TOP S.P.O.T.

Doing What Matters

2012-02-03T07:22:00.000-08:00

On January 31, 2012 we hosted the "Doing What Matters for Tuscaloosa's Children" conference. We had a record number of over 300 participants and feel that the conference was a great success! We had a number of speakers who shared with participants about a variety of things ranging from teen issues, bullying and social media, finances, immigration issues, and several others. It was a wonderful day and we are so grateful to all those who participated!

Here are a few pictures from the event:

We would like to give a special thanks to all those who made this event possible including our speakers, exhibitors, sponsors, and planning committee. Also, thank you to Central High School ROTC for presenting the colors. This even would not have been possible without all of you!

Holiday Heart

2011-12-09T13:32:00.000-08:00

Holiday Heart is helping children all over Tuscaloosa receive a beautiful Christmas this year. Last year we were able to help approximately 150 children and this year we are hoping to far exceed this number!

ALL FOR ONE

2011-10-12T14:10:00.000-07:00

It's time for TOP's annual Fall Festival!!!!!! This is going to be a great event!!!!!!

Hands on Tuscaloosa "Fun Day!"

2011-09-12T13:28:00.000-07:00

On August 27, 2011 Hands on Tuscaloosa, a volunteer initiative held by the University of Alabama’s Community Service Center, sponsored Fun Day at Tuscaloosa’s One Place! This event was held for the community to give families who were affected by the April 27 storm a Fun Day together. Children enjoyed several games including sack race, football toss, hat making, musical chairs, etc….

Food was provided as well as face painting and many other activities for the children. The University of Alabama’s radio station, 90.7FM WVUA, had a live remote on site with great music !

Hands on Tuscaloosa works with non-profit agencies to help serve the community’s needs. This initiative was developed to give UA students the opportunity to continue helping neighbors in the community. Over 60 volunteers lead games and handed out food at Fun Day!!!!! Hands on Tuscaloosa did a great job organizing and hosting this event. Thank you to everyone who participated! Together WE are continuing to make a difference in the lives of children and families in our community!!!

Samantha Rayburn

School Supplies!!!!!

2011-08-15T12:15:00.000-07:00

In the aftermath of the April 27th tornado, many entities formed a partnership with the goal of providing Tuscaloosa City and County students with backpacks and school supplies. Tuscaloosa’s One Place, Tuscaloosa’s Promise and the Children’s Policy Council joined forces with Tuscaloosa City Schools, Tuscaloosa County Schools, ABC123, Tuscaloosa Life Church, The Salvation Army, University Mall and Citadel Broadcasting to form the Tuscaloosa Backpack Coalition.

Many churches, agencies and community members throughout our area donated time, efforts and supplies to the drive. The backpack distribution was held on July 30th at seven sites across Tuscaloosa. This day consisted of games, food and fun for the children and parents. The coalition was able to provide about 1,500 students with supplies.

University Church of Christ adopted Alberta Elementary and every child received supplies and a backpack. The coalition wrote a grant to the West Alabama Chamber of Commerce Tuscaloosa Disaster Relief Fund to supply children at University Place Elementary, University Place Middle and County School students impacted by the April tornado with their supplies. World Vision adopted Holt Elementary, Holt High, Cottondale Elementary and David-Emerson Middle. This organization provided the students at each of those schools with their supplies and backpack. Sean Wrench, Founder of the Forsaken Generation Project contacted Staples who donated supplies through their Staples for Students Program.

Tuscaloosa has been very blessed by the outpouring of generosity in this time of need from all over the country. We appreciate everyone’s time and energy to make sure the children of Tuscaloosa start back to school with everything they need to succeed this year!!!!

New Member of the TOP Family

2011-08-05T13:33:00.000-07:00

TOP Assistant Director, Bob McKinney, welcomed a brand new addition to the McKinney Family on July 28!

Introducing, William McKinney!!!!

8lbs. 2oz and 19 1/2 inches long!

The History of TOP

2011-07-26T12:32:00.000-07:00

What a Long, Strange Trip It’s Been

In 1999, a group of concerned community members came together to create the East Tuscaloosa Family Resource Center, Inc. The goal was to create a place where underserved members of the Tuscaloosa community could come to gain access to services that were already available in other parts of town. The board of directors hired as the agency’s first executive director Teresa Costanzo, a social worker with management experience as the director of the Hale County Department of Human Resources. The budget in that initial year was $80,000; there were three employees.

