[Originally posted August 2008]
If there really are angels amongst us, local resident and one of my dearest friends, Lauren Romano, is one of them. I caught up with Lauren recently online to ask her about her new venture called Heartworks Kids. Read on, folks ... it truly is an amazing thing Lauren is creating in our community.
How long have you lived in South Walton? Where did you move from?
Our family has been here for about 5 years now. After living in Boulder, Colorado for 17 years we decided to make the move to the beach.
Why South Walton?
We had heard about this area for a long time and planned a trip to travel from Panama City to Gulf Shores eight summers ago. When we came across South Walton...we fell in love.
A year later we came on vacation again with our first born. Before we left, we put a contract on a cute
little Florida beach house. We were crying as we drove to the airport, our hearts were heavy, this place was really getting to us. My husband and I would find every excuse to come for a visit over the next two years.
Then in Aug of '03 we said, "That's it with the rat race!" and moved down in December. People thought we were crazy, but we didn't care. Florida had captured our souls and we never looked back. I think my husband would agree that it was the best decision we ever made.
A year later we came on vacation again with our first born. Before we left, we put a contract on a cute
Then in Aug of '03 we said, "That's it with the rat race!" and moved down in December. People thought we were crazy, but we didn't care. Florida had captured our souls and we never looked back. I think my husband would agree that it was the best decision we ever made.
Tell us all about Heartworks Kids. Where did the inspiration come from to start it?
Heartworks Kids is an opportunity for children and their parents to directly give back to their community in what we call "giving opportunities". The kids are encouraged to share their ideas about possible giving opportunities and it is the parent's role to help bring those ideas to fruition. We have found that adults bring giving opportunities to us as well and, in that circumstance, the children are given the opportunity to brainstorm to find a giving opportunity in those situations.
At Heartworks Kids, we believe children's hearts are pure and full of love. They give unconditionally and with true compassion. Our group fosters this innate ability to give love freely and empowers their spirit. Our goal is to show support and kindness to other's life experiences while consistently challenging our own spiritual and emotional growth, ultimately understanding that we are all connected, we are all one.
Heartworks Kids is not a religious group, but it is spiritual. We have a meeting once a month and within that month we will have several "giving opportunities" for families to become active participants. At the meeting, parents are given permission to turn off their cell phone and be completely present with their child. We ask for a small donation of $5 -$10 for each meeting and all proceeds go directly to our community efforts. There is no need to commit to come to every meeting. You come when you can or when you are drawn to the up coming opportunity. This group is in it's infancy and is a work in progress that I hold dear to my heart. We welcome any and all support! Everyone is welcome.
Our meetings are usually held in a local park and look something like this:
Heartworks Kids is not a religious group, but it is spiritual. We have a meeting once a month and within that month we will have several "giving opportunities" for families to become active participants. At the meeting, parents are given permission to turn off their cell phone and be completely present with their child. We ask for a small donation of $5 -$10 for each meeting and all proceeds go directly to our community efforts. There is no need to commit to come to every meeting. You come when you can or when you are drawn to the up coming opportunity. This group is in it's infancy and is a work in progress that I hold dear to my heart. We welcome any and all support! Everyone is welcome.
Our meetings are usually held in a local park and look something like this:
- There is 30 minutes to connect and play.
- Updates are given on past giving opportunities.
- We open the meeting with gratitude circle.
- We set the following intention: "Please allow these beautiful children to guide us. Their open hearts and pure ideas will show us the way."
- Our motto is "We are love. We and give and receive love freely."
- A children's literature book is read to help facilitate discussion.
- Time is spent working on the current project(s). We rotate through stations and all are kid-friendly activities.
- We discuss future opportunities.
- We end with a closing circle.
- Sign-ups
Activities we have participated in thus far:
- Made a beautiful tissue paper flower arrangement to bring light to a man going through chemotherapy for throat cancer.
- Welcomed Lighthouse Families (families with children who have cancer).
- Decorated cookies with Lighthouse kids.
- Prepared meals for families in crisis.
- Gathering school supplies for kids in our community.
- Planting a memorial tree for a special woman (who works at our local elementary school, she lost her husband suddenly).
The inspiration for Heartworks Kids came from my dear friend Megan McDowell. She had started a women's group called Heartworks in NJ. I had been interested in starting a chapter here in Florida.
The Heartworks mission is for woman to gather together in the spirit of faith and compassion. There are two essential parts to their focus: a commitment to their own spiritual and emotional growth and generating acts of kindness in their community and throughout the world. I loved the idea, but could not seem to commit to starting my own chapter.
I'm a teacher by trade and longed to work with kids again, but still wanted the flexibility to be available to care for my own children. In January of this year I started to write ideas down that would create a kids version of Heartworks. I approached Megan with my thoughts and Heartworks Kids had it's first Meeting April 16th, 2008.
The Heartworks mission is for woman to gather together in the spirit of faith and compassion. There are two essential parts to their focus: a commitment to their own spiritual and emotional growth and generating acts of kindness in their community and throughout the world. I loved the idea, but could not seem to commit to starting my own chapter.
I'm a teacher by trade and longed to work with kids again, but still wanted the flexibility to be available to care for my own children. In January of this year I started to write ideas down that would create a kids version of Heartworks. I approached Megan with my thoughts and Heartworks Kids had it's first Meeting April 16th, 2008.
How can parents get their children involved?
They may contact me at laurenromano@earthlink.net or call 850-543-0323.
What is your favorite thing to do on a day off in South Walton?
To be with my family near the water or anything to do with Heartworks Kids, it has been a true gift in my life!
