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An Act of Kindness for a Fellow Writer In today’s (Sunday, Aug. 29) Las Vegas Sun, there is an article “The New Homeless: My Story by Roger Jacobs.” I was so touched as I read Roger’s account of his road to homelessness. He is fifty-one, lives in Las Vegas, is an award-winning writer, and is about to become homeless.
We, as a writing group, cannot possibly fix all of his problems. But, we, as a writing group, could help Roger Jacobs. I challenge each writer in our group to reach into the kindness of their soul for a fellow writer ~ to put the words of their pages into action.
There is a video report on Roger with more photos at lasvegassun.com that is certainly worth five-minutes of your time. Contributions are welcomed at a special account for Roger Jacobs at any U.S. Bank branch. I would like to suggest that besides your contribution and name, you leave a message to him as to what writer’s group you represent.
Read the article, watch the video, search your heart ~ let’s all support a fellow writer in his time of need. Let’s show Roger and Las Vegas that our stories have wings and that our words are written with grace.
Kathie Harrington
Las Vegas Writer’s Group
Henderson’s Writer’s Group
Las Vegas Romance Writers
Biz$shop is all about Steve Veltkamp. I attended an ever-so-wonderful class presented by Steve, the founder of Biz$shop yesterday at UNLV. He presented on Selling on the Internet. I learned so many wonderful things like Webdesign, E-Commerce, small business techniques, promotional ideas, Nitch marketing, No-No’s for the website, how to drive traffic to the site, etc. etc.
Steve is the KING of internet Commerce and I feel fortunate to learn from the KING. His site is great at Biz$shop and his e mail is success@bizshop.com. This professed clown, speaks all over so catch him in the center ring sometime when he’s near you.
Steve, if you read this, please add a link and a comment.
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- Blaze collected 609 blankets and coats for the homeless in Las Vegas
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- Tim preparing socks at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission, 11-25-09
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My Kindness Challenge was a success and over 450 pair of mens, womens, and childrens socks were gifted at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission’s annual Thanksgiving dinner on 11-25-09. Seventy-two stocking hats were also given out.
I would like to thank all of those who assisted in collecting these and in helping tie each pair of socks with beautiful ribbons. Each pair carried the message; You are a part of God’s plan. Walk in His grace.
A seven-year-old boy, Blaze Trumble, had over 600 blankets and coats that he and his family had collected for the homeless. This was Blaze’s second year of donating his time and effort toward doing this wonderful work for other people. I can’t help but stop and think that if only a few other young people would follow Blaze’s example of humanitarianism, what a wonderful world this would be. Blaze has his own website at www.blazeswish.com. I might add, 11-25-09, was his 7th birthday!
Humpty Dumpty on a Mountain of Socks
A fellow speech/language therapist, Jill Gertz, joined in my Kindness Challenge and today, 10-29-09, presented me with 157 pair of mens, womens, childrens socks! NOW ISN’T THAT WONDERFUL! She collected them at her private speech practice as well as from her Sunday School Class.
The socks will be gifted along with stocking hats, stuffed animals, and more at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving Dinner on Wed., November 25th. THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE. You know how to get in touch with me. Just DO IT!
The world is a generous place ~ and those who can, need to give.
Here is the latest in my Kindness Challenge of socks, etc. that will be gifted to the men, women, children, in our Las Vegas Valley after they enjoy their Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 25 at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. My husband, Tim, and I have been collecting socks over the past year and we have given many away through the Central Christian Church pantry as the need arises ~ however, we have many left to give and Thanksgiving is the time we have set as our Kindness Challenge for 2009 becomes a reality.
Many of the men who come to the Rescue Mission are Veterans who happen to be homeless. That seems like an oxymoron to me. It should NOT be so ~ but it is. Socks for these men and their families are important but even more critical is the message we send as we gift them with a simple pair of socks. Perhaps the ribbons and card placed on each and every pair of adult socks says it all: “You are part of God’s plan. Walk in His grace.”
To those of you who have contributed, thank you. To those of you who want to be a part of this Kindness Challenge there is still time. Get in touch with me ~ you know how.
Here are my latest stats: (everything is NEW)
Mens 246
Womens 82
Childrens 81
Boys (older) 12
Adult stocking hats 46
children’s stocking
hats 12
women’s caps 14
stuffed animals 20
bubbles 12 very large bottles
All of my friends love to give socks!
A
Kindness Challenge Update ~ my special speech therapy friend Jill and members of her Sunday School class have collected 150 pair of girls and boys socks for my Kindness Challenge. These, plus over 400 other pairs are being tied with ribbon and a prayer verse. They will be handed out at the LV Mission on Thanksgiving Day during their annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner. We have gathered men’s, women’s, children’s socks, stocking caps, stuffed animals, and sundries.
We’d love to have YOU be a part. Respond back on this site, through my E mail, on Facebook or by phone at 702-435-8748. Don’t wait ~ you’ll feel great!
