Community Service

Community Service InvestiGators

CSI Mission: Investigate needs within our community and help meet those needs through fundraising, volunteering and contributions.

Current List of Organizations that CSI supports:

1. Bald Ridge Lodge- http://www.baldridgelodge.org/
2. Chestatee Elementary School- http://www.forsyth.k12.ga.us/chestatee
3. Children's Center for Hope & Healing-
http://www.redandblack.com/marketplace/children-s-center-for-hope-and-healing/business_33632900.html
4. Family Haven- https://forsythcountyfamilyhaven.info
5. Forsyth County Humane Society- http://www.forsythpets.org/
6.  Forsyth County Library- http://www.forsythpl.org/
7. Forsyth County Sheriff's Victims Advocate- http://www.forsythsheriff.org/information-2/domestic-violence/
8. Healthy Paws for a Cause- healthypawsforacause.com/
9. Jesse's House- http://www.jesseshouse.org/
10. Meals by Grace- www.mealsbygrace.org
11.  Meals on Wheels- http://www.forsythforfamilies.com/tag/meals-on-wheels/
12. Special Olympics-  www.soforsyth.org
13. Teen MOPS-  http://www.creekside.net/teen-mops.html
14. The Place-  http://www.theplaceofforsyth.org/tpof/Welcome.html
15. YMCA- http://www.ymcaatlanta.org/fcy/
16. About Face-USA- http://aboutface-usa.org/
17. Family Promise- www.fpforsyth.org/

2020- News

FEBRUARY NEWS

CSI – February 11, 2020 10:00 am The Villas at Canterfield

I have to share a little story with you. As I opened up a new book I had picked up at the library to read, a book mark fell out. On it had a simple phrase: “One act of kindness won’t change the world, but it may change one person’s world.” As I read that I realized how true that is. Even the small contributions that CSI makes to various charities hopefully will impact someone’s life and make it a little better. And maybe if we all practiced little acts of kindness in our lives not only would we feel happier, but make someone else feel happier, too.

Our meeting this month will be held at The Villas at Canterfield at 10:00 am. Please call email me if you plan to attend or need directions. New members are always welcome and we’d love to have you join us.

At the time of printing, a decision had not been made as to the group we are targeting for Gator-aid. E-blast to follow.

P.S. This month we will be collecting new bras - any size, shape or style for Family Promise! You gotta love it!

JANUARY NEWS

CSI - Tuesday January 7th, 2020 10:00 am The Villas

Happy New Year! How wonderful it is to begin the year thinking of ways to best support our community. We can make a difference to many local groups this year and we’re excited to make that happen again. With your support we have been able to do so much more. Thank you for a wonderful year!

At the January luncheon, we’re collecting fun stuff for the kids at Chestatee School’s Bravo Bucks store. The children collect these Bravo bucks for kindness to others, positive behavior, and getting caught doing something nice! The bucks can be redeemed in the store. See some suggestions below.

The BOX TOPS can will be on the table again this month – so please bring in your BOX TOPs labels that you can find on items you use every day. These items may seem small and insignificant, but add up quickly for extra money for the school library.

Our next meeting will be held on January 7th at 10:00 am at the Villa’s. Everyone is welcome to join us. Call for information or directions.

Small gifts like yo-yos, hand held calming toys, books, school supplies, pencil sets, stress balls, fun toys, etc - let your imagination run wild! Please no food or candy.

2019-News

Fred, Gabby, and Cissy visiting the Big Apple's famous Macy's displays for the Holidays!

DECEMBER NEWS

CSI The Villas 10:00 am- Tuesday December 10

Food banks are low all over the county right now and so CSI decided the best thing thing can we do this month is ask members to bring in non-perishable food items. So many family traditions center around food and so let’s help out!

Please bring your items to the December luncheon. Thank you! We’re already looking forward to The Place Holiday Program for needy children this year. Last year, it was a big success and our members really enjoyed the interaction with the parents helping them as they selected and wrapped gifts for their kids.

CSI sponsors this event at the “Snowflake” level, which means a $500 donation to be used as best needed. This is the third year that “The Place” has offered the Holiday program where qualifying families can select toys and other items with dignity. Our next meeting w1ll be held at 10:00 am at the Villas, Tuesday Dec. 10.

Everyone is welcome to join us.

