January 31 - Ryan's Well Foundation

In 1998, when Ryan Hreljac was in first grade, he learned from his teacher that people were dying because they didn't have clean water to drink. Ryan decided that raising money for those without access to this basic need was the right thing to do. He worked for four months doing extra chores around his house to earn his first $70. Ryan was just seven years old when his first well was built in 1999 at Angolo Primary School in northern Uganda. To this day, the well continues to serve thousands of people.



Ryan’s determination grew from the $70 collected by doing simple household chores to a Foundation that today has raised millions of dollars and remains committed to bringing clean water and sanitation services to those impacted by the global water and sanitation crisis.  Ryan's Well Foundation was born. 



Ryan remains dedicated to the Foundation and its work. He continues to speak passionately about the need for clean water around the world and has visited over two dozen countries spreading his message. He has made presentations to hundreds of schools, churches and civic clubs, and more than two dozen international conferences and global events including Rotary International and the World Water Forums. Among his many awards and achievements, he is recognized by UNICEF as a Global Youth Leader.



Although Ryan started raising money for water projects in 1998, the Foundation was not formed until 2001. Since then, Ryan’s Well Foundation has helped build over 630 wells and 700 latrines bringing safe water and improved sanitation services to over 705,000 people.



Facts about Water


-884 million people lack access to an improved water supply.
-A person can live about a month without food, but only about a week without water.
-At any given time, half of the world’s hospital beds are occupied by patients suffering from a water-related  disease.
-The water and sanitation crisis claims more lives through disease than any war claims through guns.
-While basic needs vary, the minimum threshold of water use is 20 litres per day. Factoring in bathing and laundry needs would increase this to 50 litres per day.
-Most of the nearly 1 billion people lacking access to clean water live on about 5 litres of water a day. That’s about one tenth of the amount needed to flush a standard toilet.
-A five minute shower using a standard showerhead uses approximately 100 litres of water. Installing a low-flow version would help reduce water usage to 35 litres for the same five minute shower.
-Every day, the global water and sanitation crisis claims the lives of as many children under five to equal that of 16 jumbo jets crashing.
-Over 2.5 billion people lack access to adequate sanitation – with nearly half that number living without sanitation facilities at all.

Ryan's Well Foundation is a family of people committed to delivering access to safe water and sanitation as an essential way to improve the lives of people in the developing world. We empower citizens of all ages to take action and effect change in the world.


Wow!  In first grade I was interested in riding my bike and playing with my friends... Ryan, your heart and compassion truly are an INSPIRATION!  



Get Involved:

Donate to Ryan's Well Foundation.

Check out Ryan's Well fundraising ideas.

Current projects needing help.

Shop Ryan's Well online store.

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Source: http://www.ryanswell.ca/

January 30 - Create Now

Jill Gurr felt a need to make a difference in the world. In 1994, she began a Screenwriting Workshop at Optimist Youth Homes, a boys' detention center in Eagle Rock, CA. She spent several months writing a screenplay with a group of these kids who were incarcerated for a variety of crimes. After the workshop, Jill discovered that many of the boys who were illiterate had learned how to read and write through her program, while others wanted to go back to school or enter college. One tough gang leader even had tattoos removed. Seeing the incredible impact of this program, Jill initiated a second Screenwriting Workshop at a coed detention facility and saw the same results.


Jill shared her experience with an associate Erika Clark, and realized that there were probably many other people that wanted to make a difference by mentoring these kids. She thought she could help others find youth to mentor so that they could reach more young people. Erika called her the following week to report that Leslie Stevens, her producing professor at the American Film Institute, was so impressed by Jill's idea and passion to help these high-risk youth that he was giving her a $5,000 donation to start a nonprofit organization.


The organization, initially named Write Now, was founded in 1996 with the mission to teach literacy through different forms of creative writing. Soon after, it became apparent that many of these kids preferred other forms of creativity, such as music and art. In 1998, the organization's name was changed to Create Now and they have been helping thousands of troubled youth ever since.


Create Now serves vulnerable kids ages 2-25 who have been abused, neglected, abandoned, orphaned, are left homeless, runaways, teen parents, substance abusers, victims of domestic violence, children of prisoners, gang members or incarcerated. The youth they serve come from poverty-stricken families with histories of violence, substance abuse, or neglect. These "forgotten children" are tucked away in group homes, shelters, detention facilities, special centers and schools throughout the Southern California region, under the radar of the general public.

Create Now has developed an extensive database of over 1,200 youth facilities throughout Southern California that enables them to match volunteers with high-risk or at-risk kids in their own neighborhood, based on the youths' ages, genders, challenges and other preferences. Create Now trains the mentors, helps them to customize their curriculum and give materials for their workshops.

