December 15 - Cup of Joe For A Joe

CUP OF JOE FOR A JOE gives everyone an opportunity to express their support for our men and women in uniform through the simple act of buying a cup of premium coffee and having it delivered along with their own personalized message of thanks to a Soldier serving overseas.




The whole idea behind Cup Of Joe For A Joe is to give folks here at home an opportunity to send a Cup of Joe (Troops call them a COJ) and a letter of thanks to a Soldier, Airman, Sailor, Marine or Coast Guardsman overseas. Because the person here at home who sends the COJ and the Service Member who receives it are matched on a completely random basis, you don't have to personally know anyone who is serving overseas in order to send a Cup Of Joe.




Troops deployed overseas in support of Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan) or Operation New Dawn (Iraq) sign up to participate in Cup Of Joe For A Joe by enrolling on the Green Beans Coffee website or at the Green Beans cafe on their base.
 

When COJ receives contributions from people here at home they use a process to randomly assign the COJ gifts to the Troops. They send them an email notice telling them that they have received a Cup Of Joe from you and  include the email letter you wrote. They also give the Service Member an opportunity to write back to you and register their COJ for pick up at the Green Beans cafe on their base. All they need do to pick up your gift is stop by the cafe and ID themselves to the staff.




Sending a Cup Of Joe is easy, takes just a few moments, and at only $2 costs about the same as the spare change in your pocket.





Today only... Green Beans Coffee will MATCH YOUR COJ CONTRIBUTION dollar for dollar with a cash donation to Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, Inc. This wonderful organization helps provide college grants to surviving U.S. Military children whose lives have been affected by the loss of a parent in the Afghan...istan or Iraq wars. The program has been expanded to include spouses and families of severely disabled veterans affected by these two conflicts. If you've been thinking about sending a Cup Of Joe to our Troops this holiday season, now is a great time to do so. Not only will you bring a little bit of cheer to our Troops overseas, you'll also help fund an education for a child who's lost a parent in service to our country.



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Send a Cup of Joe For A Joe.

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Source:  http://www.greenbeanscoffee.com/coj/faq.php

December 14 - Read A Book. Give A Book.

Take a look at this great way for parents (or grandparents) and children to give back as a family!   My children are in college now, but I would have loved to have used this as a teaching tool when they were younger. (Guess I'll have to wait for the grandkids) We Give Books provides parents and kids the opportunity to spend time together, it also provides the opportunity to teach your children about giving back all while helping your child develop a love for reading!    BEST OF ALL  -  IT'S FREE! 

We Give Books is a free website that enables anyone with access to the Internet to put books in the hands of children who don’t have them, simply by reading online. You simply choose the charity you want to read for and then select the books you want to read. For each book you read online, We  Give Books will donate a book to a leading literacy group on your behalf.  The more you read, the more they give.


First, get started by choosing the literacy organization your own online reading will support. Choose Room to Read, for example, to help support libraries for young people around the world. Select the NEA Foundation's Books Across America program to help stock libraries in need across the United States. You can even support community-based campaigns hosted by local school districts or nonprofits.


One of the aims of We Give Books is to encourage the conversations with your child that will better ensure he or she becomes a life-long giver. As you consider the non-profit organizations from which you can choose, take time to talk through the goals of each charity and your reasons for selecting the one you do. As long as you\'re a member, you can support as many campaigns as you like. We Give Books even keeps track of the books you've donated to each campaign for you.

With your literacy campaign selected, it's time to read.  Select a title from our ever-growing library of great children's books and start reading online with a child in your life. Each time you read a book online, you help give a brand-new hardcover or paperback book from the Penguin and Dorling Kindersley library to the campaign you've selected. Read as many books as you like, as many times as you like.  Every campaign has its own donation goal. Once a campaign you've supported reaches its goal, you and your child will receive a personalized letter of thanks for your effort.


Your reading at We Give Books helps share books with young people who need them. It also helps the great non-profit organizations with whom they've joined forces to support these young people. As a member, you can learn more about the importance of early reading and about the great literacy campaigns supported by We Give Books. If you like, you can also create reading groups, community reading-a-thons, or giving drives.  Your reading - and your giving - can be as social or independent as you want.



Get Involved: 

Sign up at We Give Books and start reading!   For every book you read, We Give Books will donate one book!

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Source:  http://www.wegivebooks.org/

December 13 - Helping Homeless Youth

I don't know where you are waking up this morning but .... IT IS FREEZING where I am! Fortunately, we haven't dealt with the massive snow that some of you have, so I am thankful for that. This bitterly cold weather always takes my mind to those who are living out on the streets - homeless men, women, children... families. 

