A message from Hons On A Mission Founder - Donna Rae Smith (me!)
Genuine compassion is “standing in your own shoes and standing in the shoes of others.” Compassion is not about pity or even helping out with food or clothing; it’s about knowing that we share humanity with all others. In our Stoneleigh neighborhood there are people from diverse countries and cultures. Whether we are from Baltimore, New Jersey, Cambodia or China, we all have our own unique stories and backgrounds. Regardless of where we came from, we all know how it feels to be lonely, in need of something, angry, even lost. We’ve all felt those emotions. It is from this real place of knowing that we give with genuine compassion. We don’t all live in the same neighborhood but we share the same humanity.
Genuine compassion is “standing in your own shoes and standing in the shoes of others.” Compassion is not about pity or even helping out with food or clothing; it’s about knowing that we share humanity with all others. In our Stoneleigh neighborhood there are people from diverse countries and cultures. Whether we are from Baltimore, New Jersey, Cambodia or China, we all have our own unique stories and backgrounds. Regardless of where we came from, we all know how it feels to be lonely, in need of something, angry, even lost. We’ve all felt those emotions. It is from this real place of knowing that we give with genuine compassion. We don’t all live in the same neighborhood but we share the same humanity.
Sometimes it's fun to be a little creative ..... check this out
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| Cool costumes these window washers are wearing at Children's Hospital, Pittsburg! |
WELCOME TO THIS LATEST BLOG POST!
Lost and Found Towel Drive Summer 2012
A really simple, no cost (except detergent, a little electricity and time) way to collect towels is to tap in to the lost and found at local pools.
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| All kinds of towels loaded in the back of my van |
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| And hauled to Berni's porch |
Tons of towels!!! Yep! We collected, washed and folded some
beautiful towels this summer thanks to Mark and Allison Erdman, Lois
Joellenbeck and Dolores Berger. Berni Donnenberg delivered the towels to folks
at the Franciscan Center who were thrilled to get them to distribute to their clients.
Hurricane Sandy
On January 10th Heidi Bunes hosted a drop off event (it had been on-going for several weeks) that gave the donors an opportunity to meet and enjoy the kindred spirit of other thoughtful volunteers.
The clothing was given to support Suited to Succeed (STS), a local nonprofit. This organization offers clothing, workshops and guidance to women who are transitioning into a more substantial employment status that will help them improve their lives and the lives of their families. For more information about STS call 410-528-1799 or visit www.SuitedtoSucceed.org
Artia McMiller, STS clothing coordinator, said the donation from HOAM is one of their best ever.
Alice Arcieri Bonner (second from left in photo) is Vice Chair at STS. Alice grew up in Stoneleigh and has in many ways contributed to the shared community spirit we all appreciate. When I asked Alice how she felt about this particular event she said, "It's wonderful to have support from the women in the community where I grew up."
Thank you so much Heidi and Lois Joellenbeck for organizing this project and to all the folks that made it such a huge success.
Heidi and Lois discovered that the men of Stoneleigh also have work clothing they want to contribute to a similar cause, soooooooo here's the heads up - next year we plan to collect Menswear! The two organization we will be working with are Sharp Dressed Man and Attire 4 Hire. All you men out there please start talking to your brothers and co-workers and neighbors about this event. And.... if anyone of you wants to be the ringleader of this project let me know! WE'VE NEVER HAD A MALE ORGANIZER. Lots of men, however, support all of our efforts.
NEXT PROJECT - BEGINNING IN FEBRUARY OR MARCH 2013 WE WILL BE COLLECTING BOYS AND GIRLS PROM ATTIRE - FROM CLOTHING TO SHOES TO JEWELS FOR LOCAL RESIDENTIAL PSYCHIATRIC HOSPITALS. THE SENIORS HAVE A PROM AND FINDING CLOTHING IS OFTEN A REAL CHALLENGE. PLEASE SHARE THIS WITH OTHERS.
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There have been a number of communities who have organized their own HOAM chapter. If you would like to know how to get started, please contact me. The beauty of our organization is that it is EXTREMELY easy to get started and EXTREMELY easy to maintain. We keep it simple.
A 6th grader in Olney, MD has organized a HOAM pet supply drive for her local animal shelter. She heard about HOAM through her mother who is related to one of our Stoneleigh neighbors. For her birthday she has asked for no presents! She wants friends and relatives to purchase "wish list" items from the shelter's website instead of buying a present for her. She says the best birthday present is to save some animals!!
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Hurricane Sandy
There were many
organized charitable activities happening in many communities, including Stoneleigh, to help people affected by Hurricane Sandy. This Fall many of our
residents helped organize trucks and vans loaded with all kinds of donations. It’s great to live among and feel the kind, caring energy of these neighbors.
