Mothers of Young Children Serving Others

Arlington National Cemetery at Christmas

2011-12-12T18:55:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to share this with our readers. It is just one example of how creative people can be when service is on their minds.

Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine . The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992 (he had 4,000 wreaths left over and thought about what he could do with them - he remembered visiting the cemetery on a field trip when he was 12 years old and thought decorating the graves of the soldiers who had died for our freedom would be the best use of those wreaths - he has continued to provide wreaths every year since then). A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Hundred of locals turn out each year to help.

(Our service doesn't have to be on a scale this large. Just bringing a plate of cookies to a shut in in your neighborhood can make for a happier Christmas).

Letters to Santa = Donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation

2011-11-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

Macy's has set up their Letter to Santa stations in their stores. You can pick up post cards for your children to write their letter on, put a stamp on it, and return it to the store in the red mail box. For every letter they receive, they will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to $1,000,000!).

Go to : http://social.macys.com/believe/#/createyourletter for more information (and to create your letter on line)

If you are interested in finding out more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Contact the chapter nearest you ( Go to: http://www.wish.org/chapterlocate ) and ask how you can help.

This would make an excellent service project for primary, young women, church groups, whatever. Adults can write letters too (I mailed mine at the Henderson Macy's on Sunset this morning).

Spend a Little, Give a Lot

2011-11-07T11:25:00.000-08:00

I don’t know about you, but I always get a tug at myheartstrings to help people in need – especially during the holidayseason. This year the need is moreurgent than ever. Sit down with your family and decide as a family what you wouldlike to do. Here is a list published by Oprah of her suggested ways to give:

For as little as:

$ 5 you can pay for the shipping of 10books to a classroom in
Africa. booksforafrica.org

$10 youcan help a wounded veteran adapt his home at no cost
to him. homesforourtroops.org

$10 you can help get music back in low-incomeschools

($2 buys drum sticks, $50 buys a guitar)

littlekidsrock.org

$14 you canprovide for two meals to be delivered by meals
on wheels to a housebound senior citizen.

mowaa.org

$25 you cansend 8 high-risk children on a field trip to a museum
or concert. createnow.org

$25 you canfeed an American child in need three meals a day
for more than a month. strength.org/ways_to_give

$35 you canhelp feed the poor in areas of the world that need
it most. foodforthepoor.org

$100 you canprovide 25 grocery bags of healthy foods for
families at food banks. strength.org/ways_to_give

Or browse this site for other ideas.

Holiday Service Opportunities

2011-11-05T07:13:00.000-07:00

Make November and December special months for remembering the aged who are disabled, impoverished or aching with loneliness. Redefine Thanksgiving and Christmas as seasons for preparing to bring hope and peace to needy older neighbors. Share dinner with a new neighbor or one who is alone. You could also take dinner to a shut-in. A neighborhood potluck supper could help those who live around you feel a spirit of friendship and acceptance. (Be sure to include the needs of elderly members of your own family in your holiday preparations).

Have children craft greeting cards, assemble food baskets or make supervised home or hospital visits.

Why not surprise them with a Christmas stocking.

Items for "Senior Stockings" such as note cards,stamps, personal care, ornaments, new dish towels and napkins, gift boxesof dried fruit or candy, gum, mugs, knit gloves and slippers,candles, photo frames, stationery, and gift certificates.

Have your children go with you to deliver it. What a nice way to brighten their day.

Halloween Candy Buyback! (Candy goes to the TROOPS!)

2011-10-29T10:49:00.000-07:00

Participating dentists will buy back your Halloween candy for $1 a pound. then send it to the troops overseas! What a great way to brighten the day of an American soldier.

How does the program work?

Participating dentists buy back kids' Halloween candy at a scheduled event
Dentists send the candy to Operation Gratitude or other Military support groups
Operation Gratitude sends the candy to U.S. Military deployed in harm's way

You'll enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re making Service Members smile!

You'll set a great example for the next generation to give back!

Go to http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/ and enter your zip code to find a participating dentist near you. Call the dentist to find out when and how he/she is collecting.

Treats for Troops

2011-10-25T11:23:00.000-07:00

Ttreats for the Troops provides care packages year round for our troops. You can send items to them to ship, or send money for them to purchase what is needed. Check out their website:
http://treatsforthetroops.us/

Support the Troops: Holiday Stockings

2011-09-10T17:25:00.000-07:00

It is never too early to start thinking about supporting our troops at Christmas.