I have recently been reminded of the awesome work that Covenant House does with homeless young people.  Covenant House Street Outreach Teams and Residential and Community Service Center Programs cared for over 51,000 at-risk and homeless kids in 21 cities in the United States, Canada, and Central America.  Below is a post from the Covenant House blog, written by Kevin Ryan to supporters of Covenant House.  I will let Kevin's words do the talking...after reading it you will understand why Covenant House is such a worthy charity and is making a HUGE difference in so many lives.

I won't ever forget last Christmas Eve at Covenant House. It was just after dark, and I had gathered with our kids, our donors, our staff and my family at the shelter. We formed a circle to mark the night together in prayer and thanksgiving for one another, and the gift of God's love in the world. Two of our Faith Community volunteers were playing guitar and singing Silent Night as a prelude to our services when a shadow appeared outside the window, and lingered.


The lighting was poor and it was hard to see who was there. The figure was hooded and hunched over. He stood there, looking in, for more than ten minutes. I left our circle, walked past the manger and the Christmas tree, and went out the front door to see who was standing there. As I approached, I could tell it was a boy, maybe 16 or 17 years old. He had dark circles under his eyes — he looked exhausted.


“Hi there," I said and offered a handshake. "I'm Kevin, what's your name?" "Jeremiah." His smile was forced, but he was trying. "Want to come inside, Jeremiah?" I asked.  He hesitated, not making eye contact, just gently shaking his head back and forth. "Nah, I'm alright. I'm fine here," he said tentatively. "Well you don't look alright. You look tired. Come inside — we have some hot chocolate and Christmas cookies," I offered. But he didn’t move.


In my book, something has to be really wrong to turn down cookies and hot chocolate on Christmas Eve.  "Look, they’re right there," and I pointed inside to the table with Christmas goodies. “Come in from the dark and take a load off."  "How much you charge?" he asked, his face filled with skepticism. "I only have $26 on me and I need it. I have to find a place to stay and something to eat, and I need my money."


"We don't charge anything, Jeremiah. Come inside Covenant House with me, okay?" I turned to walk inside, trusting he'd follow, and he did, but slowly. I held the door for him as we entered, and we could hear the chorus singing the refrain of Silent Night. The music stopped Jeremiah in his tracks.


"My momma used to sing that song on Christmas." He appeared lost in the memory.


"Where is your mom, Jeremiah?" I asked. And he took out his wallet and unfolded a faded, creased Polaroid of a young woman with two small children and a mall Santa in front of a cardboard chimney. "That's me," he said, pointing to the little boy on Santa's right knee. "That's my brother Ty," he said, pointing to the other toddler, "and that's Momma." Perfect smiles, all of them, even the little ones.


"She died. She had breast cancer, 6 years ago." He said it matter-of-factly, as if he'd said it 100 times before. But something in the way he squinted his eyes betrayed the pain that his words did not.


"How about Ty?" I asked.


"We went into foster care and got split up. He lives in a group house somewhere. I haven't seen him in a while."


"Where have you been staying?" I asked. But he had stopped listening to me. Jeremiah's gaze was fixed on the circle of kids, donors and staff singing Christmas hymns. He bowed his head and started to shake a bit. His voice broke.


"I got nobody mister. It's Christmas and I got nobody." His eyes had filled, and the tears were starting to spill down his cheeks. I asked Jeremiah if he wanted something to eat or whether he needed to rest, but he was intent on the circle and its music.


Then, Father Placid, our chaplain for more than 20 years, invited us into the circle by saying, "Let's gather together and make room for everyone in our circle." We sang, we read prayers, and offered one another a "sign of peace,” a handshake to express our commitment to one another. Jeremiah took my hand and for the first time made eye contact.


"I have nowhere to be right now," he said. "Nowhere. I don't belong in the world."


"Yes, you do, Jeremiah. Right here." I replied. "Peace son."


"Peace" he whispered.


After services we talked, and ate cookies and apples and turkey sandwiches (in that order, forgive me!) He started to relax a bit. We watched the kids open presents from our donors. And, Jeremiah received some unexpected gifts as well — a backpack, sneakers and a sweater.


We sang carols, slurped hot chocolate and stayed grateful to be sharing this night inside — in the light and out of the dark of winter. As Jeremiah, my son John and I teased each other about who was going to win the Super Bowl, my cell phone rang. Since it was late and the number was from our shelter in New Jersey, I was worried something was amiss. It was.
"Someone stole the kids' Christmas presents," our New Jersey shelter director told me. "They broke in through the back windows and took it all." God forgive me, but my first reaction was rage. Who steals from homeless kids on Christmas Eve? Where could we find new presents for kids after midnight? How much was it going to cost to fix the broken windows?
It took me a moment to calm down, and Jeremiah noticed how upset I was. I explained the situation to him and made sure he was in the capable care of our shelter team before telling him that I needed to speak with our Covenant House New Jersey team and the police.