Through Create Now's five program areas; music, art, writing, performing arts and cultural excursions, high-risk and at-risk youth learn to express themselves in a positive manner versus the destructive ways that they have in the past. Creative expression has been proven to be very therapeutic, especially for traumatized children. Create Now programs develop youths' talent and abilities. They build teamwork, self-esteem and confidence.

Each year, Create Now also brings thousands of these kids to free concerts, plays and other cultural events at premiere venues throughout the region. These field trips not only educate youth while exposing them to new types of music, theater and art, but also bring them relief and joy.  In addition, Create Now arranges General Mentoring, like one-on-one "Special Friend" relationships, and teaching life skills to small groups of youth.

The arts serve as a powerful way for kids who have suffered the trauma of abuse, neglect, homelessness and other challenges to express their innermost feelings. They learn to channel their emotions and begin the healing process.  According to a study conducted by the British Columbia School of Art Therapy, the arts are crucial to the healing of abused children.

• Creative art expression enhances self-esteem through mastery over media.
• Art allows a child the distance needed to build trust with an adult.
• Art heals through the child's increased ability to control self and media.
• Art provides a safe outlet for expression of regressive impulses, anger, and other difficult feelings.
• The art process promotes insight and reduces defensiveness.

Some children have no language to describe their thoughts and feelings; visual expression, music, dance and other creative outlets offer a greater range of effective vocabulary than is possible through verbalization.
Everyone has the opportunity to create a better future for themselves and inspire others with their creative talents. Through Create Now's creative arts mentoring programs and services, high-risk and at-risk youth and their community have the opportunity to heal and explore their unique creative self-expression and passions.

Get Involved:

Donate to Create Now.

Create Now's Wish List.

Volunteer opportunities with Create Now.

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Source: http://www.createnow.org/

January 29 - Moms Helping Moms!

I have said it so many times... this blog is about everyday people doing what they can, where they are, with what they have to make a difference in the lives of others.  What started out as one friend helping another has become a movement to help other Moms and children. 


Pass It On, Baby! was started by two moms, Elizabeth and Heather.  It started with a simple premise, a kind gesture meant to lighten the burden on a friend. One friend was finishing up her family, the other just starting. When the soon-to-be mom found out she was pregnant, the other sent maternity clothes across the miles. The kind thought worked two ways – a smile and some joy on both ends. As time went on, the maternity clothes became toddler clothes. One mother clearing out her child’s closet and packing up clothes she once loved on her own child, the other beginning to stock hers with a new size and some of those same loved pieces – meant for another to love. They shipped Parcel Post – the cost was minimal….the feeling – unbelievable. One day the new mom asked if she could at least pay the shipping and the spirit of  Pass It On, Baby! was born. No – there would be no reimbursement for shipping – just love those clothes and “Pass It On, Baby!” And she did….her baby outgrew the newborn phase and those clothes that were just sitting there – went to another to love. And their little circle of kindness grew….


Many of us are in that same situation – clearing out clothes each season from a child’s wardrobe. Somewhere another mother is in need of those same clothes….maybe stressing on how to get a wardrobe together for her own child for the upcoming season. One random act of kindness can change both these situations. The mother clearing our the closet, once seen as a chore, now has a purpose – to pick out gently used clothes to help another in need. She likely will have never met her….but she will know, as all mothers do, that the receiving mom will smile and truly feel the power of one simple random act of kindness. Hopefully, the receiving mom will remember that feeling and when the season passes, even if she finds herself in need again – she will get the clothes that she received earlier and pass it on….and keep the message going.


And so we begin the process of asking you to open your hearts and your closets. Some of you will have clothes to donate. Some of you will know of someone in your community that could use the smile and the kindness. Some of you will not be able to do either, but will pass along our message to someone who can help. Some of you will help once, some more often – whatever works in your life, thank you for the kindness. It makes the world a little better, and it makes our communities a little stronger.

The process is simple. If you have clothes to donate, please send an email and let Pass It On Baby know the sizes you have as well as season. If you need clothes, send them a note about that as well. If you are asking for clothes on behalf of someone, they'll need the sizes and of course, the address. Pass It On Baby will be matching up those who have clothes to donate with those who need clothes in the same size and asking them to send on their clothes via the US Mail.



Get Involved:

If you are in need, know someone in need or want to help by donating, please contact Elizabeth and Heather at kindness@passitonbaby.com.


Below are their IMMEDIATE NEEDS!! Can you help?

