The Butterfly Effect - Making Bird Houses!

February 2012 - The Butterfly Effect

Organizations: Big Brothers Big Sisters, Mattie Rhodes Center and A Simple House

The group at Mattie Rhodes Center showing off their new tree houses :)

In February our Burns and Mac team joined forces with three different non-profit organizations to stimulate creative young minds all across Kansas City.  We organized three separate work days in which volunteers met with kids at A Simple House, BBBS, and Mattie Rhodes to construct and decorate bird houses.  These activities not only showcased each child’s artistic talents, but provided an end product which kids could take home to engage with nature.

The houses lined up drying @ A Simple House

 

John helping a participant @ A Simple House

At each event, children were equipped with a wood birdhouse kit, a hammer, nails, glue, sandpaper, and paint.  We worked with a diverse age range of children so it was great to help younger kids hammer and glue pieces together and also let older kids take initiative in figuring out how all the bird house pieces fit together.  At first the bird house assembly seemed challenging to both kids and volunteers alike, but after a few pieces came together, it was all smooth sailing. 

 

 Painting, painting, painting @ Simple House

A Big paintently helping put the bird house together @ BBBS

Say CCHEESEEEE @ BBBS

@ BBBS

From a volunteer’s point of view, the most rewarding aspect of these activities was seeing kids glow with excitement as they triumphantly showed off their masterpieces upon completion.  One child enjoyed himself so much that he asked for an extra kit to bring home! 

A Big & Little @ BBBS

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Painting away @ BBBS

FOR MORE PICTURES, PLEASE VISIT OUR SHUTTERFLY WEBSITE @ bmprojectchange.shutterfly.com

Dykes Creek Clean-Up

March 2012 - Dykes Creek Clean-Up

Organization: Blue River Watershed Association

  

When looking at our beautiful earth, it doesn’t get much worse than looking at a polluted stream or waterway. A flowing stream is a symbol of life, and seeing trash all around it destroys that beautiful image. For several years the Burns & McDonnell Project Change Team has been joining forces with groups all over Kansas City to help bring about positive change. This time, all the Team had to do was look right outside their front door. Hundreds of Burns & McDonnell employees, and thousands of others, drive daily along littered Dykes Creek on their way down Ward Parkway. Eventually, the Burns & McDonnell employees had seen enough.

On Saturday March 10th, 2012 the Team gathered together to bush whack through the weeds and trees along the creek and get rid of all the trash. Fifteen volunteers got together on a beautiful Spring day and cleaned up 2 miles of stream bank along the creek, in just a couple of hours! Blue River Watershed Association was kind enough to donate all of the trash bags and gloves, while the Team provided the labor. BRWA also scheduled a trash pickup with the city on Monday so the bags wouldn’t sit around too long. Dozens of bags of trash were collected, and even recyclables were sorted out for pick up. The day was a great success and now Burns & McDonnell can look out their own office windows and see the good they’ve done for the community!

FOR MORE PICTURES, PLEASE VISIT OUR SHUTTERFLY WEBSITE @ bmprojectchange.shutterfly.com

Mission Sleep Tight for Sleepyhead Beds

Mission Sleep Tight
Mission Sleep Tight is an initiative of Sleepyhead Beds, a nonprofit dedicated to the "comfort of beds for little heads." Sleepyhead Beds also arranges on-site pick-up of gently used mattresses and box springs. Go here to learn more about Sleepyhead Beds and here for more details on mattress donation and pick-up.

This December our team will be holding a collection drive benefiting the recipients of beds from Sleepyhead Beds. We will be collecting the following items:

- Sheets* - fitted, flat and pillowcases needed; don’t worry about matching or complete sets.

- Mattress Pads*

- Comforters*

- Pillows – New Please

*New or gently used; all sizes are welcome, but twin and full sizes are needed most.

Drop off your bedding donations in the collection bins located in the BMCD building through Dec. 29^th. Contact your local employee-owner if you'd like to make a donation to our collection!