Close but no cigar
A pharmacist would have been a very handy person to have as a mission specialist on any Apollo mission, at least that’s what My Tim thought back in the days of the Apollo space era. Perhaps everyone wanted to be an astronaut after the flurry of the moon landing on July 20, 1969. Imagine 40 years ago. Maybe everyone wanted to be an astronaut in the late ’60′s and early ’70′s but not everyone applied to be an astronaut. My husband, Tim, a pharmacist, DID!
Applying to be an astronaut is not an easy task. Attaining the paperwork, filling it out, getting it notarized, medical checkups and clearance, background checks, finger prints, and sheriff cards, financial statements, references, etc., etc., etc. were all part of the packet. Tim pursued it with zest and dreams sprinkled with stardust and soon became a full fledged astronaut in waiting.
During the years of waiting our family visited: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., NASA, Johnson Space Center Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, and any rocket or space site between the Atlantic and the Pacific.
When Tim Harrington, R.PH. turned 55 years of age, he received a letter from NASA that they regretted informing him that his applicaiton for admission into the astronaut program was not longer applicable. It was not a sad day for Tim or our family, however, it was a proud day. Tim was our Astronaut Pharmacist. He didn’t have to go to the moon to prove his value here on earth. He didn’t have to plant a flag in rock or conduct experiments in floating labs.
Tim served his country in the United States Air Force and he flies a flag on every holiday in the front of our home. He saved the lives of many by filling their prescriptions and consulting with their medical concerns. He distributes food at a food bank at our church pantry and he serves meals to the homeless on holidays. Tim buys school supplies for children who would not outwise have them and anytime he gets the chance he speaks about space and the men and women who pioneered it.
The ones who were lucky to go to the stars and see them up close. The ones who went faster and further than any other people on earth.
I say to my Astronaut Pharmacist, yes, those men and women who were selected to be astronauts did go further and fast and they saw the stars up closer but they are no nearer to the honor of a man than my Tim.
Mrs. Armentrout 8th from right hand side
I found Mrs. Armentrout!! From one of my favorite stories, The Basket Lady, comes a picture of my favorite lady. “There were sparkles that seemed to radiate from her eyes and dance around my head with the gracefulness of a butterfly after a fresh spring rain.”
Mrs. Armentrout taught me so many things about cards and maps and books and thimbles. In her wisdom and warmth of teaching my sister, Julie, and me about her favorite things, she taught us about life and how to live it. I am forever in her debt and I know that her soul sparkles each night in the star filled sky.
In honor of this priceless find, I am offering my story, The Basket Lady to the readers of this blog free. All you have to do is E mail me and I will send it to you. I hope that this story becomes one of your favorites and that you share it with others. That will make both Mrs. Armentrout and me very, very happy.
** To E mail me simply click on the Contact Kathie at the bottom of the left-hand column.
** To enlarge the picture ~ just give it a double click.
An Iowa Falls friend sent me the Obit for Mrs. Armentrout. You might enjoy reading it.
Iowa Falls Times Citizen
June 11, 1973
Word Received of Death of Mrs. Annah Armentrout
Word has been received here of the death May 31st of Mrs. Annah Hickson Armentrout a former resident of Iowa Falls. She had been living at Anaheim, California, since the death of her husband in 1964. She was buried at Stuart, IA.
Annah Hinkson Armentrout was born November 23, 1886 at Greenfield, Iowa, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Fred O. Hinkson. After attending Iowa State Teachers College and Northwestern School of Oratory, she taught in Iowa and was married to Will Armentrout in Des Moines July 24, 1919. They moved to Iowa Falls after living briefly at Waterloo and operated a store here for forty years.
Mrs. Armentrout was an organizer and first president of the Business and Professional Women’s Club, served on the book committee of the Iowa Falls Public Library for more than 30 years and was a member of PEO and Culture Club.
Survivors include a daughter, Mrs. Carlos (Cora) Newell of Des Moines, 3 sisters, two granddaughters and a great granddaughter.
Chris and Kathie
I attended a Rotary Club meeting with Rotarian, Chris Steely, who introduced me and presented the Kindness Challenge of socks for the homeless in Las Vegas.
Many of the men’s, women’s, and children’s socks have been gifted to families who come to the Central Christian Church’s pantry and they are soooo appreciated. The Rotarian’s are a wonderful organization and give generously to the community.
They collected 101 pair of socks!
The students of Del Sol High School rock. Here’s the most recent sock count
men’s = 391 pair
women’s = 84 pair
children’s = 103 pair
ALSO, I will be attending a Las Vegas Rotary luncheon next week. I think there will be great things from the Rotarians. If YOU belong to a group or organization who would like to be part of this Kindness Challenge please give me an E mail or a call at 702-435-8748. I’ll be happy to pick the box, bag, or pair up at your location.
