Explore Franklin County This Weekend #FranklinCoHarvest

I love being involved with my community, and one exciting program that I've enjoyed being a part of the organizing team for in my county is happening this weekend!  Franklin County Farm Bureau and Franklin County Tourism have partnered together to bring in several bloggers this weekend to explore Franklin County, Iowa for the 3rd Annual Franklin County Harvest Bloggers Tour.  Starting tonight, the bloggers will experience a little of everything that Franklin County, Iowa has to offer, from a wine tasting from our local TownsEnd Winery, to combine rides, to seats at our community's vaudeville show.  The whole weekend is on Franklin County and our citizens are excited for these bloggers to be our guests:

Beth Ann Chiles (@bachiles) - It's Just Life: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Jeni Flaa (@JeniEats) - Jeni Eats
Donna Hup (@donnahup) - DonnaHup.com
Bethany SyWassink (@SawdustEmbryos) - Sawdust and Embryos
Lisa & Time Trudell (@WalkingTourists) - The Walking Tourists

Be sure to follow all of these bloggers to see what they are doing throughout the weekend and check out their blogs next week for recap posts.  You can also follow the excitement through the #FranklinCoHarvest hashtag.

If you were to host a bloggers tour in your community, where would you have the bloggers go?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

September Comments for a Cause - Hampton Public Library

Happy Labor Day!  I hope you all were able to enjoy and relax for at least a little bit today.  Since it is the 1st of the month, it is time to talk about Comments for a Cause.  In the month of August I had a total of 26 comments, equally a $13 donation to the ELCA Malaria Campaign.

In the month of September I'm looking forward to donating $0.50 for every comment to the Hampton Public Library and their current projects they have going on right now to make the library more user friendly, including a new entrance to the the Children's Library & improved parking lot.

I have talked about my family's love and appreciation for our local public library in the past and thought what better way to promote our library, as well as encourage everyone to use their local library through this month's Comments for a Cause program.

I grew up going to my hometown's library and participating in "Story Time" as a child, and I have continued the tradition with my children.  I started taking LP to the library when he was just a couple of months old and MP's first trip to the library was at age Day 6.  We are so lucky to have such a great library just 15 miles away.  If you live in North Iowa or travel through, I encourage you all to visit the Hampton Public Library.  This Carnegie Library offers a wide variety of services for all ages, including these fun and unique things: book clubs, public computers (including a bilingual AWE computer), interlibrary exchange program (they'll borrow a book, movie, etc. from another library for you if they don't have it), eBooks, youth drama club and LP's favorite - children's "Story Time" (which is held on Tuesday nights and Wednesday mornings).

Currently, the Hampton Public Library is celebrating 125 years serving Franklin County.  And what makes this year even more special, is that the Library is currently working on creating a new entrance and access to the Children's Library, as well as improving the parking lot and adding a courtyard for the library patrons.  My family visits the library on a regular basis and I can't think of a better way to give back to this great service for our community than supporting their efforts through Comments for a Cause.

Do you have a library card?  Do you participate in programs at your local library?  If not, I encourage you all to sign up for a library card and see what your local library all offers.  If you have children, I especially hope you check out your local library's children's programming.  (And if you're in the Franklin County, Iowa area, be sure to check out Story Time, it starts up October 7th and 8th.)  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

June Comments for a Cause - La Luz Hispana

It is the first of the month and time to report my Comments for a Cause results for the previous month and announce the new month's cause!  So first thing, in the month of May I had 44 comments which equals a $22 contribution to Team Red, White & Blue.  I'm happy to support such a great veteran's organization that has personally helped members of my family transition back into civilian life.

Now onto June's cause!  I'm proud to be donating $0.50 for every comment during the month of June to La Luz Hispana.  I have talked about my community's diversity before and I wanted to show my support and pride for my community by highlighting an organization that is helping our Hispanic population in so many ways, La Luz Hispana.  Here is some information on this center provided by Sister Carmen Hernandez:

A brief history of La Luz Hispana

La Luz Hispana is a center for the Hispanic people, sponsored by the Sisters of the Presentation of Dubuque, Iowa, is located in downtown Hampton, and serves not only Hampton, but all of Franklin County, and the surrounding area.  It is a result of over four years of study and experience working with and meeting the Hispanics of the area.  The Hispanic people requested the center, wanted to have a place where they could safely meet, learn English and other necessary skills, and capitalize on their own cultural values and gifts.

Sisters Carmen and Maura hit the streets of Hampton to locate the Hispanics, to acquaint themselves with the service agencies of the area, and to find a location for the center. 

At the end of 2012, a retired lawyer and his wife offered to refurbish their building, according to the needs of the new project.  The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on March 27, 2013 and the inauguration the following month on April 12.

La Luz Hispana's mission is to offer a welcoming spirit and supportive services to all, especially the Hispanic community.

Programs offered

Since opening their doors in March 2013, La Luz Hispana has successfully offered a variety of programs and services that have helped foster relationships, celebrate strengths and personal gifts and educate the many Hispanics who have visited the center.  Some of the programs offered include: container gardening, English as a Second Language (ESL), computer education, Spanish for English speakers, Zumba, crocheting, rosary and scarf making, greeting card creation, health and beauty, immigration, healthy cooking, nutrition, math tutoring and Exito en el Norte which focused on finances, banking, renting an apartment and/or house, starting a new business, personal rights and furthering education. While these are only a few of the programs initiated, La Luz Hispana continues to have hopes and dreams to begin other new services and programs.

The Sisters and volunteers provide transportation and interpretation services at the court house, banks, police stations, dentists, and insurance agencies.  They assist many families to navigate the social service systems, and help to fill out forms for assistance programs.

So lets be sure to Comment for a Cause a lot this month to support this great organization that is helping and supporting so many families and individuals in Franklin County!  I am so proud that my community provides these resources and support to our community members.  My community is what it is today by us taking advantage of our diversity and helping all of our citizens strive.  Thank you to Sisters Carmen and Maura and all of the volunteers for all they do to help La Luz Hispana serve so many people.

If you are from Franklin County, what do you love the most about La Luz Hispana and our community?  If you are not from my local community, what other services do you see that are needed for communities with a growing diversity?