PLYMOUTH-CANTON CIVITAN
PROJECT GLOSSARY
Adopt a Family: We adopt 1-3 families for the holidays. For Thanksgiving and Christmas we prepare food baskets. For Christmas we also purchase clothing and toys for the family members. We get these families from the Salvation Army and Cooke School.
Adopt-a-Highway: Three times a year (May, July, September) we clean a stretch of Ford Road between Lilley and Canton Center Roads. We meet in the Plato parking lot on a Saturday morning. Half the group cleans one side of the road and the other half does the other side. Breakfast usually follows. It takes around 1½ hours and is great exercise. 6-10 people are needed for this project.
Camp Civitan: An outdoor, residential, camping experience designed to include adolescent and adult campers with mild to moderate mental impairments. The camp provides the opportunity for campers to learn or improve care skills, appreciate nature and develop a responsible attitude toward the environment. It also develops responsible citizenship, improves social skills and increases self confidence. This is a Michigan Area project.
Canton Leisure Services: This is a Canton Township service that organizes numerous community events. We have worked with them by collecting tickets, greeting guests and/or serving refreshments for an Art Show in October, Veteran’s Day in November, and the Storytelling Festival in January at the Summitt. We also work with this group on Make a Difference Day.
CIRC: This stands for the Civitan International Research Center which does research and treatment of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities (MR/DD). CIRC is funded by the Civitan Candy Box project. It is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Cooke School – Point Store: Cooke is a school for children with special needs. These students receive points for good behavior, attendance, completing assignments, etc. They can use these points to purchase items (candy, CD’s, games, etc.) at the Point Store located in the school library. Twice a year we donate $600 to purchase items for the store.
Dance-a-Thon: This is a Junior Civitan event. During a 4 day weekend in March, these Jr. Civitan teens hold a Dance-a-thon and they ask for money pledges which are given to our Civitan International Research Center (CIRC). Our Club makes a donation to their cause
Diabetes Walk: We help the Diabetes Foundation by setting up and serving food and drinks to the participants in their annual Walk in October at the Detroit Zoo. Around 10 people are needed and it takes 3-4 hours.
Essay Contest: This contest is sponsored by our Club. English teachers from the Plymouth-Canton high schools choose an essay topic in November. In March, they meet to pick the top 3 essays. 1st place gets $750, 2nd place gets $500 and 3rd place gets $250. The winners get their pictures in the paper and attend our April dinner meeting to read the essays. Parents are invited and each winner gets a certificate and check at this time. We also provide snacks for the teachers’ initial meeting to discuss topics and pizza at their March meeting.
Focus Hope Food Boxes: Twice a year (November and April) we met at 9 a.m. and carpool to Focus Hope in Detroit where we form a production line and fill boxed with various food items. We are usually done by 11:30a.m. 10-15 members are needed.
Focus Hope Walk: In October, Focus Hope sponsors an annual Walk commemorating the walk taken by Martin Luther King. We provide crafts for kids to make and supervise the moon walk attraction for returning walkers. 8-10 people are needed and it takes 4-5 hours.
Food Baskets: We prepare food baskets twice a year – Thanksgiving and Christmas. Individual club members donate items for the basket and the Club purchases a grocery gift certificate for a ham or turkey. We try to make sure all the items necessary for a complete holiday meal is included plus treats. This is through Cooke School.
Make a Difference Day: The 4th Saturday in October is designated by Canton Township and Canton Leisure Services as Make a Difference Day. Various projects take place in the community. One is at Kenyon Cemetery where we are joined by Cub Scouts, their parents, high school members, neighbors, etc. to clean and rake leaves. We usually serve cider to the participants. Sometimes we are joined by over 50 people.
MS Walk: We serve food and drinks to the participants upon completion of the MS Walk at the Dexter-Pinckney Metro Park. It goes from 9:30a.m. until noon and requires 8-10 people.
