May 31 (Day 92) ReMIND - Donate $5.31 on 5/31

Happy Memorial Day to all who have served this country so bravely!  We thank you for your service and admire your love of country.  You are our HEROES!  

I know everyone is busy celebrating the day with friends and family - but sometime today, please take a moment to remember what today is all about!  Honoring the sacrifices made by the brave men and women who have given their all for our freedom. 

If you feel so inclined - I have a very easy way to pay it forward today.  The idea is not original to me, but I don't remember where I saw it.... I would like to give credit where it is due.  Anyways, please consider taking  a couple minutes today (5/31) and donating $5.31 to ReMIND.   It is a very simple way to honor our heroes - and you will help make a difference in someone's life. 

Find our more about ReMIND.

Donate $5.31 to ReMIND. 

ReMIND on Facebook.

Source:  www.remind.org

May 30 (Day 91) - Love Versus Cancer

Today is a special day to our family, it is my sister Sherry's birthday! We each celebrate Sherry's life in our own individual ways - but on this day, we will all remember with love, how lucky we are to have had her in our lives.  One of the ways I celebrate Sherry's life is by blogging... this blog was inspired by and is dedicated to Sherry.  Check out "My Inspiration."

We lost Sherry to Inflammatory Breast Cancer on December 4, 2009.  Inflammatory Breast Cancer (IBC) is a truly awful disease and in honor and celebration of Sherry's life, I hope to shine a small light and create awareness of this disease.

IBC is not a new type of breast cancer, but it is very important to distinguish IBC from other types of breast cancer because there are major differences in its symptoms, prognosis, and treatment.  IBC probably accounts for about 1% of all breast cancers diagnosed in the United States but the disease is often misdiagnosed, since there is no consensus on the real incidence of IBC.

Symptoms

Diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer at an early stage can possibly save your life. IBC causes symptoms that are often different from those of more common breast cancers. It rarely causes a breast lump, and it may not show up on a mammogram. Because it doesn't look like a typical breast cancer, it can be harder to diagnose. IBC can present in a number of ways, and each patient's symptoms are unique, but a common feature is that those symptoms typically progress very rapidly, often within a matter of weeks. Inflammatory breast cancer symptoms may include all or a combination of the following signs and symptoms:

• Breast swelling, which appears suddenly with one breast much larger than the other  
• Itching  
• Pink, red, or dark colored area, sometimes with a dimpling of the breast skin that looks like an orange peel (peau d'orange)  
• Ridges and thickened areas of the skin  
• Breast that feels warm to the touch  
• Flattened or retracted nipple  
• Breast pain

You do not need to have all of these symptoms to be concerned about inflammatory breast cancer. Since inflammatory breast cancer symptoms are very similar to those of an infection (mastitis), your doctor may prescribe a round of antibiotics. If the symptoms have not improved or have grown worse, breast imaging (mammogram, ultrasound, breast MRI) and a biopsy are strongly recommended. These are simple screening procedures for cancer. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) is the most sensitive imaging test for IBC. It can find any breast mass that looks like it could be invasive cancer. More importantly, MRI allows the skin changes that are typical of IBC to be measured precisely. Diagnosing inflammatory breast cancer at an early stage can possibly save your life.

Love Versus Cancer™ aims to honor and promote the strength and hope that love brings to the challenge of confronting cancer. Love unites us all in our efforts to end cancer. Medicine provides the all-important clinical tools to treat cancer – but love bolsters the heart and spirit to help us rise above the disease. Join Love Versus Cancer and connect with those who also recognize the power of love.  

"Love Versus Cancer" does not promise that love will defeat cancer -- not every "fight" will be won.  Love bolsters the spirit and help us rise above the disease. Wherever cancer may take us, love abides and offers strength and hope to confront the disease.

Send an E-Card to someone you love.

Donate to Love Versus Cancer. (Fox Chase Cancer Center Inflammatory Breast Cancer Clinic)

Source: www.fccc.edu

May 29 (Day 90) Coats For Cubs

Donate your old furs to wildlife!

Do you have an old fur coat in your closet? Is your grandmother's mink stole stored in the attic? Many of us have fur apparel that we no longer want or that was left to us by a family member. Some of us aren't comfortable selling it or giving it to charity, because we feel people should not wear animal fur. And storing, cleaning, and remodeling old fur coats are highly profitable services for furriers and helps keep them in the fur business. So what should people do with it?


Give it back to the animals. If you would like to see that old fur put to a good use, donate it to The Humane Society of the United States' Coats for Cubs program. The fur will aid and comfort wildlife.


Where Do the Furs Go?
All of the furs received by The HSUS are sent to wildlife rehabilitators, who use the furs to warm and comfort orphaned and injured wildlife. More than 200 rehabilitators from across the United States and Canada now participate in the program.


How Do the Furs Help Wildlife?
The furs are cut into an appropriate size for the animal, whether it be a bobcat, fox, raccoon, squirrel, or rabbit, and placed inside the animal's enclosure. The furry blanket becomes a surrogate mother to orphaned animals, reducing stress and giving comfort.  The HSUS accepts all fur apparel, fur trims, and fur accessories (such as hats, gloves, and muffs).


One rehabilitator related a story about a restless orphaned river otter who chirped constantly. Once she was given a fur blanket, she settled right down. Turning the sleeve of a fur coat inside out, a rehabilitator can also create a warm nest for a burrowing animal such as an opossum. Some animals adopt a piece of fur as a playmate, jumping on it and wrestling with it.


