to support it ever since.  We’d like you to meet this amazing couple so that you can appreciate their “hearts of gold.”

Tell us about yourselves.

We have been residents of Moline, Illinois for 43 years and married for 43 years this April. We have two children, both adults, our son, a single parent of three children: 18, 17 & 14. He gets them on weekends as they live with their mother in Atkinson, Illinois. Our daughter is married and currently lives with us. They moved back from Wisconsin after living there for about 16 years. Dan, our son-in-law is currently unemployed and they moved to be closer to Dan’s father who has ALS. Dan takes care of his father while his step-mom works. Helen works a few hours a day at Roosevelt School in the lunch room and play ground. I am the property chairman at our church which sometimes requires a lot of time on projects there.

We belong to 15th Avenue Christian Church in Rock Island and were interested in this issue of homeless children when we saw a news article on KWQC-TV. The next morning Helen asked our pastor, David Geenen, what can we do about this problem? Pastor Dave was instrumental in getting this idea to materialize.  Helen and I served on the exploratory committee to send mailings to area churches requesting their financial help and volunteers. We also were on the committee to locate the current building and did work getting the building ready for opening. 

We have felt that caring for the youth who need help is a “local mission” and moral responsibility for us.  We couldn’t imagine children being homeless and on the streets in this day and age. We volunteered to come to theplace2b to work with the kids. We started on Friday nights and still do.

What do you like most about working at theplace2b?

Relationships!  We enjoy getting to know the kids and build some trust with them, to let them know we are there to help with any problems or challenges they have. To just sit and talk, tell stories and laugh and let them know they are not alone.

 What are some future changes/improvements you would like to see at theplace2b?

Theplace2b has come a long way. The building itself is still adjusting to our needs. A computer area for the kids, a new kitchen and laundry area are the newest developments. We are sharing the building with other tenants so we need the volunteers and kids to understand our boundaries. In the future, it would be nice to see more participation from community groups in financial support and other needs, such as volunteers and supplies.

I feel it is very important for paid staff to be working with the volunteers during the evening hours.  Having dependable and responsible staff working with the volunteers and the kids, we believe, is one of the keys to a successful program. Having activities, field trips, movie nights and the like, add variety and help entice kids to attend regularly.

In the early stages there was talk about having showers for the kids too. This is something we may want to revisit.

What do you like to do in your free time?

Helen enjoys quilting and reading.  I enjoy woodworking and gardening, both flower and vegetable. We also enjoy camping with our grandchildren, when we can get away from our busy schedule.

Tell us about some high points in your lives so far.

We are excited about our granddaughter being accepted to Eureka College in Eureka, Illinois on a scholarship. She will be starting this fall.

Compare your teen life to the lives of the teens we work with at theplace2b.

Helen and I grew up in homes where mom did not work outside the home. It was a big enough job in itself. We had brothers; Helen, three and I, three.  We never lacked for anything, but we were not well to do, by any means. We did a lot of activities together, picnics, fishing, sports and all the normal activities in the 1940’s and 50’s. We attended church with family and friends and participated in youth groups.

I can remember having trouble with decimals and fractions in school. My father and I would sit at the kitchen table and work until I got it right. Helen also had trouble with fractions, and her mom would help her too. Mom and dad were always there to help and guide us in our youth.

Supporters Meet at theplace2b

On Tuesday, January 24, members of the Advisory Board, along with students, staff, and volunteers, came together for a meeting led by community organizer April Pesca.  The focus of the gathering was not about finding immediate solutions, but rather solidifying what is important to us as we move forward.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After a short introductory period, members described “what brought them here?” and explained why theplace2b is important to them.  Round 1 focused on where we are now.  Round 2 led us to envision where theplace2b would be in 5 years.  In Round 3, we talked about what was necessary to make our visions a reality.  Participants moved from table to table after each round so they could share ideas with a variety of different people.  Large papers and markers were at each table as a method of documenting our discussions.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Some major themes of the meeting:

• We should celebrate where we are!  Theplace2b is a safe place where kids can come to relax and not be judged.
• Communication among groups, and throughout the community, continues to be a challenge.
• We need to clarify our mission and vision.  Who do we serve and how?
• Outreach is important in order to make theplace2b more of a presence in the community.