Operation Good Cheer: This is a program sponsored by Michigan Social Services which provides Christmas gifts from each child’s Christmas wish list. Over 5 thousand children and teens in foster care facilities receive 3 gifts each. One club member is responsible for finding people to purchase gifts for over 100 kids, storing gifts and then loading the gifts onto a semi-truck to be transported to the Pontiac International Airport for disbursement all over the state. Our members are involved in all aspects – buying presents, loading the truck and working at the airport.
Plymouth Pumpkin Palooza: Working with the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce we sponsor a booth to pass out treats for the kids of Plymouth.
Plymouth Planter: We are responsible for the care of a planter in downtown Plymouth on Main Street. We purchase, plant and tend to the flowers from May through the fall. There is a nameplate stating it is maintained by the Civitans.
Plymouth Seniors: Members help serve and assist the seniors at their holiday luncheons. The Club donates gift cards for raffle prizes at their picnic. The Seniors help us by sell our fruitcake.
Plymouth Canton All-Stars: We sponsor the Plymouth Canton Allstar bowling league every winter at Plaza lanes. We currently have just over 70 bowlers that bowl every Tuesday from 4pm to 5:30pm during February through the first part of April at Plaza Lanes on Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth.
St John Neuman Halloween Party: We run a photo Booth at the party and take pictures of the folks in their costumes. This event takes place the 4th Friday of October. We generally take around 75 photos of the participants.
Plymouth Miracle League: We help with the kids during the playing of baseball games.
Plymouth Historical Society: We help with an assortment of projects they run throughout the year.
Salvation Army: There are a number of projects we help the Salvation army with through out the year. The main ones being school start up and Thanksgiving.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing: We ring bells for the Salvation Army on the Saturday following Thanksgiving from 9a.m. to 9p.m. in 2-3 hour shifts. Our post is at Sam’s Club on Ford Road and requires at least 12 people.
Sno Do: A Junior Civitan International event where teens snowmobile in Ontario, Canada while raising money for charity. We donate money to support their efforts.
Special Olympics Powerlifting: The Special Olympics Powerlifting Tournament is held each Spring held at the Northville High School . The Club has a food concession booth. Members prepare and sell breakfast and lunch foods so that families can enjoy the entire tournament without having to leave the facility. We price our items very low so that this is more of a service project than fundraiser.
Step-Up for Downs Walk: The Southeastern Michigan Down Syndrome Guild holds a walk each fall. Members staff the registration table for the walkers. 10-12 volunteers are needed.
MONEY MAKING PROJECTS
Dixboro Store: One weekend was chosen by the Dixboro Store to share its profits with us if the customer has a special coupon naming our Club as a recipient. These coupons were given to friends and family members who were encouraged to visit this quaint store and make purchases.
Fall Festival: This festival occurs the weekend following Labor Day in downtown Plymouth. We have a photo button booth. Members take digital photos and mount them on buttons, key chains, magnets and Christmas ornaments. This a major fund raiser and requires many man hours of work since the festival runs all 3 days of the weekend
Fruit Cake: This is another major money maker for us. Civitan clubs in North America participate in this traditional fundraiser. Starting in October, we begin selling Claxton fruitcake at stores and the Plymouth Credit Union. At the Credit Union we usually pick a Friday and Saturday in both November and December to sell it as well as chocolate covered pecans.
Michigan Area Raffle: Michigan Area Civitans sell raffle tickets to support Camp Civitan. The tickets have a 3 digit number. If it matches the number drawn by the Michigan Lotto on any day during the month of June they win $50.
PSP: Pennies for Special People (PSP) is a project where we collect pennies at each meeting from our loose change. This money is sent to our Civitan International Research Center (CIRC). Some members keep a jar at home and on their desk at work for other people to contribute pennies.
Charity Poker: Working with Kazy Kops and the state of Michigan we assist in the running poler at Vision Lanes in Wayne Michigan.
