2020 1/12th - on our way- time to celebrate!

Cocktails by the Fire is one of my favorite events in all of Licking County!  I keep it posted on the "join us" section on the right as it is always the 1st Saturday in February.  And I can pretty much say- no matter what! People are always ready for this par-tay- they come in the worst of weather. They are ready to get out, go on a date, connect with great folks and delight in what the Works offers: art, history, science, food, drinks, camaraderie all for a cause!  Join us- Joe and I are on the host committee with fabulous folks.  Wear your kilt, plaid or don't- be you. Drink a wee dram, or don't- there will be many options.  Who knew Tangeray was manufactured in Scotland!!  Even more special is the date is Feb 1st!  Here is the scoop for this year!  https://attheworks.org/events_posts/cocktails-by-the-fire/  Want to go on a history walk- search the blog for Cocktails by the Fire, I stopped counting at 12 but I did find a previous scotch specialty drink- a scotch mojito!! I think this year's drink will surpass that one...but I love innovation and teamwork.

It has indeed been a full month.  Travel launched for me and I'm getting back into that rhythm.  What a treat to head south. We are so lucky to have so many beautiful destinations in our country. Denison Everywhere- a wonderful tradition that continues to break records- I'm headed to Boston.  Joe will be in Mississippi, Matt and Dawn in Orlando, Scott?, Sarah in an airport and Mom and Dad- Mercersburg- you go!  https://attheworks.org/events_posts/cocktails-by-the-fire/  I just love seeing parents and family members joining are amazing alums at these events.  I wish I could be "Samantha the witch" and twinkle my nose to visit all the sites! Last year I did get to two cities!!

I have also officially started the grad work at IUPUI Lilly School of Philanthropy- more on that in the future.  The best part is learning the technology aspect- it is a steep learning curve and I'm doing my best. I love the content and enjoy being in this learning place.

Life on Newark-Granville Road- never dull, better when shared!  Cheers January and welcome February.

Feeding the 2020 Feed The Dream

Tomorrow- January 20th, the 3rd Monday in July is important- it is MLK, Martin Luther King Jr Day.  A family in our community, the Mintons, launched a special effort 8 years ago.  Feed the Dream's mission is to use the occasion of the Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday to help alleviate hunger in Licking County through art, education and most importantly - service.     The Holiday offers an opportunity for Granville citizens to help those less fortunate by collecting nonperishable food and money and donating it to the Food Pantry Network of Licking County.    In our life on Newark-Granville Road we do what we can to support the effort and spread the word!  Family Philanthropy at work - thank you Minton Family. Thank you King family, thank you Granville area families!

We hope you will join us tomorrow or on-line with a gift! Some important points to share, the why to engage and give!

·      The Food Pantry Network can purchase many food items for $0.08 a pound

·      Food stamps cannot be used for personal sundries such as: soap, shampoo, deodorant, shaving cream, feminine hygiene products

·      Project Goal - Collect 2 tons of food and $7,500.  We took a look and found 3 bags of food to deliver tomorrow- why do we have two containers of Tang in the pantry?

·      Over the last 8 years FTD food drive has provided FPN with the food and funds equivalent of 400 tons of food!

People can participate in one of five ways

1.     Donate food or funds  on Monday January 20^th from 9 am to 8 pm at Ross’ market

2.     Contribute online to FPN at www.onedayoneton.org. For $12.25 you can feed a person for a week.

3.     Purchase a $1 donation card at Ross’ or buy bagged food at Ross and bring to the food drive!

4.     Share our social media (Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Snapchat) content with the hashtags #FeedTheDream and #GranvilleOH

Statistics

• 35% of households served by FPN include children

·      28% of households served by FPN include seniors

·      25% of individuals served are under 18

• In 2018 over 63,000 families and 320,000 individuals requested emergency food assistance from FPN
• In 2018 the amount of food distributed by FPN surpassed 4,400,000 pounds.

·      In Licking County 6,600 children are not sure where their next meal is coming from

·       FPN provides 40,000 meals per month for children

·      1 in 6 Ohioans (1.9 million) struggle with hunger

·      1 in 5 Ohio children (575,000) struggle with hunger

·      In Ohio 43% of Households receiving SNAP benefits (formerly food stamps) have children

·      12.9 million American children lived in food insecure households

·      13.3 million or approximately 18% of American children lived in poverty

·      8% of seniors (just under 5 million) struggle with hunger

·      9% of seniors (nearly 5 million) lived below the poverty line.

·      63% of senior households served by  the Feeding America Network are forced to choose between food & medical care

·      2.7 million rural American households face hunger

• Individuals utilizing the food pantry are referred and screened carefully.  Individuals use the pantry in emergency and supplemental circumstances situations. A 4-day emergency food allotment is given per visit.  A normal circumstance would limit a client to 15 visits per year. 

Wrapping up with a quote:     “The true greatness of a community is most accurately measured by the compassionate acts of its citizens” – Coretta Scott King

Happy New Year from the Granville Leithausers

This card only shows the kids- skim the blog for more photos showcasing our wonderful life on Newark-Granville Road!   We wish you all happiness in 2020!

The picture for the card- Joe's idea for the kids sweatshirts and the kids idea to pose on the road.  I do love the literal interruption to accompany the blog.  I know the photo is small.  Peter is in Wabash- he was admitted ED in November.  Clare is proud and happy with Wooster, first semester a success and she is anxious to return for her first lacrosse season.  Sally is in her Granville High School Basketball sweatshirt.  We're lucky to have happy, comfortable, family oriented kids!

