The Vine - News Blog

Poly Center Clothing Room: Volunteers Always Needed

 
From Joanne Bittiker: For newcomers to our church who may not be aware, the Polytechnic Center of United Community Centers has a clothing room open MWF from 9:00 a.m. until 12:00 p.m. The Poly Center is located at 3100 Avenue I, Fort Worth, 76105 in the neighborhood just south of Texas Wesleyan University.
 
The clothing room is staffed by volunteers from Arborlawn. We have a lot of fun as we help others. Additional workers are needed for the first and third Wednesdays of each month. If  you can help, please contact Madelyn Dean or Joanne Bittiker for more details. Also, please continue to call us to come by and pick up your gently used clothes or bring them to Arborlawn to Room 230 (the room adjacent to the kitchen).
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

UCC Prayer Breakfast Thursday March 6 in our Family Life Center

 
Join us for a Call for Prayer benefiting United Community Centers. The event is Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 a.m. in Arborlawn's Family Life Center. Hear testimonials from Bethlehem Center alumni and music by Lisa Garrett. Speakers are Kyland Dobbins, Roy Brooks, and Bob Ray Sanders.
 

The meal of breakfast burritos, fruit, yogurt, orange juice, and coffee is being catered, so please RSVP by Monday, March 3 to Ashley Johnson (817-927-5556, ext. 115). If you want to enjoy the event but not eat breakfast, you are still welcome to join us for coffee.
 
Be with us as we pray for another year of impacting lives for the better in Fort Worth. Small acts change lives.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

United Community Centers Prayer Breakfast at Arborlawn March 6

 
Join us for a Call for Prayer benefiting United Community Centers. The event is Thursday, March 6 at 7:30 a.m. in Arborlawn's Family Life Center. Hear testimonials from Bethlehem Center alumni and music by Lisa Garrett.
 

The meal of breakfast burritos, fruit, yogurt, orange juice, and coffee is being catered, so please RSVP by Friday, February 28 to Ashley Johnson (817-927-5556, ext. 115). If you want to enjoy the event but not eat breakfast, you are still welcome to join us for coffee.
 
Be with us as we pray for another year of impacting lives for the better in Fort Worth. Small acts change lives.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Poly Center February 2014 Update

 
From Joanne Bittiker: You are so good at calling us and bringing clothes for the Poly Center. Thank you. The Poly Center is asking for additional volunteers to help in the following ways:
 
1) Help in the clothing room. Contact Madelyn Dean or Joanne Bittiker to volunteer or donate clothes for men, women, and children. This includes shoes, bedding, and towels. 2) Clean toys and tables in the PreK and kindergarten classrooms. 3) Be a reading buddy to a child. 4) Help in the Poly Center food pantry on senior day, the 3rd Friday of each month. 5) Help with outside cleaning monthly, perhaps on Saturday. 6) Be a receptionist from 9:00-11:00 a.m. on Thursday or Friday or 4:00-6:00 p.m. during the after-school program daily.
 
Find your special place. Call the Poly Center director, Francis Martinez, at 817-531-2803 if you can help. Love God, Serve the City.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Poly Center update: "I always know that the work is worthwhile"

 
From Joanne Bittiker: After working in the clothing room at the Poly Center recently, Nellie Miller shares her experiences. Nellie said, "I always know that the work is worthwhile, but experiences like the following make it especially so."
 
"A little 7-year-old boy came and hugged me and said he remembered me from last year, and  a little girl was excited when she found a beautiful smocked dress in her size. She put it on the table for us to keep for her until her Mom was finished shopping. In a few minutes she came back and timidly asked, 'How much does the dress cost?' We explained to her that it was free because someone had given it to us to give to her. She was so happy she ran back to tell her Mom the good news."
 
Our needs for July: 1) volunteers who could work once or twice during the month to replace the people going on vacation; 2) donations of summer clothes only, please (as winter storage is maxed out); and 3) slightly worn tennis shoes for school children this fall. Thanks for being so generous.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

UCC Poly Center: Clothing Room update: new space, need volunteers

 
From Joanne Bittiker: We prayed for clothes, and you are sending them. Thank you so much. Our needs this month are for more volunteers to work on Mondays; one Monday a month or whatever your schedule will allow.
 
Also we have good news. We have been given more storage room in the second floor attic at the Poly Center; a blessing for out-of-season clothing that we store.
 
Finally, if you know of any business discarding commercial clothing racks, we could use them. We have room for several racks totaling 18-feet in length.
 
