Benefit Art Sale

For Immediate Release

For more information, contact Amy Echols

Tel: 205-394-0640

Email: aechols@jmf.com

Contribute your art work, or come join us at the reception and sale, Thursday, June 30, 6:30 – 8:30 p.m., at the Harrison Galleries, 2315 University Boulevard, in downtown Tuscaloosa. PLEASE JOIN US!

Tuscaloosa residents and brothers Dontydrick "D" Hughes, age 15, and Devaris Bayode, age 8, lost their mother, Jennifer Hughes Bayode and their home on Crescent Lane on April 27. Their father, David Bayode, lost his ice-cream truck business, and he and sons all suffered serious injuries.  When artist Amy Echols met them through a friend who was Dontydrick’s basketball coach at Davis-Emerson Middle School, the boys’ father was still in the hospital recovering, and little Devaris was in a wheelchair because of multiple broken bones. Echols began visiting the brothers and bringing them a few things they might need.  But she saw that the Bayode family’s needs were much greater than what she could provide alone.

After speaking with Jim Harrison of Harrison Galleries, members of her church and several other artists, Echols and husband Mike decided to organize an art sale as a fund-raising event. Several artists have already said they will participate: Rachel Dobson, Amy Echols, Jim Harrison, Adam Hill, Maureen Lawless, Jack Leigh, Caleb O’Connor, Ruth O'Connor, LaShonda Robinson, Craig Wedderspoon, Renaissance Gallery and Gallery on the Boulevard.

Echols asks that “artists donate their original art for sale at 50% of the retail price. All proceeds will go through theFirst Presbyterian church to benefit this family. All artists, all mediums accepted. This is not a juried show and no entry fee is required, just a compassionate heart.”

Entries are being accepted on Wednesday, June 29 at Harrison Galleries, the day before the show. For more information, contact Amy Echols: aechols@jmf.com, or download the entry form here: http://bit.ly/OneNightofArt

Sponsors of the exhibition are Kaye and Jim Harrison, Sandra Ray, Cathy and Buddy Powell, and Amy and Mike Echols. Contributors to the reception include the Cypress Inn,  Pinnacle Imports, and Greene Beverage.

June 27 Update

THIS WILL SERVE AS THE WEEKLY VOLUNTEER UPDATE FOR THE WEEK OF JUNE 27

Thanks for your willingness to volunteer to help out with tornado relief efforts here in Tuscaloosa.  We will be sending an email like this at the end of each day or the beginning of the next day to let you know what the opportunities are because the needs change daily.  Feel free to forward this out to other students who are interested.  We will also be posting information on our website at www.volunteer.ua.edu/relief.cfm.  The volunteer registration form can be accessed there as well.  Encourage your friends to sign up with the online form as well. 

Highlighted Volunteer Opportunities for week of June 27:

1.  URGENT NEED:  Assist with Summer Food & Fun Program at McDonald Hughes Community Center each Tuesday from 10 am to Noon.  The “Summer Food and Fun” is a project coordinated by the Community Action Team of the Region Two State Perinatal Association whose purpose is to build community capacity for improving the pregnancy outcome through education and related activities. The project is a community initiative designed to address health and wellness issues while engaging the participants in other meaningful activities. The summer project will be at the McDonald Hughes Community Center beginning June 14, 2011 through July 28, 2011.  The CSC will be taking students to volunteer on Tuesdays during that time from 10:00 am to 12 noon. They anticipate 300-400 participants each day from ages 3-18 and parents whose meal we will provide with funds collected from donations. We will engage participants in age appropriate group activities. Daily themes will include: Healthy Living and Wellness, Arts/Crafts/Music/Dance, and Enrichment. If you can volunteer, please email Caroline Dorning at cscgrad@sa.ua.edu or call 205-348-2865 and let us know which of the following days you would like to volunteer:   June 28, July 5, July 12, July 19, July 26. 

2. URGENT NEED:  Volunteering at West Alabama Food Bank on Wednesdays from 10 am to Noon.  Join the CSC in volunteering at the West Alabama Food Bank in the month of June each Wednesday from 10 am to noon.  If you would like to volunteer, please contact Hannah Holcomb at heholcomb@crimson.ua.edu  to let her know which of the following dates you would like to volunteer:  June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, July 27. 

3.URGENT NEED – Assist with Salvation Army at McFarland Mall.  The Salvation Army needs volunteers at their distribution center at the McFarland Mall (in the old Goody’s Store).  They need 30 volunteers each day to help families load carts with needed items, put items into their cars, assist with mobile kitchens who are providing meals, and assistance with data entry.  This is an on-going need.  The hours for the distribution center are Monday-Friday from 9 am to 4 pm.  To volunteer, please contact Jennifer Lee-McCusker at 862-248-9138. 

