We received a lovely note from Julianne Reas, Gardens for Everyone Project Coordinator. How wonderful to see the tools that were purchased with funds we raised here in Creekside. The Gardens for Everyone project helps residents in the Triangle build raised-bed garden boxes. They provide support from seed to harvest. They have built over 110 boxes. This program enables families to have healthy food all year long. Thanks to everyone who donated. 

On May 24, seven Creekside Cares volunteers joined forces with four Fayetteville Street Elementary staff members to set up the school’s new outdoor education area. Thanks to the generosity of the Durham Public Schools Foundation, the school had received a $19,500 grant to purchase 18 steel picnic tables and 10 freestanding benches. After assembling one table and one bench, the staff realized that the remaining work was going to be more than they could manage. They reached out to Triangle Grace Church, which has had a long relationship with the school. Sue Bradley, a member of both Triangle Grace and Creekside Cares, offered to find Creekside volunteers to do the work. One email later, six men had stepped up to help. Work that would have taken the staff several days of hard labor was completed in three hours. Now, the students can enjoy having some of their classes outdoors in the shaded area alongside the school. ​

We were very excited to be contacted by Dress for Success. They had heard about our good works with the Durham Children's Initiative and wanted to explore a partnership. We shared our current mask-making project with them and they were excited to learn about our efforts. After discussion, it was determined this project would be very beneficial to their clients.

Women have been hit very hard by the pandemic and the economic downturn. Dress for Success (DFS) helps their clients obtain employment and economic independence through empowerment, training and free professional attire. Each DFS client will now receive a set of 2 Olson style masks created by Creekside Cares volunteers. The sets will include 1 Black and 1 Navy adjustable contour mask, 4 washable, removable filters, and 2 aluminum nose strips to help her stay safe.

Women served by DFS are often the sole breadwinners in their families. By keeping them protected, we will be helping to keep their families, our community, and our economy protected.  We hope these brave women will be going places, going strong, and going safe! Learn more about DFS Triangle at their website. We hope to conduct a clothing drive for them in the near future. Stay tuned!

Thank you for a successful Holiday Zone 2020! We began collecting in our Creekside neighborhood  on November 9, and and made our final delivery on Monday, December 7. We collected gifts, toys, tape, wrapping paper and batteries for the children and families served by the Durham Children's Initiative. They needed our help more than ever. We were able to deliver literally hundreds upon hundreds of items and we also donated $1,215 in cash, checks and gift cards.

Your support helped us bring some holiday joy to our community! We helped the Durham Children's Initiative serve 170 families and approximately 500 children! Each family received gifts, wrapping paper and a $50 gift card to Food Lion. Thank you to everyone who participated and volunteered. This community is a generous and giving one! 

Creekside Cares is proud to partner again with Girl Scout Troop 1001 this year to light up our community. This is our fifth straight year of supporting local girl scouts. Sets of 6 luminaria are available for $6.00 per set. Each set includes 6 white paper bags, 6 votive candles, 6 candle cups and enough sand to fill the bottom of the bags. Residents will light and display the luminaria on December 24 beginning at 7 p.m. Residents may purchase more than one set. All proceeds benefit the troop and their plans for a special group activity. Residents are not required to participate.

This year due to the pandemic, members of the troop will be providing contact-free delivery to your porch. You may reserve your set(s) of luminaria by emailing: troop1001luminarias@gmail.com. Please include your name, address, number of kits desired, and a contact phone. Please make checks payable to: Girl Scout Troop 1001. If you would like to pay via PayPal, please use the following link: paypal.me/troop1001gs in advance. Please remember to include your name, street address, number of kits desired and a phone number. 

While Creekside residents are not required to participate, we certainly hope you do. It will nice to shine a little festive light during these trying times and support the Girl Scouts and their wonderful mission of building girls of courage, confidence, and character, who make the world a better place.

Creekside Cares has been partnering with the Inter-Faith Food Shuttle since the Fall of 2018. They have provided our Creekside Cares Cupboard with Backpack Buddies bags for our students at W.G. Pearson Elementary. Our board Vice President, Paul Leifer helped us create an onsite partnership for Creekside Cares volunteers. Prior to the pandemic, we met at the Child Food Hub on Miami Boulevard each month to stuff Backpack Buddy Bags. We had to take a brief hiatus after the pandemic struck. Paul maintained communications on our behalf and we are now regularly stuffing and packing boxes as a team.

Paul's leadership and enthusiasm are a shining example of mission. Watch our SignUp Genius for opportunities with our group. Inter-Faith Food Shuttle also has lots of opportunities on their own site for individuals to become involved. 
Food insecurity has gotten worse for many since the pandemic began. Your help can make a difference!

Post from guest contributor: Fred Grossfeld, President of Creekside Motor Club