November 30 - 100cameras.

100cameras identifies children living in unjust conditions and gives them cameras to document their lives. Their photo narratives are used to raise awareness and capital to meet physical needs and empower sustainable growth within their community.  Through photography, 100cameras provides children with a creative platform to share their lives from their own perspective.



100cameras begins by identifying underserved communities locally and abroad that are home to orphans, at-risk children, children without rights and children who lack access to basic healthcare or education. After identifying these communities, 100cameras partners with organizations that are already providing sustainable solutions within their targeted area.


The 100cameras staff then takes donated cameras to the project location in order to implement a photography course among the children. The curriculum provides each child with a camera and includes a series of introductory lessons about basic camera fundamentals with a specific emphasis on documentation. Both the course and the resources give children the opportunity to express the realities of their every day through images. This partnership is empowering to both the children and communities involved.


100cameras teaches a child how to capture and tell their story. This encourages a better self view, resulting in higher levels of confidence and ownership in their identity. Through their own photography, the children become self-advocators. Their pictures are the voices that speak awareness.


100cameras is committed to share their perspective with a global community. Upon completion of a project, 100cameras has the unique position to carry these photographs across borders to bridge communities together. Specifically, this is accomplished through online print sales, web campaigns and a series of photo exhibition events. When someone purchases one of the children's photos, 100 percent of that money is given back to the partner organization in that child's community.

How It Works.
it's simple, really.
we give a camera to jackson.
jackson snaps a photo.
then you buy his photo.
your money goes to jackson.
and jackson is empowered.

 

 

Get Involved:

Donate to 100cameras.

Check out the prints available for purchase.

Adopt a camera to be given to a child.

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Resource:  http://www.100cameras.org/

November 29 - Adopt A Tub of Cubs!

Welcome to Cyber Monday!  Cyber Monday is the first Monday following Thanksgiving - it is reported to be the biggest online shopping day!  Wouldn't it be great if you could do some online shopping and help out a worthy cause?  Great News... YOU CAN! 

Check out the World Wildlife Fund Gift Center on Facebook.  For more than 45 years, WWF has been protecting the future of nature. The world’s leading conservation organization, WWF works in 100 countries with close to 5 million members.   World Wildlife Fund has a GREAT gift idea for the all the animal lovers you know!    You can  "adopt" a species by making a donation to WWF.  You can chose from 100 species and several different adoption levels ranging from $25. to $250.




The Top 5 Adoptions:

1. Tiger

2. Polar Bear
3. Panda
4. Blue-footed Booby
5. Gray Wolf

Here is my personal favorite -  Adopt a Tub of Cubs!    

With this gift you will receive:

• An FSC certified wooden bucket filled with one of each of the following: Tiger cub, Snow Leopard cub, Cheetah cub
• 5" x 7" formal adoption certificate
• 5" x 7" full-color photo
• Species spotlight card, full of fascinating information about your cubs
• FREE priority shipping
• Personalized acknowledgment letter to your gift recipient. See sample letter.

If you provide an email address for the gift recipient, they will also receive the following Bonus Online Premiums:

• Printable, personalized adoption certificate for the species adopted
• Computer desktop Images of the adopted animal
• Instant messenger icons of the adopted animal

Your donation will be used in general support of WWF's efforts around the world. 82 cents of every donated dollar goes toward conservation. WWF has been recognized by Charity Navigator, and meets the BBB Wise Giving Alliance's Standards for Charity Accountability.


So, consider making a difference by adopting a species! 

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Resource:  World Wildlife Fund

November 28 - Online Red Kettle Drive

The Salvation Army Red Kettles have been an American tradition since 1891, and now this campaign allows you to host your own Online Red Kettle. By helping us fill our Red Kettles, you can become a vital part of our Christmas efforts to help those in need this Christmas season.

The Salvation Army Online Red Kettle campaign is an online version of our renowned red kettles, longtime symbols of giving to The Salvation Army. Individuals, groups and businesses can raise money for The Salvation Army by creating an Online Red Kettle, which can be visited and donated to by family, friends and customers. Online Red Kettles can be personalized with photos or graphics and linked to other websites.


Commitments include sending e-mails to friends, families, neighbors, co-workers and anyone else you can think of asking them to donate to your Salvation Army Online Red Kettle.


Supporting an Online Red Kettle ensures that The Salvation Army will be able to continue providing food for the hungry, a home for those without shelter, emergency rent and utility assistance for the working-poor, and rehabilitation services and counseling for those addicted to drugs and alcohol. And these are only a few examples of the many ways The Salvation Army radically transforms the lives of the hurting in our cities.


