project680.org

I’m not a big fan of bumper stickers. I just don’t believe neat little word compilations stuck to the back of our cars really sum up life or serve as platforms to live by most of the time. However, I’ll admit I’ve been thinking about a little bumper nugget lately.

The statement “If not you, then who?” has been whirling through my mind, and it won’t leave me alone. I’m struck by the responsibility and joy of choosing to be a part of solving problems in the community, and I’m sincerely sobered at the reality that I can impact lives by the choices I make – by simply being available to listen to what is going on around me and then responding in practical ways. On the other hand, it’s sobering to think that nobody can live out a vision for me – that’s up to me. And if I don’t put my hand to the plow, there’s no guarantee that someone else will.

If not me, then who? I guess I don’t want to wait around to see who may or may not pick up the ball for me. There are certain things in life that we just need to do. There is a sense of “right time right place”, and so our busy schedules are pushed to the side or adapted as they need to be, and somehow we find energy and even enthusiasm to help an idea blossom.

I wanted to share this as an encouragemnt to continue to dream big, uncover vision, listen to the needs in our community, and find very practical ways to give feet to the desires that are brewing inside of you. This isn’t even about Project 680 per se, though I see a multitude of locals who are becoming captured by a vision to do something about student homelessness.  This is more about just responding to what you need to respond to and finding ways to actualize your dreams.

If you’ve been flirting with an idea for the community for a while, how about considering what it might look like in coming months to give it a real run for the money. What are your dreams, and how you can begin to carry them out? If not you, then who?

Go for it!!! 

Ryan

p.s. No offense to anyone who loves bumper stickers. More power to you. 

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We are very excited about having two different bike rides on the same day of our community ride. Why are we doing this? We want this event to cater to people who have not ridden in many years (and are able to ride 20 minutes one way, eat a sack lunch, and then ride 20 minutes back), and we also want to attract more avid riders who can knock out 30 miles. Last time we did a community bike ride it was very successful, but we quickly learned that the short ride was way too short – especially for the avid biker crowd.

We will meet at 2197 Chase Drive in Rancho Cordova between 9:30-10:00am on May 8, 2010. We are meeting in the free parking lot next to Cordova High School (you do not have to pay for parking). The short ride will be about 20 minutes or so from Hagan Park to River Bend Park (formerly Goethe Park – just before the big bridge). The longer ride will go from Hagan Park to Bicycle’s Plus in Folsom at 705 Gold Lake Drive Folsom, CA 95630 (this bike shop is roughly 15 miles from Hagan Park and is located immediately off of the bike trail). 

See www.project680.org/biking-for-socks for more information.

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We are looking for about a dozen locations to be a “drop-off” for the Project 680 Sock Drive (“Biking for Socks”). Between now and the end of our sock drive on May 8, 2010 we’d love to see households, businesses and churches serve as locations where people in the community can drop off donations of new socks. If you’re interested, please contact us at 916-595-3735 or on the form below (please include your address).

We are planning to begin posting drop-off locations on our website next week, so let us know soon. Also, we’ve found that the best results usually occur at your location when you let friends, neighbors and co-workers know that you are serving as a drop-off place.

Thank you for your support.

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We are very excited about our upcoming “Biking for Socks” event on May 8, 2010. We are doing a community bike ride in order to accomplish three things: 1) Bring awareness to the problem of student homelessness in the FCUSD; 2) Collect socks for homeless kids in the FCUSD; and 3) Gather up a few bucks to be able to give to the District Liaison for Homeless Services so she can meet the needs of students on an “as needed” basis – meaning that when the neediest of students come to her, she can simply take care of some of the things they need – whether clothing, deodarant, shoes, study materials, etc….

There will be two bike rides – a short 20 minute ride (one way) and then a more experienced 30 mile ride. Anyone can participate. You can sign up below or on Facebook. Beyond the bike ride, there will be other ways to get involved (in case you are not a bike person). We invite you to consider some of the following. Or let us know an idea you have.

• Become a “drop off” location for socks. We’d like to see about a dozen locations in the community where socks can be collected and/or dropped off between now and the bike ride. We’ll keep a list online as volunteers step forward.
• Get a “Bike Team” togther. Maybe you could gather some friends, co-workers or people at your church to come out to the ride. If you are a business, then wear company shirts or get really creative somehow if you’d like.
• Help make signs and set out signage on the day of the bike ride (so that riders know where to stop).
• Work with Starbucks or another local coffee shop to get coffee provided for the morning of the ride. It would be great to have some bagles or OJ too.
• Volunteer at the sign-in table on the morning of the ride.
• Take photos or video on the day of the ride.
• Be a business sponsor.
• Pass on the word about this community emphasis on Facebook, Twitter, Email, YouTube or however you can. The more people that know, the better.
• Help get some media exposure for the event. Got media contacts?
• Other logistics.
• Maybe you have another creative idea or way to advocate for local homeless students. We are open ears and we’d love to see your creativity in motion.