BOYS
Size 6-9M
Size 9M
Size 18-24M
Size 4T
Size 5T (2)
Size 6
Size 9
Size 10/12
Size 11
Size 12/14
Size 14
Size 20


GIRLS
Size 6-9M
Size 9-24M
Size 12M
Size 2T/3T
Size 3T
Size 4T/5T
Size 4/5
Size 8 - small
Size 10/12
Size 13/14
Size 16 - XXL top
Juniors size 1
Juniors pants 5/6,
Shirts Medium - Large,
Shoes 7 1/2


MISC.
Maternity clothes: size small or size 2 -- 2 requests

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Source:  Pass It On Baby Blog

January 28 - Small Can Be Big

Small Can Be Big is a new way to help based on a simple premise: give everyone a more direct, more personal, more shared way to help those in need, and big things can happen.  Here's why:


Small is direct:
You’re stuck in the rain. I hand you an umbrella. You stay dry, and I feel good about helping. That sense of immediacy is part of what makes giving so rewarding. And it’s what makes SmallCanBeBig.org unique – whether it’s $3 or $300, every last penny you give goes directly to address a specific need, rent , utility bill or medical expense, so the impact of your donation is immediate – for you and for the family you’re helping.


Small is personal:
People like helping people. The problem is that too often, they don’t know enough about how their donations are helping and, more importantly, who they’re helping.  The idea behind Small Can Be Big is to let those essentials – the who and the how – take center stage. Every time you donate, you  know what specific needs your donation will directly address, why it’s important, and how it helps a local family on the edge get back on their feet.

The website brings 12 charities together to feature families with specific financial needs under $1,500, whether it is helping make the rent, covering a heating bill or paying unexpected medical costs. On each family's page, potential donors can read about the family and see how much the family needs. A gauge indicates how much has been donated.


Small is shared:
These days, it’s not just the size of the contribution that matters, but the size of the group that shares the same goal. If you like this idea, please pass it on to your family and friends, and together we can harness the real power of small donations.

Small Can Be Big works closely with case managers to find families who can truly benefit from a one-time charitable donation. Hardworking members of the community who find themselves in a difficult position: one step away from homelessness, but more importantly, one urgent payment away from getting back on their feet.


You Make the Difference

This is where you come in. When you lend your support to a family in need – whether it’s $3 or $300 – 100% of every penny you give goes directly toward addressing a specific family need. No middlemen. No hidden costs. No time wasted. Just an uplifting, tax-deductible gift that goes to a landlord, utility company or hospital awaiting payment.
.

Check out the website and find a family you’d like to help and 100% of your donation will join donations from others to directly pay an urgent bill or need for a family on the edge.

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Source: http://www.smallcanbebig.org/

January 27 - Off The Street Clubs

Housed in a kid-friendly complex in West Garfield Park, the Off The Street Club gives 4- to 18-year-old kids a place to do their homework or play computer games in the Learning Center; perform plays in the Performing Arts Center; dance, rollerskate, sing, and play musical instruments; express themselves through arts and crafts and woodshop; and more. Off The Street Club kids have mentors, tutors and role models; girls can experience real “girl power” and heightened self-esteem in the Girls Center, while boys and girls together can meet and interact safely and respectfully throughout the Club.


Founded in 1900, Off The Street Club is Chicago's oldest boys and girls club and serves more than 3,000 kids. The primary goal is uncomplicated and direct; to give these kids the simple childhood moments that most of us take for granted.


In the summer, Off The Street Club kids get to trade in the violence and drugs of their neighborhood for cookouts, sing-alongs, swimming, hiking and horseback riding at Camp Mathieu. Around the nightly campfires the only things to fear are the ghost stories. Winter Weekends at the camp let kids experience skiing, sledding and other outdoor winter sports. Everyone goes home with memories that'll last a lifetime.


The Off The Street Club kids are special because by choosing to attend the Off The Street Club, and to abide by its rules and regulations, they've chosen to follow a different path — and in their neighborhood, a harder path. Gangs, drugs and other antisocial activities lure many West Side kids, but the Off The Street Club offers those kids who want a better life another way.


Ralph Campagna, the OTSC executive director, grew up at the club. His compassion, devotion and love is the very heart and soul of the Club. He leads a dedicated and caring staff whose members are the inspirational guiding light of the Club and uphold the Club motto, "If you don't stand for something, you'll fall for anything."



Get Involved:
 
Donate to Off The Street Clubs.
 
Other ways to get involved in Off The Street Clubs.

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Source: http://www.otsc.org/

January 26 - Feeding the future of America

Hunger Doesn't Take the Weekends Off.



Blessings In a Backpack is a “neighbor-helping-neighbor” program that is designed to help meet the nutritional needs of children and families.  62% of children in America are on free or reduced meals at their schools. Blessings in a Backpack is designed to feed these kids on the weekends by sending them home on Fridays with backpacks filled with staples that require little to no preparation. $80 feeds one child for a school year.



Blessings in a Backpack is a results-oriented program. This unique program is designed to feed elementary school children whose families qualify for the federal free and reduced meal program, and may not have any or enough food on the weekends. Better test scores, improved reading skills, positive behavior, improved health and increased attendance have all been attributed to the success of this program.