Why should you get involved in the Online Red Kettle campaign?  It is fun. Fast. Easy. Free...and you see how much you’ve raised in real time. It's a way for you to make big difference in a small way all year. It's the perfect way for you to show your commitment to your community. Also, the perfect excuse to email your friends, family, neighbors and co-workers. Finally, it's an opportunity for supporters like you to spread the word about the good work we do.



Get Involved:


Donate to The Salvation Army.

Be a Virtual Kettle Host. 
A Kettle Host is anyone willing to help real people by ringing a virtual bell. You'll customize your own Red Kettle Page and then invite others via email and/or blog ads to fill your Kettle with secure online donations.

Keep spare change on you and donate it to the Bell Ringers located outside your local stores.

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Resource:  Salvation Army

November 27 - Small Business Saturday!

Today, I have 2 super easy ways you can make a difference...

#1.     You can make a difference in your community by participating in Small Business Saturday.  Today is the first-ever Small Business Saturday. A day to come together in support of the small businesses we love. The shops and restaurants that employ our neighbors and reinvest our money close to home. The businesses that are the heartbeat of our communities and local economies.



The goal of Small Business Saturday is to inspire you to support the local small businesses that mean the most to you. Supporting small business is all about supporting our communities. Small business is the heartbeat of local communities and the engine of the US economy. Over the past two decades, small businesses created 65 percent of net new jobs. In addition, for every $100 spent in locally owned independent stores, $68 returns to the community through taxes, payroll, and other expenditures.


Small Business Saturday recognizes the importance of small businesses to the overall economy and local communities. It’s a day to support the small, independently owned businesses we can’t live without. You can support Small Business Saturday by patronizing the local, independently owned small businesses in your neighborhood. That could mean anything from having dinner on your way home from the mall during the holiday shopping season or reserving a part of your holiday gift budget to spend at a local small business. 


And if you’re an American Express® Cardmember, you’re eligible to earn a $25 statement credit on any purchase of at least $25 on Small Business Saturday at any locally owned independent small businesses that accept American Express.  More details available here.

#2.    You can make a difference just by watching television!  You Watch.  Animal Planet Gives. It's that simple! 


Learn more about Villalobos Rescue Center, Tia Torres and her crew of family and parolees who work tirelessly to rehabilitate pit bulls and find them loving homes. Check out the Pit Bulls & Parolees site. It's  simple... You tune in for an all-new episode of Pit Bulls & Parolees tonight at 10 PM E/T and Animal Planet will donate money to the Villalobos Rescue Center. For every viewer who tunes in, Animal Planet will make a donation to Tia and her crew. (Animal Planet will donate $.10 for every viewer who tunes in up to a total of $50,000. Actual numbers determined based on cumulative viewers as measured by Nielsen.)


So warm up those Thanksgiving leftovers, kick up those feet and watch. No shopping required. It's the easiest gift you'll give all season -- and possibly the one that makes the most difference.


So there you have it... 2 easy ways to make a difference today!

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Resource:  Small Business Saturday
                    Animal Planet

November 26 - Childs Play

It's Black Friday.... the day the masses converge on the stores to pick up the bargains!  I try to avoid the stores at all costs!  If you are like me and you don't want to get out... today's post is for you.  You can shop from the comfort of home and help out a worthy cause at the same time! 

Child’s Play is a Seattle based, gamer-run organization that holds an annual toy drive for childrens’ hospitals. Many of the gifts donated by gamers are, as you might imagine, age appropriate videogames and gaming systems - but they are by no means the only things donated. We received eager donations of coloring books, art supplies, crafts, movies, cartoons, virtually anything a young person could ask for. We asked the world-wide community of gamers, and they gave so much we had to move to larger storage facilities three separate times.


Since 2003, gamers have banded together through registered Seattle-based charity, Child's Play. Over a million dollars in donations of toys, games, books and cash for sick kids in children's hospitals across North America and the world have been collected since our inception.  We collect no administrative fees or other charges, 100% of all gifts and donations go directly to our partner hospitals, to help make life a little brighter for a sick child.


This year, we have continued expanding across the country and the globe. With over 25 partner hospitals and more arriving every month, you can be sure to find one from the map above that needs your help! You can choose to purchase requested items from their online retailer wish lists, or make a cash donation that helps out Child's Play hospitals everywhere. Please have a look at the map to see if your local children’s hospital has come on board. Every hospital has a wish list full of gifts and is hoping for your support.  Any items purchased through Amazon or DStore will be shipped directly to your hospital of choice, please be sure to select their shipping address rather than your own.



