KaBOOM! Build Day Needs

Are you a photographer, or DJ in the area willing to lend a hand on October 25th? Can you lead a volunteer warm-up or stretching session to kick-off a fun-filled day spent building a fantastic new playground ?  Would you be willing to donate food or water to provide for 250 fabulous volunteers who are giving back to the children of our community?  Do you have tents or tools we can borrow?  If so, we need your help with the KaBOOM! playground project. 

We need lots of tools to build a playground in just one day!  Some of the tools needed are:
Skid Steer with 12" and 18" Auger Bits (1)
Spade Shovels (20)
Rock/Metal Rakes (20)
6" Step Ladder (3)
8' Step Ladder (3)
Wheel Barrows (15)
Manual Post Hold Digger (5)
Corded Drills (8)
Powerful Cordless Drills with Batteries (6)
8 lb. Sledge Hammers (3)
4 lb. Sledge Hammers (4)
Garden Hoses with Spray Nozzle (3)
100' Extension Cord (10)
Digging Bars (3)
Tamps (2)
Cement (or Garden) Hoes (12)
Garbage Cans (5)
Push Brooms (2)
Mitre Saw (Prep Day Only - 3)
Circular Saw (Prep Day Only - 1)
Claw Hammers (Side Projects - 10)
Jig Saw (Side Projects - 1)
Saw Horses (3 sets)
Tents (4)

For more information please visit our website at www.mcneillycenter.org or to sign up to volunteer please CLICK HERE!

Our Dream Playground

In partnership with KaBOOM! and Warner Music Nashville we are looking to create play space for children in need in East Nashville. This is an opportunity for our community to build a dream playground conceived by the children who will use it, in a safe, supervised location - McNeilly Nashville Child Center. Volunteers with a variety of skills are needed on October 25th (Build Day) to help build the much needed playspace, that will give play back to the kids who need it most. In just one day volunteers, like you, will give children in need the place for healthy play and exercise that they deserve.

How You Can Help

There are two ways to get involved. You can RSVP if you're interested in showing up on Build Day and lending a hand for an unforgettable day of community service. Or, if you want to play a key role in the months leading up to Build Day, you can ask to join a planning committee team.

RSVP for Build Day

No experience necessary! Whether you're piecing together playground equipment, mixing concrete, hauling mulch, or painting benches, all you need to build a Dream Playground is a smile and a can-do spirit.  RSVP

Join the Planning Committee

Want to get more involved? The playground may get built in one day, but it takes many months of planning to make a playground dream come true. Whether you want to find food for Build Day, get press for the project, or plan an awesome fundraiser, there are many ways to offer a helping hand.  CLICK HERE to email for more information about the Planning Committee and the upcoming Design Day!  

Lollipops for Little Ones

We invite all parents, grandparents and anyone who cares about McNeilly children and raising awareness of quality care for all children to join the McNeilly Lollipop Guild AND help us fill the McNeilly playground with "lollipops" to celebrate National Lollipop Day (July 20, 2012).

With your $25 donation you will become a founding member of the "McNeilly Lollipop Guild" and we will place a lollipop yard stake on our playground on National Lollipop Day, representing one of the 500 children in need that your support helps us serve. We hope to have a lollipop representing all 500 children on the playground for this year's lollipop day celebration. The lollipops can feature your name, or the name of a friend or loved one you would like to honor or remember.

With your support we will raise awareness about the critical need for affordable, quality care for children living in poverty and celebrate the unique joy that lollipops bring with a very special National Lollipop Day celebration featuring your "lollipop" yard stake and the names of all Lollipop Guild members on our website and in our annual report!

CLICK HERE for more information or to join the Lollipop Guild!!!  

Parent Fair

We had our annual Parent Fair at McNeilly during Week of the Young Child, and it was a success!  Parents and families had the opportunity to participate in free health screenings, get more information on valuable community resources, and discuss parenting and childcare issues and concerns with experts on hand.  The kids enjoyed jumping in bouncy houses, and along with their parents learning about good hygiene habits and eating a complimentary meal!  

The event was the culmination of a spectacular annual week of celebration (Week of the Young Child) that intends to focus public attention on the needs of young children and their families and to recognize the early childhood programs and services that meet those needs.  Children at McNeilly enjoyed special presentations from music entertainers, field day, art day, and much more throughout the week!  

For more pictures please visit our Facebook page by clicking HERE!

Spring Cleaning?

The weather is awesome today, and before long it will be warm and sunny almost every day (we hope)!  The children at McNeilly love to get out and play, and we try to encourage activity, physical fitness, and fun outdoors anytime we can.  For many of our children, the play area at McNeilly is the only safe and age appropriate place for the kids to kick a ball, jump rope, play in sand, or create art in the great outdoors.  We do, however, have a need for some of these items that we just don't have the budget to purchase.  If you are doing some spring cleaning and no longer need that soccer ball, or sand box taking up space in your garage please consider donating it to McNeilly.  The children would surely appreciate having new (to them) things to play with, and the teachers would be thrilled to see the kids engaged in different and exciting activities.


Wish List:
Playground balls - kick balls, soccer balls, volleyballs, footballs, basketballs
Sandbox
Jump Ropes
Easels
Canopy
Mats
Water play activities
Nerf balls and bats
Picnic Table
Compact Dorm Refrigerators (2)
Bibs with plastic backing
Manual Food Choppers (2)
Bumbo Infant Seats (2)
Manual Carpet Sweepers (2)
Laminating Machine (2)
Sheets and Blankets (Mat Size)
10 Folding Chairs
Arts & Crafts Supplies
Puzzles, Lacing cards


To donate any items from the wish list please call (615) 255-2549 or email shellie.fossick@mcneillycenter.org.   

Read Me Week

It is Read Me Week (February 27th - March 2, 2012), and everyone at McNeilly is having a ball celebrating! For the entire week McNeilly is highlighting the importance and fun of reading with special activities, guest readers, and opportunities for the children to wear silly hats, wild socks, and even their favorite pajamas!

Students from Harding Academy conducted a book drive for McNeilly and spent a day this week reading with the children. The kids loved having visitors, and they really enjoy having all of these newly donated  books in their classrooms!

On March 2nd we cap off this fun-filled Read Me Week with a celebration of the birthday of Dr. Seuss!

BIG Thank You!

It was a spectacular holiday season for everyone at McNeilly. We are so grateful for the generosity of those in our community who helped bring joy to more than 350 children in need from McNeilly Centers this season. A big, huge, gigantic thank you to the very special individuals and families who sponsored "angels," as well as those at Healthways, Quorum Health Resources, PRIMUS/Ford Motor Credit, IBM, Riverwood Church of Christ, Renasant Bank, and Emma Email Marketing for making Christmas wishes come true for the children we serve!

All of us feel incredibly blessed that there are so many in our community willing to lend a helping hand to those in need. If you would like to learn more about McNeilly's programs and the children we serve, we hope you will SAVE THE DATE for our upcoming breakfast event. The "A BETTER START" breakfast will be held on Tuesday, April 24th at the Ezell Center at Lipscomb University (8:00 am). The breakfast is a wonderful opportunity to hear how quality early care and education programs help give a better start in school and in life to at-risk children. The event is free for attendees, but donations are encouraged. Featured speakers will be Luke Gregory, CEO of Monroe Carell Jr. Children's Hospital at Vanderbilt and Dr. Meg Rush, chief of staff. For more information or to RSVP please email shellie.fossick@mcneillycenter.org.