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Barbara Scoville, LCSW

~ Pioneers of Peace™

Barbara Scoville, LCSW

Tag Archives: Kindness

When an Empty Basket is a Good Thing

03 Sunday Jul 2016

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Altruism, Compassionate Knitting, humanitarian service, making a difference, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, The Power to Do, Uncategorized

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Tags

Charity Knitting, Compassion, Gratitude, Kindness

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Pioneers of Peace™ is the humanitarian arm of Barbara Scoville, LCSW. Did you know there is a designated blog that chronicles our adventures? To find out more, Read Pioneers of Peace’s latest blog article “When an Empty Basket is a Good Thing”  and consider becoming a regular follower.

 

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Valentine’s Day and VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center

14 Saturday Feb 2015

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Altruism, homeless, homeless youth, humanitarian service, making a difference, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience

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Tags

Anna Stapley, Center Coordinator VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center, Charity, Compassion, Happiness, Homeless Youth Resource Center, Humanitarian Programs, Kindness, Maya Angelou, POP Operation Love Bundles, Quality of life, Target, Volunteers of America

POP Operation Love Bundles Drop Off Day -Annie Peterson from Target standing next To Anna Stapley, Center Coordinator  VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center

POP Operation Love Bundles Drop Off Day -Annie Peterson from Target standing next To Anna Stapley, Center Coordinator VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center

IMG_2843I sat down at my desk, opened my computer, and while I was waiting for WordPress to load, I lifted my eyes from the screen to look out the window. The wind chimes hanging by my back door were singing, as were the birds, and I beheld the beautiful sunrise pictured above. A perfect Valentine’s Day morning.

Aside from the picturesque sky, I can attest to “There is beauty all around.” That phrase is from a popular hymn that continues with… “when there’s love at home.” 

Maya Angelou said ” I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself”

Yesterday finally arrived. We loaded up seven over-sized Target bags holding two hundred “POP Love Bundles,” and delivered them to Volunteers of America (VOA) Homeless Youth Resource Center.

We were welcomed by a lovely young man who offered to help us carry the heavy bags inside. Once inside, we saw food for the taking lining the shelves. We met Anna Stapley the program coordinator and she took us on a tour of this amazing facility.

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When they say “Homeless Youth Resource Center,” they aren’t kidding! From the outside, the building looks quite small. When you walk in, the space feels cramped…but just you wait; as we began touring we felt like one of the below:

  1. We had actually walked into Dr. Who’s Tardis
  2. Hermione Granger dipped her hand into her magical purse
  3. IKEA had swooped in making the best possible use of this very small space

There were shelves holding large bins of hygiene supplies, baby supplies, food, clothing, shoes, backpacks, blankets, dress clothes for job interviews, sleeping bags and much more.

There were two computers, seven showers, a large open area that I think doubled for serving meals and holding groups.

The center is open:

Mon – Fri  9:15 am- 1 pm (drop in-center)

Mon – Fri  9 am – 5 pm (appointment only or drop donations)

Breakfast served: Mon-Fri 9:15 am – 9:45 am

Lunch served: Mon-Fri  1- 1:30 pm

Dinner served: Friday only 4-4:30 pm

Different groups offered include: Art group, Get an I.D., Horizonte Group (GED and education), Yoga Group, Music Group, Haircut and a Movie Group, Homeless Court (for kids with legal problems), Zine Group (run by the Community Writing Center) and two other groups for talking about what’s on your mind and learning new skills.

…and the services continue…case managers helping youth get connected to community resources, job interviewing skills, assistance for obtaining new social security cards (remember, you can’t get a job without a social security card,) and so much more that I can’t even begin to do it justice. I can’t remember the exact ratio of full time employees to volunteers but I do know there are 20 who give their time freely to help vulnerable youth get stabilized.

Volunteers of America’s mission statement is:

Volunteers of America, Utah is a ministry of service organized to reach and uplift those in greatest need and to provide opportunities to experience the joy of serving others.                

We at Pioneers of Peace resonate with that sentiment wholeheartedly.

Right now I wish you could feel what is inside my heart. Take a moment and try to imagine the feeling of seeing so much good being done for so many vulnerable people and then on top of that, add all of the effort on everyone’s part to make POP Operation Love Bundles possible.