How Do I Donate?
Donating is easy: Place your fur in a sturdy box (a large padded envelope is fine for small items) and mail it to The HSUS at the following address:

          The Humane Society of the United States
          2100 L St., NW
          Washington, D.C. 20037
          Attn: Coats for Cubs




Need More Info? Click here.
Donate to HSUS programs.



Source:  Humane Society of the United States.
Website: hsus.org 

May 28 (Day 89) Slip, Slop, Slap & Wrap

Today's post highlights something that each of us can do for ourselves and our loved ones!  Make sure you pass this information to everyone you know... you may save a life! 

The National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention Encourages Everyone to Protect Your Skin Today and Every Day.  The Friday before Memorial Day is declared “Don’t Fry Day" as a way to encourage Sun Safety Awareness.  Here is a great way to remember to protect your skin....“Slip! Slop! Slap!…and Wrap” — slip on a shirt, slop on sunscreen of SPF 15 or higher, slap on a hat, and wrap on sunglasses.


Did you know that there are more cases of skin cancer each year than cases of breast, colon, lung and prostrate cancers combined! That adds up to more than one million Americans getting skin cancer annually.
The statistics show one American dies every hour from skin cancer.  That is a very sobering statistic!


To help reduce the rising rates of skin cancer, the National Council on Skin Cancer Prevention has designated the Friday before Memorial Day as Don't Fry Day. The Council's goal is to encourage sun safety awareness by reminding everyone to protect their skin while enjoying the outdoors on Don't Fry Day and every day.

What you can do

We invite you to get involved in raising sun safety awareness. Every voice, action, and effort is another step towards preventing skin cancer. Join the Don't Fry Day campaign to encourage your friends, students, neighbors, relatives, colleagues, and everyone to be safe in the sun.

The American Academy of Dermatology has a great resource available that includes instructions on how to do a Skin Cancer Self-examination and body mole mapping.  Click here for .pdf  file. It also includes tips for sun safety. Print it out (it's only 2 pages) and give a copy to your family and friends or forward them the link to the file and they can print it out for themselves. 



 To minimize your risk of skin cancer, the Academy recommends that everyone Be Sun Smart®:

◦Generously apply a broad-spectrum water-resistant sunscreen with a Sun Protection Factor (SPF) of at least 30 to all exposed skin. “Broad-spectrum” provides protection from both ultraviolet A (UVA) and ultraviolet B (UVB) rays. Re-apply approximately every two hours, even on cloudy days, and after swimming or sweating.

◦Wear protective clothing, such as a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat and sunglasses, where possible.

◦Seek shade when appropriate, remembering that the sun's rays are strongest between 10 a.m. and 4 p.m. If your shadow is shorter than you are, seek shade.

◦Protect children from sun exposure by playing in the shade, using protective clothing, and applying sunscreen.

◦Use extra caution near water, snow and sand as they reflect the damaging rays of the sun which can increase your chance of sunburn.

◦Get vitamin D safely through a healthy diet that may include vitamin supplements. Don't seek the sun.

◦Avoid tanning beds. Ultraviolet light from the sun and tanning beds can cause skin cancer and wrinkling. If you want to look like you've been in the sun, consider using a sunless self-tanning product, but continue to use sunscreen with it.

◦Check your birthday suit. If you notice anything changing, growing, or bleeding on your skin, see a dermatologist. Skin cancer is very treatable when caught early.

 
Don't Fry Day on Facebook.
 

 
Sources:  American Academy of Dermatology
               http://www.skincancerprevention.org/

May 27 (Day 88) Sea to Shining Sea

Can you imagine riding a bike across the country, more than 4,000 miles, in 63 days? Probably not, but starting May 22, a team of exceptional athletes, most of whom are wounded veterans, will take on that daunting journey and demonstrate the strength of the American spirit.

A team of exceptional athletes, many of whom are wounded Iraq and Afghanistan veterans representing all military branches, departed from the Golden Gate Bridge today, Saturday, May 22, for World T.E.A.M. Sports’ inaugural bike trek across America called the State Farm Sea to Shining Sea. The goal of the ride is to honor the courage of our service men and women, recognize the strength of the American spirit and challenge perceptions of how we view athletes. The ride will conclude in Virginia Beach on July 24.

Spanning 63 days and 4,000 miles, the cyclists will test their physical limits and inspire people, disabled or not, to live active and enriched lives. The group will cycle through deserts, mountain passes and historical landmarks providing dramatic proof that disabled Americans can lead productive lives and accomplish feats most people only dream about. Several riders have specially-designed bikes that make it possible for them to participate.

Sea to Shining Sea (S2SS) is a 4000 mile bicycle ride across the United States by a group of wounded warriors. Hosted by leading not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization, World T.E.A.M. Sports. The event will honor the courage of our military and the strength of the American spirit. Since most of the riders will be disabled American veterans, the ride will provide dramatic proof that disabled Americans can lead productive lives and accomplish feats most people only dream of. All funds raised after costs will go to other athletic events World T.E.A.M. Sports runs for disabled Americans and Soldiers’ Angels, a leading support organization for United States service personnel.

View Ride Itinerary.
Follow on Facebook.
Donate to S2SS.
Check  out volunteer opportunities.



Source: Sea to Shining Sea

May 26 (Day 87) Give A Child A Voice

May is National Foster Care Month.  On May 1st, I posted about opportunities to help foster children.  I highlighted the programs of www.fostercaremonth.org and encourage you to take another look and help in those ways that you can.  There are many opportunities to help, but if you are one of those special people who can - please consider becoming a foster parent!  YOU WILL CHANGE A LIFE!  (see earlier post)

I wanted to revisit Foster Care before the month's end because the needs are so great... Today's post is another great way to get involved and help young people in the foster care system.  Today's post is a little longer than usual, please take a few minutes to read this post and check out the links for additional information and thoughtfully consider how you might be able to help.

