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Health & Fitness

Paying it Forward in a Family-Fun Way

People find fun and interesting ways to give back.

People who volunteer to help others on a daily basis always inspire me.We are very lucky here in Attleboro because there are so many people whose inspirational actions lift up so many.

I’d like to write about just a few this time with the understanding that there are so many others and I will try to cover them all at one time or another. and the new Triboro Lion’s group are some of those inspirational organizations.

I remember the first time I heard about On Common Ground I thought, “Gee, what a wonderful idea. We should all become mentors as there is something that everyone can teach someone else.”

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On Common Ground helps to connect people in the community who are in need with people who can help them navigate through that situation. Whether the issue is housing, substance abuse, or a difficult family situation, the people who answer the phone at On Common Ground make referrals and help to connect the important dots that enable those who are going through a difficult time to get through it.

What has been so fun about On Common Ground is how founder Pam Bliss funds the organization. She does it in a . My favorite way is through the “Communi-Tea” group that meets at a home once a month for food and a some kind of activity like making necklaces, bread, or learning how to refinish furniture.  

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The people who attend donate money and get to meet some fabulous people while learning something or trying something new. We learned how to make butter from heavy cream in a blender at one meeting. At another meeting we learned how to string gorgeous necklaces.  But the real fun comes in meeting the people who come.

Pam’s recent event to fund On Common Ground is going to be the F to be held on Saturday, October 1st, at starting with events for children from 11:00 – 2:00, like storytelling, crafts and demonstrations, and from 2:00 to 9:00 events for adults with the Jonathan Edwards Band headlining at 7:30.

The Lions is another group that does so much for so many. The Triboro Lions is a new Lion’s group that covers several different towns in the Attleboro area and meets in the evening twice a month. 

Some may think that we have enough Lion’s groups already but this one is different because of the fact that men and women can meet together allowing for family participation at monthly meetings. My husband and I decided to join because we wanted to have an activity that we could do together.

The Triboro Lions Annual Vision Walk is coming up. It is a unique opportunity to “see” how a blind person “feels” his or her way through life. Last year’s first annual was a great success.  On the , Saturday, October 15, starting at 9 a.m. you can bring your family and walk through several different stations where you are blindfolded and then attempt to do every day things such as; find your keys and unlock a door, use cooking utensils, count out change, and other daily activities that seeing people take for granted. I was impressed, last year, at how being blindfolded, it is so important to rely on other senses. It is not too late to sponsor a table for this event.

Interested in volunteering for one of these groups? Both groups have websites that are up and running. Any time you have to give to volunteer for the or lions group would be greatly appreciated. 

 

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