FOR PICTURES, PLEASE VISIT OUR SHUTTERFLY WEBSITE @ bmprojectchange.shutterfly.com

2012 Project Change Challenge Information

It's that time of the year again, time to start brainstorming creative community projects to meet Project Change's challenges! The event details have been released (see below for the official announcement)!

Official announcement from Project Change:

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The 2012 Project Change Challenge Event Details

Let's Roll! The 2012 Challenge is all about downsizing...sound familiar?! But in a good way! Understanding busy schedules and multiple commitments, we are scaling back on what is required of our teams in an effort to allow them to truly get the most out of their experience. Each challenge will charge teams to create a community service project to meet a humanitarian or environmental need within their local area. Teams will have the freedom to choose the cause they wish to champion and the ability to work together with their local non‐profit of choice, to plan and carry out their 2 TEAM PROJECTS. We will kick off in November, and at that time, the clock starts ticking!

In March we will have a Group Project workday where teams merely show up, no planning, gathering, expectation, etc. other than to get as many people as possible to show up and take part in making a difference for a few hours at a local non‐profit (location and date TBA).

That's all Folks! The end of our season will wrap up with an award ceremony that will be a must and a great time for all!

During this season, we are striving to prove the theory that Less is More, creating memories, connections, and making a difference with attention to the little details that change lives. You won't want to miss this year's challenge event, so contact us today to be part of this amazing, adventure!


Challenge 1: The Butterfly Effect ‐Due by February 20, 2012
Make a small change that may cause larger differences in the big picture. Try to think creatively, not necessarily monetarily, to impact an unknown or seldom discussed cause. This is YOUR chance to bring a voice to a little known need or issue, and put your unique spin on a small but impactful way to address it.

Spread your wings! Work with the local organization of your choice to find your cause and give it a voice! ALL TEAMS WILL WORK WITH A DIFFERENT ORGANIZATION! No doubling up, let's spread the love! (Prior to committing to the organization, your choice needs to be approved by Project Change.) Less is More! This isn't about going big, so try to focus on a simple need and response using your efforts to bring a unique creativity to it to make people take notice!


Challenge 2: GET DIRTY! Due by April 23rd, 2012

Roll up your sleeves and dig in! Remember what it was like to be a kid?! We are giving you permission to GET DIRTY, and create change with this hands‐on project! This challenge is all about making a difference where you can see the result before you leave! It is SO rewarding to see the change that takes place with a little elbow grease and hard work. Projects LARGE or small? Inside or outside? Doesn't make a difference! ALL are welcome and appreciated with much work to do around your community!

Work with the organization you have selected as a partner, (or a nearby site that will benefit them). Include people from the partnering organization in your efforts, planning, etc. Work hand in hand with those who will enjoy your hard work! TEAM effort on this one folks!
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No Deer Allowed!!!

From the CGS Facilities Director John Gilbert:

I got a call from Larry Schmidt at 7:00 AM this morning, letting me know that there were four deer at the new garden, but that they were OUTSIDE of the mammoth deer fence.

Jeff Cothern later confirmed the story to me, but corrected Larry’s count, changing it to five. But, Jeff also assured me that they were all OUTSIDE the deer fence that can be seen from the space shuttle.

Great work!!!!
JG

A Garden to Last Many Years to Come!

Tucked away on the outskirts of Kansas City lies an organization that brings hope to countless lives. For over 40 years the Community of the Good Shepherd (CGS) has been serving adults with disabilities. Approximately 50 adults live at CGS, and many more actively participate in the great day programs that CGS provides.

After meeting with the amazing staff and residents at CGS, we realized that this is a special place. We also quickly learned that their greatest wish was to have a garden. They wanted to produce fresh fruit and veggies and also allow the residents to join in on the gardening fun. What a great opportunity to Grow Change -> Create Hope!

Our Burns & McDonnell + Spaces Inc. team became thrilled at this great opportunity. The excitement and desire to help was contagious. We were grateful to have Kansas City Community Gardens on board to help with planting and garden design and Turner Construction to donate their time and materials to build the facility director's dream shed. How cool is that?!?