“Here," Jeremiah said. "Take this." He had opened his wallet and taken out the $26, handing it to me. "They need it more than I do."  My friends sometimes call me Cryin' Ryan for a reason. At that moment I was undone by the giant generosity of this sweet, broke kid who emptied his pockets to bring Christmas to other homeless kids he'd never met.
All I can say is that Jeremiah's beautiful heart perfectly reminded me of you and all that you do for our kids. You have found a way, time and again, to surround these courageous, innocent kids with love and hope — it lifts me high.

Thank you for believing in our kids, and for bringing them the miracle of God's love this Christmas season. Thank you for making sacrifices, like my friend Jeremiah, so that all God's children can be safe and know love in the world. Merry Christmas.



Learn more about Covenant House programs.

 
 
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Donate to Covenant House.
 
Other ways you can get involved with Covenant House.

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Source:  http://www.covenanthouse.org/

December 12 - Angel Tree Ministries

There are so many great opportunities to make a difference at Christmas time.  I hope you will consider making a difference in the life of a child this Christmas.  I have highlighted many holiday gift programs for children but what I really like about this program is that the gift comes in the name of the child's parent. Check it out - 

MEET FORREST:
Alcoholism. Drug abuse. Divorce. Homelessness. Imprisonment. Little Forrest has witnessed them all. With his father in prison and his mom lost in a haze of drug abuse, Forrest's maternal grandparents got custody of him when he was just two years old.


"He was like a wild animal," his grandmother Bonnie says. Unable to articulate his hurt and frustration, he would hit, kick, bite, head butt, and throw things. One day at a time, "Nanna BB" and "Pappy" brought peace and stability to Forrest's world. But as Christmas neared, Bonnie began to worry. If Forrest's mom didn't visit, or he didn't get phone calls from his dad, Forrest's behavior would often regress.


"We got a call that Forrest's dad was sending Christmas gifts through Angel Tree," Bonnie says. "It was just so nice to have people supporting us. Prayer is a powerful thing."

At such a critical time in Forrest's journey, Angel Tree connected him with his daddy — helping to make sure that Forrest stayed on a path toward healing and stability. Today, Forrest's mother is working to turn her life around and restore her relationship with her son. Forrest’s dad will be released from prison soon. He, too, has vowed to turn his life around and be a faithful father.


Through the hands of volunteers, and the generosity and prayers of friends like you, children like Forrest can feel a connection with a beloved parent and the love of God even in difficult times.



YOU CAN CHANGE A CHILD'S LIFE WITH A SIMPLE CHRISTMAS GIFT! 


For more than 1.7 million children, Christmas morning means another day waking up without mom or dad. While other families celebrate together, they'll feel the ache and loneliness of "serving hard time" with their incarcerated parent. This is no way for a little boy or girl to spend Christmas with their parent. You can Deliver Love to these hurting kids and remind them what Christmas is all about!


An estimated 1.7 million children have a mom or dad in prison. The number is huge – but so is the opportunity. Angel Tree is a ministry that reaches out to the children of inmates and their families with the love of Christ. It seeks to transform the lives of these families and to reconcile them to their Heavenly Father and each other.

There are children right in your community who are among the most at-risk children in the nation. Angel Tree provides an opportunity to connect with those families and begin ministering to them at Christmas and then continue through a variety of year-round ministry opportunities.

Your gift today will provide presents on behalf of a missed mom or dad, and due to a matching grant, it will go twice as far. You'll also deliver a loving Gospel message about the true meaning of Christmas — Jesus Christ!





Get Involved:

 Purchase a gift for a child.
Donate to Angel Tree.

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Source:  http://www.angeltree.org/

December 11 - Sock it to Me! (Virtually)

"To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived; this is to have succeeded." -Ralph Waldo Emerson


What an awesome quote!  It is also a great measure of success! Sometimes we get wrapped up in what the world labels as success... a big house, nice car, high paying job.  But let's remember what is truly important...the life we have lived and how we have made a difference in the lives of others.  That is how I define success. 

The holidays are always super busy for most folks I know, but there are still opportunities to make a difference.   Today's post is about one such opportunity.. a quick, easy way to make a difference! 

