Chrysalis

It’s been a busy summer. Most of my writing has been used at my Laurel Community Volunteer Examiner web page for Examiner.com. Since mid-June, I’ve been on the road every week, as I visit health care providers in Howard County, Maryland, and leave them with copies of the brand new resource brochure I helped create for the NAMI Howard County folks. [The brochure will also be available at their web site.] I also burn rubber for patients who use the American Cancer Society’s Road to Recovery service. Every other month, I help create an evening meal for the hungry at Elizabeth House. Once a month, I make a food donation delivery to Elizabeth House from LongHorn Steakhouse.  Quiet hours at home [or in the waiting room at a cancer treatment center], I continue to crochet hats and scarves for distribution to the homeless this winter.

July 27, I’ll be donating blood again. According to the American Red Cross blood donor services, only 30% of first-time donors donate blood again. With a high demand for blood, the regular commitment of a few donors plays an important role in providing the precious gift of life. I’m first on the list when the Inova Blood Donor Service folks park their mobile unit next to the Laurel Library.

Elizabeth House, 308 Gorman Avenue, Laurel, MD

July 15, I joined the Fish/Elizabeth House Board of Trustees. I’ve donned the fund raiser hat and I’m tasked with helping fine tune an already well-run part of this all-volunteer non-profit organization. With a 33% increase in regular clients – requesting groceries, housing/utility assistance and hot meals – I’m more than happy to help this fine group of people maintain and improve their ability to help where help is greatly needed.

Mike and Carol on Patuxent River, October 2008

Free time, this  summer!? When I have time to enjoy either quiet time by myself or with Mike, kayaking and keeping up correspondence with family and friends head the list!