It was evident that participants shared a similarity of concerns and interests.  Hopefully, this meeting will prompt stakeholders to become solution-focused so that theplace2b will realize its great potential.

Meet Marcia Walsh

Marcia works at theplace2b on Monday through Thursday evenings.  She has been working here since last September, and is our educator as well as the person who manages the “place2blog”.  We’d like you to meet Marcia and learn more about her vision for theplace2b.

Tell us about yourself.

I have been living in the Quad Cities ever since I married my husband, Bob, 30 years ago.  We have 3 daughters: Amy, an Emergency Room doctor; Sarah, an Occupational Therapist; and Karla, and editorial assistant at Fitness Magazine in New York City.  I am extremely proud of the fine young women they have become.

I am a veteran teacher, having spent 19 years in the classroom at Seton Catholic and Lourdes Catholic School.  Most of my experience has been teaching math, but I have also taught Literature, Religion, and Vocabulary.

After having worked for years with students from strong homes and good support systems, I began to feel it was time to switch my focus to students who needed more assistance.  I was drawn to theplace2b because I felt that its needs and my skills matched up nicely.

What do you like most about working at theplace2b?

There is always something interesting to do!  I am ready and willing to work with the students on their school work.  When the students don’t need help, I have been busy sorting and organizing donations, so that we can use the clothes and toiletries that we have efficiently.  A lot of donations have come through our doors since we opened 1 1/2 years ago!

Marcia, sorting some of the clothing that has been donated to theplace2b.

I have also started a blog and created a brochure, in hopes that they might be another method of connecting with students that need the services offered at theplace2b.

What are some future changes/improvements you’d like to see at Theplace2b?

I would definitely like to see the number of students that we work with increase.  It would be great if our students would really take advantage of my tutoring so they could see improvements in their grades, which would open up more options for their futures.

I am anxious to start cooking with the youth at theplace2b in our almost-complete kitchen, and introducing them to nutritious and delicious meals.  Wouldn’t a garden on the roof be great?!!  (I’m not sure the roof could support a garden, or that there is a way to get up there, but it’s fun to dream big!)

What do you like to do in your free time?

I love to read, and always have a book going.  This Winter, I have gotten back in to crocheting and have made several Infinity Scarves.  (They are made in a loop, rather than a long strand, that just wraps around your neck.)  I also enjoy the challenge of Cathe Freidrich workout DVDs.  Travel is also something I enjoy and find very enriching.

Tell us about some high points in your life so far.

Of course, my wedding day, and the birth of my daughters are high points.  Seeing new places and being introduced to different ways of life is also very interesting to me.  A trip to Tanzania, Africa is one that I will never forget.  Life was so different there, but the people were so kind and welcoming.  We went on a photo safari, visited an orphanage, and went hunting with a hunting and gathering tribe.  Trips to Hawaii, Alaska, and to Washington D.C. for President Obama’s Inauguration were also very memorable.

Visiting an orphange in Tanzania, Africa.

Among the crowd at President Obama's Inauguration.

Compare your teen life to the lives of the teens we work with here at Theplace2b.

I grew up on an Iowa farm, so that environment was very different from the environment of the students I work with at theplace2b, who grew up in Rock Island.  There were 8 children in my family, of which I was the oldest girl, so I have been working with kids all my life.

Our Christmas Celebration

Theplace2b celebrated Christmas on Thursday, December 22.  We enjoyed a dinner of brats and hotdogs.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then the students decorated some cookies. 

