Homemade Heroes

Santa's Little Heroes

2008-03-26T18:15:00.000-07:00

When Christmastime rolled around we had a bit of money in the treasury. Club members had been paying 5% of their allowance as dues. Mommy even paid 5% of her substitute teaching paychecks. We wanted to do something special for Christmas.
We discovered that the U.S. Postal Service releases children's letters to Santa Claus, to anyone who cares to pick them up. We liked this opportunity, because it left all the responsibility of shopping, wrapping and delivery to us, and we would have the fun of seeing their faces at delivery time. We found two letters from children living in the same foster home, not too far from us. On the day we drove up with our bags of treasures, the kids were both outside already. It would have felt awkward to take pictures at that time, so unfortunately we can't share that moment with you. But it will live on in ours and those two children's memories.

Sophia here: We bought the presents with our dues. After I had done that kind thing, I felt happy 'cause I had done something kind. I'm very glad that I did a kind thing to help somebody else.

Here's Gabe, using his well-honed sense of style to choose a cool hoodie for the boy.

Takin' it to the streets!

2007-08-28T13:07:00.000-07:00

Gabe Crashes the Party

2007-08-04T19:21:00.000-07:00

This was a glorious day for the Homemade Heroes. We took part in Project Birthday, quite possibly our most gratifying "heroic deed" (as Gabe would put it) thus far. The organization puts on a monthly birthday party for children living in Serna Village, a beautiful community for formerly homeless families. As these photos attest, Gabe was a busy volunteer, helping four children make blissful birthday memories. This was yet another opportunity brought to us through Hands On Sacramento.

Gabe here: I thought it was AAAAWESOME crashin' the party! It was fun serving treats to the birthday kids and blowing up balloons. It made me feel mature going around and making people name tags and what not. Catch ya later!!

The Element of Surprise

2007-08-04T18:22:00.000-07:00

We caught this lovely woman at 10 pm, looking adorable in her nightgown. She was happy to get flowers and peach cobbler, but more pleased by far to be visited by charming young children, as her grandchildren are all as yet childless adults.
In case you're wondering, our florist of choice is Trader Joe's, where we can get sumptuous bouquets for a paltry $4.99.

Sophia here: She's nice. I would like to come over again.

Homemade Heroes strike again!

2007-07-25T18:16:00.001-07:00

The kind lady who takes care of our dry cleaning works 6 days a week. She's always there, no matter when we come, and her husband, from whom the business takes its name, passed away less than 2 years ago.

We decided to try to brighten her day.

Sophia here: I like it when she gives us some candy.

Doorbell Ditching!

2007-07-18T21:49:00.001-07:00

"Sharing God's Bounty"

2007-07-18T12:15:00.000-07:00

That was an awesome experience I'd recommend to anyone. St. Philomene's Church has been serving a dinner for hungry folks every Tuesday for the past 25 years, and they were very grateful for our help. We handed out bags of donated bread to people as they left. You can get involved through Hands on Sacramento. If you're not from around here, check out Points of Light Foundation to become a volunteer in your neighborhood.

2007-07-18T12:00:00.001-07:00

Gabe here:
I thought it was really fun to be out helping people, except the part when I asked for a little bit of noodles and they covered my entire plate like a mountain. And that I had to work with a girl. Especially when she dared me to drink a cup of water with yogurt mixed into it and I spilled some on my basketball shorts! I had to stack all those bags of bread that you see all around me on the counter that you see behind me. Catch ya later!

Getting Serious

2007-07-17T11:33:00.000-07:00

We'll be kicking it up a notch tonight, an expression which here means, doing something more seriously service-oriented than we've ever done before. We will be serving a meal to needy people, an opportunity we learned about through Hands on Sacramento.
We'll give a full-report afterwards.

beginnings

2007-07-15T21:18:00.000-07:00

After reading The Parenting Breakthrough, by Merrilee Browne Boyack, I knew more needed to be done (by the kids-and less by me lol) if I wanted my children to grow up to be responsible, caring adults. And our blended family was without the kind of built in unity Boyack describes. So the idea came to me to form a club. At our meetings we will set goals, learn new skills, chart progress, find service opportunities and learn about managing our finances, which Mom will be learning right along with the kids.

7/15/07 9 pm

2007-07-15T20:56:00.000-07:00

Our first act of kindness! We just had a lovely visit with a woman who was recuperating from major surgery. We brought her a plate of homemade snickerdoodles and a picture drawn by the kids. Gabe was kicking his sister and got an impassioned lecture from this wise veteran mother about respecting women. Teach, Gabe!

About Us

2007-07-15T17:20:00.001-07:00

To the kids, we are an exclusive club, complete with official manual, password and secret handshake. To the mother, we are a forum for teaching compassionate service and realizing boundless potential.