GRANDPARENTS RAISING GRANDCHILDREN

OF BREVARD COUNTY, FL

JANUARY 2013 SUPPORT GROUP MEETINGS

Tuesday, January 8th – Titusville Support Group Meeting

805 Century Medical Dr, Building B, Titusville. This group is

partnered with Parrish Senior Solutions. 10:00 – 11:30 am

Thursday, January 10th

– Club Esteem Support Group Meeting

10:00 – 11:30 am. Libscomb Street Community Center

Tuesday, January 15th

– Central Brevard Support Group

GRG of Brevard Office, 123 Barton Blvd., Rockledge 09:30 –

11:00 am

Thursday, January 31st – Beach Side Support Group.

Memaw’s Restaurant, Indian Harbour Beach, 9:30 – 11:30 am

(Breakfast is available at member's expense)

South Brevard Support Group Meeting

This support group is suspended at this time until further interest.

Please contact the office if you are interested in restarting the Palm

Bay evening meeting call 321-631-7776

January 2013 ISSUE #140

Get answers to questions on

custody, guardianship, adoption

issues, public benefits, legal

services, support with groups

and other community services.

When you call, be prepared to

leave a message and contact

number.

WELCOME to the new edition of our

newsletter!

I hope that you find it to be informative,

educational and entertaining.

Mary Ann Sterling,

Executive Director

A newsletter for grandparents and other relatives in a parenting role.

DON’T KNOW WHERE TO GO?

CALL THE WARM-LINE!

321.631.7776

GRG of BREVARD

Office: 321.631.7776 Cell: 321.848.8006 123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge FL 32955

www.grg-brevard.org

Priscilla Livingston and Amy Oliver

2012 Children’s Christmas Celebration

Page 1

We are wishing each and every one hope for a wonderful 2013. Our

organization is growing every day and it is because of you that we have

the largest support group within the State of Florida. Thank you also for

your response to our membership drive. Many of you have paid your dues

of $10.00 a person for a year. Some have been able to give more. Your

participation is greatly appreciated.

As most of you know we provide the following services:

DCF ACCESS Partner

Support

Resources

Information

Advocacy

Referrals

Training

Month Meetings

Holiday Assistance

Recreational Activities

Legal Assistance

5 FACTS ABOUT SECONDHAND SMOKE The recent Tobacco Free Florida Week focused on secondhand smoke.

1. There is no risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.

Breathing even small amounts of secondhand smoke can be

dangerous.

2. Secondhand smoke contains a deadly mix of more than 7,000

chemicals, hundreds of which are toxic and 69 that can cause cancer.

3. Each year, primarily because of exposure to secondhand smoke, an

estimated 3,000 non-smoking Americans die of lung cancer.

4. Nonsmokers who are exposed to second-hand smoke at home or at

work increase their risk of developing lung cancer by 20 to 30

percent.

5. Opening a window, sitting in a separate area or using ventilation, air

conditioning or a fan cannot eliminate the hazards of secondhand

smoke exposure.

For information visit www.tobaccofreeflorida.com

ATTENTION NORTH BREVARD Titusville members, we need YOU to come to

our support group meetings.

Sometimes the newsletter gets to you after the

meeting and we apologize for that. Please mark

the support meetings are the SECOND

TUESDAY of each month.

E- NEW SLE TTE R

Help us Go Green and be environmentally responsible.

The newsletter can be delivered to you each month via email. This new

capability could enable GRG to save up to $4,000 each year in paper and

printing costs. If you would like to receive your newsletter via Email,

send your name, current mailing address and the email address where you

would like to receive the newsletter to

grg.brevard@gmail.com

HAPPY NEW YEAR

January 2013 ISSUE #140

The Children’s Christmas

Celebration was a Great Success!

Thanks to all who assisted in making the

party fun for all our grandchildren, Priscilla

Livingston, Amy Oliver, Dolores Collins,

Joyce and Robert Legg, Lou Ann Hawes and

a very special thanks to our one and only

Santa Claus, Jonathan Hawes.

