ISSUE XIV

For the fourth consecutive year, Vernon/RTC is proud to par-

ticipate in the Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times Walk

for Kids. This year’s walk will take place on Sunday, April 7th.

The mission of Camp Ronald McDonald is to provide chil-

dren who are suffering from cancer—along with their fami-

lies—a cost-free opportunity to connect with others facing

similar challenges, all in a healthy and safe environment.

By helping children strengthen their courage and sense of

independence, their ability to fight disease is strengthened as

well. Since 1982, the camp has been a source of healing, hope,

and inspiration for over 40,000 kids.

Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times relies on both indi-

vidual and corporate sponsorships to fund its costs.

This ensures the experience is free for those already dealing

with the financial burdens of treatment.

Since 2016 Vernon/RTC has partnered with IFS to raise

enough money to send fifty kids to camp. This year we raised

$30,000 and are sending 20 kids with cancer and their fami-

lies to camp.

So, a big heartfelt thank you to everyone who has supported

this worthy cause. By volunteering your time and energy, you

are making a real difference for those that need it most.

Thank you!

Keeping Hope Alive

Gift cards remain a top gift— 56% of consumers said they planned to give them

this year, according to a National Retail Federation survey — making them

excellent (and frequent) gifts. Here’s what card givers and recipients need to do

to protect their money and identity.

Spot the scams

Gift card fraud comes in many packages. Here are some known scams to watch

out for:

• Thieves take gift cards from store displays, write the numbers down and put

the cards back. They wait for others to purchase the cards and then use

balances themselves.

• Sellers list counterfeit or stolen cards on auction websites or community

marketplaces such as eBay and Craigslist.

Know safeguards

Despite the possible dangers, many experts say gift cards make safer gifts than

cash.

“There is some tracking available, especially if you buy the gift card online,” said

Shelly Hunter of Giftcard.com.

Transaction receipts and email records contain vital information including the

date and time stamp, gift card number, and the debit or credit card used to make

the purchase. If the gift card is lost or stolen, but you have proof of purchase,

customer service may track down the card or issue a replacement.

If you’re dealing with a gift card from a financial service company such as Visa or

Master Card, “you can dispute those (fraudulent) charges just like if it were a

credit card,” Hunter said.

Protection may vary from gift card to gift card, so read the terms and conditions

carefully.

For gift card buyers:

• Purchase gift card from trusted companies. It’s best to buy directly from

retailers. Purchasing gift cards second hand at a discount might be tempt-

ing, but not all resellers are reliable. If you decide to buy from a reseller,

Hunter recommends picking one that is backed by a reputable company,

offers a money back guarantee, and has a customer service department.

• Inspect the card before you buy it. If you purchase the gift card in person,

make sure the packaging hasn't been tampered with. Don’t buy it if the

PIN is exposed.

• Hang on to your receipt. This verifies ownership in case something goes

wrong.

For gift card recipients:

• Register your gift card. This can help you and customer service easily identi-

fy the card and monitor its activity.

• Keep it in a safe place. “Treat the card like cash. Rather than tossing it on

the table or into a desk drawer, put it in your wallet next to the cards you

use most often,” Hunter says.

If you fall victim

If you lose the gift card or think it’s been compromised, alert the issuer.

File a compliant with the FTC at ftc.gov/complaint or by calling (877) FTC-HELP.

The agency may not solve your problem, but it can offer advice , investigate ,and

share details with law enforcement.

Congratulations to Mario Luna, the Spring 2019 Employee of the Quarter. Mr. Luna

transitioned to Inventory Control in January and has done a phenomenal job in his

new role. His co-workers have taken notice and acknowledged him with this peer

nominated award. Mr. Luna has done a great job at Vernon/RTC since he first came

aboard, filling several roles along the way. He’s taken change in stride and performed

well every step along the way. The decision to honor him is well-deserved.

These fun and easy treats will have everybody smiling. The cones can

be assembled earlier in the day and frozen until party time.

Directions:

Special equipment: A pink edible marker

Scoop vanilla ice cream into a flat-bottomed cake cone to come just past the rim. Press the top of the ice cream into crushed chocolate cookies.

Secure the cone in a 3-ounce paper cup and freeze until firm, about 15 minutes. Place another scoop of ice cream on top of the crushed cookies.

Snip a marshmallow in half crosswise and stretch to make an oval paw shape. Draw bunny paw pads on the smooth sides of the marshmallow

pieces with a pink edible marker and stick to the ice cream. Pipe or top with a quarter-sized dollop of sweetened whipped cream between the

feet for a bunny tail. Push 2 small oval shaped sandwich cookies (such as Mini Milanos) into the top of the ice cream scoop for bunny ears.

The flowers are blooming, the birds are serenading, and our house still

feels like it's stuck with winter blues. Spring cleaning is a tradition that

allows us to freshen up our homes and get a head start on the hectic sea-

sons of spring and summer.

1. Clean Room-By-Room

Approaching your house room-by-room is the most effective way to deep-

clean your home at any time of the year, but especially in spring. Use room

checklists as a springboard for deep-cleaning the areas of your home that

really need extra attention. Feel free to skip items that have recently been

cleaned and focus on the parts of your home that have been neglected all

winter long.

2. Organize and Clear the Clutter

One of the biggest parts of spring cleaning is getting rid of clutter that you

don't need. Now is a good time to advantage of the natural spring urge to

get rid of items that are weighing you down and begin fresh with a more

streamlined lifestyle. A systematic four-step approach to identifying prob-

lems, analyzing reasons, determining solutions, and implementing reme-

dies can be extremely productive at this time of year. Sorting your belong-

ings into four categories—trash, give-away, store, or put-way—can also

be effective as you begin the spring-cleaning process.

Now is a great time to plan a garage sale or to donate items to good causes.

Cleaning will be a lot easier when the clutter is gone.

3. Tackle the Seasonal Chores

There are some special chores that need to be done seasonally. We ignore

them for most of the fall and winter, but now it is time to bite the bullet

and get these things clean. Even though these chores only need to be done

once or twice a year, they will help your home look better and run more

smoothly. Outdoor chores like cleaning grills, patios, and windows can be

a little intimidating, but there are some simple tricks that can keep the

jobs manageable.

The cleaning aisles of our stores are stocked full of commercial products to

help you clean, but the variety can be overwhelming. And dozens of clean-

ing products means dozens of cleaning products to clutter up your cabi-

nets and closets.

4. Establish New Cleaning Habits

A good, thorough spring cleaning that includes the whole house and is a

great time to establish new on-going cleaning habits, and it can also make

the next spring cleaning a good deal easier. Simple 15-minute cleanup

routines practiced every few days, each including a series of 1- to 2-minute

chores, can make it remarkably easy to keep your home clean and tidy all

year long.

Vernon# Clorox# Clorox Product

135587 31903 BioStain 9/32oz

135589 31711 Odor Defense 12/14oz

135588 31708 Odor Defense 9/32oz

121672 31036 Urine Remover 9/32oz

121635 31043 4 in 1 spray 12/14oz

To qualify for this rebate the product must be received from April 1, 2019 — June 30, 2019. We will issue a rebate check on/by July 15.

April 1April 1stst --June 30June 30thth

Clorox PromotionClorox Promotion