Very soon, Teresa’s vision began to exceed the limits of east Tuscaloosa, so, in 2001, the board of directors decided to drop the “East” from the name, making it the Tuscaloosa Family Resource Center, Inc. The agency continued to grow, as did the array of services provided. Soon, the community began to think of the agency as a “one-stop-shop” for a wide array of family needs. In an effort to reflect this perception of the agency, the board decided to begin operations under the business name Tuscaloosa’s One Place, a Family Resource Center.

Through the years, many of our services have changed. We now offer many school-based programs, several career-development programs, an on-site adult education program, an English-as-a-second-language program, healthy relationship programs, a juvenile detention alternative initiative, a Hispanic outreach program, and home visitation programs, to name a few of our services. We press approximately 800 volunteers, from all walks of life, into service for our community every year, and that number is growing. Our budget for the most recent fiscal year was approximately $1.5 million; we now have approximately 25 full-time employees and 80 temporary or part-time employees. To say that we’ve changed would be an understatement.

Through all these changes, though, the agency’s constant has been its executive director. Teresa continues to be at the forefront of everything TOP does. Her oversight has been and still is the key factor in the agency’s place in the community.

As this year develops, many exciting things are on TOP’s horizon. Stay tuned!

~Bob McKinney, Assistant Director

Family Fun Day, "A Celebration of Recovery"

2011-07-20T14:04:00.000-07:00

Communities, organizations, and thousands of volunteers have come together to rebuild a city, and restore hope to families throughout the areas affected by the April 27 storm. The city of Sylacauga is one of those communities. Friday, July 15^th, Sylacauga joined forces with Tuscaloosa’s One Place to host Family Fun Day. This was a celebration of recovery and rebuilding for all ages. This event was designed as a fun opportunity for residents to relax, enjoy fellowship with the community, and rediscover what makes this city thrive. The fun included food, prizes, games, children’s activities, giveaways, and live entertainment.

In addition to the partnership with TOP, the city of Sylacauga also teamed up with the Coosa Valley Medical Center, Girl Scouts, Blue Bell, Baker and Taylor Publishing, Sanctuary Church, Christ Point Community Church, musicians Matt Jackson and Wade Hamner, the Sylacauga Alliance for Family Enhancement, Inc. and many individual donors to host this celebration of recovery. The members of the city of Sylacauga have done an outstanding job assisting storm victims and their families. Immediately after the disaster, city members began sending volunteers and groups weekly and biweekly to Tuscaloosa to distribute food and supplies to the affected communities. They also provided care packages and necessities for children, along with clothes, linens, and other household items. Words cannot express the acts of kindness shown by this city. A very big THANK YOU goes out to everyone from Sylacauga who helped make this event possible!!!!

Kings's Kitchen

Margaret Morton from Sylacauga interviewing with Fox 6.

Sylacauga's Volunteers!

Books donated by Baker & Taylor Publishing.

Musician Matt Jackson

Community Youth enjoying the activities!

For more pictures from Family Fun Day please visit our Facebook Page!

http://www.facebook.com/home.php#!/pages/Tuscaloosas-One-Place-A-Family-Resource-Center/62603206250

TOP Serving the People of Tuscaloosa

2011-07-07T08:31:00.000-07:00

Quite often I get asked the question, "What do you do?" or "What does TOP do?" After the explanation is finished it is usually followed by, "I didn't know TOP did ALL that." That's what this blog is for! TOP S.P.O.T. readers will have the chance to hear from staff, board members, interns, and volunteers on what is going on at Tuscaloosa's One Place, A Family Resource Center. First, I would like to introduce the staff, board members, and volunteers!

The Staff at TOP:

Executive Director, Teresa Costanzo and Assistant Director, Bob McKinney

TOP Board of Directors

Dr. Nelson-Gardell, board president, and her freshman class

TOP Board of Directors Member Alison Hudnall at "Pack the Bus" with Tuscaloosa's Promise Committee Member, Chrisy Horner.

Board Members Tonya Adams Nelson & Leslie Guy

Just a few of our wonderful VOLUNTEERS

Stay tuned for more on TOP and how we are serving the people of Tuscaloosa!!!!

~Amanda Waller