Each year, approximately 780,000 children in the US are caught up in the court and child welfare maze because they are unable to live safely at home. Imagine what it would be like to lose your parents, not because of something you did, but because they can’t—or won’t—take care of you. Now, into these children’s lives come dozens of strangers: police, foster parents, therapists, social workers, judges, lawyers, and more. Hopefully, one of these strangers is a CASA volunteer.
CASA volunteers are appointed by judges to watch over and advocate for abused and neglected children, to make sure they don’t get lost in the overburdened legal and social service system or languish in an inappropriate group or foster home. They stay with each case until it is closed and the child is placed in a safe, permanent home. For many abused children, their CASA volunteer will be the one constant adult presence—the one adult who cares only for them.

Volunteers get to know the child and meet with the people who are important in that child's life: family members, teachers, medical professionals and others. Their research informs the decisions of the judge and ultimately helps the child to find a safe, permanent home.

Being a CASA volunteer does not require any special education or background, simply the desire to help abused and neglected children find safe, permanent homes.

So what does it take to become a CASA volunteer?

•The first step: Every volunteer passes a background check and participates in a 30-hour training course.
•After successfully completing the training, the volunteer is assigned his first case. A volunteer's average time commitment to a case is approximately 10 hours per month.
•Volunteer advocates are asked to dedicate themselves to a case until it is closed. The average case lasts about a year and a half.
•Advocates are supervised every step of the way and always have resources readily available.

Stand up for foster children so that they can stand a chance.
Your local CASA program offers a volunteer opportunity like no other. As officers of the court, CASA volunteers, also known in some areas as volunteer guardians ad litem (GALs), are empowered to make a lifelong difference in the lives of abused and neglected children.
Last year, our 68,000+ CASA and GAL volunteers advocated for 240,000 children—an impressive number yet just a third of the children who pass through the child welfare system each year. Our volunteers are an amazing force for good, but we need more of them. Our vision is that every child who needs a volunteer will have one. With your help, we can reach that goal.
There are more than 1,000 CASA and guardian ad litem program offices training volunteers to advocate for abused and neglected children across the country.


Ways to Help:
Volunteer - find a program in your community and read volunteers' stories.
Read what Judges are saying about the impact of CASA volunteers. 
Donate online to CASA & other ways to give.

Connect with CASA on Facebook.



Source:  www.casaforchildren.org

May 25 (Day 86) National Kidney Foundation

The National Kidney Foundation is dedicated to preventing kidney and urinary tract diseases, improving the health and well-being of individuals and families affected by these diseases and increasing the availability of all organs for transplantation.
Through its more than 50 local offices nationwide,the NKF provides vital patient and community services, conducts extensive public and professional education, advocates for patients through legislative action, and supports kidney research to identify new treatments.


Kidney disease is a major health problem in the United States and around the world. Over 340,000 Americans rely on a dialysis machine to keep them alive, and nearly 75,000 are on the waiting list for a lifesaving kidney transplant. Recent studies indicate that kidney disease is on the rise and as many as 26 million Americans have chronic kidney disease (CKD). Because symptoms may not appear until the kidneys are actually failing, many people with kidney damage remain unaware and do not take steps to protect the health of their kidneys.

THE FACTS:

26 million Americans have CKD and millions more are at increased risk.

Kidney disease is common, harmful and treatable.

High risk groups include those with diabetes, hypertension and a family history of kidney disease.

African Americans, Hispanics, Asian or Pacific Islanders, Native Americans and seniors are at increased risk.

Once kidneys fail, patients need dialysis or a transplant to survive.

Early detection can slow the progression of kidney disease.

The NKF relies on individual and corporate donations, business partnerships, foundation and government
grants, and revenue from special events. More than 81cents of each dollar donated to NKF goes directly to
support its programs and services.

How you Can Help

Get Tested—If you have diabetes, high blood pressure, or a family history of kidney disease, you are at risk. Get tested.

Volunteer—The foundation welcomes volunteers of all ages and interests. Contact your local NKF office today. Click here to locate your local office.

Support NKF—You can help by participating in a Kidney Walk - you can start your own team or join as an individual walker.  You can even be a "virtual' walker!   or NKF golf tournament in your community, donating a car or golf clubs, making a direct donation or memorial gift, or including the NKF as part of your planned giving.

Make a mobile donation - Text KIDNEY to 50555 and a $5.00 donation will be added to your mobile phone bill.   Click here for more details.

Be a Donor - Many people who need transplants of organs and tissues cannot get them because of a shortage of donations. Every month, more than 2,000 new names are added to the national waiting list for organ transplants, and about 18 people die every day while waiting for an organ transplant in the U.S. Organ and tissue donation helps others by giving them a second chance at life.  It's so simple, find out more here.


Check out NCF on Facebook.



Source:  www.kidney.org

May 24 (Day 85) Chicago in July...

If you have some vacation time available, here is a great way to spend your time.  Many volunteers are needed to fill a variety of positions July 17-24, 2010.    Can You Help?

The NJDC -National Junior Disability Championships-  began in July 1984 as a small meet sanctioned by Wheelchair Sports USA, for wheelchair athletes ages 7-21. Since that time, the NJDC has grown to include over 300 athletes with cerebral palsy, visual impairments, amputations, spinal injuries, and limb deficiencies from across the United States and several foreign countries. The 2010 Games span 8 days, and 7 different athletic competitions. Some of these amazing young competitors will qualify for the U.S. Paralympic Team in the next few years.