$80 feeds a child in the program for an entire school year. Following a donation, a school is chosen and a local grocer partners with the program to provide food for meals in the backpacks. Every Friday, students receive their backpacks with staples that require little to no preparation. They return with their backpacks on Monday ready to learn.


The backpacks include ready-to-eat food items such as fruit roll ups, juice boxes, instant noodles, peanut butter, mac & cheese, cereal, pop tarts, etc. Blessings in a Backpack does its best to make sure the food is kid-friendly, meaning it’s lightweight, healthy, non-perishable and easy-to-prepare.  Students who participate in the Blessings in a Backpack program show marked improvement in school attendance, test scores, behavior, and health. Food is an essential building block, and in this case truly is a blessing, especially to a hungry child!



Blessings in a Backpack started with just one school in 2005 and now serves almost 27,000 students in 157 schools, spread throughout 27 U.S. states and two countries - Canada and Columbia.   Click here to find a Blessings in a Backpack program in your area. The program is a hybrid of private sector funding and public partnership carried out in public schools. We are feeding the future of America, one school at a time.
 

Become a weekday or weekend warrior in the battle against hunger.



Get Involved:

Donate to Blessings in a Backpack.

Adopt a school.  Adopting a school close to your community is fairly simple. The most important requirement is that you are a parent, teacher, administrator or community member that recognizes how important it is that all of our neighbors’ children have the same opportunities for daily nutrition, which positively impacts educational success!

Volunteer opportunities with Blessings in a Backpack.

Other ways to get involved.

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Source: http://blessingsinabackpack.org/

January 25 - Girl Scout Cookies for the Troops

Hooray! It's Girl Scout Cookie time! I have commited to losing weight... so no cookies for me but I can still help out by purchasing Girl Scout Cookies for our troops serving overseas!  Girl Scout Cookies continue to be one of the most requested items by Soldiers. There are several different organizations who are sending Girl Scout Cookies to the troops so today I am highlighting a couple of those organizations.

Hugs for Soldiers is one of the groups collecting donations of Girl Scout Cookies for our military men and women deployed overseas. Show your support for our Soldiers and your local Girl Scouts by purchasing an EXTRA box or two of Cookies. The Soldiers are in stressful situations, but when they receive a box of cookies from home, it sends a message to the troops that America is thinking of them and their safe return.


Operation Gratitude also sends cookies to the soldiers.  When you see your local Girl Scouts selling in front of the supermarket, or when the Cookie Order Form circulates through your office, be sure to buy a few extra boxes of Caramel Delites, Samoas or Peanut Butter Patties. Ask the Girl Scout Troop selling the cookies if they send them to Operation Gratitude - some girl scout troops will send them directly to the soldiers. Or,  you can send them directly to Operation Gratitude.  You can even add a personal note on each box of cookies–a 2″ x 4″ mailing label works great.


Pick up a few boxes and you can help two deserving causes - Girls Scouts and Soldiers. Your donation helps Girl Scouts in your community and Soldiers overseas.  To add a personal touch you are invited to attach a drawing or personal note on every cookie box. Girl Scout Leaders or adults only may include their personal e-mail address for Soldiers to reply.
 

Cookies may be mailed to:

Hugs for Soldiers
P. O. Box 2887
Duluth, GA 30096
(Cookies must be received by March 19 in order to be shipped overseas)


Operation Gratitude/California Army National Guard
17330 Victory Boulevard
Van Nuys, CA 91406
Attn: Rich Hernandez: 262-674-7281 (262-OPGRAT-1)

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Source: Hugs for Soldiers
              Operation Gratitude

January 24 - "Give 5 Away!"

Welcome to National Compliment Day!
May I say that you're looking especially good today, not to mention I love what you've done with your hair! By the way... Your breathe smells minty fresh and you've never looked thinner!


It's time to start brushing up on your complimenting skills because January 24th is National Compliment Day... not that you would have anything to worry about with your eloquent conversational skills. 


To celebrate Compliment Day, simply launch sincere flattery attacks on random people throughout the day, especially those who wouldn't expect it.  To give yourself a challenge, compliment your boss or people that you don't like.


The key, of course, is sincerity.  


It's amazing that such a small, simple skill like giving away compliments can change the way you view yourself and the world around you. It will strengthen your relationships, boost your self-esteem, and increase your self-confidence. You will experience joy and happiness as you learn to give selflessly.


Each time you give a compliment, you focus completely on the other person. You actively look for positive traits or attributes and specific examples. By doing this on a regular basis (5 times a day), you begin to see how richly multifaceted people really are. People's positive traits jump out at you. Your thought processes shifts from looking for the worst in people to looking for the best. Being proactive spills over into your life. You see the possibilities, not the obstacles. Compliment giving is a jump-start for looking at the world in a positive, refreshing, stimulating, and creative way.


Complimentday.com suggests that you try to compliment 5 people and provides a list of sample compliments for those who struggle with the art of flattery.  So "Give 5 Away"  Today!