Did you know that socks are the most requested item from homeless shelters?  You can help Hanes donate up to 500,000 pairs of socks to The Salvation Army today!  For the second year, Hanes will be holding a virtual sock drive!  Last year, Hanes donated 100,000 pairs of socks to the Salvation Army.


For each person who “likes” Hanes on Facebook and clicks “Help Hanes Donate,” the brand will donate one pair of  socks to The Salvation Army.  This year, Hanes wants to far exceed last year’s donation of 100,000 pairs and donate 500,000 pairs of socks to Salvation Army locations across the United States. To find out more and monitor the progress of the drive via the Hanes Sock-o-Meter please visit Facebook.com/Hanes.



Get Involved:


Simply visit the Hanes Facebook Page and click on the "LIKE" button.  Then simply click on the red "DONATE" button.  For every click, Hanes will donate a pair of socks to the Salvation Army.

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Source:  www.facebook.com/hanes

December 10 - Toys for Tots

The mission of the U. S. Marine Corps Reserve Toys for Tots Program is to collect new, unwrapped toys during October, November and December each year, and distribute those toys as Christmas gifts to needy children in the community in which the campaign is conducted.


The primary goal of Toys for Tots is to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them in becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens.


The objectives of Toys for Tots are to help less fortunate children throughout the United States experience the joy of Christmas; to play an active role in the development of one of our nation’s most valuable resources – our children; to unite all members of local communities in a common cause for three months each year during the annual toy collection and distribution campaign; and to contribute to better communities in the future.

The principal Toys for Tots activity which takes place each year is the collection and distribution of toys in the communities in which a Marine Corps Reserve Unit is located. In communities without a Reserve Unit, the campaign can be conducted by a Marine Corps League Detachment or group of men and women, generally veteran Marines, authorized by Marine Toys for Tots Foundation to conduct a local Toys for Tots campaign. Local Toys for Tots Campaign Coordinators conduct an array of activities throughout the year, which include golf tournaments, foot races, bicycle races and other voluntary events designed to increase interest in Toys for Tots, and concurrently generate toys and monetary donations.







Get Involved:

Donate to Toys for Tots.

Find a local Toys for Toys for Tots drop off location. 
Toys can also be dropped off at Toys R Us locations.

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Source:  Toys for Tots  

December 9 - Holiday Mail for Heroes

I'm sure most of you are more organized than I am... today I sent out my last Christmas card.  I have a great opportunity for you to make a difference, but time is limited.  You need to do this today if you want to participate! 

Do you have any left-over Christmas Cards lying around?  How about making the day of a service member or their family?   It is so simple, but time is limited... all cards must be postmarked no later than December 10th.  That is tomorrow!


It’s that time of year again! The American Red Cross and Pitney Bowes have teamed up for the fourth annual Holiday Mail for Heroes program.  From now until December 10th you are invited to send holiday cards to our American service members, their families, and veterans all over the world. Anyone can send a card and you can send as many as you would like!


Here is an example of what you might write in your Christmas Card:

 Dear Service Member, Family or Veteran,
 Sending warm wishes to you and your family during this holiday season.
 Thank you for your sacrifice! 


The deadline for this year is December 10th.  Unfortunately, if your cards are not postmarked by December 10th they cannot be delivered.  After Pitney Bowes collects and screens the mail received in the PO Box, Red Cross workers deliver holiday greetings to service men and women in their communities.


The Holiday Mail for Heroes program enables the American public to send a "touch of home" during the holiday season to members of our U.S. Armed Forces, veterans and their families, many of whom will be far from home during the holidays.



Get Involved: 

Please send all cards to:
Holiday Mail for Heroes
PO Box 5456
Capitol Heights, MD
20791-5456


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Donate items.   Explore causes that need your help!

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Source:  Holiday Mail for Heroes  

December 8 - Donate Your Things. Change Lives.

Another Great Idea!   The Internet is taking the "pay it forward" movement to a whole new level...

Most of us have lives filled with things we don't use -- shoes, food, clothes, computers, and more. At the same time, thousands of non-profits and civic-minded people are struggling to get basic items to people in their communities. The Giving Effect sees an opportunity to connect these groups together. Their approach is to mobilize people to donate items in a way that is more social and fulfilling for everyone.


Using The Giving Effect, donors are given more choice regarding where items go, and they can see the impact of their donations. Non-profits in poor and under-served communities benefit from national exposure and from the power of the internet to mobilize citizens to take action. Most importantly, people in need get an army of advocates to champion their causes.