The first day we assembled a team together to begin creating the raised beds for the garden, and it was snowing! How are we supposed to garden in the snow? Our determined crew worked hard through the weather conditions, ate some pizza, and worked some more to get 14 raised beds constructed. The next work day was our big day, and it turned out to be a beautiful one. We had over 20 people participate to continue building a garden, storage shed, and truly create change! Volunteers were all over the place: digging post holes, shoveling soil, putting up the fence, and most of all, having fun. Of course we could not have done it without residents Jeff and Larry, overseeing the work and manning the water and snacks tent. Before long a garden appeared before our eyes. Now it was time to get dirty and do some planting. It was a fantastic sight to see the plants in the beds, and witness the growth taking place.

CGS will continue to provide their wonderful services for years and years, and residents will come and go, but the bounty of the garden will live on for years to come.

FOR MORE PICTURES, PLEASE VISIT OUR SHUTTERFLY WEBSITE @ bmprojectchange.shutterfly.com

Another Lovely Workday

After a very cold and gloomy start to this Saturday, the sun decided to grace us with it's presence and it turned out to be a great day. Our main tasks for the day were to finish two gates on the fence, and to dig up a path to the main entrance. The path was a strenuous task, but the eager crew got down and dirty and finished it out. They put down a weed mat and mulch will soon be placed to make it match the existing path next to it. After some trial and error(s), the gates came together, and thankfully they work! This will hopefully keep the deer and rabbits out, until they figure out how to work the latch!

The group after finishing up the path!

Look! A Garden!

Our first big group workday was a great success! As you can see abov there wasn't too much out there before we started working. When everyone arrived on thatbeautiful morning, there were only a few stakes in the ground.

The wheels soon began turning though! 24 post holes were dug for our 4"x4" fence posts to go in. At the same time volunteers started hauling all of the raised beds into place, and leveling them out (or close enough :) ). Once we got all 14 beds in place and level we started hauling dirt. The dirt pile/mountain soon started dwindling as eager voulnteers began carting their precious cargo up the hill and too the beds. Ben Sharda from KC Community Gardens gave us some great tips for a handy dirt dumping method with the wheelbarrows, which was pretty slick. Even with the mid 80s weather, the team soldiered on and got all the beds filled.

Check it out! it's got plants!!

Meanwhile the fence crew was chugging along getting all the posts plumb and in their holes, and compacting the soil at the base. Then we nailed two layers of the 4'x16' cattle panels to the posts. Take that deer! We also had to add some chicken wire to the bottom to keep those killer rabbits out too!

In order to keep the weeds down we placed cut to fit rolls of carpet face down in between the raised beds. This will also keep it from getting too muddy. Ben from KCCG showed back up around this time with the prized posessions - seeds and plants! We got some of the residents involved in the planting and watering, and they all looked like they were having quite the time!

The fence

We can't wait to come back next weekend to finish up a few things and hopefully see how our plants are coming along!

Dirt, Dirt and more Dirt!

Our workday this past weekend was a great success! Holes were dug, fences were erected, beds were placed and wheelbarrows were loaded/dumped and repeated! More details and pictures to come!

All Good in the Garden!

Team BMCD/Spaces is off to a great start for April. Despite the late March/early April snow (and walking uphill both ways) the team managed to get together to build 14 - 4'x12' raised beds that will go into the garden we're helping build at the Community of the Good Shepherd. We can't wait to get them in there and get to planting! Hard to imagine things growing when it's still snowing this late. But alas, the sun will come out tomorrow. Anticipation is building for an epic workday that will hopefull place these beds and get an anti-deer fence erected to guard the oh so delicious vegetables that we hope to see growing soon.

