PARAGON PALS
Paragon Pals is one of our Club's newest programs. The Club collects personal items, mostly for women, that we bag and then donate to various shelters, or those in need.
We collect shampoo, conditioner, toothpaste, toothbrushes, Kleenex, soap, hand sanitizer, deodorant, lotion, combs, razors, and other miscellaneous items.
At one of the meetings before we divide up the items collected, the Club, under the expert guidance of our in-house seamstress Pat Boehm, bags are hand-made of assorted materials, and finished with a draw string. This way, when the necessities are gone, there is a bag for them to keep and use as they like.
The idea for Paragon Pals actually started when I was assisting Governor Cherie Gentry in Columbus. I had to come up with an idea to entertain those not attending the OI Ohio District training sessions. I decided on a project to help others. I sent a letter to all members of the Ohio District asking for the personal items and small purses or bags to be brought to the next quarter meeting. I was overwhelmed by the response! We made close to 300 bags that were donated to a local homeless shelter.
The program was so well received, I thought it would be great to continue it on a club level.
So far, we have donated to Hope Gospel Mission, New Life Mission, and Haven House.
We continue collecting all year long, and fill bags twice a year. We also include a card in each bag with a little message for the donee. I hope we continue this for many years, as there is always someone who needs a little help now and then.
With gratitude,
Sally Schmidt, Paragon Pals Committee Chair
Facing My Fears Leads to My Favorite Night
Tonight, is one of my favorite nights as a Paragon Optimist member.
Why you ask?
Because tonight all of our hard-work to raise money pays off, and we get to donate a check to a worthy charity! We are donating $781.80 to help those who truly need it, New Life Mission!
New Life Mission, a 501 (c) 3 non-profit inner-city ministry is located in Hamilton, Ohio since 1969. They have devoted their energy to passionately advocating for the hungry, needy and under-represented members of our local community. New Life Mission’s Community Cafe serves hot meals Monday thru Thursday 12:00-1:30 and bag lunches Saturdays 12:00-1:30.
Let me tell you a little about how we raised this money. Every year around St. Patrick’s Day we host a quarter auction during our zone meeting. At the quarter auction I play auctioneer, and spend an hour or so cajoling quarters out of fellow Optimists to bid on the wonderful baskets our club put together.
I know this doesn’t sound too hard. However, since I’m an introvert by nature, I get stressed out the day before and I’m unable to sleep. So why do I do it??? Because I realize that this one sleepless night leads to the satisfaction of helping others, and unlike those who we are working to help I am spending it in my warm bed with a full belly. With that in my mind, I disregard my stress and push myself to get in-front of 40+ people so that I can help others!
"We can be part of breaking the cycle and not lose another generation to drugs or another generation to poverty."
– Pastor Felix, Director of NLM
I'd like to extend a huge thank you to Pastor Felix for everything he and his organization does for our community.
Want to help others?
Want to make friends and have fun?
Check out the Paragon Optimist Club and find your opportunity to do something for others!
Brenda T
In a faraway land…
In a faraway land named Paragon, two bunnies were hard at work prepping and preparing for a very special event. On this one special evening all of the Paragon generous, hardworking bunnies will arrive with noses wiggling and tails-waggling to make baskets.
Paws, paws, so many paws will fill eggs with jelly beans and gummy treats. Other paws will fill empty baskets with grasses, and then more paws gently placing a plush stuffed animal in each one.
After that the parade will begin like a well-choreographed ballet, the bunnies will assemble basket after basket. One by one, egg by egg, toy by toy, book by book, and bag by bag the baskets are magically filled and tagged for delivery. By the end of this special night 150 baskets will be lovingly made in less than an hour. The joyous vision of children smiling and laughing as they receive the fruit of the bunnies’ toils flicker in every bunnies’ eyes.
This land has existed for nine years, and every year the number of bunnies grow because every time a child is joyous a new bunny is born. Then there’s more paws to help bring joy to another child and another part our world!
Andrea R
Smiles
And it all ends with a smile.
But, it began with fifteen baskets filled with goodies at Paragon’s Zone 15 Meeting & Quarter Auction. Curious what makes a basket bring smile? Maybe a child’s Easter basket with a giant stuffed animal pig, an Easter selfies kit that's #unforgettable, Peeps, bubbles and assorted candy; or a Jewels & Drinks basket…a Sterling Silver 18” necklace, Godiva and Ghirardelli chocolates, and a bottle of wine would bring a smile to your face.
Every year we enjoy our Quarter Auction event where we throw our lucky charms into the Leprechaun’s hat. This year’s event will be Tuesday, March 13 @ 7:00pm at the Fairfield Optimist Clubhouse. The evening starts with a zone meeting, followed by an Irish dinner (Irish Stew and Shepherd Pie), and then the fun begins…the quarter auction! The money raised goes to a different local charity each year this year’s charity, New Life Mission in Hamilton, OH.
The parade of baskets begins, paddles are raised into the air, a lot of hopes for the luck of the Irish, and everyone can’t help but smile and laugh in enjoyment. Baskets all range from 1-8 quarters. With every smile our pot of gold grows and so does the contribution to our community! This gift just might put a smile on their face, and when they smile, we smile.
And there it is, a basket can help a child or family in need…..which brings a smile :)
Images from last year's Paragon Optimist hosted Zone 15 meeting & quarter auction
Janet L
Family. Friends. A Club.
As we bid farewell to 2017, we also bid farewell to our failures and shortcomings. The new year, 2018, affords us great opportunities and adventures to embrace. We must always look forward to our greater achievements.
