Topeka, KS is now Google, KS

Today, Mayor Bill Bunten issued a proclamation temporarily changing the name of our city from Topeka, KS to Google, KS in the hopes of differentiating us from other cities competing to be Google’s test market for a new fiber optic network.  Think Big Topeka has taken the community by storm with more than 10,000 members of its Facebook group.  TransformTopeka is encouraged to see such a surge of community support.  Topeka, KS, oops, I mean Google, KS has not secured our place atop Google’s list yet.  Think Big Topeka needs your help.  Please become a member of the Facebook group and check back often for things you can do to support their effort.  Please also, submit a nomination as a member of this community to Google.  Let’s do everything possible to ensure Google chooses Google, KS for its test market, truly making Topeka, KS the Capital City of Fiber Optics.

Christmas Bureau Update

We wanted to take a minute and provide an update on what we are doing for the 3 families we adopted from the Christmas Bureau.  We raised $605, and it is because of that generosity that we have been able to do so much for these 3 families (total of 16 lives we are touching).  We spent $122.35 at Toys R Us on toys for 9 of the 11 kids.  We spent $337.71 on clothes for each of the 11 kids, gift cards for 2 of the 11 kids, and gifts for the 5 adults.  We spent $82.99 at Hyvee to buy holiday meals for each family: 1/2 a Ham, potatoes, veggies, rolls, and pie.  We area also giving each family a $20 gift card to Dillons to meet any other needs they might have (e.g., food, diapers, soap, paper goods, etc).  Who knew $605 could do so much?

We will be making deliveries on Tuesday and Wednesday to the families.  I only wish we could do more for not only these families, but for all those in need this holiday season.  Thank you to everyone who donated money to help us help more in our community.

Christmas Bureau Adoption: Update 1

This morning I received TransformTopeka’s official letter from the United Way, notifying us which families were selected for us to adopt this holiday season. Thanks to the $605 that we were able to raise, we’re going to be able to help three families have a merry Christmas!

  • A single mother with three boys, ages 3 – 11.
  • A couple with four children (two girls and two boys), ages 0 – 12.
  • A couple with four children (three boys and a girl), ages 1 – 13.

Our next step will be to contact each family, letting them know that they’ve been adopted and then confirming their wish lists. Then we’ll need to organize a group shopping trip and gift-wrapping session, so we can get everything delivered to our families before Christmas arrives.

What are your Thanksgiving plans?

Last year was my first Thanksgiving back in Topeka (we moved back the weekend after Thanksgiving in 2007).  I was listening to the radio a few weeks before Thanksgiving and heard of the need for volunteers for the Community Thanksgiving Dinner.  I wondered what this event was and how I could help.  I called the number, offered to volunteer, and reported for duty on Wednesday evening before Thanksgiving.  We were a group charged with setting up the dining hall.  First a couple of kids and I filled the sugar/sweeter boxes and set one on each table.  Then some Girl Scouts and I set out place-mats and centerpieces.  I was only there for a few hours, but it felt good to be part of something so huge. 

In 2008, the Community Thanksgiving Dinner served 975 meals eaten inside Ag Hall, 430 meals were served to-go,  and delivered 1,320 meals (according to CJOnline).  This year’s dinner is on Thanksgiving Day (Thursday, Nov. 26th) from 12 p.m. to 3 p.m. at Agricultural Hall (Kansas Expocentre).  Every community member is welcome (no income requirement) to join the community for a traditional Thanksgiving meal.  Read the rest of this entry »

Call for Action: Gage Park Pride Day

Volunteers are invited to join Keep America Beautiful for Gage Park Pride Day, October 17 to trim trees, and shrubs, to beautify, clean and improve the park.  They will be working in cooperation with Topeka Tree Team, so bring chain saws, lopers, pruners, and gloves if you have them.  Participating tree care sponsors are:  Custom Tree Care and Hultquist Landscapes.

 Volunteers will meet at 9:00 a.m. with a complimentary lunch at noon.  Meeting place is at the pool parking lot. 

 For reservations and more information contact Keep America Beautiful-Topeka/Shawnee County kabtopsh@sbcglobal.net or call Philicia 235-0845.

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