We would like to thank each one of you who contributed to the success of this project. From cheering us on, to sending positive energy and prayers and sharing our goals, to financial support, making scarves, buying fabric, socks, protein bars and lip balm. Thank you for writing quotes on paper cranes and then lovingly folding them, and also the actual assembling of the love bundles; We say…THANK YOU! WITHOUT YOUR SUPPORT WE COULDN’T HAVE DONE IT. We have all walked, not just talked.

Our rough calculations show that together we spent $1,030.00 and served 100+ hours for POP Operation Love Bundles. Well done everyone!

Our goal was to let our homeless youth know they are not forgotten. We hope in some small way we fulfilled Maya Angelou’s beautiful quote.

” I long, as does every human being, to be at home wherever I find myself”

Happy Valentine’s Day Everyone XOXO

~Barbara

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American Fork, Utah Target Employees are ROCK STARS!!!
American Fork, Utah Target Employees are ROCK STARS!!!
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POP Operation Love Bundles Drop Off Day -Annie Peterson from Target standing next To Anna Stapley, Center Coordinator VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center
POP Operation Love Bundles Drop Off Day -Annie Peterson from Target standing next To Anna Stapley, Center Coordinator VOA Homeless Youth Resource Center
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P.S. FYI, VOA HYRC can always use donations. For more info visit www.voaut.org

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To the Young Man Sitting Outside the Door

09 Monday Feb 2015

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Altruism, homeless, homeless youth, humanitarian service, making a difference, Pioneers of Peace

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

American Fork, Charity, Compassion, empathy, friends, Giada De Laurentiis, Gratitude, Happiness, Kindness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, Target

American Fork, Utah Target Employees are ROCK STARS!!!

American Fork, Utah Target Employees are ROCK STARS!!!

I was running late already, but when I turned left instead of right my fate was sealed. As I approached the library in a harried state, I saw a young man hanging out close to where I was going to park my car. Is this safe, I questioned.

No time to worry now; just park the car and get everything inside. Everyone will be arriving soon; we have booked the library for two hours. Will everybody show up? … and the big question, will we be able to assemble 200 love bundles in that amount of time?

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Everyone did show up. We folded the scarves in half length wise and laid them out across the conference table. It was kind of like making Giada De Laurentiis’s lasagna roll ups. First the scarf, then a layer of socks, next a layer of hand warmers, and on top of that a protein bar. Alongside the protein bar, lip balm, and then the piece de resistance, a paper crane containing the most important spice; an inspirational quote. Roll that all up nice and neat and tie it with a piece of raffia. Viola a “Love Bundle.”

Someone was singing “Rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin, rollin”, there were other songs from the Lion King, and comments like, “I am rocking these love bundles,” and “Make sure you blow a kiss into each one of these babies.” We talked about the TV show Blacklist, catching fireflies when we were kids and Moulin Rouge. Each team member disclosed their signature strengths and opportunities and at one point, someone said, “I feel really close to you guys right now.” It was hard to tell if the comment was playful or dare I say sarcastic, but personally… I felt like I had 6 new best friends.

Because of all the frivolity I don’t recall when I first noticed, but I saw that the boy who was standing by my parking place had moved inside. He was sitting on a chair that made it possible for him to see everything we were doing. Throughout the two and a half hours we were there, my eye would catch him, and I was reminded he was there.

What’s he doing? Something is not right. At times I couldn’t tell if he was sleeping or just slumped over playing on his phone. Is he homeless? Is he waiting for someone? Does he just like hanging out at the library?

And then I would be carried away in the friendly atmosphere of new found friends who on their own time, chose to come together to make a difference in the lives of homeless adolescents.

Someone once posed a question similar to this, “If a star appeared in the sky that held some great significance: would you see it?” I’ve thought a lot about that question over the past month and have wondered if I would.

About an hour and a half into assembling “Operation Love Bundles,” I walked out into the hall and approached the young man. I said, “Just hanging out at the library today?” He didn’t look up at me, but said in a flat voice, “Yeah.” I said, “You’ve been sitting here a long time.” Again, without looking up, he said “Yeah.”

I walked back into the assembly room wondering if I should do anything more.

To make a long story short, I didn’t. We finished the project and ended with so much oxytocin floating through the room, it was intoxicating. Thank you’s and promises of working together again on a charitable cause carried us out to our cars.