For assistance with our Christmas Toys and

gifts we must thank:

Kid’s Without Christmas – Mike Kelly

The Elks Club - Dawn

Toys for Tots - Lori and Randy Barnes

Pattra and Marlin Bollinger

Ron Jon’s Surf Shop – Kerri Foster

Sherriff’s Work Farm – Mary Moseman

Brevard Sharing Center

T.A.R.G.E.T.

Training is Coming

For those new to GRG of Brevard TARGET

is a six-week training course that covers the

latest information from community and state

experts on topics ranging from financial

stability and legal assistance to parenting

autistic children.

Who can attend? Relative caregivers,

community organizations and child

advocates.

Page 2

January 2013 # ISSUE #140

THE CHILD FIRST

I didn’t know if my granddaughter had

learned her colors yet, so I decided to test

her. I would point out something and ask

what color it was. She would tell me and

was always correct. It was fun for me, so I

continued. At last, she headed for the door

saying, “Grandma, I think you should try to

figure out some of these colors yourself!”

Sometimes We All Need a

Little Inspiration! This issue is dedicated to reminding you

why you choose, every day, to continue to

love and nurture the children who need

you. If you have a story to tell, please send

it and we will include it in a future issue.

PREVENTING

CHILDHOOD OBESITY

Exercise, loving relationships and healthy

food choices are the ingredients for

success. Unfortunately breakfast for many

young children includes sugary soft drinks

and potato chips.

Caregivers making healthy food choices,

getting regular exercise, and engaging in

behaviors such as regular bedtimes and

mealtimes that are important in the

prevention of early obesity. Healthy food

choices are a way to increase children’s

activity levels while improving their

caregiver’s own eating habits and

exercising more it is a win-win for

everyone.

Make 2013 a healthier year for everyone in

the family.

At the age of 13, this bright, respectable and intelligent young

man Travis won my heart at the 2012 GRG Christmas party and

through a very intense conversation with this young man,

I learned a lot about myself…thank you Travis.

HOW CHILDREN PERCEIVE

THEIR GRANDPARENTS IF

Written by Cornetta Mora and Dedicated to Travis

IF I could go about

In a most graceful, pleasant way

And smile at those I pass

To brighten up the day…

IF I could help someone

When in sorrow or distress

And show them that I’d really like

To make their burdens less…

IF I could share a love,

A love that someone needs

Regardless of his color,

Nationality, or his creed

IF I could still stand tall and proud

When talked about or used,

Yet still not let that word called “hate”

Become my daily abuse…

IF I could pick my brother up

When he becomes weak, stumbles and falls,

Imagine all the love we’d have…

All the broken and crumbled walls

Then all the world would know

And what’s more, they’ll even see,

The day they’ll look around and find,

That “IF” was really me.

Page 3

Shipping Address Here

A title or caption about the photograph.

Grandparents Raising Grandchildren

of Brevard County, FL, Inc.

123 Barton Blvd.

Rockledge, FL 32955

HELP THE GRANDPARENTS AND CHILDREN OF GRG OF BREVARD

BECOME A MEMBER AND/OR FRIEND Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County FL, Inc. is a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation.

All gifts are deductible on corporate, foundation and individual tax returns to the extent provided by state and federal laws.

Members of Grandparents Raising Grandchildren of Brevard County, FL, Inc.

receive our newsletter and invitations to events where they can meet others in

similar situations

Name

Date:

Address:

City/State:

Zip:

Phone:

Email:

[ ] Annual Membership $20 [ ] Annual Corporate Membership $500

I want to be a friend of the GRG of Brevard and enclose an additional donation of:

[ ] $25 [ ] $50 [ ] $75 [ ] $100 Other: $

I am raising children who are not

my own I am their:

[ ] Grandparent [ ] Aunt / Uncle

[ ] Sister / Brother

[ ] Other (please specify)

[ ] I am not in this situation but I want to join GRG of Brevard because I am interested in what you do.

Please make your check payable to:

Grandparents Raising

Grandchildren of Brevard