2,000 Books Collected and Other Updates!

2,000 books collected!

Hons On A Mission is our very own Towson community charitable organization that originated right here in Stoneleigh and has spread to other communities. We have 2 missions: Relocate “Stuff” from your homes to those people in need and collect food every month.

Spring Happenings

Book Drive An Unbelievable Success…2,000 books were donated thanks to Angela Wu and Anne Costigan

From Anne Costigan –

“Hons on a Mission chose Christ Child Society of Baltimore as the beneficiary of their spring project. Books ranging in level from pre-school through high school were the target item to be collected. When the drive ended, the total numbered just under 2,000!

Christ Child Society of Baltimore has three missions - education and literacy, infant care and parenting and basic needs support. Children's books are involved in every aspect of our efforts.

The books collected through Hons on a Mission were distributed to most of the 13 organizations we support, such as Heritage Early Learning Center, Armistead Gardens School, Mother Seton Academy, Our Daily Bread and Family Crisis Center. These books were given to the children to keep. Many of these children would not otherwise have access to books of their own. The feedback we have gotten from these organizations has been overwhelmingly positive. The children are extremely excited to have books to keep for their own.”

Spring Meeting

We have one business meeting a year – in the Spring. Our recent meeting was really productive. We have some great projects planned.

Fall – Tools!   Winter – Women’s Accessories (including but not limited to jewels) for Suited To Succeed!   Spring – Onsies and Receiving Blankets for distribution to families by the Christ Child Society!

Spring and Summer Projects

Thank you Bissett Schwankee for collecting shoes at the Stampede!

Lost and Found Towel Drive is underway – Every summer we rescue towels from the pool’s lost and found and deliver them in the Fall to The Franciscan Center for distribution to folks in need of them.

Many thanks to Dolores Berger, Mark and Allison Erdman, Christine Slade, Patricia Watson, Sarah Shel, Sanjay Trivedi, Cleo Stamatos, Anna and Joe Duval and Barbara Goglia, David Frisch and our pool managers for your help collecting, washing, folding and storing towels and other miscellaneous items.

Fall and Winter Projects

Fantastic 2014 Fall HOAM Project – A unique idea to really help folks improve their lives

Many folks have the energy and skill and desire, but often lack the necessary tools to do just that.

Our new Fall Hon’s On A Mission project will be carried out in partnership with Stoneleigh's Greening and Recycling folks.

Here’s the scoop –

WHAT? TOOL COLLECTION!

Donate gently used tools of the big and small variety from your home (tools must be usable and in good condition).

WHERE Will They Go?

GARDEN TOOLS will go to The Baltimore Orchard Project. They provide Baltimore’s neighborhoods, congregations, schools and civic organization training, knowledge and trees to create orchards of their own. They need garden tools to do this. To learn more go to http://www.baltimoreorchard.org/about_us

TRADITIONAL TOOLS will go to the Station North Tool Llbrary       (http://stationnorthtoollibrary.org/)  The compassionate volunteers at this unique organization help folks repair, maintain and improve their homes by giving them access to tools and skills.

WHEN? At Dumpster Day (DATE TO BE ANNOUNCED) this Fall

HOW CAN YOU HELP? All of us men and women in Stoneleigh start going through your sheds, garages, barns (?), basements for tools that you no longer need. Ask your parents, friends and family, co-workers in other neighborhoods to help. If you work for Black and Decker or Home Depot or some other related company maybe you can help on a corporate level.

SPECIFICS BELOW -

 Garden Tools for Baltimore Orchard Project :

big tools such as push mowers, wheelbarrows;

gardening tools such as shovels, spades, digging forks, pickaxes, scythes;

hand tools such as trowels, hand forks, clippers;

supplies such as open or unopened bags of compost, mulch.

Tools for Station North Tool Library:

big tools such as air compressors, ladders, electric lawn mowers;

woodworking tools such as table saws, planes, drills, sanders;

plumbing tools including snakes;

hand tools including hammers, screw drivers, metal shears, stud finders;

electrical items such as extension cords, trouble lights, wire strippers;

supplies that are organized, such as boxes of screws (partial boxes okay);

safety equipment such as safety glasses, gloves. No gasoline-powered tools.

Winter Project

Janice Arcieri is heading up this project. We have collected clothing for Suited to Succeed and now we are going to go all out and collect accessories! Jewels and watches and pocket books and scarves and the like. Details about this really great project will follow at a later time.

Monthly Food Drive - Last but NOT least

Once a month we collect food. An eblast goes out to neighbors to let us know what is needed. If you are not on the eblast list, any items you would like to donate are appreciated.

The food we donate is brought to the food pantry at ACTC (Assistance Center of Towson Churches). Our working poor are allowed to come to the food pantry every 3 months. There isn’t enough food for them to come more often.  Your monthly efforts help support so many hungry people – children, women and men.

Look for the blue signs and bins throughout the neighborhood.

I can’t tell you how wonderful it makes me feel to live in a caring community like ours. If you have any suggestions for future projects or anything concerning our charitable efforts, please contact Donna Rae Smith at 443-956-7629 or by email at donnaraesmith@yahoo.com