For more details, contact Joanne Bittiker or Madelyn Dean.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Poly Center: clothes still greatest need

 
From Joanne Bittiker: Thank you to so many who are volunteering at the Poly Center in the clothing room. The greatest need now is clothes. As you clean out closets with the arrival of spring, please bag up gently used winter and spring clothes that you will not be wearing. We can also use underwear, shoes, and bedding. We have storage for out-of-season clothes upstairs at the Poly Center. It really helps if you call us so we can transfer your clothes from your trunk to ours or go by your home and pick the clothes up if you have a lot. Contacts: Joanne Bittiker and Madelyn Dean.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

UCC sponsoring annual Carvey Golf Tournament March 25

 
United Community Centers announces the 9th Annual Carvey Golf Tournament. The event is Monday, Mar. 25 at Mira Vista Golf Club (6600 Mira Vista Blvd., Fort Worth, 76132) with a shotgun start at 11 a.m. The tournament raises funds for the programs of United Community Centers. Read more about this Fort Worth United Methodist institution at UnitedCommunityCenters.org.
 

Cost is $150 for a single golfer or $500 for a foursome and includes golf cart, range balls, beverages, lunch, and snacks. Please wear a collared shirt. No denim, please. You and/or your team may register up to the morning of the event, but pre-registration is appreciated. Please contact UCC's Director of Development David Underwood (817-927-5556, ext. 115). A variety of sponsorships are also available.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

United Community Centers holding prayer breakfast on February 14

 
United Community Centers invites you to its Prayer Breakfast at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday, Feb. 14. The event is in Wesley Hall at First United Methodist Church of Fort Worth (800 W. 5th Street, Fort Worth, 76102).
 

Over a century ago, United Community Centers was founded with a $200 donation. In 2013, over 17,000 individuals will be touched by the organization's services. Please pray for the continued outreach of United Community Centers in Fort Worth. Small acts change lives.
 
If want to be a part of the Prayer Breakfast, RSVP to Ashley Johnson (817-927-5556, ext. 118). Read more about UCC at UnitedCommunityCenters.org.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

United Community Centers update: January 2013

 
From Joanne Bittiker: The United Community Centers organization thanks all of you who contributed to their work on Christmas Eve and in the form of gift cards for the staff. You are such a blessing and encouragement to all.
 
The Clothes Closet volunteers at the Poly Center thank you for the generous donations of coats, blankets, and clothing this winter. We put them on the shelf as soon as they come in and the families are so grateful. Because we still had boxes to be unpacked from last winter, we had a work day for all volunteers Jan. 10.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Can you clean out your closets to help Poly Center?

 
By Joanne Bittiker
 
Arborlawn people, you are so caring and generous. Clean out your closets before Christmas and send the clothes to the Clothing Room at the Poly Center. There are bins marked United Community Centers where you can put the clothes in the small room next to the kitchen. If you have a lot of clothes, call Madelyn Dean or Joanne Bittiker and we'll meet you at the church and transfer the clothes to our car or come by your house and pick them up. Again, we appreciate all the clothes you send. We particularly need school-age children's clothes, men's clothing, shoes for all, jackets and coats for all, and bed linens and towels. We were able to store the winter clothes you sent during the spring and summer and this has been a great start for us this fall.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Your generosity with school clothes blesses Poly Center kids

 
By Joanne Bittiker
 
The robust response we had in donations for uniforms and school supplies for Poly Center students was overwhelming. The Poly Center director, Frances Martinez, asked if we could provide school supplies, backpacks, and two uniform shirts each for 18 middle school students from Poly who attend William James Middle School. We were able to do this because of your generous donations! We had enough money to give one new shirt to each student of the families we serve through the Poly Center clothes closet. The parents and students were so grateful to begin school on equal footing with the other students at their schools. You have truly blessed these families.
 
Your gently worn clothing continues to come into the church from your abundant closets. Thank you so much. If you call us, we can meet you at the church on Sunday or come to your house to pick up donations. If you want to bring your bags of clothes to the church during the week, the bins are still waiting for your clothes in Room 230 (the room adjacent to the kitchen).
 
A new opportunity for service has just opened at the Poly Center. Frances Martinez needs a receptionist at the front desk to welcome new people and point them to the Food Pantry and Clothes Closet. The need is for Mondays, Wednesdays, and Fridays when Arborlawn volunteers work in the Clothes Closet. This is a wonderful opportunity for those of you who have had to drop out of serving in the Clothes Closet because of health reasons. If you can do this, please contact Joanne Bittiker or Madelyn Dean.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Monthly UCC missions opportunity available involving TAFB mobile unit

 
United Community Centers has received some great news from Tarrant Area Food Bank. TAFB's Mobile Pantry is delivering around 20,000 pounds of food to UCC's Wesley Center once per month (except December) starting Saturday, Sept. 22. They need a team of volunteers (or rotating teams) to help distribute the food, and it requires a four-hour commitment.
 