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Source: http://www.complementday.com/

January 23 - Real Life. Change.

Take  a  small

step  toward  making

a  big  change. 



 "I want to learn to love myself." - Jessica
"I am going to control my anger" - James
"To change my negative thoughts and be more proactive in making my dreams come true."  -Laura
"I want to quit crying over the things I don't have in my life and embrace the things I do." - Amy

 

People are committing to changing their lives in small but powerful ways.  I am sure there are things that each of us would like to change about ourselves to make us "better" human beings.  We each have areas where we feel we fall short.  Maybe we need to change our diet and exercise habits to lose weight.  Maybe we have an addiction or behavior that is not healthy, either physically or mentally.  Now's the time to commit to change your life... and help change the lives of others at the same time.  A&E Television has initiated the "Real Life. Change." campaign which allows all of us the opportunity to do just that.



It is so simple... it literally took me one minute! Sign up and commit to making a positive change in your life through the “Real Life. Change.” initiative and A&E will donate $1 to a select charity of your choice:

American Cancer Society
American Heart Association,
Animal Welfare Institute
Big Brothers, Big Sisters of America
DonorsChoose.org
Environmental Defense Fund
Mental Health America
Oxfam America
Shape Up America!
St Jude Children's Research Hospital
Support Police
The Innocence Project
The National Center for Victims of Crime
The Partnership at Drugfree.org



MAKE A CHANGE NOW!  Please consider making a commitment to a positive change and let's all make or world a better place.  Not only will your charity benefit... YOU WILL BENEFIT! 

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Sources: http://www.aetv.com/real-life-change

January 22 - Teens for Jeans

You can take part in the 4th Annual Teens for Jeans drive, empowering YOU to take action on youth homelessness.  Drop off your gently worn jeans to any Aéropostale store between January 17th and February 13th and we'll get them to a local homeless shelter or charity.


Do Something and Aéropostale have partnered with over 600 homeless shelters across the US and Canada. Your jeans will be donated to a homeless shelter in your local community to help homeless youth in YOUR AREA! 


Every Aéropostale store will be accepting jeans donations from January 17th through February 13th. When you donate your jeans at Aéropostale, you will receive one 25% coupon for each pair of jeans that you donate.


Homeless shelters often have a greater need for large sizes, but they are happy to accept jeans of all sizes for this campaign. All of the jeans should be in good condition.  For the current Teens for Jeans campaign, Aéropostale is only collecting jeans. If you have extra coats, scarves, hats, shirts, etc, please donate them directly to your local homeless shelter or charity.  You can donate any brand of jeans - all they ask is that the jeans are in good condition.



11 Facts about Homeless Youth*

1)  The National Coalition for the Homeless defines homeless youth as individuals under the age of eighteen who lack parental, foster, or institutional care.
2)  1 out of every 3 homeless people are under the age of 18.
3)  1.6 to 1.7 million people under 18 will experience homelessness each year.
4)  The majority of homeless and runaway youth are between the ages of 15 and 17, however three out of 100 runaways are under the age of 10, and 11 out of 100 are between the ages of 11 and 13.
5)  Approximately half of all runaways were physically abused before fleeing home.
6)  Up to a third of runaways have been forced to perform a sexual act against his/her will.
7)  Half of all runaways left home because of a disagreement with a parent or guardian.
8)  A third of all runaways will attempt suicide.
9)  Homeless youth are up to ten times more likely to have or contract HIV than non-homeless adolescents.
10)  A tenth of homeless and runaway females are reportedly pregnant.
11)  This year, one in 260 runaways and homeless youths will die from assault, illness and suicide.

Get Involved:

This is a great opportunity to get your young people involved in giving back.  Gather up those gently used jeans and take them to an Aero location near you.

Find an Aero location near you.

Find out how your teens can host their own collection drive.



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Sources: http://www.dosomething.org/teensforjeans/home
*National Coalition for the Homeless
*National Runaway Switchboard

January 21 - Last Chance Rescue Needs Some Heroes!

I had no intention of posting today's post at this time... I intended to post something else, but every so often I come across some information that I feel is important share with you.  I know there are those of you out there who help out when and where you can...a HUGE THANK YOU to you! 

I was taking a look at the website for Last Chance Animal Rescue and I was immediately drawn to the following posting:

We are in desperate need of Food donations and treats for the dogs.  We are completely out right now and need your help!

Wow!  That saddens me!  Over the past year I have been learning more about animal overpopulation and animal rescue organizations.  I am beginning to learn just what a caring devoted group of people are involved in animal rescue work.  In many cases these groups were started and are run by individuals or groups or volunteers who devote their time and energy to saving animals.


When there is an animal to be saved and there is no money, it comes from the rescuer's pocket.  Or it is charged to the rescuers charge card!  There is always work to be done and not enough time or money to do it!   So, how about it... my challenge to you is to help Last Chance Animal Rescue feed it's animals.


