Thanksgiving, Your Student … And Volunteering!

It might be another month before Thanksgiving in the United States, but as we’re sure you know, Thanksgiving is Monday here in Grenada.

The holiday is typically celebrated on Oct. 25. But this year, that day is on a Sunday, so Thanksgiving moves to Oct. 26. While American Thanksgiving is more to do with early settlers getting along with Native Americans, the Grenadian Thanksgiving is actually marking the anniversary of the 1983 U.S. invasion of Grenada.

It’s not clear how much of the island actually celebrates the holiday, but many stores will be closed or have reduced hours. And there will be no classes at SGU.

But those wonderful kids at Queen Elizabeth Home for Children will still be at the home, and they’re looking forward to getting a visit from our great group of volunteers.

Of course we know, this is a rare day off to spend with our students. And we’re with you. But this also is a chance to show your student what we all do while they’re in class. So why not plan to come to QEH … and bring your student with you? 

That’s right. Monday is “Bring Your Student” day. We meet in front of Charter Hall at 2:45 p.m., with the bus leaving at 3 p.m. And we head back from Tempe at 5 p.m., meaning that your student will only lose a little studying time — and still have a chance to do something nice.

Because we have only a small bus that takes us, registration is important. If we have more than the bus can fill (which is us being very optimistic), we will have to arrange for additional transportation. But we need to know that in advance, so please register (both you and your student!)

And make some time to spend with the kids at QEH on Thanksgiving. You wouldn’t want to be alone on the holiday either, would you?

Every Volunteer Hour Counts

One of the many things that make the Significant Others Organization a great organization is the chance to give something back to this great island of Grenada that we call home for a good part of the year.

SGU has been great in working with our organization, and even supplied us with an additional bus so that we can make our weekly trip to Dorothy Hopkin Centre once again.

But in order for us to keep that bus going this term (and have it available for future terms), we really need your help!

Each Wednesday morning, we visit the wonderful residents at Dorothy Hopkin — men, women and children who don’t really get a lot of outside visitors. And while we can get a good group of people to play with children or even walk dogs, we want our weekly trips to DH to be just as special and just as important.

The volunteers who have made at least one trip to DH so far this year have been wonderful, and if you are one of those people, then you know how rewarding of a trip it is.

And really, it takes just a couple hours out of your day. We meet in front of Charter Hall at 9:45 a.m., with the bus leaving at 10. We get there around 10:30, and stay until lunchtime. We’re then back just in time to enjoy some great pizza at Glover’s, or to make a relaxing trip over to Sugar Shack.

So far we’ve logged 28 hours of volunteer time at DH in three weeks. That is great, but we really want to make it more.

Will you take a little time this Wednesday and join us?

If so, let us know! You can register here.

Every hour we give to Dorothy Hopkin Centre matters — and we need you to help provide as many hours of fellowship and fun with these wonderful people as possible.

Can we count on you this week?