Month: November 2013

Helping Area Families Have a Great Holiday

Helping Area Families Have a Great Holiday

food4kidsbackpackprogram

 

Today, UF Mover Guys lucky enough to be able to support a great local charity.  We picked up and delivered 6 pallets of food for the Food4kids Backpack program North Florida.  Today’s delivery will help fill boxes going home to lots of local families in need of some support for their holiday meals.

About Food4kids Backpack program North Florida:

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This program was modeled after the National Feeding America Backpack Program.  The national initiative has been successfully implemented locally, regionally, and nationally by individuals who saw a need and acted!

In March of 2010, with

guidance and mentoring provided by Food4Kids of Alachua, Jennifer Moore started a Food4Kids Backpack Program at Terwilliger Elementary in Gainesville, Florida.  This program would not exist today without Jennifer’s commitment and the help provided by Food4Kids of Alachua.

In 2011, the Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida, Inc. was founded after a local parent and volunteer, Todd Morrone, became aware of the program and partnered with Jennifer to make a difference in the life of a child.

Food4Kids Backpack Program of North Florida, Inc. is a registered non-profit organization with the State of Florida and is 100% volunteer run.

Tips for Parents Moving Their Children into a Dorm

Tips for parents moving their children into the dorm

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Our truck in this year’s homecoming parade… Go Gators!!

Parents who are sending a child off to college for the first time may understandably be feeling a mix of emotions. Emotions such as pride, stress and even anxiety and sadness are common. However, these emotions are often mixed with practical concerns, such as how your child will manage living away from you for the first time. One of the best steps that you can take to ensure that your child’s first experience living apart from you is a great one is to help him or her settle in a new dorm room. There are a few parent tips that you can follow to make this transition easier for your child.

Start Shopping Early

Most parents and graduating teens have their college plans established months ahead of time, so there is no point waiting until the last minute to purchase items for the dorm. Some new college students and their parents will wait until moving day to head to the store. While it may sound like a sound plan to purchase bedding, towels, storage bins and more closer to campus and after seeing what items you actually need, everyone else may have this plan to. Stores close to campus may easily run out of supplies when there is a mad dash to get these items by dozens of people all on the same day. You can get a fair idea about what may be needed for the dorm by contacting the college and requesting a list.

Coordinate With a Roommate

In addition, before transitioning into a dorm, consider having your child get in touch with his or her new roommate. Many kids like to coordinate what they will be bringing. After all, you don’t really need to have two microwaves, televisions or other items in the dorm room. If a roommate already has these items, you can save yourself the time and energy associated with purchasing them and moving them into the dorm. Many kids also like to coordinate décor, and selecting comforters and other decorative items with an online purchase makes it easy to ensure that the room looks great.

These parenting tips can help make your child’s move into a new dorm room a pleasant experience. Moving can be stressful for you, but it can also be stressful for your child. Consider helping your child pack several days beforehand, and attempt to take stock of any additional items he or she may need as you pack boxes and suitcases. Preparation and planning are key to making this experience a pleasant one.