Beach Cleanup 2006!

On a beautiful, sunny, perfect July morning, 20 Tiny Hands members met on East Matunick Beach for our annual Beach Cleanup. This is a beach that we go to regularly so we thought it would be a great idea to have the kids clean it up.
Prior to the start of the cleanup, the Head Lifegaurd took some time to talk to the kids about the hazards litter poses to aquatic and bird life. Empowered to make a difference, and equipped with our new Tiny Hands gloves, logo hats (thanks Jennifer and Laura!) and plastic bags we combed up and down the beach and became aware of how much trash is littering the beach! Cigarettes, balloon fragments with strings attached, bottle tops, plastic ... all things that, beyond visually taking away from the shore, are hazards to the creatures that dwell there. We each collected full bags of trash to take away and learned allot.

Thanks to everyone who participated!

And as a great surprise, our local NBC 10 news channel responded to our press release and came down to cover the event! One of our 5 year old members was interviewed and did a great job explaining why we came to clean the beach up. (Great job Max!) Tiny Hands made the 6 o'clock evening news generating excitement for our members and some local exposure.

Interested in joining us at our next event? Leave a note in the comments or send us an email.

Presidential Service Awards Program

Starting September 1st, 2006, Tiny Hands will start our year long commitment to 50 hours of community service as part of our participation in the President’s Volunteer Service Awards program. In September of 2007 we will award certificates from the President to any members who have met the following requirements:
- 38 hours of Tiny Hands sponsored community service hours and 12 hours of independent community service hours, of your choice. This service must be completed between 9/1/2006 and 9/1 2007.
Click here for a link to the Presidential Service Awards website.

Whether or not you choose to participate in the program described above, we welcome any level of participation, be it one project or all twelve. Thank you for your support!

Our Monthly Focus - see "Upcoming projects" for details.
September -Focus on Recycling - Recycling for Rhode Island Education Center
October - Focus on Serving Seniors - Halloween at the Nancy Ann Nursing Home
November - Focus on literacy - Library Public System
December - Tiny Hands participates in Drop in And Decorate by Ninecooks.
January: Focus on Animal Welfare - Volunteering at Animal Shelter
February: Focus on Disabilities -
March: Focus on Diversity - Mural project
April: Focus on Health Challenges - Multiple Sclerosis Walk
May: Focus on Hunger - Food Drive
June: Beautifying our Environment - Planter program
July: Tiny Hands Fundraiser - Car Wash!
August: Focus on Environment - Beach cleanup

Have any ideas on a project for our kids? Leave them in the comments section... we welcome all ideas!

The Results are in! Monster Munch 2006

Tiny Hands is proud to announce that we collected 700 lbs worth of goods for the Rhode Island Food Bank! This is nearly three times what we collected last year.

Thanks to all our Tiny Hands members who supported our efforts and the community for so generously donating!

WE MADE A DIFFERENCE!