It never fails. Each year in Chattanooga when the daffodils start blooming, so do the yard sale signs. This past weekend was especially bountiful due to the warm weather. I know I drove past half a dozen signs between East Brainerd and Hixson on Saturday. And everyone loves a yard sale, right? Especially when you can save a few bucks and score an antique book or a great piece of furniture.

Well, the Partnership has a sale for you. A garage sale in fact. We will open our garage doors to the shopping public on Saturday, April 4th at our 1800 McCallie Avenue office. There are childrens items, furniture, clothing, books, home decor and household goods...even antiques. Our prices will be hard to beat, and our service unmatched as smiling Partnership staff greet you.

Not only will you get a good deal, but our Homemaker Services will benefit from the proceeds. The dollar you pay for a child's sundress will help provide non-medical, personal assitance to an elderly neighbor who is just trying to live independently in their own home.

We are even accepting your donations of gently used items to sale at the event. Just call (423) 697-3824 to make an appointment and drop off your items.

We hope to see you in April!

Top 10 Reasons to Run in the Scenic City Charity Challenge 09

The Partnership is one of eight charities participating in the Scenic City Charity Challenge, hosted by the Chattanooga Track Club on Feb. 28th. We've got our game face on and we're ready to lace up our running shoes. We need at least 50 runners to register by Feb. 28th. We're calling board members, volunteers, staff, friends of staff, friends of friends of staff....and are strongly considering hiding in the bushes downtown and accosting random runners.

So why would you be interested in running anyway? We found Nike's Top Ten Reasons to Run and would like to share them with you for your enjoyment.

• 10 - So you can get up and run at 6 AM before work, when it is 20 degrees outside and all you want to do is sleep another hour, but you know that if you do, you’ll hate yourself the rest of the day.
  
• 9 - So your toes can get so ugly to the point that you’re ashamed to wear flip-flops.
  
• 8 - So you can tell someone your weekly mileage and get the response, “50 miles?! I don’t even drive that far!” And you can smile and fake a laugh like you haven’t heard it 900 times before. Or they’ll ask how you can enjoy running 26.2 miles and then call you crazy.
  
• 7 - So you can double or even triple your shower and grocery bills.
  
• 6 - So that the checkout guy at the grocery store gives you a weird look when you’re standing in line with three jars of vaseline.
  
• 5 - So you can do laundry three times a week and still run out of matching socks.
  
• 4 - So that your muddy, dirty shoes can start piling up outside your door because they’re too smelly to bring inside, and you can listen to your neighbors complain about it everytime you run into them.
  
• 3 - So that by the time one o’clock rolls around at work, you feel like curling up under your desk and taking a two hour nap.
  
• 2 - So you can eat a huge dinner and an hour later you’re hungry again.
  
• 1 - Oh, yeah…the health benefits.

But of course, the main reason why you should run in the Charity Challenge is to support the Partnership and our mission of empowering people to build better lives. We're doing serious stuff to support the community through crisis counseling, intervention, prevention and education. Learn more at www.partnershipfca.com.

Wanna Run? Go now to: www.sceniccityhalfmarathon.com

The Partnership and Bryan College hosted a seminar yesterday on Human Trafficking, featuring a guest speaker from New Scotland Yard's Operation Maxim Human Trafficking team. We had a great turn out in the afternoon session, from many community organizations interested in finding out what we can do in Chattanooga to prevent trafficking. Our guest speaker stressed how prevention is key, and that we need to monitor our community and raise awareness about trafficking to stop it from becoming a real problem.

Chattanooga Matters, formerly the Chattanooga Resource Foundation, is hosting a public forum on the issue at the Oak Street Center on UTC's campus, February 18th. You can get in on the conversation by visiting www.chattanoogamatters.org to learn more.

Bryan College is hosting their national conference on human trafficking beginning today through Saturday, at Bryan College in Dayton, TN. Visit www.bryan.edu to register online, it's free.

