We should call this box the "1, 2, 3" box because it was planted on January
2,03. Or, because all the stamps in its logbook will hopefully add up as
quickly as 1,2,3, donating some much needed money to worthy charities.
Whatever the name, we hope you enjoy this new box. BeMa


HELPING HANDS CHARITY BOX

Meadowlark Gardens
Vienna, VA
Planted by BeMa
January 2, 2003
Directions easy
Walk a little uphill but path is wide and paved.

(For driving directions, see the OH DEER box.)

HELPING HANDS is a charity box. Team BeMa has pledged to donate $1 for
every new stamp signed into the logbook in a given month. Each month will
be dedicated to a specific charity that has meaning for our family. Brief
information on these charities can be found in the box. The following
charities have been selected to date:
Jan Marthas Table (www.marthastable.org). This organization feeds 1,200
hungry and homeless people 365 days a year. Over 3,500 sandwiches, 65
gallons of soup and 65 gallons of beverage daily all from volunteers and
donations.
Feb SPCA of Northern VA. (www.spcanova.org). The Society for the
Prevention of Cruelty to Animals is a non-profit, all-volunteer, private
organization established by local concerned citizens to rescue domestic
animals from cruelty, neglect and abandonment. They foster these animals
and sponsor them for adoption.
Mar local PBS stations (www.mpt.org and www.weta.org). These local PBS
affiliates provide quality and educational, commercial free programs for
children and adults.
Apr Special Olympics (www.specialolympics.org). This international
organization is dedicated to empowering individuals with mental retardation
to become physically fit, productive and respected members of society
through sports training and competition. Their motto is Let me win. But
if I cannot win, let me be brave in the attempt.

Thank you for helping us to help others!

When Be was a little baby and I was a new mom, I desperately needed to get
out of the house! I would load his little stroller in the car with the
requisite bottle, snacks, wipes, blanket, musical toys, pacifiers, etc. and
head off to Meadowlark Gardens. Here, we would stroll up and down the paths
in peace and quiet -- one with nature (unless Be had gas). One day, I
pushed his stroller up a winding dirt path (its since been paved). We
strolled onward and upward (occasionally getting mired in the mud and
bumping over rocks and ruts) until we came to what is my favorite resting
place. The structure is lovely and the view is inspirational. We would sit
up there eating dried apricots and saltines listening to his stuffed
giraffes chiming version of Talk to the Animals. We hope that you enjoy
it as much! (P.S. we give a lot of landmarks so you will know you are on
the right path and because Be and Ma get a kick out of spotting them)