Have a wonderful holiday, Lisa

Happy Thanksgiving from Gabby, Fred and CissyPicture

NOVEMBER NEWS

The CSI gators are getting excited about the Holiday Bazaar! You’ll find some awesome gifts for the holidays!    There will be scrumptious bakery items with your favorite cookies in a jar! New items will include Soup in a Jar and Cakes in a Mug -which are really nice gifts. There will be some holiday décor items and several raffles focusing on eating out or eating in themes. Please remember that 100% of the proceeds will go directly back into our community. The event will start at 10:00 go until the luncheon begins. We can accept checks (made payable to FCWC – CSI) or cash only. Each section will require a separate check or cash: the baked goods, the jars and mugs, the holiday décor and the raffle items. If you are not attending the luncheon, you may still participate in the Holiday Bazaar.

The Gator-aid for the Humane Society must be have been some kind of record! The table was overflowing! I know they were very excited about it all. Thank you!

This month, we will collecting for a new group called About Face-USA.   This program serves homeless veterans and we will be helping with items that will fit into a backpack for them. (See items below) Carol LaBranch, the director will be at the luncheon and I’m sure she would love to meet you. Let’s help our vets!

Our meeting this month will be held at The Villas at 10:00 am on Tuesday Nov. 12.    We’ll be reviewing staffing for the tables, set up, and last minute details to make the Holiday Bazaar awesome!

Have a wonderful Thanksgiving. We all have so much to be thankful for, don’t we?

New underwear, undershirts, socks in all sizes for men and women. Winter gloves, knitted hats, caps, bandannas, scarves, winter coats and vests (slightly used ok) Dry food or snacks like granola and protein bars, dried fruit packets.   Money donations will go to buy backpacks ad thermal sleeping bags (they are thin, but keep out the cold & wind and fit into their packs.

OCTOBER NEWS

Our plans for our first Holiday Bazaar are underway! The Bazaar will be held in November the hour before the luncheon. We will tempt you with tasty baked goods, holiday decor, and raffle items to make your holidays a little easier and brighter.   And cookies in a jar will be back with some additional surprises. What fun! We hope you can join us for this new fundraising event. All items will be priced and checks or cash only will be accepted.

At the luncheon this month, CSI will be collecting for Jesse’s House! Karen Carroll, the past Director will be at the luncheon so please stop by and say hello!
There are a lot of things to choose from on the Jesse’s House wish list (see the list below). Looks like the girls are a little specific about some things, but teenagers can be like that!   Whatever you can do will be appreciated.

Our meeting this month will be held at the Villas at Canterfield at 10:00 am October 8th Agendas are mailed the weekend before, so please let me know if you plan to attend either by phone or email. We’d love to have you join us!   It’s a lovely space and the staff there is very accommodating and lovely to work with.

Any kind of gift card, individual packs of Ritz crackers & Pringles, creamy peanut butter, jelly, mayonnaise, ranch dressing, fruit snacks, Pirates Booty Popcorn, Cereal (Special K, Honey nut Cheerios, Cinnamon Toast Crunch) as well as cleaning supplies: disinfectant wipes, toilet paper, lysol spray, downy fabric softener, paper towels, strong flex kitchen drawstring bags (like Glad Force-flex)

SEPTEMBER NEWS

Box Tops For Education is undergoing a change. No more clipping! In order to continue to support the schools, you must download the BOX TOPS app and sign up to support Chestatee Elementary (or other school of your choice). Then just scan the receipt and it will go to the school directly. Go to btfe.com for more information. In the meantime, you can still find Box Tops can at the CSI table.

I’m passing along a few tips that came from our speaker last month: those unneeded suitcases or carry-ons can be taken to The Place and Joni will make sure they are given to SAFFT (the local foster care center), Bald Ridge Lodge or Jesse’s House. Many children arrive with just the clothes on their backs without a way to transport their belongings. And did you know…all those old, worn out, torn clothes or underwear that you couldn’t donate can be placed in a bag, labeled “RECYCLE,” and taken to The Place where it will be recycled for money per pound. So no more throwing stuff in the garbage…it still has use!!

Please join us for our meeting on Tuesday, Sept 19th at 10:00 am at our new location at The Villas at Canterfield. It‘s located on Highway 9 across from Troncalli Subaru.   It is the first building on the right and parking is in the big parking lot to the left.   Please call or send an email if you can attend or need directions. Everyone is welcome to join us!

Volunteers Needed for Special Olympics Forsyth Annual FALL Games   Date: Friday, September 27th, 2019 Location: Forsyth Central High School Track & FieldTime: 8 AM (estimated check-in) to 1 PM (includes lunch) Want to Join us?