How does Child’s Play work?  It's simple,  We have partnered with Amazon.com, which hosts a series of “Wish Lists” stocked with toys the hospitals have requested, as well as age appropriate videogames and game systems selected by Child’s Play. Simply choose the hospital nearest you from our interactive map at http://www.childsplaycharity.org and the toys you purchase will be delivered directly. You can go to each hospital’s list and buy a toy, and that toy will be sent to the hospital. Some of these kids are in pretty bad shape. Imagine being stuck alone in a hospital over the holidays, getting something from a fellow gamer would really raise their spirits. Some of the stuff the hospital will give away for kids to keep, while other gifts (like consoles) will be kept by the hospital for patients to use throughout the year.


We also accept cash donations via Paypal which will be used to buy additional equipment and split amongst the hospitals in this year’s drive.


Click here to read letters of patients who have been helped by Child's Play.



Get Involved:

Donate to Child's Play.

Text GAMERS to 50555 to donate $5.00

Find a participating Children's Hospital near you.

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Resource:  Childs Play Charity

November 25 - An Attitude of Gratitude!

photo credit - weheartit.com

Happy Thanksgiving to all!  I know everyone is busy, especially at this time of year. Over the next few days I have highlighted some simple ways to make a difference... ways that will not take much time or effort. Even when we are busy, we can still find ways to give back... small ways to make a difference!


 I hope you will take a few minutes to remember what Thanksgiving is all about... being thankful, expressing gratitude.  I came across an article on the internet and I was blown away by how concisely and clearly it conveys the message of a grateful heart and the effects it has on our entire being.   The article can be found at Zen Habits, a blog written by Leo Babauta. Zen Habits is one of the Top 25 blogs in the world and is about finding simplicity in the daily chaos of our lives. It’s about clearing the clutter so we can focus on what’s important, create something amazing, find happiness.  Please enjoy Leo's post and make it's message meaningful in your life.





8 Tremendously Important Ways That Gratitude Can Change Your Life.
It’s amazing how one simple, easy, positive action can change so much in a person’s life.


One of the things that has had the biggest effect on my life is the realization of the power of gratitude. Simply giving thanks.


It has affected everything. It has made me a more positive person. A more productive person. A better achiever. A better husband and father and son and brother (at least, I like to think so). A happier person. I’m not perfect, but gratitude has made me better.


Can it change your life as well? I can guarantee it. You might not get the exact same benefits as I have, but there’s no doubt in my mind that the simple act of gratitude on a regular basis will change anyone’s life, positively and immediately. How many other changes can claim to be that quick, that easy, and that profound?


Let’s take a look at some of the ways you can incorporate gratitude into your life, and how it will change your life. These are just some examples, based on my experience and the experiences of others I’ve talked with, and not all will apply to your life. But pick and choose the ones you think will work for you.


1. Have a morning gratitude session.  Take one minute in the morning (make it a daily ritual) to think of the people who have done something nice for you, to think of all the things in your life you’re grateful for. You won’t get to everything in one minute, but it’s enough. And it will instantly make your day better, and help you start your day off right. Can you think of a better use of one minute?


2. When you’re having a hard day … make a gratitude list.  We all have those bad days sometimes. We are stressed out from work. We get yelled at by someone. We lose a loved one. We hurt a loved one. We lose a contract or do poorly on a project. One of the things that can make a bad day much better is making a list of all the things you’re thankful for. There are always things to be thankful for — loved ones, health, having a job, having a roof over your head and clothes on your back, life itself.


3. Instead of getting mad at someone, show gratitude. That’s a major switching of attitudes — actually a complete flip. And so this isn’t always easy to do. But I can promise you that it’s a great thing to do. If you get mad at your co-worker, for example, because of something he or she did … bite your tongue and don’t react in anger. Instead, take some deep breaths, calm down, and try to think of reasons you’re grateful for that person. Has that person done anything nice for you? Has that person ever done a good job? Find something, anything, even if it’s difficult. Focus on those things that make you grateful. It will slowly change your mood. And if you get in a good enough mood, show your gratitude to that person. It will improve your mood, your relationship, and help make things better. After showing gratitude, you can ask for a favor — can he please refrain from shredding your important documents in the future? And in the context of your gratitude, such a favor isn’t such a hard thing for the co-worker to grant.


4. Instead of criticising your significant other, show gratitude. This is basically the same as the above tactic, but I wanted to point out how gratitude can transform a marriage or relationship. If you constantly criticize your spouse, your marriage will slowly deteriorate — I promise you. It’s important to be able to talk out problems, but no one likes to be criticized all the time. Instead, when you find yourself feeling the urge to criticize, stop and take a deep breath. Calm down, and think about all the reasons you’re grateful for your spouse. Then share that gratitude, as soon as possible. Your relationship will become stronger. Your spouse will learn from your example — especially if you do this all the time. Your love will grow, and all will be right in the world.


