A is for Awesome Teamwork

We can't thank everyone enough for giving their time, love, and power tools to the Arc of San Diego! Everyone's hard work turned six crooked, ugly little planter boxes into beautiful works of art (the Arc flowers design was created by Teresa and Tanika)!

A chilly morning gave way to warm smiles as everyone started to arrive at the North Shores Vocational Center. The show of power tools, saw horses and power drills for the project was beyond any of our expectations and thanks to that we pumped out bottoms, sides and legs like factory machines. A beautiful, sunny day helped dry the primer on the sides of the boxes so that we were ready to attach them after lunch. Putting on the sides of the boxes and trying to get them to fit nicely with the frame of the boxes was a challenge to say the least. But everyone's sense of humor about the awkward situation helped ease the frustration. Once the sides were attached they weren't perfect, but what's a box without a little character? After a little trimming and adjusting the sides were finally on and the planter boxes were moved to their proper places. By now it was almost time to go but people's enthusiasm to see the finished product was stunning! Volunteers stayed past the event end time and by 3:15 we had 6 beautiful, bright boxes.

From start to finish, we were so impressed by everyone's hard work and dedication. Seeing volunteer's talking, sharing and working together really shows how beautiful it is to have faith in people's kindness. More than six boxes we ended up building friendships that we will never forget. The legacy of all the hard work we all put into this project to help the Arc will last beyond the season of rain the education system is going though, thank you everyone for bringing in a break of sunlight from the clouds.

DIRECTIONS: Good for getting where you want to go

The Arc of San Diego North Shores Vocational Center

9575 Aero Drive,

San Diego, CA 92123

From the 15

exit Aero Drive going West toward shopping centers

continue past West Canyon Avenue

make a u-turn at Ruffin Road

The Arc is on the right hand side and this is the only entrance so don't miss it

Heading North on the 805

exit Kearny Villa Road (right)

right on aero drive

The Arc is on the right hand side (after you pass Ruffin Raod) and this is the only entrance so don't miss it

Heading South on the 805

exit Balboa East

right at Ruffin Road

left on Aero Drive

The Arc is on the right hand side and this is the only entrance so don't miss it

Heading North on the 163

Exit Mesa College Dr/Kearny Villa Road

follow Kearny villa road (east)

right on Aero Drive

The Arc is on the right hand side and this is the only entrance so don't miss it

Heading South on the 163

exit Balboa

left on Mercury

left on Balboa

right at Ruffin Road

The Arc is on the right hand side and this is the only entrance so don't miss it

Thanks to Our Donors and Helpers

Thanks so much to for all of the good hearted donations you've made to A is for Asparagus...We couldn't do it without you.

Ralph's

1030 University Avenue

Thank you for your generous donation of a $20 gift card, we'll be using it to buy snacks to keep our wonderful team energized.

Ana F.

Thank you for your generous donation of $25 for the "$100 Challenge" supporting the great work Volunteer San Diego does for our community.

Thanks especially for branching out to your friends by creating a facebook event for our project. Love you seester!

Alex G. and Jack R.

Thanks for letting us keep the plywood at your place, you're lifesavers.

Noli C.

Thanks for making a facebook event and spreading the word. Love you!

Jane F.

Thanks so much for your $25 dollor donation for the "$100 challenge" supporting Serve-a-thon and VSD. Love you!

Kenya G.

Although we've never met I appreciate you so much for the support you've lent this project with your $10 donation to the "$100 challenge" Thanks!

Scott

Thank you for letting us borrow your power drill! I love that I didn't even have to ask =)

Supplies Needed

CONSTRUCTION

LUMBER

20 – 8’ X 4’ PLYWOOD PIECES FOR SIDE PANELS - Check

1 – 51 3/8” X 5 ½” X ¾” HARDWOOD PIECE -Check

1 – 4”X 4” X 170” HARDWOOD PIECE - Check

8 PW (plywood) PIECES 82 ½” X 21 ¼” - Check

8 PW PIECES 51 ½” X 21 ¼” -Check

4 PW PIECES 81 ½” X 32 ½” -Check

4 PW PIECES 51” X 32 ½” - Check

2 PW PIECES 51” X 81 ½” - Check

4 PW PIECES 82 ½” X 51 ½” -Check

HARDWARE

32 – 5” SCREWS FOR ATTACHING LEGS - Check

200 – 1 ¾” or 2” SCREWS OR NAILS FOR ATTACHING SIDES AND TOP PIECE

TOOLS

4 POWER SCREWDRIVERS - only 2!

2 POWER SAWS (SAWZALL) - only 1!

SANDPAPER - check

PAINTING SUPPLIES

20 BRUSHES - we have 13 of various sizes

10 ROLLERS - we need 4 more covers

5 TARPS - check

8 STIRRERS -check

PAINT -check

STENCILS -I'm trying to make some...