The Humane Society is the “gator-aid” target this month.   They’re in need of: Clumping Cat Litter, Puppy Pads, Kitten Food-Canned, Puppy and Kitten Formula, Copy paper, Paper Towels, Toilet Paper, Laundry Detergent, Bleach, Hand Sanitizer (refill jugs), Fleece Blankets,   Cattoys, pens, SharpieMarkers, Fabuloso, Clorox Disinfectant Wipes,Trashbags( allsizes), Sandwich Bags, Odoban Cleaner, Pill Pocket, Printer Ink HP902, Lysol Disinfectant Spray

AUGUST NEWS

What happened to the summer??? Already it’s time to think back to school, and this time for the kiddos at Chestatee Elementary. A lot of the students don’t bring their own snacks and so we are collecting for them.

If you have extra hotel toiletries from visits this summer, Chestatee can put those to good use as well! If you would like to help, please bring them along to the luncheon this month.

CSI has a new meeting location! Starting in September, we will be meeting at the Villas at Canterfield located at 815 Atlanta Highway across the street is Troncalli Subaru. Our meeting room is located in the first building on the right in the Independent living center. Plenty of parking. It’s a lovely space and we’re very welcomed.

Healthy Snacks for Chestatee: Pretzels, gold fish, graham crackers, teddy grahams, Cheese its, Ritz Bits with cheese and fruit snacks. We need to stay away from peanut products due to allergies – thank you!

JULY NEWS

I was very excited to hear that Joni Smith, the President and CEO of The Place, will be our guest speaker this month! Joni is such a dedicated person and her presentation will amaze you with all this group does for our community. CSI has worked with the Place many times by volunteering and supporting their activities with donations. This month, we will be helping them collect items for their Back to School Backpack program. Specific needs are listed below.

Just a reminder to please keep saving your BOX TOPS for Chestatee Elementary. Meals by Grace continues to need your empty detergent bottles, egg cartons and large plastic containers. Just bring them to the luncheons and Mary Negrilla will pick them up.

CSI will not be having any formal meeting this month. See you in September!

Backpacks Full of Love:

          Washable markers, 5 subject spiral notebooks, college ruled
          Index cards, flash drives or $$$ money to help with other items
        as needed by Title 1 schools

JUNE NEWS

This month, we will be collecting for the for the boys at Bald Ridge Lodge.   The Lodge has been going through a recent expansion, and remodeling and the kitchen also needs some work. The boys came up with a “wish list” which includes things like grill utensils, a digital meat thermometer, steamer, cookie sheets, tortilla warmer, etc.   It is a varied list and to make sure they will get exactly what they want and how many, we thought it best to ask for cash donations or checks to be written out to them “Bald Ridge Lodge.” CSI will also make a cash donation. Thank you! Gotta love getting those boys into the kitchen!!

In May, CSI assembled 60 food bags for the children of families supported by the Meals by Grace program.   We purchased the remaining food needed, (after your TREMENDOUS HELP), and then stocked the bags with enough food for breakfast, lunch and snacks for one week (for additional items) and other were expenses around $350. After bagging up the food, we relaxed with lunch at Marie’s Italian Deli. What a great way to end our year! Your help in this drive was very appreciated.

The last Jewelry/Accessories fundraiser was very successful and $3144, was raised with some of the leftovers still in consignment. This raises the total fundraiser amount to over $10,000 this year!   Thank you for your support!

We’ve been able to use this money to: purchase clothing ($271) for the Chestatee Closet, give $300 to Healthy Paws for a Cause, sponsor 15 wreaths ($300) for the Wreaths Across America program, be a “Snowman” Sponsor ($500) for the Place Holiday Program, donate $100 each to the YMCA and the Place as targeted charities at our Auction, and provide $1000 to the Place summer Educational fund. Still more money will be targeted for various projects at our May meeting. Some money will be set aside until new fundraiser ideas are in place for the next year.

CSI will not be holding formal meetings during the summer months of June, July and August, however we will be collecting donations throughout the summer months.   If you would like to be on our CSI email list to hear about summer opportunities and activities, please let me know. You never know when something worthwhile comes along and will want to be a part of it. Have a great summer!