5. Instead of complaining about your kids, be grateful for them. Many parents (myself included) get frustrated with their children. They are too slow to do things, they have a bad attitude, they can’t clean up after themselves, and they pick their nose too much. Unfortunately, sometimes parents will communicate that frustration to their children too often, and the kids will begin to feel bad about themselves. Many parents have done this, and while it’s not perfect, it’s a part of parenthood. But there’s a better way: follow the method above of calming down when you’re frustrated, and thinking of reasons you’re grateful to your child. Share these reasons with your child. And then take the opportunity to teach them, instead of criticizing them.


6. When you face a major challenge, be grateful for it. Many people will see something difficult as a bad thing. If something goes wrong, it’s a reason to complain, it’s a time of self-pity. That won’t get you anywhere. Instead, learn to be grateful for the challenge — it’s an opportunity to grow, to learn, to get better at something. This will transform you from a complainer into a positive person who only continues to improve. People will like you better and you’ll improve your career. Not too shabby.


7. When you suffer a tragedy, be grateful for the life you still have. I’ve recently lost an aunt, and my children recently lost a grandmother. These tragedies can be crippling if you let them overcome you. And while I’m not saying you shouldn’t grieve — of course you should — you can also take away something even greater from these tragedies: gratitude for the life you still have. Appreciation for the fleeting beauty of life itself. Love for the people who are still in your life. Take this opportunity to show appreciation to these people, and to enjoy life while you can.


8. Instead of looking at what you don’t have, look at what you do have. Have you ever looked around you and bemoaned how little you have? How the place you live isn’t your dream house, or the car you drive isn’t as nice as you’d like, or your peers have cooler gadgets or better jobs? If so, that’s an opportunity to be grateful for what you already have. It’s easy to forget that there are billions of people worse off than you — who don’t have much in the way of shelter or clothes, who don’t own a car and never will, who don’t own a gadget or even know what one is, who don’t have a job at all or only have very menial, miserable jobs in sweatshop conditions. Compare your life to these people’s lives, and be grateful for the life you have. And realize that it’s already more than enough, that happiness is not a destination — it’s already here.

Wow!  Those are some changing words!  Thank you Leo for sharing those wise words... now it's up to us to put those ideas into practice.  Are you ready to change your world? 



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Resource:  Zen Habits - Leo Babauta

November 24 - Grace Centers of Hope

People need help right now... Grace Centers of Hope is an awesome organization doing great work in my home state of Michigan.  As everyone knows, Michigan is struggling with one of the worst economies in the nation... but there are some here who making a HUGE difference! 

Grace Centers of Hope is Oakland County’s oldest and largest homeless shelter providing hope and help since 1942. Today, Grace Centers of Hope is considered one of the leading faith-based organizations in Southeastern Michigan daily confronting issues of homelessness, addiction, poverty and spiritual emptiness. On any given night, Grace Centers of Hope will accommodate between 150-200 men, women and children. Each year we serve over 127,000 meals and provide over 55,000 nights of stay.   Our budget is supported exclusively through private support; we receive no government dollars.


GCH provides the basic necessities of life: food, shelter, and clothing. Most importantly, we sustain HOPE. All programs and services provided by Grace Centers of Hope are designed to contribute significantly to the reduction of homelessness, provide clients with opportunities for life-changing recovery, and to help break the intergenerational cycle of poverty and abuse.


Grace Centers of Hope’s vital programs include the Emergency Shelter, One Year Life Skills Program for Men and Women, Children’s Programs, and the After-Care Program. All guests in our programs benefit from food and shelter services, counseling, life skills courses, vocational education, a drug-free work environment, and our state-of-the-art learning center. The results of our efforts have helped many to obtain a GED, become homeowners, regain their children, and, most importantly, develop the courage to change their lives.


Click here to learn more about the programs offered by Grace Centers of Hope. 
 

 
Get Involved:

Donate to Grace Centers of Hope.

Shop GCH online store. 

Conduct a "Needs" Drive to benefit GCH.

Adopt A Family for Christmas!

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Resource: http://www.gracecentersofhope.org/

November 23 - The Changing Face of Hunger

The face of hunger has really changed...It's not just the homeless guy at the end of the freeway with the cardboard sign anymore--- It could be a child in your child's classroom.

In 1988, a collaboration of Los Angeles area congregations founded Hope-Net to address hunger and homeless needs. First opening in the Wilshire Center area of Los Angeles, and now expanding its outreach to Koreatown, Hollywood, Los Feliz, and Silverlake, Hope-Net is an interfaith effort to eliminate hunger and homelessness in Los Angeles by providing food, shelter and self-help assistance to families and individuals.