 

 

 

 

 

There was a stocking filled with treats for each of the students.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

A gift bag was under the Christmas tree filled with lots of great surprises, such as socks, headbands, a hairbrush,  gloves and a hat, a pillowcase,  and more!  Each student also received a blanket and a pair of shoes.

After opening gifts, several of the students and volunteers worked together to make a Gingerbread Village and a Gingerbread Train.  Take a look at our finished products!

 

 

 

 

 

 

We hope all our friends experienced a joyful Christmas season.  May 2012 be a year of accomplishment and fulfillment for each of you.

Theplace2b Food: Holiday Treats

The students at Theplace2b have been busy cooking some holiday treats.  Because our kitchen is not quite finished yet, we are limited to recipes that involve using the microwave.  We would like to share 3 recipes that the students made.

Chocolate Peanut Clusters

Melt 18 oz. almond bark and 12 oz. semi-sweet chocolate chips at 50% power in the microwave.  After the mixture has melted completely and is smooth and creamy, stir in 16 oz. salted Spanish peanuts.  Drop by spoons full on wax paper.

 

Peppermint Brittle

Melt 24 oz. of almond bark in the microwave at 50% power.  While it is melting, use a hammer to smash 12 candy canes into crumbs.  When the almond bark is completely melted, stir candy cane crumbs and several drops of red food coloring into the mixture.  Spread thin on a sheet of wax paper.  When cool, break into pieces.

White Peanut Clusters

Melt 24 oz. almond bark in microwave at 50% power.  Stir in 3/4 cup peanut butter.  Add 2 cups tiny marshmallows, 2 cups Rice Krispies cereal, and 1 1/2 cups dry roasted peanuts.  Drop by spoons full on wax paper.

Ceramics

Mari,  a student who visits Theplace2b, brought in a project from her Ceramics class at school.

She was very proud of her work because she got an A+ grade for her finished product.  It is an example of a “slab pot”, where you roll slabs of clay and cut out the individual pieces, then join them together into a finished product.  When asked where she got her idea for the rare blue and black wolf, Mari answered that she saw a picture of a dragon cup.  That gave her the idea to make a wolf cup.

Mari made her project for her friend Sean, who lives in California.  She plans to give it to him in the summer.

Mari has had some past experience with working with Ceramics.  Besides the class she took this year, she also took a class in junior high.  Great work Mari!

Updating the Handprint Wall

At Theplace2b, we have a “Handprint Wall” that features some lyrics by Eminem.  Scattered around the words, are the handprints of students, volunteers, and staff of Theplace2b.  Since we have added both students and staff since the wall was completed, we decided to take an evening and update the handprints.  Each person chose one or a combination of colors from the choices of red, orange, green, blue, and purple.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

After having their hand painted, the printer placed their hand firmly against the wall.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Then of course, they signed and dated their work.  We hope to add many more handprints in the months and years to come.

Nanodots!

Have you heard of Nanodots?  They look like BB’s, but they are magnetically charged.  You can use them to build almost anything you want.  Lee, one of the students at Theplace2b, has a set of Nanodots. He has built all sorts of creations with them, and he would like to share some of his formations with you.

As you can see, there is an unlimited amount of ways to put Nanodots together.  It’s a fun way to experience magnetism, geometry, and creativity!  Take a look at this video to see even more cool ideas!

Thanksgiving Feast

On Monday evening, the students, volunteers, and staff from Theplace2b gathered for a Thanksgiving feast.  As you can see, the area was decorated beautifully to carry out the Thanksgiving theme.

Before the 13 of us gathered around the table, we each told the group something we were thankful for.  The staff and volunteers shared the cooking duty, and everyone made a contribution.  We enjoyed smoked turkey, cornbread stuffing, sweet potatoes, mashed potatoes and gravy, corn, cranberries and homemade bread and rolls.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

For dessert, we had the choice between Pumpkin Pie, Pecan Pie, and  Apple Pie.

 

It was a pleasure sharing this meal together.  The food was delicious, and it was a fitting way to celebrate the season.