March - Feel A Need for TLC

The Burns McDonnell and Spaces, Inc. team are working with TLC Therapeutic Learning Center to help them fill a need for March. TLC is asking for our community service project help in refurbishing their “Bus Waiting Room”. This is a room where parents and teachers meet to drop off and pick up their children. It is a lounge as well as a play room and storage area for car seats. We are turning this room into a ZOO theme with lots of fun and interesting characters to look at and study on the walls. We plan to turn this room into warm, inviting and interesting setting so people will enjoy sitting in this lounge for parents and play room for the children. We will make this the most comfortable and inviting room in the school.

We also plan to continue the ZOO theme throughout the hallway outside the classroom doors. We are planning on making each classroom a special themed ZOO animal room. We plan to paint a different ZOO animal mural over and around each doorway for the students to identify each room as the "Zebra Room", "Penguin Room", "Monkey Room", "Turtle Room", or "Lion Cub Room". This is a need that TLC is asking us to fulfill, so the kids will have more fun and welcoming for all.

We also discovered a need as we were in discussions with TLC and developing our fill a need theme. TLC is in need of purchasing therapeutic exercise equipment for their kids. There is need to raise money so that they can purchase this equipment so we are organizing and implementing a fundraiser.

The fundraiser will be a Family Poker Tournament on March 3rd from 5:00PM to 9:00PM. It will be held at Johnny’s Tavern (1310 Grand Blvd. KCMO) in the Power and Light. We welcome everyone to register and pay $40.00 dollars for the entry fee to see if you can take up the cash prize for first, second or third place. We are also selling raffle tickets for this event, $5.00 for one ticket or $20.00 for 5 tickets. We will have some very high quality products, services and gifts that we will raffle off all evening. We encourage everyone to please purchase the raffle tickets and sign up for the Poker tournament.

For registration for this event please contact Stephanie Volk at TLC, svolk@childrenstlc.org. Or phone Stephanie at 816-756-0780 ext. 2138.
We will raffle off a Toshiba 32” flat screen TV value of $520.00, Falcon Ridge Golf Outing value of $316.00, JCCC Performing Arts Series for the Joffrey Ballet Performance value of $130.00, also we have a Spa Package, Restaurant Gift Certificates, Sporting Event Tickets, and much more!
Please sign up today to help us raise the necessary funds to help TLC purchase this equipment and help us fill this need for TLC!

Carnival Games for Down Syndrome Guild of KC

The Down Syndrome Guild of Kansas City (DSG) holds several annual events in which family, friends, and volunteers of the organization come together for an afternoon of fun and games. For each event, DSG rents several carnival games from a local supplier. Each game costs about one hundred dollars to rent each time. Over a couple years, it adds up! We found to be the perfect opportunity for Burns & Mac and Spaces to apply our skills to help DSG in a creative way. DSG already had the resources put aside for this project so our team did not have to spend a dime. Additionally, we knew that February's theme of "Change Without $Change$” was not so much about things as much as people. We decided to work with the DSG STARS (Special Teens Achieving Real Success) in deciding what games to build, and how to build them. Hanging out with the DSG STARS, getting paint everywhere, and dancing to some Jonas Brothers, was truly a treat (and entertaining) for all involved.

Over January and February, we met with STARS three times. Our first meeting was an ice breaker in which we went through introductions (you work at McDonald’s??!!) and held a friendly competition of building the tallest possible tower out of toothpicks and marshmallows. DSG is always looking for ways to expose STARS teens to different careers and so this small contest was a great way to show them some things that engineers do. We then brainstormed as a group to decide which of their favorite carnival games we were to build. We decided on Bucket Toss, Washers, Prize Wheel, and Sucker Tree. At our second meeting, we utilized donated painting to let the teens apply some artistic flair to each masterpiece. We also had time to play board games when the work was complete. During our third and final event, we tested out the games by playing them and giving out prizes. Everyone was a winner! Perhaps the most memorable part of the meeting was dancing the night away with STARS to the Hannah Montana soundtrack.