Donors use The Giving Effect to connect with charities that need pretty much everything you can spare, from clothes, food, books and shoes, to cleaning supplies, cars, fencing and lumber.  Donating is easy—browse the site by needs, location, and categories to find causes you’d like to connect with. Then, complete a simple form to arrange a pickup, drop off, or shipment. Tax receipts are issued via email when the items are received.

The Giving Effect features a growing list of non-profits and cause-based campaigns that potential donors can choose from to which they can make a donation.  Currently  1,071 charities have registered at The Giving Effect website.  Requests range from office or gardening supplies to easy reader books for struggling children in school to supplies for neglected horses to building supplies to help build homes in Ecuador. There is also a demand for food and money too.

You can explore causes by ZIP Code, items you are donating, or your delivery preference (pickup, drop off, or mail). Pick a cause, and let them know what you are donating. They'll get right back in touch to coordinate with you.




Get Involved: 
  
Donate items.   Explore causes that need your help!

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Source:  The Giving Effect.  

December 7 - Give A Gift... Change A Life!

We all know the Christmas song "The Twelve days of Christmas."  You know... the crazy song about someone receiving all kinds of crazy gifts for Christmas from their true love.  Well, I have taken the liberty to rewrite the words a little bit... Hope you like it! You know the tune, feel free to sing along.  Maybe you can be that caring stranger! 

One the First Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me...  Clothing and Medicines!
Give clothing and medicines.  (Cost $60.)  The lack of simple things — clothing and medicines — can have deadly consequences. For millions of boys and girls in the world's poorest countries, insufficient clothing and lack of basic medical care puts them at risk of life-threatening illnesses and infections.  Your gift will help children avoid illness through protective shoes and clothing. And it will help treat illnesses by stocking clinics with medicine and supplies. You can help prevent thousands of children from suffering needlessly, and care for the ones whose lives are at risk right now.


On the Second Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me...  Seeds for 2 Families!
Give seeds for two families.  (Cost $34.)  Impoverished farming families in countries like Thailand, Lesotho, and Zambia struggle to raise enough food for their children. The seeds they use may be of poor quality, or they may not be able to afford seeds at all. Your gift will offer two families a life-changing solution: fast-growing hybrid or drought-resistant seeds for a bounty of nutritious crops such as maize, rice, cassava, carrots, cabbage, green beans, peas, and onions. Surplus crops can be sold to supplement family income!

One the Third Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... A Goat and Two Chickens!    Give a goat and two chickens.  (Cost $100.)  Goats nourish hungry children and families with healthy milk, cheese, and yogurt. Chickens provide fresh eggs that are rich in protein and nutrients, and extra eggs and chicks can be sold to pay for basics. A dairy goat can give up to 16 cups of milk a day. Goat milk is easier to digest than cow’s milk and is an excellent source of calcium, protein, and other essential nutrients that growing children need. Goats are practical animals — flourishing in harsh climates while producing valuable manure to fertilize crops and vegetable gardens. Chickens are equally easy to raise, and will naturally multiply to impact generations of children. Each family that receives chickens is asked to give back hatched chicks to help another family in need. Chicks require little money, space, or food to thrive and grow — making them an ideal business venture for a single mom or vulnerable family.


One the Fourth Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... Four Soccer Balls!
Give four soccer balls.  (Cost $32.)  Your gift of a soccer ball can replace a makeshift banana leaf ball or rounded wad of trash for an energetic boy or girl. And with a generous match from Baden™ Sports, your gift gives four new soccer balls instead of two! Children around the world love soccer more than any other sport. Yet many children in poverty have never played with a real toy — let alone an actual soccer ball. That’s because when basics like food and health care are scarce, there’s no money left over for simple pleasures. Instead, these children kick around plastic bags and old clothes tied with strings or old cords.

On the Fifth Day of Christmas a caring stranger gave to me... 5 Fruit Trees!      Donate 5 fruit trees.  (Cost $30.)  Apple trees, orange trees, mango trees, and other healthy fruit trees provide the vitamins and nutrients growing kids need. Donate 5 fruit trees today to bless a family in poverty with a fresh start in fruit tree farming. A fruit tree orchard can produce enough fruit for vital income in just two to three years. Tree seedlings from the fully-grown fruit trees can then be used to help another family lift themselves out of poverty. Besides continually multiplying, your green gift is also good for the environment. Planting fruit trees prevents deforestation — a major cause of soil erosion that leads to poor farmland and devastating floods


You get the picture!   I don't have to go on to 12...although there are many more than 12 great ways you can send a gift to help those in need this Christmas!   There are over 100 unique gifts to choose from in the Gift Catalog.