4th Revision 2024
PROJECT GLOSSARY
Adopt a Family: We adopt 1-3 families for the holidays. For Thanksgiving and Christmas we prepare food baskets. For Christmas we also purchase clothing and toys for the family members. We get these families from the Salvation Army and Cooke School.
Adopt-a-Highway: Three times a year (May, July, September) we clean a stretch of Ford Road between Lilley and Canton Center Roads. We meet in the Plato parking lot on a Saturday morning. Half the group cleans one side of the road and the other half does the other side. Breakfast usually follows. It takes around 1½ hours and is great exercise. 6-10 people are needed for this project.
Camp Civitan: An outdoor, residential, camping experience designed to include adolescent and adult campers with mild to moderate mental impairments. The camp provides the opportunity for campers to learn or improve care skills, appreciate nature and develop a responsible attitude toward the environment. It also develops responsible citizenship, improves social skills and increases self confidence. This is a Michigan Area project.
Canton Leisure Services: This is a Canton Township service that organizes numerous community events. We have worked with them by collecting tickets, greeting guests and/or serving refreshments for an Art Show in October, Veteran’s Day in November, and the Storytelling Festival in January at the Summitt. We also work with this group on Make a Difference Day.
CIRC: This stands for the Civitan International Research Center which does research and treatment of mental retardation and other developmental disabilities (MR/DD). CIRC is funded by the Civitan Candy Box project. It is located in Birmingham, Alabama.
Cooke School – Point Store: Cooke is a school for children with special needs. These students receive points for good behavior, attendance, completing assignments, etc. They can use these points to purchase items (candy, CD’s, games, etc.) at the Point Store located in the school library. Twice a year we donate $600 to purchase items for the store.
Dance-a-Thon: This is a Junior Civitan event. During a 4 day weekend in March, these Jr. Civitan teens hold a Dance-a-thon and they ask for money pledges which are given to our Civitan International Research Center (CIRC). Our Club makes a donation to their cause
Diabetes Walk: We help the Diabetes Foundation by setting up and serving food and drinks to the participants in their annual Walk in October at the Detroit Zoo. Around 10 people are needed and it takes 3-4 hours.
Essay Contest: This contest is sponsored by our Club. English teachers from the Plymouth-Canton high schools choose an essay topic in November. In March, they meet to pick the top 3 essays. 1st place gets $750, 2nd place gets $500 and 3rd place gets $250. The winners get their pictures in the paper and attend our April dinner meeting to read the essays. Parents are invited and each winner gets a certificate and check at this time. We also provide snacks for the teachers’ initial meeting to discuss topics and pizza at their March meeting.
Focus Hope Food Boxes: Twice a year (November and April) we met at 9 a.m. and carpool to Focus Hope in Detroit where we form a production line and fill boxed with various food items. We are usually done by 11:30a.m. 10-15 members are needed.
Focus Hope Walk: In October, Focus Hope sponsors an annual Walk commemorating the walk taken by Martin Luther King. We provide crafts for kids to make and supervise the moon walk attraction for returning walkers. 8-10 people are needed and it takes 4-5 hours.
Food Baskets: We prepare food baskets twice a year – Thanksgiving and Christmas. Individual club members donate items for the basket and the Club purchases a grocery gift certificate for a ham or turkey. We try to make sure all the items necessary for a complete holiday meal is included plus treats. This is through Cooke School.
Make a Difference Day: The 4th Saturday in October is designated by Canton Township and Canton Leisure Services as Make a Difference Day. Various projects take place in the community. One is at Kenyon Cemetery where we are joined by Cub Scouts, their parents, high school members, neighbors, etc. to clean and rake leaves. We usually serve cider to the participants. Sometimes we are joined by over 50 people.
MS Walk: We serve food and drinks to the participants upon completion of the MS Walk at the Dexter-Pinckney Metro Park. It goes from 9:30a.m. until noon and requires 8-10 people.