The National Junior Disability Championships are held every year (usually in July) in the United States. It is an Olympic-style sports competition for physically disabled youth, including (but not limited to) those with spina bifida, cerebral palsy, amputees, visually impaired/blind, dwarfism, and any other similar physical disabilities that impede movement/the ability to participate in non-adapted sports.

Competitions are held in track, field events (javelin, shotput, discus, club, softball throw), weightlifting, table tennis, archery, swimming, and 3-on-3 basketball. Athletes can be from 7 - 21 years of age. Several Paralympic athletes started their career as competitors at the NJDC.

The National Junior Disability Championships were first held in July, 1984 with only 3 events. Since then, the NJDC has been held in various states.  This year they will be held at Deerfield High School and  Lake Forest High School in Illinois via GLASA - Great Lakes Adaptive Sports Association.

Ways to get involved:

Donate cash or items from their "wish list."

Adopt an Athlete program.

Volunteer - for one day or for the whole week - there are many positions available so check out their volunteer sign up sheet and see how you can help. We need many, many community volunteers to work during the eight days of Games, July 17-24, in a variety of fun and interesting roles! Work just one shift on one day... or volunteer to help out all week!   If you live in the area, or might consider taking a vacation to the area at that time, this is a great opportunity to get involved. 

Source:  www.njdc2010.org

May 23 (Day 84) You Choose 1

I had a different post ready for today, but I decided to make a quick change and will highlight that cause at a later date. I decided to go with today's post because it totally exemplifies what this blog is all about -  "Do what you can, where you are, with what you have!"

You Choose 1 is not your typical charity.  Why is that? Well, You Choose 1 was started by Ann Arbor Pioneer High School junior, Damian McGlothlin and his friend Brandon Pederson.  The premise of You Choose 1 is similar to Modest Needs (see earlier post) allowing visitors the ability to choose the need they would like to fulfill. 

Damian is working with 2 local agencies, The Hope Clinic and Friends in Deed, to identify and screen applicants needing assistance to be be featured on the website.  Currently the website features 6 profiles of individuals needing assistance - the requests are relatively small and help families resolve emergency situations in their lives.   Of the 6 original requests for assistance, 4 have already been fully funded!  That is awesome.

Currently those being helped are in the Washtenaw County area, but McGlothlin has plans to expand the reach of You Choose 1 and assist others as the project grows.  You Choose 1 was highlighted in a recent AnnArbor.com article. Read the article here.

I hope this post inspires everyone to make a difference!  Big or Small... it doesn't matter, just find a need and fill it!  When I hear of stories like this I am amazed! Here are 2 high school boys, living normal high school lives -  yet making a huge difference in the lives of others around them.    Thank you Damien & Brandon for making a difference.  I am sure You Choose 1 will grow and continue to help others and I look forward to following your progress!   

Sources:  youchoose1.org

               annarbornews.com

May 22 (Day 83) 48 by 48

Today's Post is not so much a call to a specific cause or charity, but an INSPIRATION to a "Service to Others" lifestyle.   Drew Johnson set out on an adventure to travel to the forty-eight contiguous United States in forty-eight weeks doing a variety of volunteer/service work in each state to make a difference and inspire others!    Drew, you inspire us! 


What's the Mission of 48by48?

To lend a hand to people and organizations of all ages, backgrounds, and affiliations while promoting a “Service to Others” lifestyle.

What are the Primary Goals of 48by48?

1.Travel to all 48 contiguous states in 48 weeks.
2.Serve / Volunteer in each state for a minimum of 5 days or 25 hours.
3.Lead by example in the “Service to Others” (STO) lifestyle.
4.Connect people to local organizations and connect organizations to local people (needs).
5.Promote the STO lifestyle.
6.Create a variety of resources to help others accomplish the STO lifestyle.

What does the “Service to Others” lifestyle look like? The identifying marks of a person who exemplifies the STO lifestyle is one who:

1.Cares deeply about the needs of others.
2.Actively looks for ways to serve others.
3.Has a good balance of realism and creativity when helping to meet the needs of others.
4.Spends ones thoughts thinking about how to see others succeed.
5.Using their influence to bring about positive outcomes in the people and organizations they serve.

Why does the world need 48by48?

48by48 is meant to be more than just a year-long trek that canvases the U.S. of A., showcasing its beauty and wonder. It is meant to be the start of a movement. To see people raise their hands and say, “I'll help out.” Just imagine if the spirit of serving others was the norm in America. Think of what could be accomplished. Closer communities, better public services, lower crime rates, superior educational systems, and the list would go on and on! It's an exciting world to imagine, but until those dreams are put into action, everything remains the same. I do not know about you, but I want a better world. That is why I'm going to try and make it that way by serving others.

As simplistic as it sounds, you really are needed to make 48 by 48 a success. If you believe in Drew's mission and would like to support him, here are a few of the ways you can help:

Provide a roof over Drew's head. (Anywhere from 1-6 nights.)
Provide a meal or two.
Provide laundry facilities.
Provide auto repair.
Provide financial support. (Money, gift cards, coupons, etc.)
Promote 48 by 48 to others.
Connect Drew with others who can help.
Connect Drew with others who need help.
Click here to join Drew's backpack... the pack that has Drew's back.
 
 
Track Drew's Progress here. Find out when Drew will be in town near you!
Check out 48by48 on Facebook.
 