Get Involved:

Check out World Vision's Gift Catalog to determine how you would like to make a difference! 

Other ways to donate to World Vision.

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Source:  World Vision.  

December 6 - The White Envelope Project

I hope today's post will inspire you this holiday season!  Inspire each of us to look around us and determine how we can make a difference!   There is so much need out there and those of us who are blessed in this life can and should make a difference!  The Good Book says, "to whom much is given... much is required."

This true story was originally published in the December 14, 1982 issue of Woman's Day magazine. It was the first place winner out of thousands of entries in the magazine's "My Most Moving Holiday Tradition" contest in which readers were asked to share their favorite holiday tradition and the story behind it.

The story inspired three brothers from Atlanta, Georgia to start The White Envelope Project and Giving101, a nonprofit organization dedicated to educating youth about the importance of giving, in honor of their parents who taught them this tradition and the importance of giving.


This year, as small white envelopes find their place on thousands of trees around the world, we hope you too will consider "giving something different." Enjoy and pass it on.


"For the Man Who Hated Christmas"
by Nancy W. Gavin

It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past ten years or so.


It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas--oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it--overspending... the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma---the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.


Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way.


Our son Kevin, who was 12 that year, was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended; and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church. These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in their spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began, I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears.


It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat.


Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish just one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids - all kids - and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse. That's when the idea for his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting goods store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition--one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on.


The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents.


As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there.


You see, we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.


Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing to take down the envelope.


Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit will always be with us.


To learn more about honoring a loved one through this special tradition, please visit www.Giving101.org/WhiteEnvelopeProject. On the site, you can browse a catalog of unique giving opportunities, create and send your own white envelope gift, purchase charity gift cards, and donate to any of the nearly 2 million 501(c)(3) charities in the world.


What a great tradition.... I hope that many of us will find White Envelopes on our Christmas Trees this year and for years to come!

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Resource:  Giving 101,  The White Envelope Project

December 5 - Sweet Miss Giving's

Warning!  Reading this post could cause a sugar rush!  This is one sweet way to make a difference...   

Sweet Miss Giving’s is a social enterprise bakery and jobs program that offers rich, decadent baked goods while providing a new reason to feel good about sweet indulgences: over 50% of all profits go to help the formerly homeless and HIV/AIDS-affected men, women, and children of Chicago House. The bakery provides all natural, made-from-scratch baked goods delivered straight to your office or home, and is the perfect choice for business meetings, parties and gifts. Our specialty items include fabulous muffins and scones for breakfast and indulgent brownies, cookies, and cupcakes to satisfy your sweet tooth. With SMG you know you are getting the highest quality product for the price, with the added benefit of knowing your purchase is positively impacting hundreds of families throughout Chicago.



Sweet Miss Giving’s was founded by Rev. Stan Sloan, an Episcopal priest and long-time CEO of Chicago House, the first provider of AIDS housing in the Midwest. Sweet Miss Giving’s is Stan’s vision for how to create a pathway to jobs for the homeless – while also helping to fund Chicago House’s support services. Stan’s sweet tooth and enterprising spirit helped rally the best bakers, businessmen, and builders around the idea, and on October 23, 2008, Mayor Daley cut the ribbon on this new endeavor. Since opening, Stan has organized his team around this simple idea: to build a company that is “Unquestionably Kind” and “Unreasonably Good.”




Unquestionably Kind means that we are driven by our social mission. Over 50% of our profits go directly to Chicago House and the bakery doubles as a comprehensive jobs program. At any given time, more than a dozen disabled adults are getting real-world training and experience in our kitchen – as bakers, delivery assistants, packaging specialists and customer service representatives.




Unreasonably Good means you will get delicious product and attentive and friendly service every time. Our all natural, preservative-free menu is the result of a year-long testing and tasting process including input from some of Chicago’s most prominent bakers and pastry chefs. Baked fresh from scratch every day, we promise to provide the very best baked goods in Chicago.

In 2001, Senator Dick Durbin asked Reverend Stan Sloan about the most desperate needs of the homeless and disabled men, woman and children that Stan has served for over a decade in his role as CEO of Chicago House. Stan responded immediately: “we need an employment system that helps people move from entitlement programs to self sufficiency…thus creating room for others in our system.” Less than a year later, Senator Durbin located the initial funding for the Chicago House Employment Program. Since its founding, over 500 men and women have benefitted from its training and placement services. Despite the success of the program, there were still graduates who were not able to obtain initial employment due to lack of work experience. This situation set the stage for a new kind of social enterprise – Sweet Miss Giving’s.