Please comment on this post, email us, sign up on Facebook or fill in the form below to let us know how you’d like to get involved or if you have any questions or ideas. We’ll update the categories above as people volunteer so that you know what is available. Thank you so much.

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We wanted to give a very quick update to let everyone know that on May 8, 2010 we will be doing a community bike ride. This is the day before Mother’s Day at 10am. We’ll have two rides – a short beginner ride and a 30 mile ride (Rancho Cordova to Folsom and back is 30 miles). We’re going to have a blast and we’ll be collecting socks and doing some other cool things as a part of this ride. More details will come very soon. Are you getting excited?

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My brother recently let me know about someone he heard of named Betty Londergan. Betty inherited some money and she started something called What Gives 365 Project. In short, Betty is giving away $100 every day to causes she chooses. And she’s blogging about it. 

“This is all my money. It comes from what my dad left each one of us kids when he died, and I can’t think of a single thing my mom would have loved more than to see me giving it away to worthy causes. (However, my dad would undoubtedly say that I need to get my head examined.)”

Why am I bringing this up? I am very pleased to announce that Betty donated $100 to Project  680. Awesome news, huh? Read Betty’s post yesterday entitled “Underwear, Socks, Shoes“.

What do you think of this and what Betty is doing?

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Next Wednesday, February 17, 2010, we will have a Project 680 brainstorming session at Starbucks in Rancho Cordova (off of Olson Drive & Zinfandel – across from Target). We’ll hash out some details for an upcoming “Riding for Leaders” emphasis. Our big idea is to do a community bike ride fundraiser at some point within the next few months to empower a couple local kids to attend a leadership camp. The idea of giving life and leadership tools to deserving students (who show promise), is really thrilling. If you have any resources that would be a benefit, we are open ears.

All are welcome, but if you can, let us know you’re coming so we can plan best. We’ll meet for 60-90 minutes. Thanks everyone!!!

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We wanted everyone to know that next month we will begin opening up conversation about our project for the Spring. Let’s be in converation and put our creative minds and hearts together to make a difference in the lives of local students in need. Click play below to hear more.

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Check it out. The Grapevine Independent ran a story on the Shoe Drive. Hopefully you can read it in the scanned version below. The story should be live though on the Grapevine website at some point tomorrow, so please visit there too. Thank you Grapevine. What do you think of the story?

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Thank you to Bonnie for the images below from today’s media event at Payless Shoe Source. It was really nice to get together with a group of community members to hand over the checks and celebrate an extremely succesful shoe drive. Thank you also to the Rancho Cordova Post and Grapevine for covering this event.

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We are very pleased to announce that the final tally of donations for the Project 680 Shoe Drive is $3,601.51. Can you believe it? Our goal had been $1,500, but together we left that in the dust. Thank you everyone who participated in big and small ways. Thank you to local residents, businesses, churches and organizations that partnered together in this effort.

This project has been all about the kids, and putting new shoes on students that need them. It’s so exciting to think of the joy and dignity these students will have to select a brand new pair of shoes soon. Thank you everyone. We did this as a team!!! Let’s celebrate!!!

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We’re so excited to announce the tally of donations for the Project 680 Shoe Drive, but before we do that tomorrow we wanted to say thank you to everyone who played a role in this effort.

First of all, residents in Rancho Cordova, Folsom, and outlying areas have been the backbone for projects we have done in the past, and certainly this was the case for the Shoe Drive. Thank you local residents for caring about students in the FCUSD and responding in such a practical way - especially in this economy. We know who many of you are because you wrote a check with your name on it, but for others who told a friend, donated anonymously, linked to us from your website, encouraged us, networked on Facebook, went on the community bike ride, prayed, or found some other creative way to show support, we thank you.

Thank you to Project 680 All-Star Volunteers!!!

In no particular order, we’d like to acknowledge the following volunteers for really stepping up to the plate to help make things happen. Photo by JoAnna Bueno-Williams.

George Burnash
Sydney Cooley
Sheryl Longsworth
Haley McDonald
Jen & Brandon Tartaglia
Anne Lowe
Shannan Loveless
Don Black
Cory Lundquist
JoAnna Bueno-Williams
Dave Ingland
Butch & Bonnie Penrose
Lynette Yoes
Amy Moehlman
Steve Gallo
Mike Cook

Thank you to Bottlecap Magnets for your Partnership!!!