 
Source:  48by48

May 21 (Day 82) A Father's Promise

As the father of 2 children, today's post had me very emotional.  I so admire this family for their strength and fortitude to carry on and make it their mission to take their tragedy and use it to help others! Scott, Katey and family ... you inspire me! 

A father's promise is the mission behind Abbey's Hope Charitable Foundation, a nonprofit advocacy organization launched by Scott and his wife, Katey, in memory of Abbey, who died in March 2008. The accident in the kiddie pool at the Minneapolis Golf Club in St. Louis Park that disemboweled Abbey left her in need of a triple organ transplant. She received a new liver, small bowel and pancreas in January 2008 but developed a rare transplant-related cancer that eventually caused her death.

Scott Taylor made a pledge to his daughter that he intends to keep. After 6-year old  Abbey, was critically injured in a pool drain accident in June 2007, she asked her dad to promise that "what happened to her would never happen to another child."

"Those were Abbey's words," Scott said. "I told her I would do everything I could to let people know how to keep their kids safe. I promised I would talk to as many people as I could." In the hospital, we made a promise to Abbey—a promise to make sure this kind of injury never happens again. And so, with that goal in mind, we created this Foundation. We want to prevent the preventable and keep kids safe. For her. 

Our Mission:

-Promote awareness of and education related to child safety issues, including educating pool owners, operators, inspectors, and the general public about the dangers of pool entrapment, evisceration and drowning and the need for physical inspections of pool equipment.

-Work with the pool and spa industry to improve the design of their products, packaging and warning labels, and assist in the development of product safety standards related to such products.

-Identify and provide support and assistance to organizations and programs that (i) provide support, resources, opportunities and outreach programs to children and families coping with serious childhood injuries or disease, and/or (ii) focus on improving the overall health, education and well-being of children by promoting healthy lifestyles, family resiliency, the arts, education, and social and civic awareness.

-Provide education related to and increase awareness of the overwhelming need for organ donation and to promote the necessity for people to become organ donors.  (See our previous post on Organ donation.)

Summer will soon be upon us - Let's honor this beautiful life by learning all we can about water safety and sharing what we learn with others.  Check out the resource page for links and tips on water and pool safety and other helpful information. 

Did You Know? 

• 
  
  In children ages 1 to 14, drowning is the second-leading cause of accidental death? 
• 
  
  Every year, approximately 760 children (14 and under) die as a result of accidental drowning. And more than 60% of those children are under age 5.

Some Facts:

-Drowning occurs quickly and silently.

-A child can drown in seconds. And they cannot cry out for help.

-They lose consciousness within two minutes under water. Permanent brain damage occurs  after four to six minutes.

-For every child who drowns, two are hospitalized for near-drowning.

-Up to 20% of survivors suffer permanent brain damage.

-And 15% of those children hospitalized for near-drowning die in the hospital.

-Each year in the U.S., over 200 children under age 5 drown in home swimming pools. 

Most children who drown in these swimming pools were:

• 
  
  -last seen inside the home, or had been out of sight for less than five minutes. 
• 
  
  -in the care of one or both parents at the time of the drowning. 

The suction of a pool or spa drain can trap people underwater. The suction force is too strong for anyone to free themselves.Even several onlookers may not be able to lift a child off a drain. To break that suction would be like lifting more than 500 pounds.

Donate to Abbey's Hope.

Read the inspirational Dragonfly Story!  It's a Heart grabber! 

Source:  Abbey's Hope

May 20 (Day 81) Love in simple ways...

Today's post highlights a group of people who saw a need in their community and decided to do something

to meet that need. That is what this blog is all about; Find a need... then fill that need!  It inspires me to see that there are people out there who are making a difference in so many ways.  They are meeting simple needs and having a huge impact in their community.... How about you, what can you do to impact your community?     “We can do no great things, only small things with great love” Mother Theresa

Project 680 is a grassroots team effort led by local residents to do something about the problem of student homelessness. This all started with a sock drive in December 2008. After learning of the “680″ (680 documented cases of “homeless” students in 2008) from the District Liaison for Homeless Services, and that having new socks were a felt need among these students, it became our goal to collect 680 pairs of socks. Well, we were overwhelmed with generosity from the community and we saw 3,144 pairs of socks come in (on a similar note, a future underwear drive then saw 3,198 pairs of underwear). Local residents, neighborhoods, organizations, churches, and businesses all teamed up to make this happen.

WHAT IS A HOMELESS STUDENT? “Homeless” is defined as “an individual who lacks a fixed, regular, and adequate residence.” The students that the school district serves in Folsom and Rancho Cordova are living in unstable places like motels, in homes without a parent or legal guardian, in homes without power or water, in RVs in parking lots, in cars, in tents, on the streets, and more. Being a kid or teenager these days is difficult enough without adding the struggle of instability in living arrangements.

Advocating for local homeless students does not require a degree in rocket science, but only a willing heart to love in simple ways.

Ways you can get involved:

• 
  
  If you live in the Folsom Cordova Unified School District area you can get involved in one of their projects.
• 
  
  If you live outside the area, you can participate in the "One Cap-One Shoe" campaign and help supply homeless students with shoes. 
• 
  
  Take a few minutes and really think about this cause and how they are making a difference and be inspired to make a difference in your community. 

Check out the Project 680 Facebook page.

Source:  Project 680

May 19 (Day 80) May is For Miracles

Children's Miracle Network saves the lives of children by raising funds and awareness for children's hospitals and foundations throughout the world.

