A Pre-Thanksgiving Celebration!

Family, friends, and neighbors gathered this past Wednesday to celebrate thanksgiving and get to know one another better. The Neighbor 2 Neighbor representatives helped spread the word and made tasty sides for the dinner. We couldn't have done it without them!

Our turkey. It was my first time cooking one!

Jennifer did a great job carving.

 The South Franklin neighborhood is unique and diverse. For some of our guests, this was their first thanksgiving! We also had many guests who were far from family and friends. It was great to be able to come together as a group and get to know each other better! 

Queuing up up for food!

Everyone brought something that they traditionally have for thanksgiving.

Our great volunteers helped the kids make pilgrim hats and bonnets! 

Trying to get the right fit.

Our thankful tree!

Each leaf had something written on it that we were thankful for.

Thanks to everyone who volunteered and contributed to the potluck! Hopefully there will be many more to come.

Coaching for the South Franklin Soccer League

If you have wondered what it would be like to be a coach for the South Franklin Community Center Soccer League, Shanae Tate's experience will provide some insights.  She was one of our coaches during the Fall 2012 season and has composed some thoughts to share.

"I have had such a marvelous time coaching soccer this season.  Definitely my favorite part has been forming good friendships with the kids on my team.  They are all so brilliant, wonderful, talented, and fun.  We have had such a marvelous time playing and laughing together."

"Some of my favorite moments were when Nigel came to practice with treats in his pockets.  The first time he brought goldfish.  His justification was, "You gotta be prepared."  I called our team the "Prepared Pumas" in honor of him."

"I loved watching teammates bond and make friendships with each other.  There's something about being a minority on a team that brings girls closer together.  Yet they were still just as tough as the boys.  Our team played together, practiced together, and won together."

"Although my coaching experience was marvelous, it was not without struggles.  At the beginning of the season my co-coach, Alex, and I had a hard time finding games to play at practice.  We also experienced difficulty disciplining.  The first practice as a team we had so many games and drills planned, but the kids got bored pretty fast.  It was so stressful to organize them and keep the chaos to a minimum.  Alex and I had to figure out how to pull an equal share and assert authority without having a diffusion of authority.  When the kids saw that it was unclear who was in charge, they started to run things themselves.  This was a challenge, but each week we got better at establishing authority and executing successful practices.  It also helped that as the season progressed we built friendships with our team.  As we got to know them better we were more equipped to find games that they liked and make practice run smoother."

"I loved that my team had a cow when I told them they wouldn't have games for a couple Saturdays during the season.  I loved that we still played together on those days that we didn't have games.  I loved that grandparents and parents and parents brought juice to multiple games for all the soccer players.  I loved coaching the "Prepared Pumas." 

We would love to spotlight more of our volunteers so if you have volunteered at the South Franklin Community Center in any capacity and would like to share your experience with us, send us an email at southfranklin@unitedwayuc.org.

Thanks to all our volunteers who keep our community center running!
 

The South Franklin Community Center Becomes a VITA site!!!

The IRS Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program provides the opportunity for people who make $50,000 a year or less to get their taxes done for FREE.  There are various locations across the state where VITA is offered and we are pleased to announce that in 2013 the South Franklin Community Center will be one of them.    We are currently recruiting people to become certified by the IRS to provide basic income tax return preparation.  You do NOT need to have an accounting background in order to become certified.  Training is available for a wide range of volunteer positions with the fall session of training starting this SATURDAY, October 27th.  

For more information contact the VITA regional coordinator, Marcus Griffith at 801-691-5353 or MarcusG@unitedwayuc.org

ZUMBA!!!

We are pleased to announce that Zumba classes are now being held at the South Franklin Community Center.  Our energetic instructor Karen G. leads participants in an hour of nonstop movement as they dance their way into shape.    Come join the party on Wednesday evenings from 6-7pm.  

Fall soccer season in full swing!

It would be so easy to take advantage of a day off of school and work by sleeping in on Saturday mornings.  Those involved with the soccer program do just the opposite.  Starting at 8:30am volunteers are at the field setting up for the soccer games that begin at 9.  

Coaches and players shake off their tiredness by stretching and doing warm-ups.  

Parents and other supportive friends and family are on the side lines ready to cheer the players on.

For the children, the chance to spend some extra time with their friends and get out and move is the most important thing.

We are looking forward to our soccer tournament on Saturday, October 20^th.  Come out and take part in the last day of our soccer season with us! 

Fall Soccer League Pre-Registration: THIS SATUDAY!!

Our Fall Soccer League is just around the corner, with our first game next Saturday! We are still looking for players to come and sign up to be on a team; our league caters to ages 5-13 years of age. All who are interested, we would love to see you tomorrow morning (Saturday August 18th) from 9:00-12:00 PM. The scrimmage will be at The Boulders Soccer Field (located at 750 S. 650 W. Provo, UT). 

 An option for those of you who cannot make it to the scrimmage, registration forms will be available at the United Way Office (148 N. 100 W. Provo, UT), Centro Hispano (817 S. Freedom Blvd. Provo, UT), and at the South Franklin Community Center (750 S. 650 W. Provo, UT located behind the leasing office).  

  Hope to see you this Saturday or out on the soccer field!!

