#6

Hi again...

It is the middle of the school day and I am blogging!  I am using my time wisely! 

I went to my first pageant practice with my pageant sisters.  It was so great to see all of them.  Tina is right...keeping a journal is very important.  I always forget what I do.  While we were at practice we made 3 tie blankets for the children at the University of Iowa Hospitals.  We also brought in cans to help with a food drive that Ciara is doing. 

This weekend I am going to be helping Kylie White with selling raffle tickets to kids who want a chance to ride with Santa.  Then it is the Festival of Trees Parade.  I can not wait to see everyone again.  I am practicing for the Festival of Trees performance next Friday!  I am going to try tapping.  I am always getting in trouble by my mom because I am always tapping around the house.  Then Saturday I will be attending the Burlington Lighted parade.  This is my favorite parade. 

My school is almost done helping Flickinger center.  We are now having a coin war to help raise the funds that are needed!  I hope it goes well.  I would like to see them raise $300 or more! 

I am signing off... Oh..it was nice to see Pauli and others at the Miss Eastern Iowa Pageant!  The theme was patriotic and it was really neat! 

Make a difference!
Dream big...
 Matilyn Hepker 
  Jr. Miss Henry County 2010

#5

Well sometimes I wonder what I need to say from week to week... I guess I decided this is my way of keeping myself organized.  I know that I do a lot for others, but when it comes tme for me to share to all...this ongoing journal will help! 

Hmmm... My mom has taken the days off for Miss America... We have purchased our show tickets... we have sent in pictures and $ for our badges... this trip is going to be awesome.  I am babysitting as much as I can to help my mom pay for this trip...  I AM SO EXCITED!

West is still helping my cause: FLickinger Center... i am so excited to say that my school has gathered another 615 (hopefully more to come) BOOKS to be donated.  West Middle School Rocks!  We have collected paper products to help them with this cost... Now we are focusing on games...legos, checkers, chess, etc...  Paul has given me the task of raising money so the Center can buy Accelerated Reader quizzes...he will match whatever I raise!  Go Mati! 

3 large Ronald McDonald Houses are now filled with pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald Houses.  I need to count my yoplait yogurt lids...and now as a family we are looking into this program where we would "buy" a family in another country an animal... my mom says it is better to do this so the animal can give milk and babies... not just sending something over as a one time deal.  Once we decide what animal; I will let you know! 

Ran out of energy...later!

I JUST want to make a difference... I want to make someone SMILE and laugh!

Dream Big!
Decide to Make a Difference
Mati Hepker - Jr. Miss Henry County

#4

Phew...another busy week for me.  The weeks are pretty much the same for me as far as volunteering at the Flickinger Center...every Monday and Friday and this past week I went on Wed. with my friend Mallory.  I was excited to find out that since I spoke at WMS about the Flickinger Center... ok Paul spoke and I stood there... 6 more students from West Middle School have filled out their volunteer forms and are going to start this week with volunteering!   Woohhooo  

* We have collected about 400 more books at West for the center.  My goal is 600...Let's go West.  This week we are focusing on donating paper products since Flickinger feeds the kids supper each night. 

* Over the weekend I was very busy... Saturday morning I made an appearance at the Flickinger Center for "Make a Difference Day", I was there to help hand out books.  Then off to the Muscatine Mall I went.  I sang a song and then had to head off to Iowa City for a soccer game.  Then in the evening headed down to Wapello for the Louisa pageant...all the girls looked great!

I am proud to say that I have filled 2 large Ronald McDonald houses and working on the 3rd.  I would like to weigh them to see how much I am helping.  Yoplait lids are still being turned in as well.

I would also like to say that I am an official member of the Jr. Auxillary at the American Legion.  I am excited to help support all the community service projects that they do....

Until the beginning of next week...Go make a difference!

Dream Big!
Smile
Matilyn Hepker
Jr. Miss Henry County

#3

Another week has gone by.... I am so excited about heading to Miss America in January.  I am a little sad because I know that my mom is nervous about flying...

This week was really busy for me... On Monday I volunteered at the Flickinger Center again...Monday was a neat day for me because when I went to leave there was this little girl that was holding on to my leg and did not want me to leave.  I also was given my first drawn picture.  It was a Dr. Seuss picture... I love it!   On Tuesday I was involved in the kickoff, at our school, for gathering donated items for Flickinger center. This week we are gathering BOOKs....Yeah for BOOKS!  

I am still collecting :pink" yoplait lids....( Breast cancer)  pop tabs (Ronald McDonald House) and then on Saturday my friend and I went shopping for supplies for the soldiers and for the women's domestic abuse shelter.  We are trying to get packages sent to the soldiers for Christmas.  I hope I can make someone have a Merry Christmas.

My school is focusing on "pay it forward" ; what a great idea!

Your, 2010, Jr. Miss Henry County
Smile,
Matilyn Hepker

Flickinger Center

I am excited that on Tuesday, of this week, Paul Brooks will be visiting West Middle School to help kick off our school wide project to help the Flickinger Center with supplies.  I have donated many books there and currently volunteer my time on Mondays and Fridays.  I am Thrilled that my school is going to help out my cause...The Flickinger Learning Center!  Way to go West Middle School!


I also have joined The Green team at school.  The teacher in charge jokes around that it is "The Mati club".  She says this because I have convinced all of my friends...ok a lot of them... to join.  We recycle...take care of the "garden area"....spread the words... Go Green!

I am still collecting the yoplait pink lids to send in for Breast Cancer....( I think my brother, Dane , is eating most of them)  and pop tabs. 

I also went to Mt. Pleasant last weekend and helped the girl scouts with spa day.  It was a lot of fun.  I was in charge of painting nails....

Remember...Just one person can make a difference!

Smile...

Matilyn Hepker....Jr. Miss Henry County

I wanted everyone to know that I am very busy being Jr. Miss Henry County!  I will quickly get you all caught up to date on what I have been doing!  Then my blogs will keep you current from there.

My community service platform is still....R.E.A.D.    I do not preach this too often, but it is the philosophy that I base my community service on.  I have decided to donate books to the Tree of Knowledge.  Marlene Graves has been wonderful helping me distribute lots of books... I believe that I have donated about 1554 books so far... The books have mainly gone to The Flickinger Learning Center! This is a center that offers after school assistance to elementary school children.  They highly promote reading...they even pay the kids to read.  I volunteer there on Mondays and Fridays.  I read to children... I also have to look up the reading level and accelerated reader test number for all the books that I donated.  I really feel great about how much I am helping the center. 

On the side.... I am collecting the pink yoplait lids for breast cancer and  pop tabs at my school!  So, if you want to eat yogurt and send lids to me...great!  If you want to send them yourself... great!

until the next time I BLog!

Dream big...Matilyn Hepker