All animals deserve the right to a happy, healthy environment. Last Chance Animal Rescue is a non-profit organization committed to saving the lives of animals that otherwise would be destroyed.


Last Chance Animal Rescue is a licensed 501(c)3 non-profit organization.  For over 17 years, they have rescued over 27 thousand animals. Most from kill shelters or from research lists. They are diversified in taking in all types of dogs/cats/birds/rabbits - including providing medical, spay/neuter and giving them a chance at life and love.

Last Chance Animal Rescue is in desperate need of Food donations and treats for the dogs.  They are completely out right now and need your help!  If you are in the Brighton, Mi area- donations can be dropped at any of our showing locations on the weekend.   Donate Now!



Get Involved:

Donate to Last Chance Rescue.

Donate items from the Last Chance Rescue Wish List.

Send Last Chance Rescue an Online Gift Certificate good for food, shelter supplies or toys from PETCO.com

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Source: http://www.lastchancerescue.org/

January 20 - God's Love We Deliver

In 1985, a hospice volunteer named Ganga Stone paid a visit to an AIDS patient that changed her life. The patient, Richard Sayles, was too ill to cook for himself. Ganga's compassion took hold, a meal was prepared and delivered on the next visit, and an epiphany was born: Something as basic as delivering a meal could bring dignity and recognition to a desperate situation.


Ganga's experience then drove her to a second epiphany. The severity of Richard's situation demanded something more than simply delivering food. It required preparing nutritionally-tailored meals that would support an individual's specific medical treatment. She researched his needs and was on her way again, with a new meal in hand, when she was stopped by a minister in the neighborhood who recognized her. He asked what she was doing, she told him, and he replied, "you're not just delivering food ... you're delivering God's love."  And Ganga said, "That's the name." And God's Love We Deliver was born.

The mission of God's Love We Deliver is to improve the health and well-being of men, women and children living with HIV/AIDS, cancer and other serious illnesses by alleviating hunger and malnutrition. They prepare and deliver nutritious, high-quality meals to people who, because of their illness, are unable to provide or prepare meals for themselves. They also provide illness-specific nutrition education and counseling to their clients, families, care providers and other service organizations.  All of their services are provided free of charge without regard to income.


The God's Love We Deliver story has always been one of caring and compassion, from the day one woman delivered a single meal to a man dying from AIDS to today, when a cast of literally thousands of people work in concert with each other to prepare and deliver meals to our clients living will all types of life altering diseases. While our community has grown considerably over the years, one thing has always remained the same, and that is our belief that no person should ever suffer the dual crisis of hunger and serious illness. Together, we do great things!



Get Involved:

Donate to God's Love We Deliver.

Shop the God's Love We Deliver online store.

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Source: http://www.glwd.org/

January 19 - March of Dimes

January is National Birth Defects Prevention Month  - A time to raise awareness of birth defects and promote healthy pregnancies.

A birth defect is a problem that happens while a baby is developing in the mother’s body. One out of every 33 babies in the United States is born with a birth defect.  Birth defects are problems that happen while a baby is growing during pregnancy. These problems can cause physical or mental disabilities, and in some cases, death. There are thousands of different birth defects. About 120,000 babies in the United States are born each year with a birth defect. The most common birth defects are heart defects, cleft lip and cleft palate, Down syndrome and spina bifida. While there’s been lots of research, we still don’t know the causes of some birth defects.


If a woman drinks alcohol during pregnancy, her baby may have a birth defect. Some illegal drugs and some prescription drugs can cause birth defects, too. Also, if a woman gets certain infections during pregnancy, such as cytomegalovirus or a sexually transmitted infection, her baby may develop a birth defect.


Some birth defects are causes by genetic factors. The baby could get something from his mother, his father, or both parents that can cause a defect. Certain birth defects affect a baby’s body chemistry. These are called metabolic disorders. There are several steps you can take before and during pregnancy to help prevent birth defects. One important thing to do is have a medical checkup, or preconception visit, before getting pregnant.


Working with their partners, the March of Dimes strives to develop and implement local programs that will ultimately improve the health of babies. Through their network of chapters and volunteers, these programs reach over a million people across the country and Puerto Rico each year. March of Dimes provides information and services designed to prevent premature birth and birth defects and to promote healthy pregnancies.


Community grants are awarded annually to fund the best programs. Local programs like Centering Pregnancy®, group prenatal care, are focused on improving the availability and quality of health care. March of Dimes also supports services that help promote the health and well-being of women and couples before pregnancy to increase their chances of having a healthy baby.


Through NICU Family Support®, March of Dimes provides information and comfort to families coping with the experience of having a baby in a newborn intensive care unit (NICU). NICU Family Support complements and enhances family-centered care practices in partner hospitals, addresses the needs of families and provides professional development to NICU staff



Get Involved:

Donate to March of Dimes.