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Fall 2012 Teen Clothing collected by Ann Snead for kids at local residential mental health facility
We were asked by a nearby hospital to collect clothing for teens. Thanks to many of you - new and gently used coats, sweaters, dresses, pants, shoes, belts, gloves, winter hats, flannel pj's and more - were all packed into a truck and delivered to some smiling and thankful mental health workers who assured us that everything would be carefully distributed to the kids.
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| A small sample of the loot! |
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Our very first project of 2013
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| A group of women gathered at Heidi Bunes home to help collect and transport the business attire |
520 Business Attire Outfits, 45 Pairs Of Shoes and 32 Purses Collected In One HOAM Winter Drive
On January 10th Heidi Bunes hosted a drop off event (it had been on-going for several weeks) that gave the donors an opportunity to meet and enjoy the kindred spirit of other thoughtful volunteers.
The clothing was given to support Suited to Succeed (STS), a local nonprofit. This organization offers clothing, workshops and guidance to women who are transitioning into a more substantial employment status that will help them improve their lives and the lives of their families. For more information about STS call 410-528-1799 or visit www.SuitedtoSucceed.org
Artia McMiller, STS clothing coordinator, said the donation from HOAM is one of their best ever.
Alice Arcieri Bonner (second from left in photo) is Vice Chair at STS. Alice grew up in Stoneleigh and has in many ways contributed to the shared community spirit we all appreciate. When I asked Alice how she felt about this particular event she said, "It's wonderful to have support from the women in the community where I grew up."
Thank you so much Heidi and Lois Joellenbeck for organizing this project and to all the folks that made it such a huge success.
Heidi and Lois discovered that the men of Stoneleigh also have work clothing they want to contribute to a similar cause, soooooooo here's the heads up - next year we plan to collect Menswear! The two organization we will be working with are Sharp Dressed Man and Attire 4 Hire. All you men out there please start talking to your brothers and co-workers and neighbors about this event. And.... if anyone of you wants to be the ringleader of this project let me know! WE'VE NEVER HAD A MALE ORGANIZER. Lots of men, however, support all of our efforts.
******
Monthly Stoneleigh Food Drive
This is from Maria Wetherington,
our contact at ACTC and fellow Stoneleigh resident –
“The spirit of giving is alive
and well in the Stoneleigh community. In 2012 the Assistance Center of
Towson Churches, www.actconline.info received a generous donation of food each and every month
of the year from the Stoneleigh community. Spearheaded by Hons on a
Mission, this effort reflects the spirit of compassion and a desire by so many
to make a difference. Many families have been faced with hard times
yet the call to serve and come alongside those in need is stronger than
ever. Last year more than 30,000 people came to the Center in need of
food. Thank you Stoneleigh commmunity for your partnership and allowing
us to continue the 28th year of our mission of reaching out to those in
need.”
THERE ARE A FEW FOLKS WHO ARE NOT RESIDENTS OF STONELIGH WHO REGULARLY DONATE FOOD AND TOILETRIES BY DROPPING THESE ITEMS BY WHEN THEY SEE THE SIGNS AND PLASTIC BINS GO OUT. IF YOU ARE READING THIS BLOG AND YOU ARE ONE OF THESE FOLKS - PLEASE CONTACT ME AT donnaraesmith@yahoo.com IF YOU WOULD LIKE ME TO FORWARD TO YOU THE MONTHLY FOOD REMINDER THAT GOES OUT via email FROM OUR FOOD DRIVE ORGANIZERS.
DROP OFF HOMES ARE:
715 STONELEIGH RD
705 STONELEIGH RD
821 WELLINGTON RD
606 HATHERLEIGH RD
7104 COPELEIGH RD
7009 KENLEIGH RD
7004 WARDMAN RD
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There have been a number of communities who have organized their own HOAM chapter. If you would like to know how to get started, please contact me. The beauty of our organization is that it is EXTREMELY easy to get started and EXTREMELY easy to maintain. We keep it simple.
A 6th grader in Olney, MD has organized a HOAM pet supply drive for her local animal shelter. She heard about HOAM through her mother who is related to one of our Stoneleigh neighbors. For her birthday she has asked for no presents! She wants friends and relatives to purchase "wish list" items from the shelter's website instead of buying a present for her. She says the best birthday present is to save some animals!!
Thank you to all of you genuinely compassionate angels (young and older) who help make our world a better place in such creative ways.
"To be an angel, one need not have wings.
In giving love there is an equal grace.
Or need one seek the aura in the face,
As love unveils the beauty of all things."
By Francois Couperin
With every best wish for a happy, healthy 2013 from Donna Rae
(questions about our organization please email me at donnaraesmith@yahoo.com)
(questions about our organization please email me at donnaraesmith@yahoo.com)
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