Reverend Sloan worked with the Kellogg School of Business and over 100 local businesses that had helped support his work at Chicago House to determine the optimal business model to provide training and preparation for ongoing careers. The model combined fantastic bakery product, unparalleled customer service, and real and relevant job training.



The job training program includes a 4-week unpaid training period followed by a 6-month paid internship focused on all aspects of the bakery operation. Interns learn basic baking, packaging, delivery and customer service with a goal of finding permanent employment upon completion of the program. Throughout the training program, the interns are an integral part of the Sweet Miss Giving’s team.




Why not give yourself a break this holiday season and order some delicious baked goods.  Give them as gifts or serve them to guests... all the while making a difference!  Give them a try and place an order for your next meeting, party, or event!






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Place an order with Sweet Miss Giving's.

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Resource:  Sweet Miss Giving's

December 4 - Stuffed Animals For Emergencies

It's time to clean out those boxes full of Beanie Babies that everyone has in the basement!  Or, how about the bags full of stuffed animals in the attic.  Well, here is a great way to recycle those gently used stuffed animals and also make a difference to kids in distress.

Stuffed Animals For Emergencies (SAFE) is a 13-year-old non-profit organization run completely by volunteers. They collect various items such as stuffed animals, toys, books and baby blankets to benefit children during emergency situations such as fires, illness, accidents, neglect, abuse, homelessness and even weather emergencies such as tornadoes, floods and hurricanes. SAFE also donates the items they receive to other childrens organizations, military organizations, libraries and even nursing homes.



Stuffed Animals For Emergencies accepts new and gently used items for donation. This is a great way to reuse and recycle stuffed animals, toys, books and baby blankets that so many people have in their homes and just don't know what to do with. When they receive donations, the items are sorted and cleaned to freshen them up a bit and then donate them to emergency organizations to be given directly to children in emotional, traumatic or stressful situations. Your donation can really make a difference for a child when they need it most!




Currently SAFE has 34 chapters throughout the United States, Canada and Central America.  Please visit the  'chapters'  page to find a chapter in your area. If you are unable to find a chapter in your area, please go to our  'How To Donate'  page for information and also you can find out how to open a chapter in your area! SAFE is currently looking to expand worldwide so your donation can impact a child in your own community, no matter where you live. If you are interested in opening a chapter in your country, province or state and it is not listed on our 'Chapters' page, again please check out our  'Opening A Chapter'  page for more information!

Get Involved:
 
How to donate your stuffed animals to SAFE.
 
Find a SAFE chapter near you.
 
How to start start a SAFE Chapter in your area.
 

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Resource:  Stuffed Animals for Emergencies

December 3 - National Mutt Day! (One Day Later)

I can't believe I missed it!!  Yesterday was National Mutt Day and I totally missed it!  I have a mutt (chocolate lab / australian shepherd) and he is an awesome boy... my apologies to Rascal and all the other Mutts out there!  Next year, I won't miss!  Although I am a day late... it is not too late for you to make a difference in the life of a shelter dog! 

National Mutt Day was created to raise awareness of the plight of mixed breed dogs in shelters around the nation and to educate the public about the sea of mixed breed dogs that desperately await new homes. Mixed breed dogs tend to be healthier, better behaved, they live longer and are just as able to perform the duties of pure bred dogs - such as bomb and drug sniffing, search and rescue and guiding the blind.


There are millions of loving and healthy mixed breed dogs sitting in shelters, who are desperately searching for a new home. So please visit your local shelter and find a new friend today! If you can't adopt a mixed breed friend, please donate at least $5 to your local animal shelter, as they all need financial assistance and every dollar counts!


You can also volunteer to walk a dog, donate food and other supplies needed to your local animal shelter or make a donation in the memory of a loved dog who has crossed the Rainbow Bridge.


The goal is to save 10,000 Mutts this December 2nd from coast to coast!  ADOPT A MUTT! 


PLEASE SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS!



Get Involved:

Find a shelter in your area. 

Find an adoptable animal near you....

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Resource:  National Mutt Day
                    adoptapet.com

December 2 - Redefining Christmas

There is no question we are in the midst of difficult financial times. And if it has you feeling unsure or uncomfortable this holiday season, imagine how purely difficult it's becoming for people who depend on charities and the generosity of others all year round.



By Redefining Christmas, small changes in the way we give during the holidays – made by many, many caring people – can have a big impact in our world. And it can help us all recapture or simply reinforce the joy of the holiday season.



There is no commercial interest or profit motive behind Redefine Christmas. It is a movement supported by a private foundation and sustained by an ever-growing community of charitable people and organizations whose only reward is seeing holiday giving become more like they imagine it can be.


