Dear Friends,
We all know the value of family. At the Children's Enrichment Committee we think of ourselves as "extended family" for Orange County, New York children in foster care.
For over a century, our all-volunteer organization has bought and wrapped holiday gifts requested by children in foster care to brighten their Decembers. Our committee has also answered requests for musical instruments, sports equipment, camp vacations and other unique items. In April, a young athlete received airfare to attend a track meet in South Carolina. He wrote, "I got to see and experience lots of new things, all thanks to you."
Our Emily Akers Scholarship Program has awarded financial assistance to many young students. One of this year's four recipients has informed us that she was able to focus more on her education and less on finances, helping her "to receive a 3.4 GPA." We couldn't be prouder!
We recently welcomed into our fold A Friend's House, which is a youth shelter run by HONOR (Helping Others Needing Our Resources). Our members collected and bought school supplies, health and beauty items, linens, and socks and shoes for the youngsters they serve.
Please be a part of our family. Your tax-deductible donation will go directly to support Orange County children in need and can be sent to:
Children's Enrichment Committee
P.O. Box 297
Middletown, NY 10940
Thank you for helping good children through bad times.
Sincerely,
Kathy Hufcut
President: Children's Enrichment Committee
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
Wednesday, October 26, 2016
Make A Difference In November
Before we know it, the holiday season will be upon us and members of the Children's Enrichment Committee will be busy holiday shopping for children in foster care in Orange County. Last year we were the number one organization for purchasing holiday gifts in the county, and this year the CEC will be bringing more holiday joy.
But before the shopping season begins in earnest, there are ways that everyone reading this blog can make a difference.
First off, John's Harvest Inn is once again helping the CEC with its generous Dining To Make A Difference program on Sunday, November 6 from 3-8 PM. You, your friends and your family can enjoy a wonderful meal, knowing that 10% of all the money the restaurant makes that day will go to the CEC. In addition, there will be a weeklong raffle of a beautiful gift basket, with proceeds from the raffle also going to the CEC.
It's a good idea to make a reservation, so call 845-343-6630, and look forward to great food, great company and a great cause.
There's a second way that you can make a difference in November and that's by voting on Tuesday, November 8. Decide which candidates best represent your ideas and beliefs, and be sure to go to your polling place and cast your ballot. If you can, bring your children or grandchildren with you, so they can see democracy in action.
Finally, Veterans Day is Friday, November 11. Take a moment to think of their sacrifices, and if you have a chance, thank them for all they've given our country.
And once all that is done, you can start concentrating on Thanksgiving and everything that follows!
But before the shopping season begins in earnest, there are ways that everyone reading this blog can make a difference.
First off, John's Harvest Inn is once again helping the CEC with its generous Dining To Make A Difference program on Sunday, November 6 from 3-8 PM. You, your friends and your family can enjoy a wonderful meal, knowing that 10% of all the money the restaurant makes that day will go to the CEC. In addition, there will be a weeklong raffle of a beautiful gift basket, with proceeds from the raffle also going to the CEC.
It's a good idea to make a reservation, so call 845-343-6630, and look forward to great food, great company and a great cause.
There's a second way that you can make a difference in November and that's by voting on Tuesday, November 8. Decide which candidates best represent your ideas and beliefs, and be sure to go to your polling place and cast your ballot. If you can, bring your children or grandchildren with you, so they can see democracy in action.
Finally, Veterans Day is Friday, November 11. Take a moment to think of their sacrifices, and if you have a chance, thank them for all they've given our country.
And once all that is done, you can start concentrating on Thanksgiving and everything that follows!
Thursday, September 22, 2016
The Lifetime Gift Of Learning
Over a hundred years ago, the Children's Enrichment Committee was born from the desire to provide orphans with home knit mittens for Christmas.
Soon the women who founded the organization realized the needs of orphans, and later children in foster care, required more than new mittens at Christmastime. The CEC expanded to give children the gifts they want at the holidays, and to give them camperships, so they can enjoy summer camp, and to give them even more basic things like shoes and socks.
One of the programs members are most proud of is the Emily Akers Scholarship Fund. Currently, the CEC is giving scholarships to three remarkable young Orange County residents. We recently received a letter from one of them telling us she had used her Emily Akers funding to pay for airfare so that she could take advantage of her university's study abroad program. With our help, she was able to learn the lessons that only living in a different culture can provide.