Operation Good Cheer: This is a program sponsored by Michigan Social Services which provides Christmas gifts from each child’s Christmas wish list. Over 5 thousand children and teens in foster care facilities receive 3 gifts each. One club member is responsible for finding people to purchase gifts for over 100 kids, storing gifts and then loading the gifts onto a semi-truck to be transported to the Pontiac International Airport for disbursement all over the state. Our members are involved in all aspects – buying presents, loading the truck and working at the airport.
Plymouth Pumpkin Palooza: Working with the Plymouth Chamber of Commerce we sponsor a booth to pass out treats for the kids of Plymouth.
Plymouth Planter: We are responsible for the care of a planter in downtown Plymouth on Main Street. We purchase, plant and tend to the flowers from May through the fall. There is a nameplate stating it is maintained by the Civitans.
Plymouth Seniors: Members help serve and assist the seniors at their holiday luncheons. The Club donates gift cards for raffle prizes at their picnic. The Seniors help us by sell our fruitcake.
Plymouth Canton All-Stars: We sponsor the Plymouth Canton Allstar bowling league every winter at Plaza lanes. We currently have just over 70 bowlers that bowl every Tuesday from 4pm to 5:30pm during February through the first part of April at Plaza Lanes on Ann Arbor Road in Plymouth.
St John Neuman Halloween Party: We run a photo Booth at the party and take pictures of the folks in their costumes. This event takes place the 4th Friday of October. We generally take around 75 photos of the participants.
Plymouth Miracle League: We help with the kids during the playing of baseball games.
Plymouth Historical Society: We help with an assortment of projects they run throughout the year.
Salvation Army: There are a number of projects we help the Salvation army with through out the year. The main ones being school start up and Thanksgiving.
Salvation Army Bell Ringing: We ring bells for the Salvation Army on the Saturday following Thanksgiving from 9a.m. to 9p.m. in 2-3 hour shifts. Our post is at Sam’s Club on Ford Road and requires at least 12 people.
Sno Do: A Junior Civitan International event where teens snowmobile in Ontario, Canada while raising money for charity. We donate money to support their efforts.
Special Olympics Powerlifting: The Special Olympics Powerlifting Tournament is held each Spring held at the Northville High School . The Club has a food concession booth. Members prepare and sell breakfast and lunch foods so that families can enjoy the entire tournament without having to leave the facility. We price our items very low so that this is more of a service project than fundraiser.
Step-Up for Downs Walk: The Southeastern Michigan Down Syndrome Guild holds a walk each fall. Members staff the registration table for the walkers. 10-12 volunteers are needed.
MONEY MAKING PROJECTS
Dixboro Store: One weekend was chosen by the Dixboro Store to share its profits with us if the customer has a special coupon naming our Club as a recipient. These coupons were given to friends and family members who were encouraged to visit this quaint store and make purchases.
Fall Festival: This festival occurs the weekend following Labor Day in downtown Plymouth. We have a photo button booth. Members take digital photos and mount them on buttons, key chains, magnets and Christmas ornaments. This a major fund raiser and requires many man hours of work since the festival runs all 3 days of the weekend
Fruit Cake: This is another major money maker for us. Civitan clubs in North America participate in this traditional fundraiser. Starting in October, we begin selling Claxton fruitcake at stores and the Plymouth Credit Union. At the Credit Union we usually pick a Friday and Saturday in both November and December to sell it as well as chocolate covered pecans.
Michigan Area Raffle: Michigan Area Civitans sell raffle tickets to support Camp Civitan. The tickets have a 3 digit number. If it matches the number drawn by the Michigan Lotto on any day during the month of June they win $50.
PSP: Pennies for Special People (PSP) is a project where we collect pennies at each meeting from our loose change. This money is sent to our Civitan International Research Center (CIRC). Some members keep a jar at home and on their desk at work for other people to contribute pennies.
Charity Poker: Working with Kazy Kops and the state of Michigan we assist in the running poler at Vision Lanes in Wayne Michigan.
4th Revision 2024