Volunteer opportunities with March of Dimes.

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Source: http://www.marchofdimes.com/ 

January 18 - Loved Twice

Loved Twice is a nonprofit dedicated to donating gently used baby clothes directly to underprivileged babies in the San Francisco Bay Area.


Thanks to the generosity of the community, Loved Twice HAS OUTFITTED OVER 3,500 NEWBORNS IN NEED FOR THEIR ENTIRE FIRST YEAR OF LIFE!   That's over 250,000 garments or 25,000 POUNDS OF BABY CLOTHES! These clothes have an estimated value of over $700,000. Keeping babies warm and reusing these garments accomplishes two important purposes. Considering a newborn onesie weighs just over one ounce, this significant volume has been saved from landfills and recycled back to the most precious among us.


The idea for Loved Twice took flight in 2005 when Lisa Klein, Founder and Executive Director, responded to a Craigslist ad posted by a Louisiana church asking for donations of baby clothing after Hurricane Katrina hit. By sending out one email, Lisa collected over 200 pounds of baby clothing in 4 days from friends and neighbors and mailed them to the church, which provided them to disadvantaged mothers that simply needed to keep their babies warm. Having just had her first child, Lisa was deeply motivated to help these tiny victims of Katrina. Witnessing the impact, Lisa realized this simple idea could be extended to an overwhelming local need. Lisa turned her compassion into passion and started Loved Twice to help under-privileged infants in her own community, giving them a better start in life.


Loved Twice has a waiting list of social service agencies eager to distribute the baby clothes. Sadly they cannot help without additional funding. The stories they hear are heartbreaking. For example, they received a baby clothing request for a 15 year old mother whose parents threw her out of her house for getting pregnant; another for a baby whose father was just murdered; still another for struggling parents who just lost their jobs. The stories go on.  


Our grassroots nonprofit is run on a very modest budget and like all nonprofits we need funding to survive. We rely on the support of over 100 volunteers and companies who have helped distribute over 25,000 pounds of baby clothes. We are extremely lean and efficient, and work hard to minimize overhead expenses. Your monetary donation will go toward: baby clothes, blankets, board books, boxes, tape, and one employee. 
 


Loved Twice has funding to continue until June 2011. If you would like to see us continue our work, please consider a monetary donation. We are a 501c3 nonprofit and all donations are tax deductible.
 
 
 

WHAT TYPE OF ITEMS DOES LOVED TWICE ACCEPT?   Loved Twice distributes baby clothes in sizes up to 12 months ONLY. Blankets, hats, socks, bibs and board books are welcome too.

MAIL BABY CLOTHES TO LOVED TWICE
Early Head Start Program
Attention: Rebecca, c/o LOVED TWICE
150 Frank H Ogawa Plaza, Suite 6224, Oakland, CA 94612



Get Involved:
 
Donate to Loved Twice.
 
Volunteer opportunities. 
 
Download a guide on how to host a drive to benefit Loved Twice.

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Source: http://www.lovedtwice.org/ 

January 17 - MLK Day of Service

On January 17, 2011 we celebrate the 25th anniversary of the holiday recognizing one of America's greatest heroes-Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.



Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said, "Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"  Each year, Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.



The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.  To mark the 25th anniversary of the King holiday, and to encourage ongoing service throughout the year, we will be launching the MLK 25 Challenge.  It's a call to all Americans to honor Dr. King by pledging to take at least 25 actions during 2011 to make a difference for others and strengthen our communities.


On the 25th anniversary of the King Federal Holiday, Americans across the country will honor Dr. King by helping their neighbors and communities, making it a “day on, not a day off” – a national day of service to bring Americans together to help others.


Led by the Corporation for National and Community Service and the King Center, the MLK Day of Service will include thousands of projects spread across all 50 states. Families, students, congregations, employees, and individuals of all ages and backgrounds will come together to celebrate MLK Day by making a difference in their communities.


Projects will include delivering meals, refurbishing schools and community centers, collecting food and clothing, signing up mentors, reading to children, promoting nonviolence, and more, with many projects starting on the MLK Day of Service and lasting throughout the year.  By serving on the King Holiday and throughout the year, we can realize King’s dream of equality and opportunity for all and build America’s new foundation.



Get Involved:

Find a Service Project in your area.

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Source: http://www.mlkday.org/ 

January 16 - Help Yourself while Helping Others!

How many of you made a New Year's Resolution to lose a few pounds?  How's that been going?  Did you know that you can lose those pounds and help others while you are doing it?   YES!  Okay,  I know it was only a few days ago that I was recommending that you buy your Frosty key tag to support Adoption charities and now today I am telling you to drop some pounds!  Sounding a little fickle, aren't I?  Oh well.. buy the key tag because it supports a good cause and try not to eat too many of the frostys. 