Living among the great wealth of Los Angeles, many fail to see the mammoth and increasing needs of many in our midst. For the economically poor in our area, Hope-Net food pantries and meal programs are a primary source of emergency food. Since our inception, we have served over 2 million persons and last year alone we served over 250,000 persons.


In 1996, Hope-Net founded Hope West Apartments to provide excellent, 3-bedroom apartment units for 17 low income families.  Because access to affordable housing is the single greatest need faced by the people Hope-Net serves, Hope-Net continues to look at ways to expand this part of its mission.


Guided by our dedicated Board of Directors and sustained through the tireless efforts of many dedicated volunteers at our 13 food pantries, Hope-Net touches lives daily and offers hope and opportunities to thousands of individuals and families.Hope-Net remains committed to our neighborhood so that "none of our neighbors should go hungry."


Starting in 1988 with one regularly scheduled food pantry and eight other sites offering "emergency food as available," Hope-Net now operates 13 food pantries in the metro Los Angeles area.  Hope-Net food pantries are operated by dedicated volunteers who contribute more 16,000 hours of their time annually. The work of these generous volunteers is supported by Hope-Net’s professional staff.


Hope-Net gives out two different bags of food. One is for people that have cooking facilities. Along with fresh fruit like apples, they receive imperishable goods such as canned beans and boxes of rice. Clients walk through the line and volunteers fill their bags with each item. People can come once a week to get food. Hope-Net also distributes pre-prepared food bags for people who are either homeless or don't have cooking facilities. These bags contain cereal bars, granola bars, and other ready-to-eat items. The line for these bags is shorter. People come to the entrance of the food pantry, sign their name, and take a bag.


In 2007, Hope-Net served 110,000 people in the Mid-Wilshire, Hollywood and Koreatown areas. In 2008, that number went up to 150,000, and last year they served 250,000 people. This year, 2010, for the first quarter, they are on pace to serve 250,000 more again this year.


Get Involved:

Donate to Help-Net.

Los Angeles area Volunteer opportunities with Help-Net.

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Resource:  http://www.hope-net.info/

November 22 - Pay it Forward this Thanksgiving

I can't believe that Thanksgiving is almost upon us!  Time goes by so quickly!  Thanksgiving is a time of year where many people and families focus on helping those in need, so for the next 3 days leading up to Thanksgiving I am going to focus on ways to "make a difference" this Thanksgiving. 

Volunteering for Thanksgiving is a great way to show your thanks and to give back while putting a smile on someone’s face.  So many people today are homeless or living in battered shelters, have no family at all or no family members nearby or they lack money or a home. Poverty levels in America alone are increasing yearly and many people that once had good jobs and a home are now finding themselves in need of assistance as a result of a bad economy and a recession.




Here are a few ways you can "make a difference" this Thanksgiving...


Volunteer at a Soup Kitchen
Every local soup kitchen will be preparing the Thanksgiving Day meal for anyone in need of food or company and you could be a valuable asset with any services you could offer in cooking, serving or cleaning.



Lend an Ear
Many nursing homes will have patients without family or loved ones nearby over the Thanksgiving holiday. You could offer to sit with a patient to get to know them, hear their stories, read to them or share the Thanksgiving Day meal with them. You’ll make a senior citizen very happy by simply lending a hand or sharing a smile.

Play Cards or Games
If you know a few card games or other games and are willing to spend some time in a nursing home or hospital, find out how to set up an afternoon of fun with a few of your friends.




Help a Friend in Need
Do you have a friend that may have new needs because of unemployment, marital problems, health problems or other situation? Give your friend a call during the Thanksgiving holiday to say you care and offer any help you can give.

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November 21 - A Bed for Every Head!

210 million!  There are more orphaned and abandoned children in the world now than ever before. Today, 5,760 children will become orphans.

Sweet Sleep believes that a bed is atangible expression of God’s love and that every child deserves a clean, comfortable place to sleep.  Sweet Sleep’s vision is to passionately and tirelessly pursue the goal of providing “a bed for every head.”

Sweet Sleep is a faith-based nonprofit organization which exists to share God's love by providing beds to the world's orphaned and abandoned children. According to recent estimates, there are more than 210 million orphans worldwide. Every day, 5,760 more children become orphans.

Orphaned and abandoned children in Third World countries suffer from lack of sufficient or healthy places to sleep. From children in war-torn Sudan sleeping in trees to protect themselves from deadly hyenas to the orphans of Eastern Europe sleeping on dilapidated 50-year-old metal cots with broken springs sagging to the floor - millions of forgotten children around the world have no place to dream tonight.