Children’s Miracle Network is a non-profit organization that raises funds for more than 170 children’s hospitals. Countless individuals, organizations and media partners unite with Children’s Miracle Network hospitals to help sick and injured kids in local communities. Donations to Children’s Miracle Network create miracles by funding medical care, research and education that saves and improves the lives of 17 million children each year.

Every child deserves the hope and healing of children’s hospitals. With the help of a Children’s Miracle Network hospital in their community, children of all ages and backgrounds can receive treatment for every imaginable disease and injury—from asthma and broken bones to cancer and heart defects. Children’s hospitals are also on the front lines of research, education and outreach programs that keep millions of kids out of the hospital each year.
This year alone, Children’s Miracle Network hospitals will provide charity care worth billions, yet these children’s hospitals depend on community support to help fund their vital services.

To ensure children’s hospitals have the resources they need, Children’s Miracle Network’s partners conduct thousands of special events and grassroots fundraisers year-round. Corporate partners sell Miracle Balloons, radio and television stations broadcast stories of medical miracles, and college students hold Dance Marathons—just a few of the programs generating millions of dollars each year to provide the life-saving care and crucial services kids need.

Through its continuous efforts to help kids, Children’s Miracle Network has raised more than $3.4 billion to date, most of which is donated a dollar or two at a time by caring individuals. Children’s Miracle Network has grown dramatically since its founding in 1983, from a televised fundraiser in a small studio to one of the world’s leading children’s charities helping million of kids each year.


How Can I Help?

Donate to Children's Miracle Network.
Get Involved.
Volunteer at your local CMN Hospital.
Click here to see real Miracle Stories.


Source:  Children's Miracle Network

May 18 (Day 79) Summer Camp Impacting Lives

For more than 20 years, Hole in the Wall Camps and programs have empowered children to reach beyond the limits of their medical conditions to create lasting and positive impacts in their lives. The Association of Hole in the Wall Camps unites the world’s largest family of camps that are joined by their commitment to improve the quality of life for children coping with serious illnesses. Today, with 10 medical specialty camps in the United States and Europe, and one soon to be opened in the Middle East, the need for dedicated and passionate volunteers is continually growing. 

Trained volunteers, who range in age from 19 years old to senior citizens, make up more than 50% of the staff necessary to run each of the camp programs. Activities are intended to inspire children to realize their full potential, encourage team work and social connection, and boost self-esteem and confidence. Volunteers help facilitate these activities and create friendly, supportive and barrier-free environments, where children can speak openly about their hopes, dreams and fears with others facing similar situations. Hole in the Wall Camps and programs serve children affected by nearly 150 specific medical conditions through on and offsite programs.

Ways to Volunteer:

Volunteers are needed year-round to support our camp programs. There are opportunities to join a camp for weeklong summer session or for a weekend program in the fall, winter or spring. A volunteer can also help with off-campus fundraisers or programs. We need male and female volunteers year round.

The summer camp season is quickly approaching at Hole in the Wall Camps around the world and we are in need of a few good men. Are you energetic, creative and compassionate? Are you looking for a way to spend some time this summer that is meaningful and valuable? Are you interested in sharing your talents or picking up a new skill? Do you know someone who is?

Yes? Then we have an opportunity for you! Each year our family of camps relies on more than 12,000 volunteers to work alongside summer staff to ensure that children with serious medical conditions are able to ‘kick back, relax, and just be kids’ while they are at camp. Several of our camps still have male volunteer spots available for this summer and would love to hear from you.  Click here for more information. 

2009 Statistics:

• 31,500 children attended a Hole in the Wall Camp or program
• 20,110 children benefited from Hospital Outreach Programs
• 11,724 people dedicated their time to volunteer
• 42,060 children, caregivers and siblings served through on and off campus programs 

Since 1988:

• Nearly 200,000 children attended a Hole in the Wall Camp or program
• More than 150 medical conditions served at our camps
• Children from 45 countries and all 50 United States benefited from camp

Click here to donate.
Read inspirational Stories from Camp.


Source:  Hole in the Wall Camps

May 17 (Day 78) There's No Place Like Home

  

The Foreclosure Angel Foundation was born when Marilyn Mock saw a need in November of 2008 to help her neighbor who was about to lose her home. With no where else to turn but the streets, their home went up on the auction block. Marilyn bought the home at the auction price and sold it right back to the owners at the now lower cost. Marilyn had a keen sense that “It could be me in that situation.” One major life change could rip her family from their home too.

Ever the optimist, Marilyn thought that others in her community who saw this need would surely step up and help. She took desperate letters from families losing their homes to a function where her friends and acquaintances had expendable income. Marilyn was shocked when they didn’t even want to see the letter, much less offer any help. At that point, Marilyn once again had another layer of her rose colored glasses ripped away, but this time she became determined. She believed that the American spirit of neighbors helping neighbors would win out. She knew that her new life mission would be to help her fellow Americans keep their homes when they had no other place to go.

Each and every donation made to the Foreclosure Angel Foundation helps to meet the needs of families in your community that are struggling to keep their homes. When these families lose their homes, their only alternative may be living on the street or in their car. This often leaves children without a place to sleep and a way to get to school. Each applicant is treated as an individual, and thus there are many different ways which Foreclosure Angel Foundation can help.

Foreclosure Angel Foundation may: 

• Pay the applicant’s property taxes to help them remain in the home.
• Provide a deposit on an apartment for an applicant who has been through foreclosure and no longer qualifies for credit.
• Help a family catch up on mortgage payments after or through a period of unemployment.
• Be the mortgage company for applicants who have small mortgage amounts that do not qualify for a bank mortgage.
• Provide temporary assistance to make partial mortgage payments when an unexpected death or illness prevents creates a monetary deficit. 