4.  URGENT NEED:  Assistance with Volunteer Reception Center & Volunteer Hotline Call Center.  The City is in need of volunteers to help check in volunteers at the Volunteer Reception Center at the McAbee Center and to help answer the City’s volunteer hotline.  The hours are Monday-Saturday from 8 am to 7 pm pm; and Sunday from 12 pm to 5 pm.  If you would like to volunteer, please go directly to the McAbee Center 3801 Loop Road (take 15th Street/Veterans Memorial Parkway out passed Home Depot.  There will be sign for Loop Road/Veteran’s Hospital/UA Arboretum.  You will loop to the right and then take a left into the road for the McAbee Center.  It is a large building with a blue roof.  Please enter the door with the awning over it.)  The group of Americorps volunteers who have been working with this for the last few weeks will no longer be available in the near future to assist each day.  The VRC & Call Center would love some volunteers who could come on a consistent basis.

5.  URGENT NEED:  Assist with Tuscaloosa City Schools Donation Center.  Volunteers are needed to assist at the Tuscaloosa City Schools Donation Center on Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays from 9 am to 4 pm to unpack, sort, and organize teacher and student school supplies in order to prepare Fall supplies to fill needs created by the tornado.  They will not be running the distribution center the week of June 27.  Stop by (1210 21^st Avenue) or email TCSDonationCenter@gmail.com to sign up.  Contact phone number is 205-759-8300. 

6.  URGENT NEED:  Volunteers needed at Forest Lake Baptist Disaster Relief Center.  Volunteers are needed to sort new clothing & shoes, shelve the food & toiletry items, and package baby items into bags.  The hours of operation are Thursday & Friday from 10 am to 6 pm and Saturdays 9 am to 2 pm.  The church is located at 107 18^th Street.  To volunteer, contact Michael Allen at mallen@flbc.us or by phone at 205-759-1569. 

Other Volunteer Opportunities:

1.  Volunteers to assist Temporary Emergency Services with client services.  TES needs volunteers to assist with client services.  Volunteers would work with individuals who have been impacted by the tornado to help them get clothing and other items they need through TES.  They would like 10-15 students who could work consistently with client services.  If you are interested in volunteering at least 5 hours a week, please contact Sharon at 205-758-5535.

2.  Holt Community Partnership:  The Holt Community Partnership needs assistance this week at their distribution center at Holt Baptist Church (3101 Alabama Avenue Northeast) on Tuesday from 1-7 pm, Wednesday from 9 am – 5 pm, and Thursday from 1-7 pm.  If you can assist, please contact Tonya Appling at 205-826-0262 to sign up for a shift.  The hotline number for the partnership is 205-523-3817. 

3.  Office Assistance Needed at Tuscaloosa’s One Place:  Because of the increased workload and some staff being personally affected by the tornado at Tuscaloosa’s One Place, they need volunteers who can help with answering phones, data entry, and other odd jobs.  Please contact Emerald Autrey at 462-1000 or eautrey@etfrc.org if you would like to help. 

4.  2 Temporary Emergency Services Warehouses:  TES is in desperate need of individuals who can help to sort items at both of their warehouse locations.  At the primary location (1705 15^th Street), volunteers are need to sort donations.  At the secondary location (5510 McFarland Blvd., Northport – Old Foodmax Building), volunteers are needed to unload trucks and sort donations.  Their hours are Monday-Saturday from 8 am to 6 pm and Sunday from 10 am to 6 pm. Go by to volunteer or call 205-758-5535 to schedule a time to volunteer.

5.  Project Blessings:  Project Blessings located at Woodland Forest Baptist Church (6701 Hargrove Road East) needs volunteers to help sort items and help with other recovery efforts.  Their hours of operation are M-F from 9 am to 4 pm and Saturday from 9 am to 3 pm.  They would appreciate consistent volunteers who can be trained and continue to help.  They also have a great need for plastic storage bins if you know anyone who would like to make a donation.  The person in charge at the location is Chase Sprayberry.  Please check out their website for more information about what they are doing at www.projectblessings.org.   