These children often sleep on old, broken and soiled beds or have no beds at all – forcing them to sleep on paper-thin mats or cold, hard floors, making them susceptible to crawling, biting insects and disease. In these conditions, it is nearly impossible to get a good night’s sleep and the effects are staggering:

• 1 in 5 of all childhood deaths is caused from malaria. 90% of these children are in Africa alone.
• A sagging or misshapen mattress may add tension to a child’s joints because their bodies rest on the mattress for hours at a time. Even if a child sleeps well on a bad mattress, these injuries to their bodies only make them weaker.
• Old mattresses or scraps of foam are breeding grounds for bed bugs and allergens that contribute to startling increases in respiratory diseases, including asthma, rhinitis, eczema and bed bug bites.
• When children continuously do not get enough sleep it affects their health, makes them tired during the day, hinders their ability to do well at school and leaves them more prone to disease.

Sweet Sleep’s provision of mosquito nets to orphanages is literally life-changing to children who live in fear of death by malaria. With your help, we are able to get sweet orphaned and abandoned children around the world into healthy, comfortable new Sweet Sleep beds.  Since 2003, Sweet Sleep has worked closely with indigenous staff, and U.S. churches and businesses to provide beds and bedding to thousands of these orphaned and abandoned children.




Check out the Sweet Sleep's  Nickels for Nets  program:

Nickels for Nets is a challenging, educational and fun program to get kids involve with Sweet Sleep's mission to provide life-saving mosquito nets for orphaned and abandoned children in Africa and Haiti.



Get Involved:

Donate to Sweet Sleep.

Volunteer opportunites with Sweet Sleep.

Participate in a Sweet Sleep Mission Journey.

Shop Sweet Sleep's online store.

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Resource:  http://www.sweetsleep.org/

November 20 - Quilts for Kids

Okay, all you crafty people out there... this one's for you!  Even those of us who are craft-challenged can participate.... READ ON!


Quilts for Kids, Inc. transforms discontinued, unwanted and other fabrics into patchwork quilts that comfort children fighting a life battle with a serious illness such as cancer, AIDS, as well as children of abuse.  Their goal is to link design centers and other fabric sources nationwide to their communities, so that children in need in those regions may be served.


Quilts for Kids was founded in  August of 2000 and since that time millions of pounds of fabric have been saved from landfills and tens of thousands of quilts have been distributed worldwide through the generosity of 10,000+ volunteer quilters.


Quilts for Kids is a non-profit program that taps into the sewing talents of quilters across the country. They transform pieces of fabric into tokens of warmth for children in hospitals, foster care and family abuse shelters.  Wrapped in a colorful quilt stitched with love, children can find security and comfort even in the most stressful situations.

Get Involved:

Donate to Quilts for Kids.

Volunteer opportunities with Quilts for Kids.

Find a Quilts for Kids chapter near you.

Request a Quilt Kit.

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Resource:  http://www.quiltsforkids.org/

November 19 - Love is Ageless!

November is "Adopt a Senior Pet Month"   A time where rescue and adoption groups highlight older pets who are awaiting their forever homes.  




Throughout the month of November, rescue organizations and shelters from coast to coast are encouraging individuals to consider older pets when adding a new member of the family during Adopt a Senior Pet Month.  On the heels of October’s Adopt a Shelter Pet Month, November’s event highlights the benefits of owning a senior pet — and spotlights the many older animals who are often passed over at shelters in favor of younger dogs and cats.


Shelters are full of older pets, all waiting for a chance to share with you their infinite wisdom and undying love and gratitude. There are so many reasons to consider a more “mature” pet for your family...and many shelters are offering reduced fees to adopt Senior Pets! 



TOP 10 REASONS TO ADOPT AN OLDER DOG OR CAT...


1. Loyalty, Loyalty, Loyalty!
A senior dog or cat can sense that they have been saved and will be eternally loyal to his or her new “forever” family.
2. Ease Of Guardianship
Senior dogs and cats are mellow, relaxed and ready for a new home. Dogs are past the puppy chewing and destruction stage and usually come with basic training. Cats are done climbing the blinds and jumping onto your head from high places. Most senior pets are happiest sitting at your feet or curled up in your lap!

3. No Huge Lifestyle Change
You don't need to worry about puppy or kitten proofing your house and constant training. And older dog or cat is all about a good night’s sleep…something you might not have for a while when you introduce a puppy or kitten into the home.

4. Stress Reliever
Life today can be very hectic. Studies have shown that animal guardianship can decrease blood pressure levels and reduce stress. Senior dogs enjoy leisurely walks, which will encourage you to exercise for even a few minutes on your busiest days…and simply petting your cat will lower the stress of the day.