Many CEC members are teachers, who especially appreciate the importance of the gift of learning. Our new president, Kathy Hufcut, and vice president, Nancy Babbin, suggested for our September meeting that we bring notebooks and pens and pencils for area children to use at the start of the new school year. We were happy to do so and a basket was filled with our donations.
For our October meeting, Kathy suggested we bring children's and young adult books. No doubt the basket will be filled again.
The gift of a book is the gift of a world. The Children's Enrichment Committee is eager to enrich the lives of Orange County children, from mittens to the marvels of learning.
Soon the women who founded the organization realized the needs of orphans, and later children in foster care, required more than new mittens at Christmastime. The CEC expanded to give children the gifts they want at the holidays, and to give them camperships, so they can enjoy summer camp, and to give them even more basic things like shoes and socks.
One of the programs members are most proud of is the Emily Akers Scholarship Fund. Currently, the CEC is giving scholarships to three remarkable young Orange County residents. We recently received a letter from one of them telling us she had used her Emily Akers funding to pay for airfare so that she could take advantage of her university's study abroad program. With our help, she was able to learn the lessons that only living in a different culture can provide.
Many CEC members are teachers, who especially appreciate the importance of the gift of learning. Our new president, Kathy Hufcut, and vice president, Nancy Babbin, suggested for our September meeting that we bring notebooks and pens and pencils for area children to use at the start of the new school year. We were happy to do so and a basket was filled with our donations.
For our October meeting, Kathy suggested we bring children's and young adult books. No doubt the basket will be filled again.
The gift of a book is the gift of a world. The Children's Enrichment Committee is eager to enrich the lives of Orange County children, from mittens to the marvels of learning.
Thursday, May 19, 2016
Old Friends and New
No organization thrives for over 100 years without strong leadership, and the Children's Enrichment Committee is no exception.
We have always been fortunate with the people who have led the CEC. Both Judy Vaillancourt, our most recent president, and Sandra Strosahl, past president and vice president, have brought vision, wisdom, and enormous leadership skills to our organization.
Now we have new leaders stepping forward. Kathy Hufcut is our new president and Nancy Babbin vice president. They bring their own special expertise and skills, fresh approaches and outlooks. We are very fortunate to have them.
We are also fortunate that organizations that have recognized our work in the past continue to do so. We are very grateful to John's Harvest Inn, the Warwick Lions Club, Stewarts Shops and Boy Scouts of America, NY Troop 62 (Goshen, NY) for their continuing support.
These are exciting times for the CEC. Our work with HONOR has expanded our involvement with the children of Orange County. We continue our longstanding commitments to those children we already serve and to the Emily Akers Scholarship Fund students.
We may not have any business meetings during the summer, but don't think we hibernate. The Children's Enrichment Committee is always available to help, regardless of season!
We have always been fortunate with the people who have led the CEC. Both Judy Vaillancourt, our most recent president, and Sandra Strosahl, past president and vice president, have brought vision, wisdom, and enormous leadership skills to our organization.
Now we have new leaders stepping forward. Kathy Hufcut is our new president and Nancy Babbin vice president. They bring their own special expertise and skills, fresh approaches and outlooks. We are very fortunate to have them.
We are also fortunate that organizations that have recognized our work in the past continue to do so. We are very grateful to John's Harvest Inn, the Warwick Lions Club, Stewarts Shops and Boy Scouts of America, NY Troop 62 (Goshen, NY) for their continuing support.
These are exciting times for the CEC. Our work with HONOR has expanded our involvement with the children of Orange County. We continue our longstanding commitments to those children we already serve and to the Emily Akers Scholarship Fund students.
We may not have any business meetings during the summer, but don't think we hibernate. The Children's Enrichment Committee is always available to help, regardless of season!
Tuesday, March 22, 2016
We're Looking For A Few Good People
But we're not fussy. We'll take a lot of good people.
The Children's Enrichment Committee has thrived for over a hundred years thanks to the many people who've donated their time and money to help children in Orange County.
We continue to have an active and committed group of volunteers. We purchased and wrapped over 300 gifts this holiday season for approximately 170 children in foster care. We help three extraordinary young people with the Emily Akers Scholarship Fund. We help homeless children with immediate needs through our involvement with HONOR.
Our next business meeting is Monday, April 11, 2:00 PM, at Middletown Thrall Library. March's meeting was a lively one and there's no reason to think April's won't be as well.