I know there are many people out there like me.  I have  been semi-dieting for the last several months and I have lost 21 pounds... which is a good thing... but now I have a new motivation.  I can help provide food to a local food bank by pledging to lose weight.  I have pledged to lose an additional 24 lbs. so that means I will secure 24 lbs of food for a food bank I designated in my area.  AWESOME!  


Last year, The Pound For Pound Challenge helped Feeding America® secure more than 6.2 million pounds of groceries on behalf of local food banks. The Pound For Pound Challenge is back for year three and with your participation, we hope it is even a greater success!



For every pound you pledge to lose through May 31, 2011, the Pound For Pound Challenge will donate 11¢ to Feeding America® – enough to secure one pound of groceries on behalf of a local food bank.  Did you know that hunger is a struggle for 1 in 6 Americans?
 
 
Feeding America provides low-income individuals and families with the fuel to survive and even thrive. As the nation's leading domestic hunger-relief charity, their network members supply food to more than 37 million Americans each year, including 14 million children and 3 million seniors. Serving the entire United States, more than 200 member food banks support 61,000 agencies that address hunger in all of its forms.
 
 
So, make a pledge to lose a few pounds and then follow through... you will be helping others and you will be helping yourself! 
 
 
 
Get Involved:
 
Pledge to lose pounds in the Pound for Pound Challenge.
 
Donate to Feeding America.  -  This is for you skinny folks out there who have no need to lose weight...you know who you are!   : )

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Source:  NBC  -  The Biggest Loser
               http://www.pfpchallenge.com/

January 15 - Northwoods Wildlife Orphanage

From time to time, I receive emails from individuals letting me know about charities that they support or causes that are important to them.  I recently received an email from Matzo, who is a wildlife rehabber - I really do not know much about wildlife rehabilitation - but it is awesome that there are those out there who are doing the work. 

What is a Wildlife Rehabilitator? 
Wildlife rehabilitators work from the heart and understand, more than most of us, that hard decisions and joyful endings, tears and laughter, despair and celebration are all are part of a day's work. They weep over the bullet-shattered, broken hawk whose only release is painless euthanasia, and they exalt over the successful first flight of the orphaned mockingbird. They struggle to splint the broken leg of the car-hit mother duck and set up a temporary home for her six tiny ducklings. They mourn the senseless murder of the backyard raccoon while searching for her nest of young ones. They wade chest deep in cold water to release the loon caught in fishing line, and climb out on fragile limbs to rescue the tiny, hungry robins, orphaned by the neighborhood cat. And they answer the phone while feeding baby doves, while scrubbing out containers, while mixing foods and medicines, while re-wrapping a loose dressing, while opening yet another shoebox.



Below is an excerpt from Matzo's email:
Our mission is to help those in need and hopefully save their little lives so they can go on their Big Adventure in the wild. It is their birthright. We do what is possible to create awareness and truth for and to the general public and dispel the myths surrounding wild animals.


We are dedicated to rescuing, saving, rehabilitating and returning to the wild all the orphaned, injured, kidnapped and "nuisance" wildlife that we are able to. Our home based facility in the Northwoods of Wisconsin cares for those who would otherwise be killed or are so tiny or so seriously injured that they need specialized intensive care.


I coordinate an international group of over 600 wildlife rehabbers ready and willing, but not always so able, to help. Not only do we go "the extra mile"? We walk 500 if we have to. We don't get paid to rehabilitate wildlife. We have to pay all the fees to get our licenses and have to have cages and our facility inspected first. Then, we don't get paid to rescue, retrieve, transport, treat, feed, house, medicate, care for, and/or teach these wildlings how to be wild again for release. We also have to find sites to release when they are prepared. Everything out of our own pockets because our wildlings need us. It's mostly human encroachment and intervention that has caused them to be in our care in the first place.


But I "will" make a difference. I will prove that one person can make a big difference. My ultimate goal is to have an outlet source to supply our wildlife rehabbers with badly needed items that most people donate to Goodwill. I have such a storage arrangement at the Northwoods Wildlife Orphanage but little to fill it.


We need formulas specifically formulated for the wild infants. Proper formula is such a critical point in saving their lives. The cost is out of the ballpark for many rehabbers. They could save more creatures if this weren't a barrier.


One creature can cost on the average of $500 from intake to release. For others the emergency medical cost or surgical procedure is an easy $1000 to begin with. We are here and we will continue to help through any economy. But we need help.


I have a wishlist at http://doryandtheorphans.com/wishlist.html of many items we use.



Get Involved:

Donate to Northwoods Wildlife Orpahange.

Go to the Post Office and pick up a Flat Rate box. You can send some of the requested supplies from their wishlist. 

Learn more about Northwoods Wildlife Orphanage.  Check out their Facebook page.

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Source:  Northwoods Wildlife Orphanage