Please join the Volunteer Center of Southern Arizona in assembling children’s back packs with toys and books, on December 2nd to deliver to about 3,200 disadvantaged children at local schools on December 4th. (This is early as the official St. Nicholas Day is not till December 6).

This year for the first time they are using environmentally friendly backpacks made of 100% recycled cotton, and distributing Spanish and bi-lingual books as well.

“A Visit from Saint Nicholas” delivers backpacks filled with toys, books, a toothbrush, and library card to some of Tucson’s most disadvantaged youth in pre-kindergarten through second grade. The backpacks these children receive may be their only holiday gift, but more importantly, the books may be their very first personal book. These children reside in some of Tucson’s most impoverished neighborhoods, and the schools that they attend are chosen to participate in the program based upon the percentage of students eligible for the government-aided free lunch program. On average, 95% of the student bodies of schools taking part in “A Visit from Saint Nicholas” qualify for the free lunch program, meaning that they come from families that are classified as very low income.”

The location for assembling these backpacks is again at the World Care center at 3538 E. Ellington (south of E. 22nd Street,east of Palo Verde Ave.) in the former Julia Keen Elementary School location. The packing party starts at 5 p.m. and goes till they are finished.

I helped pack last year after I read an article in this Tucson Citizen newspaper about the event, and there were lots of enthusiastic people helping, of all ages. And if you want to be a “Saint Nicholas” at the local schools, you can volunteer for the delivery party as well on Dec.3rd from 10 to 4 p.m.

To volunteer please RSVP to Erin Lapidus, 881-3300, x 147 at the Volunteer Center, 940 S. Alvernon, or email her at elapidus@volunteersoaz.org. And please ask your family and friends to help as well.

Happy St. Nicholas Day!

Self-taught Mexican American folk artist Francisco Franklin’s largest show to date is currently at Tooley’s gallery next to their cafe in the Lost Barrio, 299 S. Park Ave, south of Broadway. I dropped by tonight’s reception and was taken by his portraits of women and angels, as well as his honesty.

In his handwritten statement Francisco says he paints “in spite of himself, not because of himself.” He also states that “in the solitude of my life something somewhere gives me the ability to do what you see here.”

For a preview of his art (paintings, carvings in wood and alabaster, B/W sketches, wooden furniture) on sale at the exhibit, you can still attend another opening tomorrow from 3 to 8 p.m.

See his website: franciscofranklin.com, with a link to an Az Illustrated show on 3/11/08. He lived abroad in Sweden, Iceland, France, and Germany before settling back here in Tucson.
He can be reached at 520-622-3125 (h), 520-275-9987 (c) or via his website.

In his AZ Illustrated interview Francisco said that he thought “women were closer to God than men”, and that the women he painted were “kind, safe, and benevolent.” His art does reflect just that. Click here for KUAT show.

Here’s an example of one of his lovely paintings, complete with whimsical hand carved frames:

angel painting by Francisco Franklin

This show only runs through Monday, November 30.

However you define your “community” today, consider thinking about what you are grateful for on this Thanksgiving 2009. Fellow blogger Debra Thornley “Jump Write In” last week urged readers to write a Memoir of gratitude.

Every Thanksgiving I ask whomever I am enjoying a meal with, to reflect upon just ONE thing they are grateful for.

I am expressing my gratitude for being alive and healthy, as two female friends suddenly lost their middle-aged sisters-in-law this year, one to a fatal heart attack, the other to breast cancer which had spread. Another friend of mine Bill is battling lung cancer and I send him my best wishes and prayers today as well.

Good holiday wishes also to fellow Tucson Citizen bloggers and editors Mark Evans and Ryn Gargulinski, and to our loyal readers, supporters, and advertisers.

We have been online now as “The Voice of Tucson” (at www.tucsoncitizen.com) for over 6 months! That’s really something to be grateful for.