Here is another fun photo from this photo-shoot- the new porch! Life on Newark-Granville Road, 2019's great gift to me- a dream come true.  And you can see sweet Lucy- our two-year old girl is a love!  The porch is off the kitchen that received new walls and windows.


Joe's work with Infoverity is going very well- he enjoys the growth, partnerships and is handling the travel- enjoying the opportunity to reconnect with good folks.  My work at Denison is a joy and has inspired more learning- I'm enrolled in my first graduate classes at IUPUI's Lilly School of Philanthropy!  Family Philanthropy work is inspiring. It is going to take some time to get my certificate and then masters but I'm on my way!  We both are volunteering in the community and enjoying cheering for the kids and their teammates.

Life on Newark-Granville Road is never dull, filled with real-life emotions. We support one another and enjoy sharing it with friends and family and appreciate the opportunities to connect. Please visit us in Granville and stay in touch!  Derby 2020- May 2nd- Peter's Graduation Party a great time for all ages, we hope you will join us.
All the best to you and your loved ones in 2020!
Warmly- Susan, Joe, Clare, Peter, Sally and Lucy the dog!

What is a TreeWhisper?! Find out January 10-March 1 @ Dawes!

I grew up with Sundays not just a church day, but it was also hike day or if the weather was too cold- drive day. Thank you Mom and Dad for these outings.  A key accompaniment to these experiences- trees.  Most hikes were in the forest or woods.  Often we were along the C  & O towpath, lined by trees.  Even when we traversed a farmers field my mind does not recall not seeing trees.  As I type I realize this could be inspiration for a treewhispers round!  Oh, how I've enjoyed the opportunity create these rounds with dear friend and neighbor Amanda Love!  Amanda is the current Artist in Residence at Dawes and has facilitated the Treewhispers exhibit and experiences.

https://dawesarb.org/treewhispers/   Dear readers- I hope you will follow this link and learn more about the Treewhispers exhibit at Dawes Arboretum- the opening reception for members is this Friday evening- Jan 10th! Join us. Not a member? Join now to support a very special community gem and be in the know and have unlimited access to this hallowed ground.    I've been fascinated by Amanda's work and benefited by attending a few of the sessions.  Friday will be a very special evening and I'm looking forward to meeting  Treewhispers Co-Creator, Pamela Paulsrud.  I'm going to do my best to attend her artists talk on Saturday, Dec 11 at 1 pm.  There is so much more to say about what is happening with Treewhispers, I won't do it justice here.

On the Treewhipers website: https://treewhispers.com we are told this experience/exhibit is "Awakening the Stories within us" and this is true for me. What a gift it has been and will continue to be to reflect and ponder so much good from trees in my life on and off Newark-Granville Road. I took a peek back on the blog by searching "tree" so many posts! Too many around Christmas- although the evergreen symbol and tradition is an important one in my life.  I wondered if I'd find mention of the beautiful elm that was close to the point where three proprieties meet in our yard. Oh how we miss that tree, it may have been the most beautiful tree.   The tree had died and needed to be taken down. The day it came down was a sad day, and the universe concurred as it as the same day of Bob Seith's funeral.  But that tree's existence brought joy and shade and a home to so many things- it lived a purposeful life and no doubt the wood went on to have an impact.  Another incredible thing about trees- how they do give and give, transform and transfix!  This is a special component of the Treewhisper experience- making paperrounds with tree/wood pulp-or using one made by an artist and then sharing a tree connection with art.

Our community is and will continue to benefit from Treewhispers-this opportunity to participate with art, nature, creating, remembering, reflecting and sharing anchored by trees and artists- is special and good for the body, brain and soul.  Again I cannot do justice to all this exhibit offers, teaches and inspires.  Thank you Amanda for your work, time, care and talent.  Thank you Dawes and staff for hosting and offering all you do.  I look forward to Friday's launch and the next few months with Treewhispers in our community.

I realize some of this may not be translating.  Treewhispers didn't click for me until I attended a session.  Actually fortunate for me my first session was with children.  Amanda and Dawes took the experience to the Boys and Girls Club of Newark, a very memorable day for me in my life on Newark-Granville Road!  I hope you will attend a session yourself and here is how! From the Dawes website:

Tree Whispers Sessions

Monday, January 20 | 1-3pm or

Friday, February 14 | 1-3pm or

Saturday, February 29 | 1-3pm or

Sunday, March 1 | 1-3pm

Included with Admission

Come join Amanda Love, Treeswhispers contributor and Dawes Arboretum’s current artist in residence, and share your tree story with us! Once again, you’re invited to join the forest by decorating your flat handmade paper round with your tree story, poetry and/or art. Register for one of these sessions on our calendar.

Be sure to visit local artist, Treewhispers ambassador and Dawes Arboretum artist in residence Amanda Love during her residency on Tuesdays and Fridays from 12 to 2pm through March 17. Stop by the And Education Center, and learn about the Arboretum inspired art she is creating. Please note, Amanda’s studio will be closed on November 29 and December 23 – January 10.

A long post- and I'll end with a quote about a tree! For in the true nature of things, if we rightly consider, every green tree is far more glorious than if it were made of gold and silver. Martin Luther

Pictures from time with Treewhispers- the experiences continue to enrich and inspire!  Coming soon