PAINTERS TAPE -check

GLOVES (PROVIDED BY SITE CAPTAINS)

POTTING SUPPLIES

POTS -check

SOIL -we haven't been able to get any =(

TROWELS -we have 5

GARDENING GLOVES- have several thick gloves and latex gloves

Meet the Site Captains =)

Thanks so much for visiting our page. We hope that we've made an impression on you and you'll experience this awesome event with us.

Get to Know Us

I first got involved with Volunteer San Diego when I tutored at a College Rolando Library tutoring hour. When I saw the opportunity to get involved on a deeper level I decided that if I had the time I would use it to do something about the quality of education through Serve-a-thon.

Chris's involvement with education began while he tutored kids through a program funded by the No Child Left Behind Act. He was given no tools with which to teach students and had to travel from home to home because libraries and classrooms were unavailable. He experienced and battled first hand the disparity with which education is faced.

Chris and I are UCSD graduates. Chris majored in Mathematics while I did a double major in Writing and Latin American Studies. We made San Diego our home and we want to take part in making it a better place to live by building bonds within our community. We know first hand how tough it is for everyone out there and students and teachers need our help. We hope that through our efforts for Serve-a-thon 2010 we will be making a positive and lasting impact on the people in our community.

Sincerely,

Diana Farias and Chris Heinrich

dianafarias09@gmail.com

chris.m.heinrich@gmail.com

Our Project for Serve-a-thon 2010: "A is for Asparagus, B is for Beets, C is for..."

Volunteer San Diego's Serve-a-thon 2010 is on (check out this post for more details http://arcofsandiegovolunteers.blogspot.com/2010/09/introducingserve-thon-2010.html) and for our part we're working hand in hand with Mr. John Mckee, Director of The Arc of San Diego's North Shores Vocational Center. The Arc of San Diego is a wonderful organization that helps children and adults with disabilities lead independent and fulfilling lives. Using classes, workshops, community living and individualized counseling The Arc's staff help people with disabilities to meet the ultimate goal: for each individual to reach their fullest level of independence. Since 1951 The Arc of San Diego has filled the gap of services available to individuals with disabilities and their families and this year we can help close the gap by helping out with a few unfinished planter boxes.

As you can see these poor planter boxes are in desperate need of a few...touch ups. They've been sitting on the back lawn of The Arc's facility since last October because some good-hearted volunteers were unable to finish them. Luckily they have us and hopefully you! Our goal is to raise the funds and supplies necessary to finish putting sides, bottoms and legs on the boxes as well as painting them to match the colorful decor of The Arc. Finishing these planter boxes will provide a hands-on way for people with disabilities to learn about the importance of nutrition and to develop their self-help skills.

Our project "A is for Asparagus, B is for Beets, C is for..." is set to take place on Saturday, October 9, 2010 from 8am until 2pm. It's going to be an awesome day of community building and fun.

To make this possible we need your help. Your time and donations are the fundamental building blocks for this project. To get involved as a volunteer please go tohttp://www.volunteersandiego.org/HomePage/index.php/serve-a-thon/serve-a-thonprojects.html We have 8 spots available please click the link for more details. Look for our project titled "A is for Asparuagus, B is for Beets, C is for..." under the Saturday, October 9 listing of projects, it's the first one!

To donate to "A is for Asparagus, B is for Beets, C is for..." please contact me by email at diana8705@aol.com.com or call (909) 609-4822. We'll take any in-kind or cash donation you or your business can make (I have a supply list waiting to go see http://arcofsandiegovolunteers.blogspot.com/2010/09/supplies-needed.html), every cent or piece of wood or paint will be greatly appreciated. In addition to your tax deductible donation you'll be recognized at our event on Saturday, October 9, 2010.

