A busy time for Reuseyourshoes!

The charity that I volunteer for, Reuseyourshoes, has so much going on this Fall
that I've decided to share it all with you via my blog:

Just this week, Bucks County Community College was given shoe collection bins and will be holding a campus-wide shoe drive for us! Has anyone visited Tyler Gardens at the Newtown campus? What gorgeous scenery right here in Lower Bucks!

Cub Scout Pack 30 of Yardley PA held a Shoe Drive for us at Shadybrook Farm's Family Fun Night
this Thursday! They collected 300 pairs of donated shoes (and I got my Kettlecorn fix)
  Our friends at Shadybrook Farm, Best Darn Kettlecorn, Integrity Auto, Reedman Toll Subaru, Tastefully Simple, and Task Complete have all been very generous in supporting Reuseyourshoes.

Shadybrook is offering a coupon for $4.00 off of Pumpkinfest or Horrorfest admission with a shoe donation.

Troop Leader Erik Sciortono and Kevin Kane with Pack 30 at Shadybrook Farm:

We are two weeks into our School Shoe Drive contest, with the school that collects the most shoes for us between now and December 31 winning $1000! We picked up 2 bins full from Poquessing Middle School, and 233 pairs from The Solebury School earlier this week. Your school can still get its "foot in the door" for this contest!  Please contact Kevin Kane at kkane@reuseyourshoes.com

Nicole and Eric from The Solebury School

You can help the Homeless! Our next Shoe Sorting Party will be at Reedman Toll Subaru in Langhorne on Saturday October 29th from 9am until 1pm. We currently have over 12,000 pairs of shoes - just waiting for feet - in our storage unit! We need YOUR help sorting and bagging them, so that we can deliver them to those in need in Camden, Trenton, and Philly. All ages are welcome at our shoe sort events. Please contact Elisa at reuseyourshoes2@gmail.com with questions or to receive emails about our volunteer opportunities.
If you can't make it, please help us spread the word!

                                                            Reedman Toll Sort, April 2011.

Got gently used men's dress shoes? Reuseyourshoes has teamed up with Ready, Willing and Able and Men's Warehouse to provide 100 pairs of men's dress shoes to residents who are ready, willing, and able to go back into the work force. We will be delivering the shoes the day of their annual fashion show, November 2, where the men will try on and select a stylin' new outfit to be worn on job interviews!

Are you a crafter? Know any artists? We are inviting artists and crafters to make an ornament for our first ever Christmas Tree, which will be on display at Treefest 2011 at The Bucks County Convention and Visitor's Bureau from Thanksgiving through the New Year. Anyone who makes us an ornament will listed as as donor. Last year Treefest had over 4,500 visitors! If you are interested,  please email Elisa at reuseyourshoes2@gmail.com  for details.

Like to get out and socialize? Come join us at our Casino Night FUN Raiser on Saturday Night, November 26th. Tickets can be purchased securely from our website. $40 includes dinner, beer, wine, live music, a DJ, and Founder/Director Kevin Kane as one of the blackjack dealers! 225 tickets available. We are a fun group to party with! Don't say we didn't warn you!

Need new kicks? Bring your old sneakers to Sports Authority in Langhorne and you'll receive a coupon for $25 off of any $100 purchase. Or if you are in Upper Bucks, bring your old shoes to Rugged Interior for 10% off any new walking shoes, trail runners, or hiking boots.

Bring your old shoes and these $100.00 Nike LunarGlide Men's running shoes will only cost $75.00.

Even better, they are made with 3% recycled material!

I saved the best for last! We are thrilled to announce that we will be receiving a grant from LibertyMe.

Last year, LibertyMe awarded two $10,000 grants to local organizations which support families in the greater Philadelphia area. This year they chose Reuseyourshoes as one of their beneficiaries. We will be receiving the grant at their annual Dance Showcase this December!

Thank you Bucks County for your support!

How To Jump Start Your Social Life

For the first five years I lived here, my best friends were 3 ten-year-olds and a dog. Sure I had the friends

I had grown up with an hour away, but... they were an hour away!  Makes grabbing a quick cup of coffee, borrowing a book or a cup of flour, almost impossible. When I stopped commuting and took a job in

Bucks County, I did begin to meet people over the age of ten, most of them whom I'm still in touch with.

But it wasn't til Twitter that I met a brilliant new bunch that I enjoy chatting with on so many levels.

It was as if I asked Twitter for all the characteristics I look for in a friend... a love of reading, a love of writing, an unbelievable sense of humor, genuine creativity, and passion for their community... and got exactly what I wanted in return. I'm dedicating today's blog to my Twitter friends, local and otherwise.