Out to our cars… As we were loading up 7 oversized Target bags containing 200 love bundles, I noticed the boy standing in the same place he was standing when I drove up. What is he doing I asked myself again. Should I do something? Should I give him a love bundle? Should I ask him if he is okay?

I drove away.

Today is February 9. We are dropping the bundles off at HYRC on the 13th. We are experiencing a record breaking heat wave in Salt Lake City. Our love bundles were created to let homeless youth know they are not forgotten and to keep them warm on cold nights. Participation on this project has been overwhelming. Many have walked, not just talked and for that, we at Pioneers of Peace are so grateful. We know there is a magical synergy that takes place between the giver and the receiver, and all are measurably edified…and that’s what Pioneers of Peace is all about.

But as I reflect back on “Assembly Day,” I can’t help but think I missed the star. If I could have a do-over, at the very least, I would call up my courage and try harder to engage the young man. Perhaps I would’ve asked him to help us. What is the irony in putting together 200 love bundles in the middle of a heat wave when there might have been 1 with us from start to finish, and we did nothing.

“Do the best you can until you know better. Then when you know better, do better.” `Maya Angelou

To that young man, I say, “I am so sorry. I will do better next time.”

 

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We Need Your Help! POP “Project Love Bundles”

18 Sunday Jan 2015

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Altruism, Pioneers of Peace, Valentine's Day

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Tags

Charitable sewing, Charity, Compassion, empathy, Gratitude, Homeless youth, Homelessness, Hope, Humanitarian Programs, Kindness, Making a difference, Not Forgotten, Peace, Pioneers of Peace, Shelter, Valentine's Day

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POP “Project Love Bundles” is a charitable campaign to let homeless youth in Salt Lake City know they are not forgotten this Valentine’s Day.

Each bundle contains: a warm fleece scarf, hand warmers, a new pair of socks, protein bar, lip balm, and a paper crane with a handwritten quote.

Please help us by donating new 8″ X 60″ fleece scarves 

“Project Love Bundles” Scarf Tutorial

Each scarf is 8″ x 60″
The instructions that follow are for a 2 yd piece of fabric because it makes the best use of yardage. If you have a smaller piece, just make sure the scarf is 8″ x 60″

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1. After removing selvedge edge, cut a 2 yd piece of 60″ wide fleece into 9, 8″ strips.

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2. For fringe, cut 1″w x 3″h 8 times. (8 fringes)

IMG_42563. Fold fringe up to 3′ cut line and cut a SMALL slit on fold.

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4. With each piece of fringe: Fold up to slit and pull it through making a knot.

IMG_4255IMG_4252HELP!!! All of my sewing friends!! If there is a better way to describe these instructions please let me know.

Also if you would be willing to donate completed scarves we would love you forever. We need 200 scarves by Feb 4 so they can be assembled into bundles and donated by Feb 5. 

Drop off location will be announced soon. If you live outside of Salt Lake City, Utah, Donations can be sent to:

Barbara Scoville, LCSW

5635 South Waterbury Way Suite C-202

SLC, UT 84121


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Pioneers of Peace Help Homeless Youth Know They’re Not Forgotten

15 Thursday Jan 2015

Tags

Compassion, Help, Homelessness, Kindness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, Valentine's Day, VOA, VOAHYRC

lovebundles

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Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW | Filed under Altruism, Pioneers of Peace

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Pioneers of Peace Thanks “Giving” Cup Campaign

05 Sunday Oct 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, The Pioneers of Peace Thanks"Giving" Cup Campaign, The Power to Do

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Tags

altruism, Charity, Compassion, Gratitude, Humanitarian Programs, Kindness, Pioneers of Peace, The Pioneers of Peace Thanks"Giving" Cup Campaign, World Food Program USA, Zero Hunger Challenge

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Pioneers of Peace™ Thanks”Giving” Cup Campaign

Between Sept 1 and Thanksgiving Day, Pioneers of Peace™ teams up with World Food Program USA through our annual Thanks “Giving” Cup Campaign. We collect our spare change for the purpose of providing school meals to the world’s hungriest children. Just 25 cents feeds a hungry child in school for a day.

