2007
The
Columbus Chapter participated in a variety of community service
projects this year as part of ALA's Community Challenge, including
collecting coats for the Salvation Army's Coats for Columbus campaign,
donating $320 to the Miracle Playground, a fully accessible playground in Dublin for children
with mobility challenges and other disabilities, contributing
$2,215 from member law firm participation for Lee National Denim Day,
donating $400 in Wal-Mart and Target gift cards to the YWCA Family
Center (a facility offering accommodations and childcare for homeless
families) and serving a spaghetti dinner to homeless families at the
YWCA Family Center (17 Chapter members made spaghetti with meatballs,
salad and garlic bread for 180 people).
Additionally,
on October 13, Chapter Members Sonja Kondas and Becky Von Ohlen
volunteered to help set up the site of the annual fundraiser for
Adventures for Wish Kids at the Aladdin Shrine Temple. In four hours,
volunteers transformed an empty banquet hall into a beautiful casino
parlor. Adventures for Wish Kids strives to enrich the lives of
children with life-threatening illnesses. Wish Kids has chapters in
Columbus, Cincinnati and Dayton, and reaches out to over 1,300 kids
annually.
2006
The
Columbus Chapter accomplished several community service goals during the month of
October as part of the year's Community Challenge.
The
Chapter sponsored a hole at the Miracle Playground Golf Outing through
the sale of mulligans at our own ALA Member/Vendor Golf Outing.
Chapter members also took part in the Miracle Playground Golf Outing,
the proceeds of which helped to construct a fully accessible
playground in Dublin for children with mobility challenges and other
disabilities.
Additionally,
Columbus Chapter members adopted a family for the holiday season,
donated items and Wal-Mart and Target gift cards to the YWCA Family
Center, a facility for homeless families, and donated unused
toiletries to Faith Mission (a group that helps homeless
families) and Choices (a shelter for victims of
domestic violence).
Finally,
the
Law Office Technology students at the Northeast Career Center
(pictured, below) baked cookies for families staying at the Ronald McDonald
House, a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill
children staying at nearby hospitals.
2005
On
Sunday, October 30, 2005, the weather finally cooperated and several
Columbus Chapter members and their families raked leaves at the
Creative Living Apartment Complex on the campus of The Ohio State
University. The Creative Living organization provides housing for
disabled persons whose impairments are expected to be of long,
continued and indefinite duration, which substantially impeded their
ability to live independently. Creative Living provides wheelchair
accessible housing and assistance, and creates a supportive
environment for people to learn, work, live and contribute to the
community. it is a HUD funded organization depending on public funding
and volunteer support.
In
addition, we asked members who attended our chapter holiday party to
bring cleaning supplies to be donated to the residents of Creative
Living. Finally, we sold mulligans (do-overs) at our annual
Member/Vendor Golf OUting, with all proceeds going to Homes for Our
Troops, an organization that builds and remodels
handicap-accessible homes for severely wounded veterans.
2004
The Columbus Chapter concentrated its efforts on those who were hit
with the multiple hurricanes in Florida. Many people lost their homes
and all their belongings, and others sustained serious damage to their
homes and properties. Committee Chair Trina Multon worked closely with
the President of the Southwest Florida Chapter to coordinate the
giving efforts.
A fund
was established to help the employees of ALA chapter members.
Donations were given by Chapter members, mulligans (do-overs) were
sold at the Member/Vendor Golf Outing on September 22 and a blood
drive was held on October 11, all proceeds of which benefited the
fund.
2003
The Columbus Chapter hosted a Halloween Party at the
Inn at Chestnut Hill, an assisted living facility located in Gahanna on Thursday, October
9. Chapter members provided a variety of snacks as well as small care
packages.
2002
The Columbus Chapter scheduled a cleaning day at the Ronald McDonald
House on October 5 as part of the Community Challenge Weekend.
(Pictured below from left to right are Kathy Rosenberry, Debra
Belcher, Jane Lagusch, Lori Muetzel, Melissa Muetzel, Trina Multon.
Not pictured: Denis Slazyk.)
2001
The Columbus
Chapter collected $1,130 for CHOICES, a residential
shelter for battered women and their children. CHOICES also has a
24-hour crisis hotline, and offers individual and group counseling,
case management, community education, domestic violence in the
workplace training, outreach and support groups.
2000
The Columbus Chapter
also sponsored CHOICES and its Back to School Program, providing backpacks
filled with school supplies for children at the shelter.
The Columbus Chapter enjoys getting involved in
community service in the Central Ohio area, especially through ALA's
Community Challenge Weekend.