  If you have any questions please feel free to call us at 801-691-5331 or e-mail us at gretchend@unitedwayuc.org. Thank you! Have a great day!

SOCCER SCRIMMAGE TOMORROW!!

With our 8th soccer season officially beginning in two weeks; we are going to be having a scrimmage TOMORROW from 9:00-12:00 PM @ The Boulders Apartment Complex Field (located at 750 S. 650 W. Provo, UT). The South Franklin Soccer League caters to ages 5-13 years of age, all who are interested are welcome to come to our scrimmage tomorrow!! Hope to see you there!!

 If you are unable to make it to the scrimmage TOMORROW (August 11th), we will be having another scrimmage NEXT Saturday (August 18th) at the same time and same place!  

 Another option for those of you who cannot make it to either of the scrimmages, registration forms will be available at the United Way Office (148 N. 100 W. Provo, UT), Centro Hispano (817 S. Freedom Blvd. Provo, UT), and at the South Franklin Community Center (750 S. 650 W. Provo, UT located behind the leasing office).   

 Hope to see you this SATURDAY or next out on the soccer field!!

     Have a great day!!

SOCCER COACHES NEEDED FOR THIS FALL SEASON!!

The South Franklin Community Center is starting up its 8th soccer season in 3 weeks, but we want YOU!! We are looking for coaches and referees who are looking to make a difference in a child's life; the season will officially start SATURDAY AUGUST 25TH but we will be having scrimmages on AUGUST 11TH and AUGUST 18TH. 

 The ages of kids that we have in our league are 5-13 years, if you have a preference then let us know and we would be more than happy to have you coach the age you feel most comfortable with. Any age is fun to coach and it is such a great thing to be a part of!

If you would like to be a coach for this season, we NEED you to come into the United Way Office (located at 148 N. 100 W. Provo, UT) THIS WEEK OR NEXT to fill out the proper paperwork as well as get a preference of what age you would like to work with!

 If you have any questions you can call us at 801-691-5331 or 801-691-5338 or e-mail us at shellier@unitedwayuc.org or gretchend@unitedwayuc.org

Come and be a part of something more and make a difference in a child's life! 

Summertime fun at Summer Day Camp

With two weeks left of camp we have been having the TIME of our lives with all the FUN and EXCITING activities. Here are a few videos of the GOOD times and FUN activities that we have played at camp, enjoy! 

Dress-up Relay.  

Red Light Green Light Game. 

Jump Rope Water Game.

So as you can see we have a LOT of FUN here at Summer Day Camp! And always a BIG THANKS to our FEARLESS Summer Camp Director as well as our AWESOME volunteers! 

Summer Camp Adventures

Meisha our fearless South Franklin Summer Camp Day Director has been working hard to create the BEST summer activities for the kids. She has dedicated her summer to making sure the kids are safe and having the TIME of their lives; without her our program wouldn't be as AMAZING as it has been these past few weeks!

 I asked Meisha to share some thoughts on how her experience has been at Summer Day Camp and this is what she said, 

"Working with kids in the middle of 90 degree weather has been one of the most rewarding and enlightening experiences of my life.  Despite weather or fatigue, kids literally run from one activity to the next- I can hardly keep up! Why is it that adults lose their sensitivity to fun?  Too often we are so fixated on experiencing joy through the latest technological advancement, tune on the radio or box office hit.  Why?  Every day I watch kids find the greatest joy in playing traditional games like “Red light green light” or “Dodge ball.” Each day I realize I relearn how to really have fun.  Their faces light up with every new activity!  Oh the simple pleasures of life!  Summer day camp has been the place to forge new friendships and discover new skills.   After the first three weeks of camp, we have enrolled 40+ kids and 20+ volunteers have dedicated 50+ hours of service!! 

Some of our highlights include: Tying quilts for the Center for Women and Children Crisis Center, performance and dance lesson from BYU Folk dancers, making and breaking a paper-mache piñata, learning a German song, firework paint art, and water balloon toss.

There is nothing quite as precious as seeing kids under 12 years old run back and say, “That was so fun!”   We might do well to look for those simple pleasures, create something with finger-paint or paper mache and play a good game of zombie tag.  These really are memories I will never forget!"

Thanks Meisha for doing such an AMAZING job at Summer Camp, we LOVE you!!  

Happy 4th of July!!

 With the 4th being right around the corner; we decided to celebrate it today at summer camp with fun activities and patriotic crafts! Doing everything from making our own fireworks to playing a fun game of kickball.   

 Bubble art fireworks.

 Bubble art fireworks.

 Duck Duck Goose.

 Captains Calling.

 Captains Calling.

 We hope that everyone will have a fun and safe 4th of July with their loved ones whether it be outside enjoying the sunshine or watching the fireworks! HAPPY 4TH OF JULY!!

SFCC Summer Camp's the PLACE to BE!!

With our first week of Summer Day Camp over we are EXCITED for what the next 5 weeks will bring, we have AWESOME volunteers and ENTHUSIASTIC campers who bring the camp to life! 

 If you would like to come and volunteer at our Summer Day Camp and play games and make crafts with the kids, we would LOVE to have you come and be a part of something GREAT!

 If you would like to volunteer call Meisha at 801-691-5346 or e-mail at meishas@unitedwayuc.org

  Hope to see you soon!! Have a GREAT weekend full of fun in the sun!!