We want to give an enormous thank-you to www.BottlecapMagnets.com. Not only did Bottlecap Magnets partner with us to offer handmade and original Project 680 bottlecap magnets, but they also gave major design support by creating graphics for the community bike ride, shoe drive, and even large fake checks to present to Payless Shoe Source. Additionally, they helped us polish up the Shoe Drive flyer. There were truly many hours of donated design time and we are extremely grateful. The support and patnership we received from Bottlecap Magnets truly made our Shoe Drive better.

Thank you to the Project  680 Shoe Drive Sponsors!!!

• Folsom Cordova Community Partnership is a regular supporter of some of the programs of the Folsom Cordova District Liaison for Homeless Services. We asked FCCP if they would accept checks on behalf of the shoe drive, and they agreed. This was an enormous blessing for us.
• The Soroptimist Organization of Rancho Cordova is a growing group of women who are committed to our community and we appreciate the generous financial donations from so many members.
• The Rancho Cordova Post provided orange juice on the morning of the bike ride, and they also covered the evolution of the shoe drive from the planning stages to the finish. We appreciate the articles they wrote over the past few months. 
• Bicycling Advocates for Rancho Cordova (BARC) got word out about the community bike ride to their members as well as others in the bicycling community. We appreciate the safety tips they gave on the morning of our bike ride too. 
• Let’s not forget the free coffee that Starbucks at Capital Village in Rancho Cordova provided us on the morning of our bike ride. It was a very nice touch to enjoy some freshly brewed coffee (in festive red holiday cups too). Please thank Corey and Megan in person when you see their barista skills in action (and tip ‘em too).
• New Horizons Christian Church was a very strong partner for the Shoe Drive. Their church members enthusiastically embraced this cause and together they raised $807.00. They even hosted a community BBQ as a way to raise funds and awareness.
• Lundquist Appraisal Company offered web support and definitely time away from business for Ryan to do some Project 680 stuff. 
• Rancho Cordova City Hall Employees came up big again for Project 680. They have a heart for the community and we appreciate the donations, bottlecap magnet purchases, link from your website, encouragement, and for coming on the community bike ride. It goes without saying too that Shannan was an excellent Project 680 Liaison at City Hall. 
• We appreciate both Rancho Cordova Councilmember David Sander and Rancho Cordova Vice-Mayor Ken Cooley for supporting this project and for pedaling with us on the community bike ride.
• We already mentioned www.BottlecapMagnets.com above, but we figured another mention in the sponsor section here was truly warranted because of all their support.
• Gold River Carpets & Floors gave us space to meet on September 22 for our initial planning meeting. It was at this meeting where vision took shape and a Shoe Drive / Bike Ride was born.
• We sincerely appreciate efforts made by Cordova Neighborhood Church and Cordova Church of Christ in terms of donations, involving their congregations, and making announcements. Thank you for your heart for the community. It was really nice to have Pastor Mike & Robin Mitchum and Pastor Larry & Cynthia Stafford join our community bike ride.
• The Volunteer Center of Sacramento was a huge asset for us because they help connect volunteers with local causes. As soon as we were listed on their website we began getting emails from people who wanted to get involved. We know of at least two volunteers who came to our bike ride solely because they found us through the Volunteer Center of Sacramento.
• Amy and Carolyn from Hubbert Systems did some sort of neighborhood Halloween party where they raised some money. We love their creativity and willingness to make a difference.
• We’d like to mention the Rancho Cordova Chamber of Commerce here also because they raised $1,000 for the shoe drive. Their donation won’t be tallied in our final total because we were really separate groups working under the umbrella of the same cause, but we absolutely feel like partners to support the District Liaison’s yearly shoe drive. Way to go Chamber!!!

Closing Thoughts

On a personal note, I want to thank my wife Jenny for the grace that emanates from her life. She is a shining example of a supportive wife and partner, and I appreciate her continual encouragement and allowance for me to do some of the things I feel called to do. I also wish to thank my parents, brother and sister-in-law, grandmother, and sister/brother-in-law for their tangible support during the Shoe Drive.

The whole point of our efforts over the past two months was to put shoes on kids that need them. Because of our teamwork that is going to happen in even larger numbers than we had hoped for. Thank you for your generosity. Together we have made a difference. It’s time to celebrate a tremendous community team effort.

Ryan Lundquist
Project 680
TEL: 916-595-3735
FAX: 916-361-1964
ryan@project680.org

“We can do no great things, only small things with great love” Mother Theresa

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We added a nifty little widget at the top of the right sidebar so you can subscribe to Project 680 blog posts. All you need to do is enter your email address, push “submit”, and follow one very simple instruction. You’ll receive an email from Feedburner, and you only need to confirm that you want to subscribe. It’s simple. This is one great way to stay up-to-date with what is going on in the world of Project 680. Thank you everyone for your support.

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