Redefine Christmas is a movement that re-imagines the way we look at gift giving during the holidays. In addition to the things we enjoy shopping for and giving every year, we often feel compelled to spend money and time on gifts with little meaning. Gifts which are soon forgotten. Rather than giving in to the convention of giving, we can give out – by redirecting some of that money to charity.


Consider giving your friends and family members donations to their favorite charities in their names. And ask your loved ones to do the same for you.  You can send a Redefine Christmas e-card to spread the message and request that your friends and family give you a donation to your favorite charity. Giving this way is more personal. It's easier. And it can be more meaningful – to the receiver, the giver and the countless people and organizations who are truly in need.


Giving charitably means more money goes to people who truly need it. Your gifts are tax deductible. And you spend less time running around to stores and more time with family and friends. Plus, "shopping" for charitable gifts can become more personal and enjoyable. You're compelled to truly think about the interests and passions of those on your list as you consider which charities may appeal to them, or simply give to their favorite charity you already know!


JustGive, the leading website for charitable giving, is a trusted participant in the Redefine Christmas movement. This site can help you search through nearly 1.8 million charities and facilitate a private, safe and secure charitable gift in a loved one's name. Or, you can purchase charity "gift cards" and give your friends and family members the joy of choosing a favorite charity on their own. Another option, if you know the gift recipient's favorite charity, is to simply write out a personal check to that charity in their name.


So, how about it?  Do you want to Redefine Christmas this year? 

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Resource:  http://www.redefine-christmas.org/

December 1 - Keep A Child Alive

Today is WORLD AIDS DAY.  Started on 1st December 1988, World AIDS Day is about raising money, increasing awareness, fighting prejudice and improving education. World AIDS Day is important for reminding people that HIV has not gone away, and that there are many things still to be done.

According to UNAIDS estimates, there are now 33.3 million people living with HIV, including 2.5 million children. During 2009 some 2.6 million people became newly infected with the virus and an estimated 1.8 million people died from AIDS.  The vast majority of people with HIV and AIDS live in lower- and middle-income countries. But HIV today is a threat to men, women and children on all continents around the world.

The seed of Keep a Child Alive was sown in Kenya in 2002. Royalties from Leigh Blake’s previous fundraiser, Red Hot & Blue, built the AIDS Research and Family Care Clinic in Mombasa. A woman named Anne walked in to the clinic, desperate to obtain the anti-retroviral drugs her three-year-old son Brine needed to survive. At the time the medication’s high cost was an impossible dream for most Africans to afford, and Leigh was so moved by this woman and her courage that she decided to pay for them.


Word of the children’s desperate need for medication spread among Leigh’s friends and colleagues, and soon they were offering to do the same. KCA Board Member Peter Edge became its first donor, and soon Alicia Keys passion for the issue drove her to become its first Global Ambassador.


What started as a very personal incident between two mothers has become a tremendous initiative for change. With over 4000 children and family members on ARV treatment, over 250,000 people under our care, three orphanages receiving funding, and major clinic sites in expansion, Keep a Child Alive is making a direct impact in the lives of so many who need help.


We live in a world where more than 15 million children have been orphaned by AIDS, 14.1 million in Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Keep a Child Alive, founded as an urgent response to access AIDS treatment to the poor, increasingly finds itself responding to the epidemic of orphaned and vulnerable children whose parents could not be saved in time.


In Africa, where before AIDS there was no word for orphan in any language, an entire generation of children has grown into adulthood without the love, care and protection of their parents. AIDS has decimated the extended family system: children have been robbed of their parents, and the elderly left with a generation of grandchildren to raise in their old age. Communities that once formed a safety net that absorbed children in need have long been overwhelmed by the number of orphans left by AIDS stretched beyond their limit to help.


The circumstances faced by these children in their daily struggle to survive – to find shelter, food and safety from the dangers that surround them – demand a greater response from the entire world. Keep a Child Alive is committed to supporting community-based care programs that help children living in child headed-households, care homes for children orphaned by AIDS and alone in the world, and places of safety for the growing number of child victims of rape and abuse.

 
Learn more about the many programs funded by Keep A Child Alive.  

 
Get Involved:
 
 
Donate to Keep A Child Alive.
 
Make a mobile donation to Keep A Child Alive.

Text the word “ALIVE” to 90999 & a one-time donation of $5 will be added to your mobile phone bill or deducted from your prepaid balance. Msg & Data Rates May Apply.

Create your own fundraising effort.

Shop the KCA online store.

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Resource:  http:// keepachildalive.org