Food Pantry

Beach Food Pantry (BFP) is a 501(c)(3) IRS Tax exempt non-profit organization, managed and operated entirely by an All volunteer Board of Directors and volunteer staff, who are members of various Dare County Religious Organizations. The primary mission of the BFP, which operates under the By-Laws of the BFP, is "to serve" Dare County residents on a temporary basis that have been referred for nutritional and/or personal needs." In 2007, the BFP served 936 households which translates to 2,312 individuals.

The voluntary position of "Chairperson of the Beach Food Pantry" will become available / vacant this summer. Persons interested in volunteering for this position may contact the current Chairman, Gerry Lesko at 261-2586. Also, two other volunteer Beach Food Pantry Executive Board Positions will be available, i.e., Co-Chairperson and 1st Vice President.

Please distribute or announce the above vacancies to your congregation via bulletin, etc. or to anyone you may know who might be interested in serving those in need by volunteering for these positions that will be vacant soon.

Actions to take about Higher Education for Immigrant Students

N.C. community colleges are the first statewide system to bar illegal immigrants from seeking college degrees, according to the American Association of State Colleges and Universities.
The move has shaken up the academic world by going beyond the nationwide debate over whether undocumented students should pay lower in-state tuition."This has really caught the attention and caused a lot of alarm," said Dan Hurley, the association's director of State Relations and Policy Analysis. "Charging them out-of-state tuition is one thing, but barring them entirely is another."

For what you can do: Visit America United blogsite. May 19.

or Visit Adelantenc Education

Action on Health Insurance

Americans spend more on health care than people do elsewhere, but somehow we spend more for less. But it doesn't have to be this way. Costs can come down and quality can improve if we stop letting the insurance companies run the show and focus on prevention and managing chronic illness better.

Take the pledge and join our effort to make health care a top priority for our nation's leaders, no matter who wins the election »Most of us have no clue about the actual cost of our medical care until the bills arrive. And the cost of insurance goes up and up, with fewer services covered. It's time to demand accountability. Your family deserves the security of knowing that they will have affordable quality care when needed. It's time that our leaders examine all solutions that will ensure all Americans access to quality, affordable care, with input from real people like you.

Please take a moment to join us, and pledge to hold our leaders accountable.

SIGN PETITION NOW

Recommended Listening

Missed something on national public radio? Most programs are available online.

May is National Foster Care Month. In North Carolina, there are almost 11,000 children in the foster care system. While foster care placement is a necessary intervention for many families, a 2007 study at the MIT concluded that children have better life outcomes when they remain with their families. Listen to host Frank Stasio discuss the current state of the foster care system in North Carolina and what lies ahead. Guests include Ashley Rhodes-Courter, a former foster child and author; Jane Volland, director of the North Carolina Guardian Ad Litem program; Kevin Kelley, assistant section chief for Child Welfare in the Department Of Social Services.

Children and Youth Partnership for Dare County

Children & Youth Partnership for Dare County is a private, non-profit organization designed to provide programs and services to children and their families in Dare County. Created following a State of the Child Conference in 1994, the organization was charged with focusing on issues brought forward at that conference, and worked to establish the Wright Place for Youth and the Dare County Youth Center. In 1997, the Partnership began administering North Carolina's nationally recognized Smart Start Early Childhood program for Dare County, and today offers a variety of programs and resources to ensure the healthy development of all children from birth to five years of age.

Volunteer.

Interfaith Community Outreach

ICO is an interfaith organization of volunteers who are supported by more than 20 local faith communities and network partners that provide emergency gap services to people on the Outer Banks and surrounding areas who have no other place to turn for help. ICO emergency "gap" services and referrals include:

• 
  Food
  Utilities
  Transportation
  Shelter
  Medical care
  Home Rehabilitation
  Child Care
  Community Disaster Recovery
  and referrals to Department of Social Services, Dare Health Department, Hot Line, Mental Health and Latino Services

Neighbors helping Neighbors

Interfaith Community Outreach 2008 Inaugural GOLF CLASSIC will be held at Nags Head Links on Wednesday, May 28 with a shotgun start at 2:00 pm. An Awards ceremony and a raffle will follow the tournament with dinner catered by our sponsor, Outback Steakhouse at the Golf Course. 4-Player Teams-Captain's Choice Visit the Interfaith Community Outreach website for more information or contact Margaret Wells for more information at (252) 261-1683

Slowing Down to Dance

Some people think a call from God can only come through some type of cataclysmic emotional experience. In reality, most people recognize aspects of God’s leadings as gradual in nature as they experience life. The key to learning the dance steps of discernment is prayer along with sound biblical study. You discern the leadings of God in the dancing relationship. You must remain in close communication with God to have any chance of discerning well. Instead of focusing your prayers on God revealing God’s will, focus on God creating godly character and wisdom in you. When your actions, thoughts, and desires reflect God’s priorities, then you are in a better place to discern well.