So, here’s to a Happy New Year filled with health, happiness and prosperity of mind, body and spirit!
Yours in optimism,
Rebecca Sunderhaus
Paragon Optimist Club, President
Tis the season
For as long as I can remember our Club has provided children in need with gifts over the holidays. This kind of gift giving can tie us to the historic figure Saint Nicholas. Who knew that Saint Nicholas was a 4th-century saint? His legendary habit of secret gift-giving gave rise to the traditional model of Santa Claus (“Saint Nick”). We are far from saints, but are truly blessedthat we are able to give to those who need!
We once again assembled to bring a smile to a child's face – we collect, we wrap, we deliver!
Good things come in small packages!
Tonight, some pals got together to assemble personal care packages with all our hope and dreams for those at Juliette’s Hope. Juliette’s Hope Acute Recovery House focuses on creating a culture of compassion, dignity and accountability. Each resident will develop skills necessary for a life of recovery. These bags contained lotion, soap, hair care products, tooth care and other physical care need items, as well as a note from one of the Paragon Pals. We are truly blessed that we are able to come together as a group and give back and make a difference in someone’s life!
Togetherness
It’s an interesting word, ‘Togetherness.’ For so many it means family or a party or Christmastime dinner. For me, it’s a room of happy-joy with people I like. I don’t have any siblings, and I don’t know what it is like to sit around a Christmas tree with lots of family and kids running around. My family is tiny. At most there are six of us in one place at one time.
A Paragon meeting looks like every holiday in a silly movie. We get together, we gab, play games, help each other, help others, help ourselves (to wine...) Sometimes I look around and I can’t help but smile when I look at our gaggle of smart, funny, creative, beautiful women. We are such a group, such a manifestation of togetherness. I can feel the hope we have the world and each other. There’s a real sense the other members hope and support you in whatever you’re doing this week or next.
At this annual installation dinner, we remember a year of good times, funny activities, silliness, hard work, and volunteering. I can’t help but remember a year of feeling togetherness. It’s a beautiful thing, this ‘togetherness’ thing.
Learning to be a Stand-Byer Not a Bystanders
Learning not to be a bystander but a stand-byer is just one of the lessons the girls learn while in Girls on the Run. Girls on the Run, is an organization that inspires girls to be joyful, healthy and confident with a fun, experience-based curriculum which creatively integrates running. We were fortunate the other night to have had the chance to meet and hang out with our local Girls on the Run teams; and support them with a monetary donation over $600!
Three of the girls (Maya, Kenslely & Claire–who couldn’t be present but still shared her thoughts and gratitude) displayed their confidence by preparing a speech that told us a little about who they are and how Girls on the Run has affected their life. As we heard each girl we were inspired and awestruck – to have the strength and composure at their age to get in front of a group of people and speak from their heart…
The girls said that being part of Girls on the Run has changed the way they feel, encouraged them and helped prepare them for the trying situations of adolescence and adulthood.
We would like to thank everyone who attended our Zone 15 meeting and participated in the quarter action fundraiser that allowed for this night to happen. We are blessed to get to help our local girls make a difference while they exercise.
Pretending to Be a Bunny…
Because NO CHILD should be LEFT OUT of the chance to celebrate the season! Every year we gather and assemble at least 150 baskets that are distributed by Mercy Health - St. Raphael's food pantry and Sojourner. Every basket contains a stuffed animal, book, toy and of course candy.
On Our Way to Heaven
This post's title is a bit of an inside joke because of everything else we've done this month, but we are so happy to donate to a local women's shelter, Hope House! Tonight was the beginning of our newest committee, Paragon Pals, where we assembled 100 care bags for the women's shelter. The bags included toothbrush, toothpaste, soap, shampoo, conditioner, razors, combs, tissues, and other miscellaneous items. We also enclosed a little note of encouragement for each bag. Everyone needs a kind thought to make their day!
The Power of a Zone!
Our Club has been hosting a St. Patty's themed meeting for our OI Zone (Zone 15) for as long as I can remember. One great aspect of being a charter member of Optimist International is having the support of fellow clubs near you. This past week the Fairfield Optimist, Lakota Optimist, Monroe Optimist and Paragon Optimist clubs gathered at the Fairfield Optimist clubhouse. We caught up on what activities/donations each club has completed this year, and briefly talked about what activities/donations we would be doing or may need assistance with.
During this even we also host a quarter auction where we raise money for a local charity. This year we raised money for Girls on the Run serving greater Cincinnati! The auction consisted of 14 different items and 2 raffle baskets. As the winning paddles were called we all had to keep repeating ‘To be just as enthusiastic about the success of others as you are about your own” – one line of the Optimist Creed.
Game Night
Game Night started off with Telestrations, overall I would say we did pretty good and stayed within the same category of the original object. However, there were a couple that went rather askew. Like “tree” ended up as "Wizard of Oz" or "satellite dish” ending as “people.” At first we laughed and harassed each other, but then I realized this just proves how wonderfully imaginative and optimistic we really are. When you think about it, we took souls, single, cold objects like a tree and a satellite dish, and transformed them into a major motion picture where 'there’s no place like home’ and/or a warm gathering of people. Together we create better and happier outcomes!
A Little R&R and a Lot of Chocolate!
Tuesday's night meeting was some time for us to for us to relax and caught up with each other. Thanks to Brenda & Becky Taylor we were able to dine on some tasty chocolate infused foods!