6.  Tuscaloosa’s One Place (TOP):  Volunteers are needed at Tuscaloosa’s One Place at 867 Redmont Drive, Tuscaloosa 35404 for 2 different programs.  (1) Volunteers are needed to work with TOP in partnership with Hopewell Baptist Church (which is next door) to help sort and distribute donated items.  Volunteers are needed from 10 am to 5 pm Tuesdays/Thursdays/Saturdays.  Please go by the TOP office first and let them know you are there to volunteer.  (2) Volunteers are needed to work with participants of their program to work on resumes and apply for jobs online.  Students who help should be knowledgeable about computers.  Volunteers are needed from 8 am to 4:30 pm on Mondays/Thursdays/Fridays.  Please contact Emerald Autry at 205-462-1000, ext.33 to sign up for a time to volunteer.  TOP is located about a half mile from the Winn Dixie in 5 Points (From the Winn Dixie traveling on University Blvd towards campus, Redmont Drive will be on your right immediately after Hopewell Baptist Church.  TOP is a blue house). 

On Going Volunteer Sign Up and Service Locations: 

·         Temporary Emergency Services on 15^th Street needs volunteers to help sort and distribute donations. They are open from 8am - 6pm M-S and Sundays 10am - 6pm.  They need your help to sort donations so they can be given to those who need the items.

·         Samaritan’s Purse at First Baptist Church downtown is doing volunteer orientations each day at 8 am and 1 pm.  You need to go to one of the orientations in order to be placed.

·         Warehouse Assistance:  The City of Tuscaloosa has opened a new warehouse to house donations that have been given.  They need help each day from 8 am to 5 pm to help with deliveries.  The warehouse is the Phifer Warehouse located at 2505 Greensboro Avenue.  You MUST become a credentialed volunteer through the VRC at the McAbee Center in order to volunteer here. 

Important Information:

·         The Red Cross has moved to a temporary location at 325 Skyland Blvd. East, Tuscaloosa, AL 35405. 

·         Faculty, staff and students who suffered hardship following the April 27 tornado are encouraged to apply for financial assistance through the UA Acts of Kindness Fund, an emergency-assistance program for UA employees and students.  Please go tohttp://financialaffairs.ua.edu/benfund/ to find the application. 

·         Individuals who have be impacted by the storm need to file with FEMA to receive aid.  The last day to apply for FEMA assistance has been extended to July 18.  You can call 1-800-621-3362 to register.

·         Check out the United Way homepage to find out more information about other services available: http://www.uwwa.org/news.html

MPORTANT NOTE: All volunteers working in the recovery areas can become credentialed through the Volunteer Reception Center (VRC). Credentialing will occur at the McAbee Center, 3801 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa. Hours are Monday through Saturday:  8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday: 12 p.m. to 5 p.m. You can fill out the form electronically at  http://www.givetuscaloosa.com/wp-content/themes/premiumpixels/forms/Individual_App.pdf.   For more information, please visit http://www.givetuscaloosa.com/.

Tuscaloosa Forward

A MindMixer site has been set up to facilitate the conversation about what Tuscaloosa should work toward post-tornado. Those of you invested in the city: join the conversation!

Tuscaloosa Forward

UA Tornado Service

Now that many more places in the U.S. have been hit by tornadoes, please think of them, as well.


Here are the latest snippets from UA:


For information on volunteer opportunities, please contact the UA Community Service Center, 346 Ferguson Center, at 348-2865 or http://www.volunteer.ua.edu/.


A big part of UA’s mission involves service. UA’s faculty, staff and students were there for the city of Tuscaloosa in the aftermath of April’s tornado. Click here to hear how one UA employee used her skills to service the needs of those in Tuscaloosa affected by the storm.

Backpack Meals for Displaced Students

Verner Elementary’s PTA is putting together backpack meals for students that have been displaced due to the April 27 storms. These students are living with their families in shelters, cars, and tents, as examples. Verner’s PTA has volunteered to organize these meals for up to 700 students through the end of the school year (12 more days). Many local organizations are helping provide food and labor, but you can also help by…

• ORGANIZING DONATIONS/PREPARING BAGS: Volunteers are needed Mon-Fri in the Verner Elementary gym 8:00-10:00 to organize donations and supervise students preparing the bags.
• DELIVERING MEALS: Volunteers are needed Mon-Fri to pick up meals from Verner and deliver to these schools: Southview Middle, MLK Elementary, Westlawn Middle, Stillman Heights Education Center and Skyland Elementary. Meals need to arrive at schools by 1:00. MLK and Skyland are large deliveries and two people are suggested for those routes.
• FOOD DONATIONS: Individual-size, easy-open containers, nothing that needs refrigeration. Our current needs list is vienna sausage; beans & weenies; spaghettios, ravioli, mac & cheese - any precooked prepackaged meal (the children eat them cold but love them!); milk (the type that does not need refrigeration until opened like Nesquick at Sam’s Club); fruit cups or canned fruit; plastic forks or spoons.