The economic condition of our country, state, and city begins with each individual. We should look into our own community first and help those who are suffering. As we unite to help our neighbors, we become the stimulus to end the disease of greed which is tearing families apart. The influx of information through television and the internet has desensitized us to the suffering in our own community. We can no longer rely on “someone else” to help the needy in our community. Your donation to the Foreclosure Angel Foundation will save the hopes, dreams, marriages, and even lives of countless families right next door.


Donate to Foreclosure Angel Foundation




Source:  Forclosure Angel Foundation

May 16 (Day 77) Become A Blanketeer !

Are you a "crafty" person?  Do you enjoy making things with your hands?  If so, here is a great opportunity for all of you "crafty" people to make a difference.

On Christmas Eve, 1995, an article titled “Joy to the World” appeared in Parade Magazine. It was written by Pulitzer Prize winning photo-journalist, Eddie Adams. Part of the article featured a petite, downy haired child. She had been going through intensive chemotherapy and stated that her security blanket helped her get through the treatments. After reading the article, Karen Loucks decided to provide homemade security blankets to Denver’s Rocky Mountain Children’s Cancer Center, and Project Linus was born.

Project Linus is a non-profit organization with a two-fold mission.

• First, it is our mission to provide love, a sense of security, warmth and comfort to children who are seriously ill, traumatized, or otherwise in need through the gifts of new, handmade blankets and afghans, lovingly created by volunteer “blanketeers.”
• Second, it is our mission to provide a rewarding and fun service opportunity for interested individuals and groups in local communities, for the benefit of children.

Donate to Project Linus.

Become a Blanketeer or find out other ways you can help.

Find a Project Linus Chapter in your area.

Wow!  Over  3.2 Million blankets handcrafted and delivered!  That is awesome!  I'll bet there are some sore fingers out there... but also some happy hearts! 

Project Linus on Facebook.

Source:  Project Linus

May 15 (Day 76) Cancer Sucks!

 Cancer Sucks!

Today is a busy day for me and today's post will be short & simple. Today I will be participating in the American Cancer Society -Relay for Life.  I will be walking for 24 hours; well okay, I will be taking turns walking with my team for 24 hours.  Our family is walking because we have lost too many family members to Cancer... not to mention the many family members who are survivors of Cancer. We are walking to honor those we love and the many others who have faced this awful disease! 

Today, would you consider making a $5. donation to the American Cancer Society . . .  it's so easy!  You can use your mobile phone to send a text message and make a $5 donation to support the American Cancer Society’s fight to save lives from cancer. Your commitment and generosity will help create a world with less cancer and more birthdays.  Text FIGHT to 20222.

All texted donations support the American Cancer Society's work to save lives by helping people stay well, helping people get well, by finding cures, and by fighting back.

If you would prefer to make your mobile donation on behalf of an American Cancer Society special event, please choose from the following:

Relay For Life - Text RELAY to 20222
Making Strides Against Breast Cancer - Text HOPE to 20222
Coaches vs. Cancer - Text COACH to 20222


Click here for more information and instructions on mobile giving.
Consider walking in a Relay for Life event in your area.


Resource:  American Cancer Society

May 14 (Day 75) STOP Stroke / Spread HOPE

Stroke is the third leading cause of death in America and a leading cause of adult disability.

Up to 80% of strokes are preventable; you can prevent a stroke!

May is National Stroke Awareness Month — are you ready to start spreading awareness?  

 

 

The National Stroke Association strives to provide everyone with the tools and inspiration to raise public awareness about stroke by hosting awareness events and activities. It doesn't matter if you are an individual or a large corporation, because the more people we reach, the better.

 

We urge you to tell others about how to:

• STOP stroke through risk factor management.
• Act F.A.S.T. to increase recognition of and response to stroke symptoms.
• Spread HOPE about recovery from stroke.

Every day the National Stroke Association makes a difference in the lives of people touched by stroke by offering programs in local communities. And your gift goes a long way in helping National Stroke Association achieve its mission to reduce the incidence and impact of stroke both locally and nationally. By making a donation today, you could be helping a family member or friend tomorrow.


  National Stroke Association’s Personal Fundraising enables our supporters and friends to quickly and easily raise awareness and funds; set up a personalized webpage and tell your personal story about why you are raising funds and spreading awareness about stroke. 
 
 
 
Source: National Stroke Association
 

May 13 (Day 74) Read & Release

Today's post highlights an awesome, fun idea... An eco-friendly way to promote a love of reading and sharing and good will.  Check it out and get involved! 

BookCrossing is earth-friendly, and gives you a way to share your books, clear your shelves, and conserve precious resources at the same time. Through our own unique method of recycling reads, BookCrossers give life to books. A book registered on BookCrossing is ready for adventure.

Leave it on a park bench, a coffee shop, at a hotel on vacation. Share it with a friend or tuck it onto a bookshelf at the gym -- anywhere it might find a new reader! What happens next is up to fate, and we never know where our books might travel. Track the book's journey around the world as it is passed on from person to person.


Join hundreds of thousands of active BookCrossers daily in our many forums to discuss your favorite authors, characters and books in every genre throughout history right up through current releases.

Join BookCrossing. Help make the whole world a library and share the joy of literacy. Reading becomes an adventure when you BookCross! Register and release your favorite (or even your not-so-favorites which you are ready to pass along) books to travel the world and find new readers! Join 859,310 people in over 130 countries and become a BookCrossing member for FREE. Sign up -- it takes less than a minute.