5. WYSIWYG (“What you see is what you get.”)
Senior dogs and cats are full grown and their personalities are completely developed. When you meet with your senior pet, you will know what kind of wonderful, loving canine or feline he or she is and will always be.

6. Doggie Wisdom
Senior pets have learned many of life's lessons. They know, for example, that shoes are for walking and bones are for chewing…couches are for curling up on and not scratch pads.

7. Calm, Cool & Collected
Most senior pets do not demand the time and attention that a younger pet does and are satisfied with casual walks and cuddling. Many senior pets just snooze the day away inside while you are busy at work and are waiting calmly at the door for you when you return home.

8. Old Dog, New Tricks
Senior dogs can learn new tricks and be valuable family and community members. They also make excellent therapy dogs. And let’s face it, cats regardless of age may learn tricks…but they’ll do them only on their terms.
9. Companionship For All
Senior pets make wonderful companions for everyone, especially senior people and busy professionals.

10. You truly are Saving A Life!
Senior dogs and cats are typically passed by in the shelter for cute and cuddly puppies and kittens. They wait longer than most other pets to find their forever homes. It is much more difficult on them mentally and physically living in a shelter as most were surrendered by their owners for one reason or another.



Get involved: 


Adopt a Senior Pet!  Use Adopt-A-Pet to search for a Senior Pet available in your area! 

If you cannot adopt... consider fostering a pet.

Donate money or supplies to a shelter in your area.

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November 18 - Cookies for Kids' Cancer

Cookies for Kids' Cancer was created to raise awareness of and funds for pediatric cancer research. But it all started with a kid fighting cancer and his parents’ desire to help him and others.


When 2-year old Liam was diagnosed with a deadly form of pediatric cancer called Neuroblastoma, his family learned quickly it is a cancer that only about 30% of children survive. They were shocked to hear the reason for such terrible odds was directly related to how little money was being spent on research by both the government and the pharmaceutical industry. Pediatric cancer is the leading cause of death by disease for children under the age of 18. Why then is it not a priority to develop new and better treatments for the children of our nation and the world? It is this very question that prompted Liam’s mom and dad, Gretchen and Larry, to get involved and to do all they could to help save their son.


Gretchen had a crazy idea for a larger-than-life bake sale with the goal of baking 96,000 cookies with friends and volunteers. Dozens of other families whose children were also battling Neuroblastoma got involved and began to take orders for cookies from friends, co-workers, and neighbors. All 96,000 cookies were sold in three weeks, thanks to the work of over 250 volunteers. The event raised over $400,000 for pediatric cancer research, but it was soon clear that something bigger than a bake sale had begun. Even weeks after the event was over, requests for cookies kept coming in. What started as a desperate act to raise money and awareness for her child’s own cancer blossomed into something much bigger than any had planned. The event caught the eye and the hearts of the media and people all over the country. Emails from across the United States started flooding in asking the same simple question "what can we do to help?"


After the first 96,000 cookies were sold, it was apparent that the concept of cookies for kids' cancer could be a powerful tool to help fight all pediatric cancers and to provide a way for people all over the country to do what so many wanted to do...help. Through the simple concept of holding a local bake sale under the banner of Cookies for Kids' Cancer, individuals, schools, churches, synagogues, clubs, and businesses have the ability to raise hundreds of thousands of dollars to directly support research at Comprehensive Cancer Centers across the country. Research that would not take place without support from private organizations and philanthropy like Cookies for Kids' Cancer.


Together we can raise the funds and awareness necessary to change the face of pediatric cancer research and to provide more families and children with the hope they deserve. Cookies for Kids' Cancer is committed to raising funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer. Through the concept of local bake sales, Cookies for Kids' Cancer will provide the inspiration and support for people like you to help children win their fight against cancer.

Cookies for Kids' Cancer is committed to raising funds to support research for new and improved therapies for pediatric cancer. Through the concept of local bake sales, Cookies for Kids' Cancer provides the inspiration and support for individuals, communities, and businesses to help fight pediatric cancer.

A cure for pediatric cancer begins with you. Through Cookies for Kids’ Cancer Foundation, your support and donations will help scientists and leading pediatric oncologists at leading Comprehensive Cancer Centers, accelerate and deepen their investigation into new therapies, drugs, and less toxic strategies, in an all out effort to save the lives of innocent children.


Get Involved: 

Donate to Cookies for Kid's.

Host your own Bake Sale.

Purchase  Cookies for yourself or a gift.

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Resource:  Cookies for Kids' Cancer

November 17 - After-School All-Stars

AFTER-SCHOOL ALL-STARS - Three Hours Can Change A Life! Kids with nowhere to go, end up… going nowhere.  Every day in the United States as many as 15 million children leave school with no place to go. And every day many of these at risk youth are involved in crimes, join gangs, or experiment with drugs, alcohol or sex.