This is a great chance for Arborlawn groups or individuals to do some missions work in Fort Worth and meet volunteers from other area churches. If you or your Sunday School class (or other small group) are interested in participating, contact Pablo Calderon (817-927-5556, ext. 113), Director of Programs, United Community Centers.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

UCC fall uniform drive

 
School is starting back up, and that means the annual school uniform drive for the children of the Poly Center is once again here.
 
Would you consider being a part of this drive? Arborlawn has partnered with United Community Centers (a uniquely Fort Worth and uniquely United Methodist organization) for many years. Your aid in providing school uniforms for Poly Center kids helps them get a fantastic start on the new school year. They have a lot of challenges, and we don’t want school clothes to be a part of that.
 
All contributions are most welcome in any amount, and donations can be mailed to or left at the church office. If paying by check, make it out to Arborlawn UMC and designate “UCC School Uniforms” on the memo line. For more details, contact Madelyn Dean or Joanne Bittiker.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Styles & Smiles: Dinner tickets sold out, but show-only tix available

 
Styles & Smiles Fashion Show is Tuesday, July 31 at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center. On the night of the show, doors will open at 5:15 p.m.
 
We’re sold out of general admission and runway tickets (both include the Mexican dinner). We do have a modest number of show-only tickets for $5. Get yours this Sunday at the Welcome Kiosk in the Lower Commons. If you're unable to get a ticket this Sunday, contact Debbie Wood to reserve a show-only ticket.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Some tickets still available for Styles & Smiles on July 31

 
Styles & Smiles Fashion Show is Tuesday, July 31 at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center, and we have a handful of tickets still available. The show features kids from Poly Center, Wesley Center, and Bethlehem Center modeling fashions and having a great time in the limelight.
 

Get your tickets this Sunday at the Welcome Kiosks in the Lower Commons. Tickets are $10 for general admission. Proceeds benefit United Community Centers.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Celia Esparza speaking here July 1 to kick off Firecracker Mission Moments

 
Throughout July we'll be featuring missions speakers for Arborlawn's Firecracker Mission Moments. Join us at 9:50 a.m. every Sunday in July in Room 160.
 
Fort Worth native Celia Esparza is the first speaker in this series this Sunday, July 1. Esparza is President and CEO of United Community Centers, Inc., which operates three community centers (Poly Center near the campus of Texas Wesleyan University; Bethlehem Center near the Hospital District; and Wesley Center on the Northside). Many Arborlawn members help in the centers every week by serving on the board, supplying and staffing the clothes closets, participating with the Poly Girls program, and supporting the Styles & Smiles Fashion Show.
 

The United Community Centers organization has seen exciting, successful changes during Esparza's administration. A new Poly Center building has been built and plans are underway to construct a new facility for the Bethlehem Center. A golf tournament at Mira Vista and gala events have been introduced as fundraisers. Esparza will explain the current needs of the people served by the centers, define the mission of the centers to meet the current needs of the people it serves, tell the history of the centers (which were created by United Methodist Women more than a century ago), and communicate expectations for the future of the centers.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

Styles & Smiles: July 31; tickets on sale starting July 1

 
Styles & Smiles Fashion Show is Tuesday, July 31 at 6 p.m. in the Family Life Center. The show features kids from Poly Center, Wesley Center, and Bethlehem Center.
 

Tickets go on sale Sunday, July 1 at the Welcome Kiosks in the Lower Commons. Tickets are $10 for general admission and $50 for preferred seating next to the runway. Proceeds benefit United Community Centers.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

May Missions Baskets fun raises good money for United Community Centers

 
May has come and gone and with it another successful May Missions Baskets season. Arborlawn's United Methodist Women (the missions-minded ladies they are) organized some impressive baskets this year. But we all know to expect something great every year from them.
 
But most of all, the church family at Arborlawn stepped up and helped UMW raise $5,451 dollars for United Community Centers. That requires a hearty Amen!
 
Basket winners this year are: Delectable Delights, Sue Marshall; Dining Out, Olga Taylor; Family Fun Basket, Buzz Buswell; and Electronic Basket, Shannon Woodard.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org

May Missions Baskets: drawings this Sunday, May 20

 
You've had a month to look them over; now, this Sunday, United Methodist Women are holding drawings for the four May Missions Baskets. Tickets are $5 each, and proceeds for this project benefit United Community Centers.
 

Take one last look at the baskets in the Lower Commons between services this Sunday. Then join us for the drawings after the late worship services. The basket drawings are in Room 146 - behind the grand staircase and accessible from either side of the Lower Commons hallways.
 
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ArborlawnUMC.org