,

We Don’t

 … Ask you for money you don’t have

… Ask you to forgo your holiday gift giving

… Ask you to starve so that you can feel the pain

… Ask you to give up your family vacation

… Ask for an ongoing monthly donation

… Ask you to donate to an organization that doesn’t have a track record

… Ask you to give Pioneers of Peace™ your money

We DO ask

… That you find a cup worthy of holding precious coins that will pay for school

meals

… That over the course of the campaign you fill the cup with your loose change

… That you look under your cushions, empty the bottom of your purses, search through your junk drawers, pick up coins off the street, and send your children on a hunt for lost coins waiting to be transformed into nutritionally complete meals.

…That between Thanksgiving Day and Dec 1st you liberate the buying power of the change you collected by donating it to WFPUSA on the Pioneer of Peace Thanks”Giving”Cup Campaign link

We Hope

 …That you take this easy opportunity to make a difference in the lives of vulnerable children

…That your choice to help will have a ripple effect of goodness in the world

…That your children will have the seeds of gratitude and compassion planted in their hearts

…That you know you have

…That children who would otherwise be searching for food or working, can receive an education.

…That through all of our efforts, we will see the end of hunger in our lifetime

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Self Compassion

07 Friday Mar 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Emotion School, Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, Wellness

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Tags

Compassion, Kindness, Kristen Neff, Self Compassion, Self-esteem

I came across this talk today and am compelled to share it.

To all of my clients who follow this blog… this is homework 🙂 Please take the time to watch it. 

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Compassion

17 Monday Feb 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Caregiver's Storyboard, Emotion School, Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Quotes, Resilience, Wellness

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Tags

altruism, Compassion, empathy, Friendship, Kindness, Sadness, Sorrow, Vulnerability

Compassion

Compassion

Our sorrows and wounds are healed only when we touch them with compassion ~Buddha

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A Real Pioneer of Peace and an Update on The Thanks”giving” Cup Campaign

01 Saturday Feb 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, The Power to Do, The Thanks"giving" Cup Campaign

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Tags

altruism, Charity, Compassion, Costco, Kindness, Red cup, School meals, The Thanks"giving" Cup Campaign, The World Food Program

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ATTENTION Thanks  “giving” Cup Campaigners!!!!!

Diane Geddes writes…

“Barbara, I’m Dianne Young’s sister and we met in Costco back in November. I’m sorry it’s taken me so long to get you this information. I wanted to thank you for letting me know about Coins 4 Kids. We did it here at work and raised over $4,000.00. Thanks to you we provided 16,000 lunches. Talk about the power of ONE!! Thank you for making a difference in our lives and so many children’s.”

Way to go Dana Simmons Geddes!!! You are a Pioneer of Peace!!! Thank you so much for letting us know what can be done when we walk, not just talk. 16,000 lunches for school children in the most impoverished regions of the world; that’s just amazing!

Diane is referring to The World Food Program’s School Meal program. If you haven’t heard about this United Nation’s based charity, click on the link and check it out for yourself…or read EXTRA!!! EXTRA!!! READ ALL ABOUT IT!!! The Answer to The Red Cup Post and Why You Should Care and The Thanks “giving” Cup Campaign

To those of you who will be participating in this year’s campaign…let’s start thinking now about how we can maximize our efforts. I would like to start the 2014 campaign on Sept 1… If you have any ideas I would love to hear them 🙂

Every Mom Should be Able to Feed Her Baby

Every Mom Should be Able to Feed Her Baby

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How to Improve Relationships and Make a Kinder World-Tiny Buddha.com

26 Sunday Jan 2014

Posted by Barbara Scoville, LCSW in Caregiver's Storyboard, Emotion School, Life Mastery Skills, Mindfulness, Pioneers of Peace, Resilience, The Optimism Corner, The Power to Do, Wellness

≈ 2 Comments

Tags

altruism, Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education, Compassion, Kind words, Kindness, Relationships, Stanford University, Tiny Buddha, Tiny Buddha Facebook

Dinner with the Vardeu's

Greetings Friends!

The post I wrote for Tiny Buddha posted on their website last Friday (www.tinybuddha.com). I’m not tech savy enough to make it appear in it’s entirity on this blog, so I have given you the link.

http://tinybuddha.com/blog/how-to-improve-relationships-and-make-a-kinder-world/

I’m thrilled with the feedback I received. Over 2100 people liked it on the Tiny Buddha Facebook page and The Center for Compassion and Altruism Research and Education (Stanford University) re-blogged it. I hope you enjoy it 🙂

Until next time…

May you find your cup half full 🙂

Barbara

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