Category Archives: Family

Advocates for Good

Posted on September 26, 2011 by Jane Collins

SCAN Executive Director Sonia Quinonez, Jose Quinonez, Joyce Bliss, board member Jeff Bliss at the 2010 Toast to Hopes event.   Linda Franz was at a crossroads. Her daughter had graduated from college and her son was about to start. … Continue reading →

Posted in Adults, Children, Family, In the Neighborhood, Kids | 1 Comment

Happy Father’s Day

Posted on June 16, 2011 by Jane Collins

My Dad passed away a week before Christmas in 2007, and this is the first year I can walk past a rack of Father’s Day cards without getting weepy. Most of you don’t know my Dad but I wish you … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-based, Family, Humanity, International, Other, People | 1 Comment

Our Daily Bread – Food for All

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Jane Collins

(l to r) Kerryn McMeans, Sue Almond and Rob Higginbotham from Fairfax Methodist Church get ready to load up their cars with groceries, as part of their partnership with Our Daily Bread. When I arrived at Fairfax United Methodist Church … Continue reading →

Posted in Faith-based, Family, Hunger, In the Neighborhood | Leave a comment

PLTI – Don’t let the title fool you!

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Jane Collins

A recent PLTI class, who’s now making great changes in the community. Gotta admit, I had no idea what the Parent Leadership Training Institute of Alexandria (PLTI) did.  Their website says their mission is “to enable parents to become leading … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Family, In the Neighborhood, Life Skills, Other | Leave a comment

ALIVE – The Saga of the Big Red Couch

Posted on May 24, 2011 by Jane Collins

Mark (left) and Mike (right) offload a dresser from the ALIVE truck. The big red couch was too big to be photo-shopped and included in this story. It’s a rainy Saturday morning – perfect for sleeping in, drinking coffee in … Continue reading →

Posted in Donating, Family, Homelessness, In the Neighborhood, People | Leave a comment

Don’t ‘Contact’ Me

Posted on October 11, 2010 by Jane Collins

     It took a trip to Italy to realize the value of human connection. Generally speaking, Italians are very family-focused, and over the course of our time there it gave me a chance to think about how I do business–literally … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, In the Neighborhood, International | Leave a comment

Give it Away

Posted on May 31, 2010 by Jane Collins

     When my nephew planned to visit us over spring break, I panicked. How do you entertain a 16-year-old boy for four days? I thought he might like the play Shear Madness at the Kennedy Center, a witty comedy with … Continue reading →

Posted in Donating, Family, In the Neighborhood | Leave a comment

It Took a Village

Posted on June 11, 2009 by Jane Collins

      Earlier this month it was my honor to deliver the commencement address at my alma mater high school in Bellefontaine, Ohio. There’s always something safe about going home. Mary Rutan Park still has its four tennis courts and the … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Education, Family, In the Neighborhood | 2 Comments

Family Feuds

Posted on October 9, 2008 by Jane Collins

  Over the last few months, three friends have told me about their family dramas where someone hasn’t talked to someone in decades. While they repeat the story to me with either sorrow or defiance, their sense of loss always bulldozes … Continue reading →

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A Few Good Men

Posted on June 11, 2008 by Jane Collins

The world needs more good daddies. And so I convinced my husband to join me on a two-week service vacation at a children’s orphanage in Peru this past March with the ulterior motive of providing the kids with the chance … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Family, International | 4 Comments

Games People Play

Posted on February 9, 2008 by Jane Collins

Growing up, my family loved playing games.  Even now, on those rare occasions when we’re all in once place, three generations of us spend hours playing some fast-thinking word game, cards, or whatever else shows up at the game table.  … Continue reading →

Posted in Family, Homelessness | 1 Comment

Money Matters

Posted on January 18, 2008 by Jane Collins

I have always been kind of cheap.  Really, I re-gift like a pro and have a drawer full of presents – all bought on clearance – that I put in used gift bags with recycled tissue paper and can still … Continue reading →

Posted in Donating, Family | 1 Comment

Hokey Dokey

Posted on May 3, 2007 by kannon58

I could not wait for Friday, April 20! Right after work was the start of a long-awaited weekend getaway with my very special guy. For months we had planned this weekend for just the two us, and visions of bed … Continue reading →

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Home, Sweet Home

Posted on December 19, 2006 by kannon58

Going back to the Ronald McDonald House at night is like going back to my parents’ home. There’s a fire burning in the fireplace and a plate of food set aside in the fridge just for me. Written by a … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Family | 1 Comment

Paradise Found

Posted on October 14, 2006 by kannon58

Sometimes a service project flops. The good news is that my “failed” volunteer project happened while I was in Hawaii (nothing can go too badly in Hawaii, right)? While planning this dream vacation, my friend and I resurrected a service … Continue reading →

Posted in Children, Family | 1 Comment