After School All Stars offers a proven alternative for these children. We engage them in activities and on-going relationships that increase confidence and encourage success in all areas of their lives - at home, in school and in the community.


In America today, millions of young people are alone and unsupervised in the hours after school, before parents return home from work. This situation places children and teens at grave risk for juvenile crime, substance abuse, teen pregnancy, and other problems. It means students are wasting precious time when they could be learning. And it leaves millions of working parents worried about their children when they should be focused on their jobs. This unproductive, untenable and unacceptable situation would be remedied if our nation invested more fully in the after school programs that keep kids safe, support working families, and help young people succeed in school and in life.


The after school hours are the peak time for juvenile crime and experimentation with drugs, alcohol, cigarettes and sex. The parents of more than 28 million school-age children work outside the home. As many as 15 million "latchkey children" go to an empty house on any given afternoon. (Source: U.S. Department of Labor; U.S. Census Bureau, Urban Institute estimate, 2000)


Teens who do not participate in after school programs are nearly three times more likely to skip classes or use marijuana or other drugs; they are also more likely to drink alcohol, smoke cigarettes and engage in sexual activity. (YMCA of the USA, March 2001)


You can help make a difference in the lives of young people! 



Get Involved:

Donate to After School All Stars.

Find an After School All Stars location near you.

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Resource: After School All Stars

November 16 - Cancer for College

Cancer for College (CFC) was founded in 1993 by Craig Pollard, a two-time cancer survivor. Craig fought back from Hodgkin's disease when he was just 15. He won his second battle at age 19, after a bone marrow transplant at the City of Hope Medical Center.


"Knowing that I would ultimately return to college after my bone marrow transplant gave me the strength to keep fighting. It gave me a reason to live," said Pollard. To help provide others with this inspiration, he created Cancer for College.


During his senior year at the University of Southern California,  Craig wrote a business plan for a non-profit corporation. He called it Cancer for College and the goal was to raise scholarship dollars to assist cancer survivors in reaching their goal of a college education.


In 1993, CFC held their first event. Twenty-four friends and family members got together to play some golf and held a backyard BBQ.  They gave one $500 scholarship and that’s how Cancer for College was born.
Cancer for College has been inspiring and empowering survivors through college scholarships since its inception in 1993.


Over the years, through generous support and private donations, we have continued to grow. We now receive hundreds of heart-touching stories of perseverance from young cancer survivors who want to share in the college experience.


Last year, Cancer for College staged three fundraising events and awarded more than $250,000 in scholarships to cancer survivors and amputees.  The non-profit organization has granted over $1 million in scholarships to more than 800 cancer survivors and amputees.

Actor Will Ferrell is warming up the winter season with his ‘Coffee Cup With A Cause.’  Ferrell’s frosty ‘Coffee Cup With A Cause’ will benefit Cancer for College, a California-based charity providing support and inspiration to cancer survivors through academic scholarships.


Fans can come in from the cold at participating 7-Eleven® stores across the U.S. to purchase his snowman cup, on sale from Nov.15 through Jan. 3 or while supplies last. 7-Eleven guarantees a $250,000 minimum donation to Cancer for College, but the support could increase depending on the number of cups sold.



Get Involved:

Donate to Cancer for College.

Shop online at the CFC Donor Store.

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Resource:  http://www.cancerforcollege.org/

November 15 - "Oh Mitten Tree... Oh Mitten Tree"

Here's another fun idea for the holidays!  This is a great idea for work places, classrooms, businesses or any group of people. Give the gift of warmth this holiday season ... Host a "Mitten Tree!"   


This is a simple, low cost way to help those in your area who might need a little help as the cold weather approaches.   You can easily involve the "little ones" in this project and what a great way to teach compassion and giving!








How it works...

-Decide on a time frame for your collection. 
(Dec. 1 through Christmas)
-Decide on a location.
-Decide on a recipient.
(find an organization in your area, such as a family services organizations, homeless shelters or schools.)
-Put up a Christmas Tree.
-Ask everyone to help "decorate" your tree with gloves, scarves and hats. (you can include boots or other needed items if you like.)
-Deliver your 'mittens' to your recipient organization.

Soliciting donations of brand new mittens, gloves, hats and scarves (for men, women and children) to decorate your "Mitten Tree" is important for your success.  Make sure you promote your "Mitten Tree" to as many people as possible.  You might also ask for donations of new or gently used Beanie Babies or other small stuffed animals for the children.  You decide what you want to collect... this is all about finding a need and meeting that need!    


YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE! 

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