Danny Becton

• The Board reviewed and discussed the April Treasurer's Report.
• Income was $395,617 based on a budget amount of $399,500. The income shortfall was a result of not meeting expectations in accounts.
• Expenses were $236,676 based on a budget amount of $241,465. Expense accounts over the budget at this time are included in the full document.  
• See more in full document.

  

The View

July 2014

Ladies' Game Night
                                       
The DWA will be hosting a Ladies' Game Night at the Deercreek Clubhouse on Wednesday, August 6 at 6:30 PM. Please add this event to your calendar so that you don't miss the fun and camaraderie of evening. "Snacks and stuff" will be served. Further details will be coming in next month's newsletter and in an email.

Mandarin Food Bank PB & J Drive

The DWA will have a Peanut Butter and Jelly Drive from June 30 to July 14 in support of the Mandarin Food Bank. Drop-off bins for the drive will be placed at the DCC Guard Gate.  For more information please contact Carmen Kelly at 610-9789 or 519-0622. 

This month we are featuring the "Bag Ladies" who are a group of women at Lakewood Presbyterian Church in Jacksonville who meet monthly and assemble "welcome bags" filled with comfort items to be donated to Hubbard House, Jacksonville's domestic abuse shelter.  Women and children often arrive there in the middle of the night with only the clothes on their backs.  As terrifying as it must be for the women, for children - the most innocent of victims - the bewilderment and fear must be incomprehensible.


The idea for the "Bag Ladies" came when a church member's daughter and her two small children found themselves at Hubbard House in 2003. They were faced with very crowded circumstances; there were no clean sheets or towels available. Her daughter laundered sheets, and used their T-shirts as towels after showering. The next morning, the only food available was a couple of stale bagels. She was grateful for their safety, but the thought of those basic needs haunted her for years. Hence the program began and the ladies decided to make welcome bags for the little ones. Every month they gather at the church to sew colorful tote bags, and then fill them with towels, donated toiletries, books, flashlights, a beanie baby, a homemade pillow and wonderful new children's books donated by, Books-A-Go Go. Their goal is to prepare 45 bags a month. To date, they have donated over 3,450 bags to Hubbard House.  This is a true labor of love for these ladies and the Alliance is happy to give them our support again this year.  

The DWA received the following heartfelt thank you note from "Bag Lady" Pat Bloebaum: "Not only have you helped us to make our regular delivery of 45 Welcome Bags for the children who come to Hubbard House every month possible, but your generous donations have also allowed us to provide some "extras" they wouldn't be able to afford otherwise."
 
Recently, we tasked three of our Bag Ladies with investigating what some of the Hubbard House needs were. They learned that the children would benefit from having CD players in their classrooms, along with a library of assorted playing-and-learning CDs. Today, we delivered the players and a large collection of educational and strictly-fun CDs to Hubbard House.
 
We want you to know that the teachers were so excited to receive these items; they were almost jumping with joy! A portable CD player might not seem like a huge investment to many of us, but to the staff at Hubbard House, this is an investment in hours of happy learning for the children in their care. Who knows what dividends this investment might return in their futures!
 
For more information contact Donna Bernard 464-0910.

Clothing:  The PACE School for Girls is open all summer to assist at-risk young ladies by providing a well-rounded, structured environment that helps them through education, counseling, training and advocacy. Every female knows that when you look good, you feel good! The PACE students can earn PACE BUCKS to purchase donated clothing to help them look and feel like the beautiful young women that they are. Donated items can be dropped off at Vicki Khan's house at 10148 Deercreek Club Road.  She may be reached by phone at 519-7722.

Books:  Children need books to improve their literacy and to develop a love for reading. BOOKS-A-GO GO collects used and new children's books and gives them to children that are preschoolers to 5th graders from low income families. These books are distributed through schools and organizations that support these children. The children love receiving their books, and get so excited, they hug them and can't wait to read them. For many children, it will be the first book in their home. If you have any books that your children or grandchildren have outgrown or would like to purchase new ones to donate, please drop them off at Natalie Jackson's house at 10135 Deercreek Club Road or call her at 519-5802.  

Pet Supplies:  Let's not forget our animal friends.  Many families move during the summer months and for various reason cannot take their pets with them.  The Jacksonville Humane Society is often overwhelmed during this time of year and is in critical need of supplies. Along with bags of dog and cat food, the JHS can use blankets, towels, pet toys, bowls, flee killing soap, pet beds, rakes and shovels.  Donations may be dropped at 10042 Chester Lake Road East, the home of Pam Overbay (363-6483).

Outdoor Living Spaces

As we go through summer, we entertain our family and friends more whether after a round of golf, a tennis match, or a meeting of the Deercreek Women's Alliance. Often we find that we need more space for entertaining. Why not enhance the outdoor living space of your home? One of the things I enjoy most as a RealtorŪ is leading a buyer into a home and seeing their excitement about great places for entertaining, especially outdoors.

Jan and Barbara Butensky on Blakeford Mill created an entertaining oasis in their backyard. Not only did they provide a seating area for viewing TV and sporting events, a dining area for great family dinners, and a bar for those afternoon cocktails, they also incorporated many unique features to make this area special.

Jan designed a simple shelf to hold a drink while enjoying that wonderful plate of food hot off the grill. The Butenskys added a pizza oven to their summer kitchen so everyone can create their favorite pizza.



A fire element was added around the pool, providing not only warmth, but also drama at night.

 


Architectural details are important as well. The Butenskys extended their roof to provide cover from the summer sun and rain. The extended roof offers the opportunity to utilize the outdoor space in any kind of weather. Jan and Barbara also had their architect create an open rafter look in the vaulted ceiling to add more architectural interest to this outdoor space.

Deercreek has many homes with wonderful outdoor living spaces. There is no greater joy than sharing your home with family and friends.  Why not make your next project an outdoor living space so your home is as inviting on the outside as it is on the inside?

Garden Club Closing Luncheon Ceremony Photos