Vote for Toy Library

You can help Toy Library Center in Rockland win up to $5000 simply by voting for it as a deserving non-profit... Bangor Savings Bank is giving away $100,000 - by dividing it up among winning non-profits in Maine.

This funding would be invaluable to Toy Library - in fact it would come close to meeting its annual operating expenses. The Toy Library began over 30 years ago - so it has served several generations - as an open play space for pre-school aged children and their caregivers. The library part is a toy lending library where children make take a special toy home to play with for the time in between gatherings. Toy Library meets at St. Peter's Church in Rockland (although not a religious organization itself, TLC is housed at the church). For us, it was a wonderful way to get to know other families when we first moved to Rockland. And now, it's become part of our weekly routine.

Several months ago, I had the honor of caring for one of Toy Library's founding mothers. She spoke of the vision so long ago to help families come together. She saw Toy Library as a place where children who otherwise might not have met will learn cooperation and tolerance at an early age, helping them to adapt to our ever changing world. Today Toy Library is open to all families regardless of ability to pay and is open to organizations such as the Teen Parent Program who work to strengthening families. Your vote for Toy Library will help Toy Library to be here for our children's children. :)

Thanks!
http://www.bangor.com/YouMatterMore/Voting.aspx

If you'd like more information about Toy Library, let me know or contact the director, Melissa Boggs at 691-6321.

Wonderful WOOL at Buzzie Bee

New items at Buzzie Bee Diapers! You’re probably heard people raving about wool diaper covers - now you can see for yourself. Just in from Loveybums (a mom owned business in Amherst MA) is a wide assortment of wool covers. Place your order during the month of February and receive $4 off each cover! Orders must be placed over the phone (207.542.0505) or in person.

Wool Crepe Covers $31
Soft and colorful wool crepe covers! Available in Lemon, Green Apple, and Baby Blue.
Loveybums wool crepe is a medium weight cover good for daytime or nighttime use. Snap closures.
NB/SM (birth to 12 lb.)
MD (9-22 lb.)
LG (18-30 lb.)

Wool Jersey Covers $31
Loveybums wool jersey is a super soft, trim diaper cover.
NB/SM (birth to 12 lb.)
Aplix Keylime / Snap Tangerine
MD (9-22 lb.)
Aplix Periwinkle / Snap Keylime
LG (18-30 lb.)
Aplix Aquamarine / Snap Periwinkle

Hand Dyed Organic Wool Covers $37
with snap closures. Each organic wool cover is made with two layers of o~wool.
NB/SM in Maize
MD in Cornflower
LG in Mint

Loveybums-In-Ones $39
Snap closure wool crepe cover with sherpa snap-in diaper. Additional sherpa snap-in diapers available for $14. Organic cotton snap-in diaper available for $16.
LG only in Periwinkle, Aquamarine, Tangerine and Keylime

Nursing Pads $5.75/pack
Loveybums organic cotton nursing pads are made with a layer of organic cotton fleece topped with a layer of soft, luxurious organic velour. Price is per pack (each pack contains two nursing pads).


Wet Bags $19.50
Loveybums wet bags measure approximately 12" wide x 14" tall x 5" deep and can hold several diaper changes. Each wet bag is handmade with an outer cotton print, an inner of PUL, and a sturdy zipper closure to keep wet diapers safely inside.

Lanolin Tube $4
This tube of .25 oz. Lansinoh lanolin is a perfect size to have on hand for lanolizing wool covers.

what a week!

It's been a great week for many reasons - a successful diaper run, a stress-free visit from my mom, an inauguration that went smoothly followed by some kept promises, even more sales on the website, and a family birthday - Liefe turned 6.

Even though it's often said, it is hard to remember where the time goes. I can't believe I've been Liefe's mom for 6 years! I try to imagine where we'd be if we hadn't become parents. I wonder if we'd be in Maine. I wonder if we'd even think about diapers, let alone running a diaper service. While I was content with my life before Liefe, now that I have know the joys and frustrations of parenting her and Haydee, I'd never want to go back to life before children. Well, not for very long at least! They've taught me to live my life with intention, to stand for what I believe is right and what will benefit us all. Today I am thankful for a growing business, a healing nation, and a supportive family.

credit card snafu

I am delighted that the Buzzie Bee website store is getting orders! It's wonderful - the people at the post office are congratulating me as they are seeing me much more often. One minor issue is that the cart software isn't recognizing credit cards. But Paypal, check, money order, local delivery and instore pick up all work. So, if you're in need of a baby gift or want to help out new parents by providing them with a month of diaper service, check out the site. Thanks!

making miracles update

The check is literally in the mail. Finally finished up the December bookkeeping and was delighted to write a check to Bangor Savings Bank for $107 for the Making Miracles fundraiser for Mid-Coast United Charities. Sales in December were definitely up - with our first round of website sales coming in! Thank you to everyone who helped out. Hopefully this time next year we'll be writing a check for five times that amount. It's certainly possible! Go cloth!

Tea at the Blaine House

Thirty profiled WWC graduates were recognized at a Tea at the Blaine House on November 6, 2008.

Graduates were representative of all four WWC program areas: Leadership, Asset Development, Workforce Development, and Microenterprise in the new publication “Creating Your Future: 30 Stories from the Maine Economy.”

Graduates heard remarks from UMS President Allyson Hughes Handley, shown here with Abby Comee-McCourt, a profilee and UMS Student, and Jennifer Moore Temple, a profilee and owner of Buzzie Bee Diapers in Rockland, with WWC microenterprise staff Eola Ball.

Other speakers included State Representative Jayne Crosby Giles, State Senator Libby Mitchell, and Muriel Mosher, WWC Advisory Council.

Making Miracles 2008: encouraging you to shop locally

United Mid-Coast Charities has teamed up with Bangor Savings Bank, Village Soup, and Elm Street Printing & Graphics to promote a holiday shopping activity - Making Miracles 2008. On Saturday December 13, participating merchants (Buzzie Bee is one!) will donate a portion of their proceeds to UMCC. 100% of donations will be distributed through UMCC to local non-profits. So, please visit our website - purchases can be made online or by calling us (542-0505) or email (info@buzziebee.com). We offer free delivery along our diaper service route.

Given that Buzzie Bee Diapers is more of a service - and without a brick and mortar storefront, we will donate a portion of our profits from the entire month. Check back to see just how much we're able to send to UMCC.

Here's some information about United Mid-Coast Charities:

Founded in 1942, United Mid-Coast Charities has just completed its 65th year. In its 64th year, UMCC distributed over $500,000 to 60 agencies in Knox and Waldo counties. Just as UMCC has endured for 64 years of giving to charitable organizations serving people in need, so has its original style of operating. They do not waiver from three important tenets:

1. All contributions are distributed. No administrative deductions are ever made.
2. UMCC is an all-volunteer organization. There are no paid staff, only volunteer workers, including their hard-working Directors.
3. An endowment pays all expenses like postage, paper, printing, CPA & office services.

UMCC is determined to keep these tenets for the next 65 years!

Contributions are dicided amongst the agencies with the greatest need. In general, the Directors take into consideration many categories of need as requested by organizations. The funds get divided in approximately this way: 40% to Children's Services, 27% to Community Service, 15% to Medical Service, 13% to Educational Service, and 5% to Adult Literacy Programs. Upon request, contributions may be directed to a specific organization.