Working with STARS and DSG was fun, educational, and inspirational for us as volunteers. Prior to these events, few of us understood what Down syndrome really was, and how it affects people’s behavior. After spending some quality time with STARS, it is easy to see that each individual with Down syndrome has his or her own strong personality, and will say the darnedest things as any teenager will. A DSG volunteer coordinator pointed out that she had never seen some of the STARS teens as animated as when they were interacting with us. It’s great to know that we made a last impression on some of the teens we worked with. And although we left DSG with some (hopefully) long lasting carnival games, we took away experiences that are even more valuable. DSG has already expressed interest in working with our group in the future. We hope to find some volunteers on the BMcD/Spaces team that would like to continue with future volunteer activities with DSG.

ReStart Group Project

Project Change teams got an early chance to help out and get involved in the community this past Saturday at ReStart in downtown KC. Spaces/Burns & Mac provided almost a dozen volunteers to help put together backpacks full of items for teens and baskets for families for those in need around KC. These teens don't have a lot to call their own but this backpack will be all theirs! The baskets were also filled with necessities for the families that we tend to take for granted. Additionally, notes of encouragement, toiletries and other goodies were included. We also had the opportunity to serve a holiday meal to the families and help clean up at ReStart. There were so many volunteeers there that all of the tasks were done so fast they had to find more things for us to do!

Partner Organizations Chosen for Challenges!

Things are getting exciting! Woo-woooot! We're laying all the groundwork right now so we can start rolling on these projects.

Challenge 1:
Create Change without $change$ - February
A wise man once said, mo' money mo' problems. Well we have no money, and no problems! For February's challenge we are teaming up with the Down Syndrome Guild of KC. One thing we're looking into is helping with some programming to entertain and hang out with these wonderful kids. A meeting with DSG tomorrow should help give us some more ideas of ways we can help.

Challenge 2:
See-A-Need -> Fill-A-Need - March
Ever heard of Children's TLC? Shazam! Now you have! Spaces Inc. is spearheading this effort to help make this awesome place even awesomer (yep I just made up a word), and hopefully a bit more warm and inviting for the kids, parents and families. We're also looking into a specialized bike for kids with disabilities. Everyone at TLC is so passionate, and it's contagious! But in a good way, not like the chicken pox.

Challenge 3:
Grow Change -> Create Hope – April
For Challenge 3 we have decided to work with Community of the Good Shepherd and help them with a large community garden among other things. Hopefully this will give the adult residents a place to get their hands dirty while also complementing their diet with some fresh vegetables. Who doesn't like fresh vegetables?? Small children for one, but they'll grow to love them someday!

Bonus Challenge - A Door too Far - May-???
Operation Breakthrough
Project Change Bonus Edition!!! We just can't get enough of Operation Breakthrough; what a great organization. We're excited to continue our work and maintenance on the outdoor classroom at Operation Breakthrough. This summer may also serve as a great opportunity to have all the kids and their families gather in the classroom for a little summer bbq and party! I call not being the grillmaster!

Challenge Projects Almost Chosen!

The Spaces/Burns & Mac team met after the PC Kickoff Meeting and decided on the 3 (err...4) groups we wanted to work with, and projects we have in mind. There were too many great groups to chose from for the given challenges, so in addition to doing our 3 Team projects, we also decided to do a 4th to continue our work with Operation Breakthrough! Project leaders for the other 3 challenges have been assigned and are now working with the beneficiary groups to see what we can do to help them. The project scopes will be narrowed at the next meeting, and more information will be available for the Lunch and Learn (informational) meeting at Burns & Mac Monday December 6th. The wheels of Change are turning!

Project Change Team Expo & Kick-Off

This event is a GREAT WAY to kick off the 2011 Challenge Event! We will have inspirational guest speakers and about 20 charitable organizations explaining how they impact the community and how your team could help. Food and drink provided.