You know who you are, and I thank you.

    @MichFalcone, @DoylestownPatch, @cbenchman, @hgolightly12 at @86West Tweetup.  Feb, 2011
     Photo Credit:  @durhamtownship

Scarecrow Festival

Some friends and I went to the 32nd Annual Scarecrow Festival in Peddlers Village this weekend and after, my friend Kim from Chaddsford Winery's Tasting Room asked me an interesting question. "Which scarecrow did you like the best?"
Here I will admit  that I go for the scary stuff.
Folks could have poured their heart and soul into scarecrow mermaids, scarecrow princesses, and fair maidens, but I am attracted to the creepy ones. I was never a Cowgirl, Cartoon character, or Fairy Princess for Halloween - I was the girl with lots of fake blood and maybe a plastic knife through my head. What about you? Do you go pretty or scary? Or pretty scary?

*** Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner! This was my absolute favorite Scarecrow! ***

Shoulda seen what was on his menu!

Can you really imagine 4 and 20 Blackbirds baked in a pie?

 This took me a minute. "Bucks Count E."

 Get it? Bucks Counting "E's?"

Kyle had NO idea who Frankenberry, Booberry, and Count Chocula were. Do you?

 "Every time I get married, I get my invitations from The Paper Chase."

 Loved this lady! Reminded me of something from "O" by Cirque DuSoleil.

 "Soul Surfer Scarecrow." Since this was done in good taste, I liked it too.

Baked Blackbirds, anyone?

A little humor goes a long way!

Halloween at my house.

Patching Things Up!

Combine one of my favorite things to do: taking photographs, with something else important to me: being involved in my community, and you will realize how lucky I am to work as a photographer for Newtown PA Patch.  Newtown PA Patch launched just before the start of the year, and I had my first assignment that very week. I love that I get to experience Newtown to it's fullest and I enjoy knowing the in's and out's of my hometown! Today I am writing to say how much I appreciate this opportunity by posting a few of my favorite Patch photos. 

Tyler State Park.

Washington Crossing State Park.

Milkhouse Farm.

State Street.

Bucks County Community College.

Thompson Neely Barn.

Council Rock North Prom.

Rose Bank Winery.

Newtown Classic Auto Show.

Newtown Auto Show.

Auto Show.

Goddard School Fundraiser.

Core Creek Park.

Fourth of July Parade.

Co-ed Lacrosse.

 Rita's Waterice.

Tyler State Park.

Stanley Wiggins at home on Stoopville Road.

Memorial Day Parade.

 Soft Serve Temptation.

"Chip."

Milkhouse Farm.

Since I began freelancing for a living, I've learned,

YOU GOTTA HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR

Pit Bulls & Shoeless Golfers

My friend Nancy has been so supportive of my involvement with ReUseYourShoes.  She understands that it's something I'm passionate about, and she helps me in any way possible. Nancy brings me shoes that she's collected at work; her daughter has loaned a hand at many of our shoe sorts, and they both came to our Inaugural Golf Outing last week to check out the shoelesss golfers, and just to be there with me.  Their support has been really encouraging.  I appreciate it, and I would like to thank them by bringing to light something that THEY are passionate about!

Not only is Nancy raising two wonderful young women, she also fosters Pit Bull breeds until they find a forever home. The program is through Trenton Animal Shelter.  Not only do they help at Adoption events every Sunday at PetSmart in Fairless Hills, Nancy and her girls routinely take dogs into their home who have not had an ideal life, and treat them with the dignity and the love they deserve.  During the foster period, I have seen these dogs go from malnourished and skittish, to the handsome and confident breed they should be. When I asked her if she is sad to see them go (most dogs are in her care for 4-6 weeks) she said that the pleasure in knowing they will now have a good home outweighs anything else. She and her daughters are wonderful advocates for this breed!

 Deanna has always loved dogs - mine included!

 Nancy helped "Red" find a loving home.

Nancy and Red, 6/22/11.

 Brooke and Dexter, Winter 2011.

Miss Brooke at Easter time.

 

Me with Kim Celano, Nancy, Dee, and Jess at the ReUseYourShoes Golf Outing.

Nancy and Dee on their evening walk!

Deanna and I at the ReUseYourShoes Awards Ceremony.

To see some of the dogs currently available for adoption, click here: Trenton Petfinder

To see photos from the ReUseYourShoes Golf Outing, click here: Photo Gallery

Thanks for reading my blog!