MAY NEWS

Our Gator-aid this month will go to Meals on Wheels. Look for the donation box on the table. You may wish to write a check directly to: “Forsyth County Senior Services.”   Our plan is to collect enough to fund one senior for the year!
As this year closes, it is a good time to reflect on what we have been able to accomplish this year with these monthly donations. I have no idea what kind of dollar amount this translates to, but it sizeable and it does make a difference. THANK YOU!!

1. Chestatee School: 943 healthy snacks, 30# of toiletries, 197 “stocking stuffers” for the Bravo Bucks store and 77 books.

2. The Place: a truckload of food: TWICE!

3. Family Haven: 387 pairs of socks, 29 backpacks, 6 bottles of Gator-aid, 161    toilet paper rolls, 58 pkg, paper towels, 25 cleaning items and 15# of toiletries.

4. Food for Thought: We filled more than 40 orange bags of food!

5. Healthy Paws for a Cause: much needed cleaning and office supplies and cash        donations.

6. Bald Ridge Lodge: $310 in gift cards & a ton of food for their food pantry.

7. Meals by Grace – helped feed 60 kids one week during the summer.
We also have a lot of fun with our volunteering this year – Special Olympics, the Place Holiday program, a gift-wrapping project to support Isabell’s Book Club, the Bags of Love program, removed wreaths at the Veteran’s National Cemetery, collected at the Cumming Fairgrounds, and year four of the reading program at Chestatee Elementary.

Our “last” monthly meeting of the year will be held at the Columns at 10:00 am,      Tuesday, May 14th. This meeting will wrap up the year and discuss fundraising ideas for the following year. There will be no formal meetings held in June, July and August, but       the Gator-aid collections WILL continue at the luncheons!

This month we will be meeting at the Meals by Grace food bank center at 9:30 am on Wednesday, May 15, at 432-A Canton Rd., Cumming 30040 location. We will be assembling the food collected last month for the Bags of Love program. These bags will provide a child with 5 breakfasts, 5 lunches and 5 healthy snacks for the week. Afterwards, CSI members will be meeting at Marie’s Italian Deli for brunch. Want to join us? If you’re new to the Club, this is a great way to get to know our group. Give me a call or send an email. Everyone is welcome to take part.

APRIL NEWS

We’re excited about the jewelry/accessory sale and know that you will be, too! Thank you for all your donations. The auction will start at 10:00 am and end at 11:30 am. Remember that each of the many tables are independent from the others, so you will need cash or a check for each table where you buy an item/items. All items will be priced by table or with individual pricing for higher end items.

This month, we will be collecting for another of our favorite projects! Meals by Grace provides “Bags of Love” to send home each week of the summer for the families of children who will not be receiving meals through the school system. These bags contain a week’s worth of food for 100 or more children. CSI has signed up for one week out of the 10 and will be suppling 60 meals. We will assemble the bags in May. If you have extra reusable cloth store bags that you would like to donate, we would love as many as you can give us! Each child’s food will be packaged in such a bag. Here’s what we need:

60 jars of peanut butter and 60 jars of jelly (no glass, please)
60 boxes of cereal
60 cans of soup
60 meals in a can (like Spaghettios or Raviole)
Reusable fabric bags

Please keep collecting those plastic containers, laundry jugs, egg containers, and Box Tops and bring them to the luncheons. Chestatee has told us that the Labels for Education program has ended. At the end of May, the school will be sending in their last collection of the school year, so let’s make it a big one! That way the extra funds will be there to start off in the fall. Thank you very much!!

MARCH NEWS

We’ve been busy planning how to put our funds and your donations to work.
Keep you posted as decisions are made! So far, we plan to repeat the memorial wreaths at Christmas and a donation to Meals on Wheels.

Our Reading project with Chestatee has ended now and everyone who participated enjoyed the experience. Nothing like encouraging the love of reading to young kindergartners!

This month at the luncheon, we are again collecting for TWO projects:

This is the last luncheon that we will be collecting jewelry, accessories and small display boxes that you would like to donate.
The other will be directed in helping the boys at Bald Ridge Lodge. Here’s what Barbara Kastner, program director said when asked: “Yes! Because all food pantries in the county are low on food, we would LOVE the help of your group doing a food drive for the Lodge! We need pastas, rices, beans, cereals, canned goods of all sorts, any non-perishable items are very much appreciated. We cannot thank you enough for reaching out and wanting to help our boys. Thanks so very much!!”

Our next meeting will be held at the Columns on Freedom Parkway at 10:00 am March 12. We would love to have you join us – just give me a call or send along an email and let me know. Everyone is welcome.