Source: www.bookcrossing.com

May 12 (Day 73) Home For Life

Home For Life® is an expression of a new kind of animal shelter—the long-term animal sanctuary. We provide animals with loving care, a nurturing environment that is safe and stable, a place to belong… a home for life. We provide lifetime care for cats and dogs with special needs who cannot find a home, but who can still lead a quality life.

Most shelters offer two options for animals: adoption or euthanasia. A typical family home is not appropriate for every animal. Those who are old, or who have disabilities, health or temperament problems may do better in another setting. Home For Life® believes that these special animals deserve an alternative that will meet their needs. Hence, we created a "Third Door." The Home for Life® animals enjoy a quality life, where they can be themselves, run and play, and be loved and cherished for as long as they live.

At Home for Life®, our animals are not offered for adoption. Once an animal comes to us, it truly has a home for life. Through our example, we hope to discourage an acceptance of euthanasia for animals who can still live a quality life. Just as apathy can become a way of life, so can empathy.

The example of empathy is furthered by our community outreach programs, such as Pet Peace Corps. Sanctuary residents that have been rehabilitated after past rejection and neglect are then able to give back. Through Pet Peace Corps, these animals work with volunteers and staff to help people who themselves may have been overlooked: children affected by domestic violence, at-risk teens, and the elderly.

These community outreach programs complete a circle of empathy for our animals—they become willing ambassadors of compassion, taking the empathy shown to them and passing it to other vulnerable members of society.

Donate to Home for Life®
Home For Life® welcomes your support! 100% of your contribution goes directly to the care and feeding of sanctuary residents. Our administrative staff is composed entirely of volunteers. The cost for designing, printing, and mailing our newsletter is underwritten by a single generous donor.

Donate items from our Wish List.

Sponsor an animal. 


Source:  www.homeforlife.org

May 11 (Day 72) Bringing the FUN to Fundraising !

Do you play online games? How would you like to be able to help raise money for worthwhile causes while playing games.... Sounds great, doesn't it!   Well, you can do just that... Check out this site. 

GamesThatGive is a small team of like minded individuals who have banded together to bring fun to fundraising! The GamesThatGive team believes that each and every person wants to help others, to volunteer, to make a difference. But in today’s busy 24-hour connected world it is more difficult than ever to find the time, or money, to contribute and give back in a meaningful way.

The good news, however, is that current advances in technology and changes in our lifestyle, while part of the problem, also hold the solution.

We believe that there is a new kind of fundraising on the horizon. One that utilizes existing behavior because people are busy, and social networks, and mobile devices because people want to keep in touch, but are constantly on the go, and cause marketing because people have made it clear to corporations that that want to know how corporations are helping their communities.

GamesThatGive is commited to creating a new way to contribute to the causes that mean the most to you, and to make it fun and easy, so that it just feels good! GamesThatGive is a for-profit corporation that donates 70% of its ad revenue, not our ad profits, but our ad revenue, to the charity that you select.

There are several different charities to choose to support - Ronald McDonald House, American Heart Association, Feeding America and several others.  You can create an account and choose your charity or you can play as a guest.  You can also choose to support a different charity every time you log in.  There is an ever changing total on the screen, so you see how you are making a difference!  Understand that you are not raising tons of money, but again... it comes back to the small efforts of many pooling together to make a HUGE difference!  Whenever you have a little free time and want to make a difference, check it out!! 


Resource:  Games that Give

May 10 (Day 71) Make a Difference for 25 Cents!

President Howard Schiffer founded Vitamin Angels in response to the 1994 Northridge earthquake. Since then, the organization has expanded distributions to children in developing countries in recognition that essential nutrients can save lives. With the support of manufacturers, retailers, corporations, and individuals, Vitamin Angels continues to reach children and mothers in need of vital nutrients domestically and around the world.

Vitamin Angels reduces child mortality by connecting infants and children under five with essential nutrients. We help children attain good health and the opportunity to lead meaningful and productive lives. Essential nutrients address chronic malnutrition and the resulting morbidity and mortality caused by vitamin deficiencies. By mobilizing public sector organizations, private sector resources and motivated individuals in partnership with Vitamin Angels, we strive to reach underserved children and mothers domestically and internationally.

In 2008 we reached 7 million children in 42 countries while maintaining ongoing programs in 20 countries. In 2009, we are expanding Operation 20/20 to reach 10 million children with vitamin A and antiparasitics, the next benchmark to reaching our goal of eliminating vitamin A deficiency by the year 2020. Through our Thrive to Five program we will distribute 100 million doses of multivitamins to children and mothers in need around the world.

The figure of $.25 refers to the cost of reaching one child with two doses of both vitamin A and antiparasitics through Operation 20/20. This is the amount needed to alleviate vitamin A deficiency (VAD) in children under five for one year, a solution proven to reduce overall child mortality by 23%. In other words, vitamin A supplementation alone can save one in four children who will die this year. $.25 reflects the approximate cost for the purchase (as necessary) of the vitamins and antiparasitics, logistics, transportation, and staff costs. Costs absorbed by our field partners are not included. The cost to reach children and mothers with a year’s supply of daily multivitamins through our Thrive to Five program is even lower. Every year, around 54 million new children are affected by malnutrition or undernutrition. Thrive to Five gives children under five the vital first step to excel physically and cognitively, rather than simply survive their key developmental years  Ultimately, no matter what the financial investment, as little at $.25 can make a huge difference.

Click here to donate.

Want to get involved? 
Click here to find out the many ways you can help.




Source: Vitamin Angels