Check out this music video featuring Radiohead and a message about the cost of human trafficking. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=cdrCalO5BDs

Calling All Runners

Run, Walk or Volunteer. The Partnership is one of eight charities participating in the 2009 Scenic City Charity Classic half-marathon and 5K walk/run. The event is Saturday, February 28th at Finley Stadium and we need you to participate! We need at least 10 volunteers and at least 50 runners to secure our spot in the event for next year.

If you would like to volunteer, please call Rosemary Miller at (423) 697-3830 or email rmiller@partnershipfca.com. Duties may include working in the water stop filling cups and handing them to runners, serving as a finish line attendant, working registration or food tables. Shifts begin at 6:30 a.m. and last until 1:00 p.m. The first 10 volunteers to sign up will receive an event t-shirt. Volunteers must work a 4 hour shift.

If you would like to run/walk, please go to www.sceniccityhalfmarathon.com and register. Registration for the half-marathon before Jan. 31st is $40 and $50 after the early bird. The 5K walk/run is only $20 before Jan. 31st and is then $25 after the early bird. Make sure to select the Partnership for Families, Children and Adults as your charity of choice! Register today!

If you would like to make a donation to the Partnership, visit my fundraising page by clicking here.

Good Samaritan Story is Uplifting

I just read a heart warming story in today's Times Free Press - Good Samaritan gives time to kids. The story is about a local woman named Phyllis Williams who has turned into a "third Granny" to the children living in her apartment complex in East Ridge. She meets them at their bus stop, she takes them sidewalk chalk and jump ropes to play with, and even makes them presents to give to their mothers on their birthday. The story is a bit sentimental, but it should be. Our community needs even more Mrs. Williams to go around.

It's not hard to get involved in your community. Just give our Volunteer Coordinator a call at (423) 697-3830 to find out how you can be a good samaritan, too.

What's Your Resolution?

A recent article in the Times Free Press discusses Chattanooga residents' top three New Year resolutions: losing weight, quiting smoking and reducting debt. All three directly relate to health, whether it be physical or financial. But let's not forget our mental health, which is closely intertwined with both our physical and financial health.

Stress and anxiety brought on by financial difficulties, family problems or other issues can directly impact physical and emotional well-being. As we all think about aspects of our lives we would like to improve this year, let's make sure we are getting to the real root of our problems. Is it the jelly doughnut that we're fighting, or is the real enemy an anxiety disorder with overeating and smoking an ugly by-product?

The Partnership has licensed counselors available to work with individuals and families who are struggling. Call (423) 697-7130 to schedule an appointment and really get serious this year about those resolutions.

The Partnership is kicking off our 4th annual Cell Phone collection drive to support our Family Violence Shelter and Services. We are working with Shelter Alliance to recycle and refurbish old cell phones - even the broken ones.....even the ones from 1985 that are the size of a brick.

Just bring your old phone and batteries (no chargers, please) to any Partnership office beginning January 5th. We are primarily located at 1800 McCallie Avenue and 300 E. 8th Street in Chattanooga. Drop them in the blue bucket and help us toward our $3,000 goal!

It just takes $74 to cover the costs associated with providing a night of shelter for a domestic violence victim. Since some phones can bring in up to $30, just a few donated phones can help someone escape violence and find safety for their first night.

And Shelter Alliance has a zero landfill policy that assures all phones which cannot be refurbished, will not end up in a landfill. Even the cardboard boxes they are shipped in are recycled! Check out their recycling policy at http://www.shelteralliance.net/company/cell-phone-recycling.cfm.

So fufill that New Year's resolution to get more organized and clean out those old phones in your junk drawer. Help us Break the Cycle of domestic violence, and recycle your old cell phone with the Partnership.

A Partnership Christmas

What does Christmas look like at the Partnership? If you look closely behind the piles of paperwork and through the hustle and bustle in our offices, you will find true Christmas magic. And a few elves as well.