Deliveries and volunteers should come to the Verner Elementary School gym.


See the original post from Rebuild Tuscaloosa here

facebook.com/redcross

Alabama Baseball Tornado Relief Effort

I just received the following e-mail from Alabama Athletics:

Alabama Family,

This weekend the University of Alabama baseball team hosts LSU for a three game series beginning Friday, May 6, at 6:30 p.m. The weekend series will continue on Saturday, May 7, at 3 p.m. and Sunday, May 8, at 1 p.m.

In an effort to provide a temporary diversion for those touched by storm damage, displaced community members, first responders, and others that are crucial to the recovery effort are invited to attend the series free of charge. Food will be provided behind right field.

For the remainder of UA fans, admission will be free to all three baseball games with a donation. The Red Cross will have a cargo truck parked in front of Sewell-Thomas Stadium to receive donations.

Donation Needs:

• Comfort Kits - the kit contains deodorant, toothbrush, toothpaste, facial tissues, wash cloth, shampoo, liquid soap, lotion, comb, razor, and shaving cream.
• Clothing
• Baby items - diapers, formula, toys, bottles, wipes...

On game day, cash donations will be handled by the Red Cross and checks will be accepted for the UA Acts of Kindness Fund.

The University of Alabama Athletics Department would like to thank you for your contribution to our community in this time of need. We hope to see you this weekend at Sewell-Thomas Stadium.

Roll Tide!

Latest UA News Excerpts

Starting Saturday, May 7, all volunteers working in the recovery areas must be credentialed. Credentialing will occur at the McAbee Center, 3801 Loop Road, Tuscaloosa. Hours are Saturday: 8 a.m. to 7 p.m.; Sunday: 1 p.m. to 5 p.m.; Monday through Friday: 6 a.m. to 7 p.m.  Volunteer groups can go through an accelerated volunteer approval process by emailing volunteer@givetuscaloosa.com at least 24 hours in advance of their arrival. All individuals must register through the volunteer reception center. For more information, please visit http://www.givetuscaloosa.com/.

For information about College of Education relief efforts, click here.

The UA Community Service Center has a number of volunteer opportunities available (listed below). For more information, please contact Barbara Grimes at (205) 348-2865 or bgrimes@sa.ua.edu.

• City of Tuscaloosa volunteer hotline call center: through Friday, May 6, from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. Shifts are 7 a.m. to 11 a.m., 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., and 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. 
• Alabama Disability Advocacy Network support hotline for Tuscaloosa:  (attention nursing, social work and community health majors) Shifts are May 5 and 6 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. and from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. 
• Tutwiler Hall: sort donations today between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m.
• Tuscaloosa’s One Place, 867 Redmont Drive, Tuscaloosa: sort items for distribution and assist with other activities for the Alberta community
• Holt High School: help move one of the distribution sites from one location to another Saturday, May 7 starting at 9 a.m. For more information, call 553-5360.
• Compassion International: make phone calls this week from the Community Service Center from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• City of Tuscaloosa new warehouse for donations, 2505 Greensboro Ave.: Volunteers with credentials are needed each day from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. 
• UA Greek Relief: help package and deliver meals as well as unloading and sorting donations at the DKE House May 5 and 6

Other volunteer opportunities include the following:

• St. Mathias Episcopal Church, 2310 Skyland Blvd.: volunteer registration and assignment 
• Temporary Emergency Services, 15^th Street: sort and distribute donations
• Five Points Baptist Church, Northport (behind the Northport Civic Center): sort and distribute donations
• Rosedale Baptist Church, 2424 28^th St.: daily 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.
• Samaritan’s Purse, First Baptist Church downtown Tuscaloosa: volunteer orientation daily at 8 a.m. and 1 p.m. 

Support Request for Machinery Operation

I just received the following message from a good friend of my boss. I promise it is legitimate. This sounds like a great individual cause to support!

"My brother, William Bambarger, has been working in Tuscaloosa since last Thursday afternoon, going from house to house seeing what he can do to help everyone. He has a takeuchi track hoe (some kind of machine, I don't really know) that he uses to move trees, carports, etc. He has done this everyday except Tues. when it was raining, without asking for any pay in return. This machine uses diesel gas, but it takes a lot of money to run/operate it. 
 
"IF you would like to send William any amount of money to help cover his expenses, I would greatly appreciate it. My address is 8 Bariwayne Circle, Tuscaloosa, al 35405 or our mother's address is 6952 Mesopotamia St., Eutaw, AL 35462 THANK YOU!"