The theme of the August meeting was sunflowers and cupcakes. The hostesses did a great job of decorating the room with a sea of sunflowers. After the business meeting, Margaret Kramer taught us how to decorate cupcakes. The cupcakes were generously supplied by the volunteers from the VFW. Hostesses for the day were Brenda Bahr, Margaret Kramer and Dorothy Kasiner. So much fun was had!

Once a year, FLEAS joins the VFW to donate supplies to a shelter in Muskogee for women and men who are victims of abuse. Kendra Russell was our first guest speaker who talked to us about their services, a program called WISH (Women In Safe Home). The Eufaula representative of WISH was also in attendance, Melody Pedersen. The program offers much more than supplies and clothes. Beyond providing temporary housing, WISH promotes independence counseling, job training and much more. WISH helps find housing and even has transition supplies for this new step to a safer life. The participants must show the effort for change to be able to stay and get this help. To find out how to donate, call 918-869-6767.

Our second guest speaker was Jamie Davenport. Jamie works for Safe Families that utilize local churches for their volunteers. These volunteers walk alongside families who may need help in raising the children. There are four possibilities for helping. You could be a host family and temporarily provide shelter and care for children. You could be a family coach helping with resources and relationships. A family friend is a mentor, maybe providing food or needed transportation. A resource friend might donate goods or services such as lawn or handyman help. It takes a village to raise a child. To find out more, call 405-418-3825.

If you are interested in more information about FLEAS, call Kay Rogers 405-202-9874.