The problem with discernment is that many of us are so busy doing our own thing—moving too fast to dance the slow dance of discernment with God. You can only hear the heartbeat of God in your life when you slow down, quiet yourself, and invite God to dance with you. To slow down and listen takes a concerted and countercultural effort. The lights and sounds of society distract us if we are not careful. With so much vying for our attention, we must be intentional about disconnecting and taking time to hear what God is saying.

I love that one sentence "You can only hear the heartbeat of God in your life when you slow down, quiet yourself, and invite God to dance with you."

Geneology and History of Currituck and Dare Counties

If you are interested in tracing your geneology or just want to view some old photos of people and places, check out these great sites with free information.
Currituck County

Darre County

Recommended Listening

I just discovered John McCutcheon. The Washington Post described John as "Virginia's Rustic Renaissance Man," a moniker flawed only by its understatement. "Calling John McCutcheon a 'folksinger' is like saying Deion Sanders is just a football player..." (Dallas Morning News). Besides his usual circuit of major concert halls and theaters, John is equally at home in an elementary school auditorium, a festival stage or at a farm rally. He just moved from Charlottesville to NYC.

One of my favorite songs, just perfect for Mother's Day, is:
Calling All the Children Home
Home to the table, home to the feast
Where the last are first and the greatest are the least
Where the rich will envy what the poor have got
Everybody's got enough, 'though we ain't got a lot
No one is forgotten, no one is alone
When we're calling all the children home
Gathered 'round the table and the big, black pot
Everybody's got enough, 'though we ain't got a lotNo one is forgotten, no one is alone
From the sacks in Soweto to the ice of Nome
From Baghdad City to the streets of Rome
When we're calling all the children home

Build a New Animal Shelter for Currituck County

The current Currituck County Animal Shelter is in the path of the planned expansion of runways and taxiways at the Currituck Regional Airport. The current Animal Shelter operates at or near full capacity almost daily. In spite of the best efforts of the staff and more than 130 volunteer members of the Animal Lovers Assistance League, it is almost impossible to continue to sustain our nearly 90% rate of adopted or rescued shelter animals. Currituck is the third fastest growing county in N. C. In order to provide for the welfare of the animals we must have a new, larger shelter soon. Review the proposal by the Animal Lovers Assistance League to the Currituck Board of Commissioners will include a Dog Park for free use by the public as well as to promote tourism and economic development by also using it for Dog Agility Competitions by groups in the eastern United States and other similar activities.



RELATED WEBSITES
Petfinders
Humane Society

New Survey Service for Nonprofit Organizations.

Like many of their neighbors, Bob and Fran Green committed themselves to community service and volunteerism when they retired here. They try to support, as "green" volunteers, many important causes and projects here on the Outer Banks, in greater Currituck County, and in Dare County. Bob and Fran also make an effort to contribute to the community the particular knowledge and skills they were fortunate enough to acquire from their educations and experiences. The Green Poll is one of these latter projects.

Green Poll provides consultation at the request of voluntary, non-profit and government organizations. Recent Green Poll clients include the Dare County Health Department, the Whalehead Club, the League of Women Voters-Currituck County, the Corolla Concerned Citizens, the Currituck Beach Lighthouse, the Outer Banks Ministerial Association, and the Unitarian Universalist Congregation of the Outer Banks. Because they are volunteers, they always provide their professional services free of charge. For More Information visit The Green Poll

Outer Banks Birth Network

Outer Banks Birth Network has a new website. Go to http://outerbanksbirth.blogspot.com

Recommended Reading

Away Down South: A History of Southern Identity

"If South-gazing is your bag, Away Down South is your book.... With C. Vann Woodward's death, Cobb is perhaps our best historical interpreter of the South and this may be his best book, better even than his fine book about the Mississippi Delta.... Not only has he done his homework, he has reflected deeply and the result is mature (as in good wine), mellow, stylish and tasty."--Edwin M. Yoder Jr., Weekly Standard

GEM Adult Day Services on the Outer Banks of North Carolina.

We are a community-based nonprofit organization dedicated to providing quality services to both participants and caregivers. GEM provides a positive and supportive day environment for adults with memory loss, physical and mental disabilities and those in need of socialization.
Care is provided in His Dream Center - Where we provide A lovely, homelike atmosphere with Garden. In this relaxed environment, participants take part in a variety of stimulating activities such as exercise, crafts, baking, current events discussion, pet visits, gardening and music programs.

We invite you to become a part of the GEM family; participants, caregivers, volunteers, donors, advocates and staff are all integral members of our community.
Please call GEM at (252) 480-3354 for information on how you can get involved. Or email Gail at gailesonnesso@gemdayservices.org

Related Websites

National Association of Professional Geriatric Care Managers

Alzheimer's Association