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Many of us serve as Team Captains, Family Teams Committee members, or Family Teams Committee chairs. What makes your walk special for Family Teams? What do your team members enjoy most about your local March?
The Family Teams tent had face painting and some other crafts for the kiddos. Families could also write the name of their preemies and angels and make a flower for them to be placed in the memory garden. We also did something new at our walk thus year (an idea borrowed from another chapter) to blow bubbles at the start of the walk in memory of angel babies. We also added a mother's station where parents could feed and change their little ones. Our team shirts were a little snug on the boys, but we were able to squeeze one more year's wear out of them:)
In reply to shannonmp:
This year our family team tent will consist of a project for mother's day for current NICU moms. We will be making paper flowers to put in a vase for them from their baby. They can also make them to take home themselves!! We will also have a butterfly garden with names of our babies. There will be designated colors for preemies, angels, birth defects, and healthy babies. I can't wait to see how it turns out!!
We have beads, purple and white, for families to wear to represent why they're walking...survivor or angel. This year, we've brought back the quilt squares. Families can decorate them with fabric paint, and then while everyone is walking, volunteers tie the squares together to make one mission quilt. We have lots of kid activities in or near the FT tent, complete with face painting, bubbles, hula hoops and such. We also have a lullaby lounge curtained off so moms can feed babies. There are a couple of changing tables in there as well. We love seeing all the shirts, the decorated strollers, and all the families walking.
Donna
The family team tent at our walks usually has a quick project - one year we filled out stars on sticks - purple for NICU grads, silver for angels, and then "planted" them in a little garden. Last year we made signs with different color butterflies. I love these projects because they really bring the focus to what the walk is all about for me. I am my family team captain but I haven't been involved yet with planning or volunteering at the walk (we just walk) - but I would like to get more involved (it just takes me forever to take that step, like my first SU). I love hearing about all of the great plans and ideas!
Our Family Team actually "works" the walk. We help with set up and tear down as well as help get the food set up. Last year I had a Mission's Family area where I highlighted all of the awesomeness that is Share Your Story. Giving back on walk day is probably my favorite part, as well as helping plan since I sit on the MFB committee in my local chapter.
Jami
This year, I will be hosting a Family Teams table where team members can make signs for the little ones they are honoring in the walk. For the first time, we are adding memory and miracle miles to our walk and the hand made signs will be placed there by volunteers.
Shannon