You can also help us raise supply funds for all of the projects happening this Serve-a-thon by visiting our fundraising page http://www.stayclassy.org/member/fundraising?fcid=2794.

We'd be delighted for you to become involved and become a positive influence in our beautiful community!

Sincerely,

Diana and Chris

Site Captains for "A is for Asparagus..."

Students Need Your Help!

Here is a list of scary statistics about the state of Education in our country. They are provided by the National Center for Education Statistics http://nces.ed.gov/programs/

EDUCATION STATISTICS

Poor academic performance has a direct and serious impact on a student's adult life. Dropouts are more likely to become and stay jobless, will enjoy dramatically lower lifetime earnings, and are far more likely to be unemployed and incarcerated.

For example-

· High school graduates live up to 7 years longer than high school dropouts.

· Census Bureau estimates suggest that in terms of today’s dollars, college graduates will earn an average of about $2.5 million, or about $1 million more over their working lives than high school graduates.

· Roughly 1 in 10 young male high school dropouts are in jail or juvenile detention. Roughly 1 in 35 young male high school graduates is in jail or juvenile detention.

The achievement gap is not some irrelevant statistic, it is proof that our public education system is consistently failing our children and drastically reducing their chances to compete and succeed as adults.

United States

• 68% of 4^th grade public school students scored below a proficient reading level in 2009.
• Communities that rank high in achievement tests have an abundance of books in public libraries, easy access to books in the community, and a large number of textbooks per student.
• Class of 2008 high school dropouts will cost the United States almost $319 billion in lost wages over their lifetimes.
• A 10% increase in high school graduation rates would reduce murder rates by 20%.
• American 15 year’s olds’ math skills rank 25^th internationally.

California

• 68% graduated from high school in 2009
• 44% enrolled in college directly after high school in 2004
• California is ranked 46^th in the country in awarding bachelor’s degrees to enrolled undergraduates
• California is ranked 33^rd on library visits per Capita (most recent) by state
• Total number of Schools: 10,198
• Total number of Students: 6,343,471, Total number of Teachers: 305,230 , Pupil/Teacher Ratio: 20.8
• Number of Central Libraries: 166, Number of Branch Libraries: 927
• Total Revenue of Schools - $71,224,023,937. Total Expenditures of Schools - $73,868,615,76, Totaling a loss of $2,644,591,831

San Diego

• San Diego Unified School District was ranked 18^th largest school district, by enrollment size, in the U.S. in 2007 and fiscal year 2009.
• Class sizes have shot up and the school year has been shortened throughout San Diego County.
• 1 in 5 people in San Diego County lack basic English literacy skills. 21% of people 16 or older are functionally illiterate.

Just because our economy is in recession doesn't mean our hearts have to be too. Get involved by donating your time or spare change, we can make a difference if we get out there and try together =)

INTRODUCING...SERVE-A-THON 2010!

Did you know that 21% of people age 16 or older are functionally illiterate the city of San Diego? Meanwhile budget cuts have shot up class sizes and shortened the school year throughout San Diego County. Nationwide, one-third of all U.S. students is attending a school that needs extensive repairs and new equipment, the repair costs are estimated at over $127 billion. Even more astounding is the fact that more than 6,000 students drop out of high school everyday and 30% of these will never finish high school.

Volunteer San Diego's 2010 Serve-a-thon (formally Hands On San Diego) marks its 20th anniversary and what better way to celebrate than by taking the time to support the teachers and professionals who do so much to influence our community. This year's Serve-a-thon focuses on giving educators and students a hand in these rough economic times. There are 40 projects set to take place on October 8-9 to combat statistics like those above. Volunteers will learn about viable solutions to problems facing education and make a tangible difference in the lives of students throughout San Diego County. If you've ever felt powerless to change the decisions made by government well here is your chance to make a difference with your own hands.

So why put on a two-day volunteer extravaganza? Research studies have indicated that schools with broad-based community involvement provide more dynamic learning experiences and result in higher student achievement. Other studies confirm that young people do better in life when they have positive after-school activities and opportunities to give back to their community through service. Being involved on the outside gives students a chance to do better in classrooms and gives them the motivation to continue their education after high school.

Let's set an example in our community by doing something to better the lives of students and our community. Get involved!