If you want to help out and have a delicious meal at the same time, why not make a reservation for Sunday dinner at John's Harvest Inn on Sunday, April 17 (845-343-6630). It's a Dining To Make A Difference Day, and the restaurant will donate 10% of what it earns to the CEC. Bring some friends or your entire family for a lovely dining experience. That dessert you indulge in will help us with our work.
Finally, if you're already a member and want to increase your involvement, the CEC is looking for new board members. Email us at cecorangecounty@gmail.com and a member of the nominating committee will get back to you with information.
Let's work together to keep the Children's Enrichment Committee strong for another hundred years!
The Children's Enrichment Committee has thrived for over a hundred years thanks to the many people who've donated their time and money to help children in Orange County.
We continue to have an active and committed group of volunteers. We purchased and wrapped over 300 gifts this holiday season for approximately 170 children in foster care. We help three extraordinary young people with the Emily Akers Scholarship Fund. We help homeless children with immediate needs through our involvement with HONOR.
Our next business meeting is Monday, April 11, 2:00 PM, at Middletown Thrall Library. March's meeting was a lively one and there's no reason to think April's won't be as well.
If you want to help out and have a delicious meal at the same time, why not make a reservation for Sunday dinner at John's Harvest Inn on Sunday, April 17 (845-343-6630). It's a Dining To Make A Difference Day, and the restaurant will donate 10% of what it earns to the CEC. Bring some friends or your entire family for a lovely dining experience. That dessert you indulge in will help us with our work.
Finally, if you're already a member and want to increase your involvement, the CEC is looking for new board members. Email us at cecorangecounty@gmail.com and a member of the nominating committee will get back to you with information.
Let's work together to keep the Children's Enrichment Committee strong for another hundred years!
Monday, January 25, 2016
They Didn't Stand A Chance
If you're fortunate, you were raised by your parents, sometimes strict but always loving. They watched over you when you were sick, wiped away your tears, and celebrated every success. You had the luxury of taking them for granted.
Now think of the children who aren't raised by their parents. Perhaps their parents have died. Perhaps their parents simply couldn't afford the basic costs of shelter, food and clothing. Perhaps their parents suffered from the illness of addiction or ended up incarcerated. Perhaps they were victims of war or oppression.
You might think of those kids as not standing a chance.
But many many famous and successful people had childhoods filled with loneliness, loss and desertion. Maybe they spent time in orphanages. Maybe they were put into foster care. Maybe an aunt or a grandparent became their guardians.
Sometimes the kids were lucky and the adults in their lives were able to give them the love their parents couldn't. But all of those kids, one way or another, made their own luck. They created their own chances.
Here are some people you've heard of who spent part of their childhoods in foster care or orphanages or raised by family members. The names come from FosterFocus and Wikipedia. It's just a handful of names, but they represent all the thousands of children in America growing up without their parents, children who will stand a chance if we give them the help and the support they, like all children, need and deserve.
Louis Armstrong
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Ray Charles
Cher
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Tom Monaghan
Marilyn Monroe
Eddie Murphy
Willie Nelson
Rosie Perez
Babe Ruth
Sylvester Stallone
Barbara Stanwyck
Charlene Tilton
Francois Truffaut
Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Malcolm X
Now think of the children who aren't raised by their parents. Perhaps their parents have died. Perhaps their parents simply couldn't afford the basic costs of shelter, food and clothing. Perhaps their parents suffered from the illness of addiction or ended up incarcerated. Perhaps they were victims of war or oppression.
You might think of those kids as not standing a chance.
But many many famous and successful people had childhoods filled with loneliness, loss and desertion. Maybe they spent time in orphanages. Maybe they were put into foster care. Maybe an aunt or a grandparent became their guardians.
Sometimes the kids were lucky and the adults in their lives were able to give them the love their parents couldn't. But all of those kids, one way or another, made their own luck. They created their own chances.
Here are some people you've heard of who spent part of their childhoods in foster care or orphanages or raised by family members. The names come from FosterFocus and Wikipedia. It's just a handful of names, but they represent all the thousands of children in America growing up without their parents, children who will stand a chance if we give them the help and the support they, like all children, need and deserve.
Louis Armstrong
Ben Nighthorse Campbell
Ray Charles
Cher
Dr. Wayne Dyer
Tom Monaghan
Marilyn Monroe
Eddie Murphy
Willie Nelson
Rosie Perez
Babe Ruth
Sylvester Stallone
Barbara Stanwyck
Charlene Tilton
Francois Truffaut
Dr. Ruth Westheimer
Malcolm X
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