When: November 2nd 2010, 5:30-7:30p.m.
Where: Eden Alley -707 W 47th St, Kansas City, MO

http://www.projectchange-kc.org/news/rsvp-team-expo-and-kick-event

2011 Challenges Arrive Early!

We just got the three different challenges for 2011! Great challenges call for great ideas, and we’re ready to start brainstorming. Still lots of time before our first challenge submission, but it’s time to spread the word and get people thinking and talking. Write down any idea you have, no matter how big, small, far-fetched, lofty, or off the wall it may be! The fourth (group) challenge will occur in May and is to be announced at the kick-off party November 2nd at Eden Alley on the Plaza.

Challenge One
Create Change without $change$ - Submission due by or before February 18, 2011.
No Money? NO PROBLEM! This project is meant to address the ongoing speed bump that keeps people from getting involved - CASH! Your team will be challenged to put your creativity to the test and leave your wallets at home! No need to purchase items, ask for money or use your own, there are many opportunities to repurpose existing items, donate your time, spend time with someone, build relationships and connect to make a difference. Let's shed that roadblock and a little light on new ways to get involved at the same time!

Challenge Two
See-A-Need -> Fill-A-Need - Submission due by or before March 25th, 2011
Making a difference can be simple! During this project, you are challenged to work together with your selected benefiting organization to identify a basic need. Your team will provide comfort by finding a creative way to reach across the gap and work together to fill it!

Challenge Three
Grow Change -> Create Hope – Submission due by or before April 29th, 2011
During your final project we challenge you to choose something that will continue to make an impact after you leave. This could mean SO many things! Plant a tree or community garden, teach someone to read, restore, repurpose or create an item that will continue to aid someone in your community or educate others about a local need and grow change beyond Project Change!

Move Life Forward at Operation Breakthrough

The Outdoor Classroom is looking GREAT!

Operation Breakthrough provides daily care and education to more than 600 children ages 6 weeks to 15 years, from working‐poor families. In addition, they offer a broad range of social services for the children and their families, nearly all of which are headed by single women. Burns & McDonnell and Spaces, Inc. helped design and begin renovation of an existing empty lot into an Outdoor Classroom for the Operation Breakthrough children in Spring 2009. In 2010, some work still remained to complete the vision.

Over four workdays in April, May, and June, teams of volunteers from Burns & McDonnell and Spaces, Inc. tore out and replaced weather-worn portions of a previously installed perimeter fence, scraped old paint off the fence, applied two brand new coats of paint to the fence, added a brick border to the existing path, completed new brick and gravel paths, dug a dozen post holes, installed a new wooden entryway, and added fence posts for future expansion of the unique door fence. The work that was completed this year moved the Outdoor Classroom at Operation Breakthrough several steps closer to completion. It’s great to see that the classroom is already providing a safe, engaging, and nourishing outdoor space for urban youth to immerse their senses in natural surroundings. Further work by the Burns & McDonnell and Spaces, Inc. team at the Outdoor Classroom is planned in 2011 to make this positive experience for the children even better.

2010 - Bring Change to Hope House

The Team Ready To Work!

With over 13,000 occupants since 1995, Hope House has brought “hope” to many women and children escaping domestic violence, but this month the facility itself was in need of hope. Home to up to 52 women and children at a time, the Independence shelter was experiencing problems with infestations and heavy wear.

The weekend of February 6th marked the challenge in which volunteers came together to rehab the living quarters within the shelter. The team removed old furniture, carpet and base boards, then cleaned the rooms, put on a fresh coat of paint and laid new ceramic tile in six separate rooms. “This team completed work in two days that would have taken us at least six weeks,” said Gary Ashmore, Hope House Facility Manager. By implementing these changes in two days, the Project Change team enabled Hope House to keep its facilities open to as many survivors as possible during the renovation period. In 2009, 754 women and 474 children found shelter at Hope House; a total of 35,000 bed nights. For 337 nights out of the year the shelter was full. When the rooms are closed for rehabilitation, they can’t be used. The collaboration of our team provided shelter and hope to some of the region’s most vulnerable families by keeping the beds open and revitalizing six living spaces for those most in need.

Pulling off some old carpet