Many of the individuals and families receiving services from the Partnership require a little more assistance during the holidays, just to make sure children do not go without a visit from St. Nick and elderly have a holiday dinner. There are certain Partnership staff who really do "make Christmas" for families in need, simply by collecting up toys they have gathered all year in anticipation of the need to come. There are local businesses, such as UNUM, whose employees adopt entire families to provide gifts and food. There are volunteers, like those from the Junior League and the East Lake Neighborhood Association, who make sure those with the greatest need are provided for.

So this Christmas, we say "Thank You" to all those who contributed to the holiday cheer our clients will experience this year - all because of you.

This is what a Partnership Christmas looks like:

UNUM's Deb Kee passes a present to Katie Larue at the Partnership while UNUM and Partnership staff stand side-by-side to get all the donated items off the delivery truck and into the building.

United Van Lines donated use of their full sized tractor trailer and four staff, to help UNUM deliver a truck load of toys and food. Santa even came along for the ride.

Toys and Food for 230 individuals, arriving in at the Partnership, donated by UNUM.

The Tennessee Aquarium "Gifts for Guppies", donates toys and cheer to the Partnership every year. Our Youth Services staff above say, "Thanks Guys!"

We have named this generous guy "Biker Santa". He looks tough, but has a big, soft heart! The first annual Hamilton County toy run saw 158 bikers ride to Ultimate Cycle & Scooter with toys and goodies for Partnership families.

Hamilton County Toy Run organizers (Stephanie and Joe), pause for a moment for a group shot. Special thanks to Ultimate Cycles & Scooters and Road Rash magazine for all the support!

The Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Alliance puts together a fairytale Christmas party for the families of the Partnership's Family Violence Shelter every year. Pictured here are the organizers and their children, who provided extra help this year.

Beating Holiday Stress, part III

These final tips can help you enjoy the holidays and experience less stress during this busy time of year. We wish you a joyous holiday season!

18. Recruit a child wrangler. Kids underfoot can add to the stress of big events. Designate one adult to organize games and fun activities in a confined space.

19. Avoid isolation. The holidays can be a depressing time for those who’ve lost loved ones. Get out of the house whenever possible and reconnect with old friends.

20. Help someone who needs you. Nothing melts away personal troubles like helping someone else overcome theirs.

21. Pass down wisdom and tradition. Instead of mourning the passing of better times, keep those memories alive by sharing them with the next generation.

22. Review your life priorities. Combat your hectic schedule by reassessing what matters the most to you.

23. Forgive someone. Let go of past resentments to make room for future happiness.

24. Make a gratitude list. Review it whenever you’re feeling depressed, anxious, depressed or stressed out.

25. Take a time out. Indulge in things you stopped doing because you “just don’t have time for anymore” like a long lunch or a night out with friends.

Beating Holiday Stress, part II

Taking simple steps can help you beat stress during the holidays. Check out yesterday's post for the first seven pointers.

8. Cut your costs. Give inexpensive but thoughtful gifts like home-baked goods or hand-made photo albums. Bundling several small items around a theme provides a low cost, personal touch.

9. Don’t lose the meaning. If consumerism has you down, check out for awhile with inspirational literature and reconnect with what makes the holidays special and important.

10. Participate in reaffirming activities. Spend time at church and in your community with like-minded people.

11. Take some time off work. Don’t cram all errands and shopping trips into the precious little time you have outside work hours. Avoiding the weekend crowds will allow you to get more done.

12. Do a solo power shopping event. Turbo charge your efficiency by avoiding distractions and competing agendas.

13. Take advantage of the internet. Most sites offer free shipping for the holidays. Find great unique and inexpensive gifts at sites like lillianvernon.com.

14. Ask for help. If you’re playing host, assign chores and duties to your spouse and children.

15. Cheer loves company. Combine household holiday prep with socializing. Ask some friends over for a baking and gift wrapping party.

16. Lighten your cooking duties. It’s perfectly acceptable to cook a main course and ask dinner guests to bring a side.

17. Get on the same page with family. Come to a consensus on what activities are most important and cut out the extras that add work and scheduling pressure.

Check back here tomorrow for the final installment of holiday stress-busters.