Operation Holiday Stockings is a nonprofit founded by family members of the United States Armed Forces. Last year they sent 1,560 Christmas stockings to our brave troops overseas. This year they are hoping to send even more. Their website was created to inform other patriotic Americans about their cause and provide a means for you to help. You can either visit the Stockings page and make your own stockings to send overseas, or you can donate money towards the shipping costs, or donate items to fill the stockings with. Here are some suggestions:

Hard Candy
Beef Jerky
Decks of Cards
Puzzle Books
Small Toiletries
Shaving Cream
Toothpaste
Tooth Brushes
Tic-Tacs®
Drink Powders
Gatorade®
Kool-Aid® (sugar added)
Crystal Clear®
Mixed Nuts
Candy Canes
Anything that will last for a while because they will probably be getting more than one care package.

You can also send them a store purchased stocking. So, even if you can't knit a stocking for the troops, you can still contribute to their Christmas celebration.
Go to their website or email Sue at:
ramsddj@aol.com

You can send items to

Operation Holiday Stockings

P.O. Box 3186

Sequim, WA 98382

IMPORTANT UPDATE: as of 10/29/2011 they only have 850 stockings to send to the troops. They are committed to sending 1600. This would be an excellent service project for a church group, scout troop, etc.
It is also a great way to involve your own children and let them experience the satisfaction that comes from serving others.

Give Without Spending a Cent:

2011-09-07T00:02:00.000-07:00

Give Without Spending a Cent:

You can donate without spending a cent, by clicking on sites where advertisers make a donation in return. Click on the links below, then click daily to help the cause:

between Jan and June of 2011:
421,095 children have been helped
2,349 free mammograms have been given
30.6 million cups of food have been given to the hungry
40.8 million bowls of food have been given to rescued animals*
291.1 million square feet of rain forest has been protected

between Jan and June of 2010:
365,038 children have been helped
1,035 free mammograms have been given
29.5 million cups of food have been given to the hungry
39.9 million bowls of food have been given to rescued animals*
246 million square feet of rain forest has been protected

Keep up the good work!!! It doesn't cost you a cent! Click every day!
*Do people really care more about feeding animals than humans? Apparently so.

Donate your Bridesmaid Dress to Charity

2011-09-06T23:13:00.000-07:00

What to do with the dresses after the wedding?

Most bridesmaids never wear their dress again.  The dress gets

stuck in the back of the closet and stays there for years. Why
not donate it to someone who would love to have it? There
are organizations that collect bridesmaid’s dresses to give to
young women who can’t afford a prom dress. Please go to
their site for information regarding what, when, and how to send.

For Chicago area, go to glassslipperproject.org

National go to fairygodmothersinc.com

Donate your old eyeglasses

2011-09-04T09:18:00.000-07:00

Donate your old eyeglasses and sunglasses to help people with eyesight difficulties worldwide. (Sunglasses can be non-prescription. They are needed in countries near the equator to help protect people's eyes from sun damage.) Collection facilities include Goodwill Industries stores, LensCrafters stores, and Lions Club drop boxes (click on link to find location near you). Items also can be sent in padded envelopes or boxes to:

New Eyes for the Needy
549 Millburn Avenue
P.O. Box 332
Short Hills, NJ 07078

E-mail ten friends who wear glasses to see if they have old pairs that could be recycled for people with eyesight problems. Collect them for donation.

Check with lost and found departments in hotels, stores, police stations, and mortuaries for unclaimed glasses that could be donated.

Donate your old running shoes to charity

2011-09-01T14:39:00.000-07:00

Instead of just throwing away your old shoes when you’re done with them, make the world a greener and happier place! Here's a couple of options:

1. For shoes with holes – or worse! – you can recycle them with Nike’s Reuse-a-shoe program. They grind the shoes up and make rubber pellets that are used to surface playgrounds, tennis courts, running tracks or to make synthetic turf for soccer and football fields. Send up to 10 pairs at a time. This is definitely a worthwhile second life for your old shoes! Mail them to:

Nike Recycling Center
c/o Reuse-A-Shoe
26755 SW 95th Ave.
Wilsonville, OR 97070

2. For shoes with 100 miles left on them: Send your shoes to runners that are in need of shoes in Africa. Since they will be used again with this program, they should be in relatively good condition, so nothing too shredded!

PLEASE MAIL SHOES TO;

Shoe4Africa
PO Box 6943
Eldoret
Kenya

Q. Do I need to wash them, and what condition should they be in?

A. Shoes can be sent by us, or by you. Sending shoes is the priority, not how clean they are. We like to send shoes that at least have 100-miles worth of wear left in them. This is because we are using the shoes to start the recipient off on a health-drive! Asking them to get fit, get empowered... for the long run. Shoes where the heel or the rubber is worn through to the midsole are not sent. (Please as we end up paying import tax on a lot of shoes in a very decrepid un-usable state)

Q. What is the best way to package the shoes? Is there an official Info US Postal page?

A. Please send in a plain brown cardboard box securely wrapped with plenty of tape. Use USPS Express Mail Intnl shipping method.

Q. What is the best method for shipping?

A. Please send boxes USPS Express Mail International, which usually takes about 6-8 weeks for delivery. (If sending from the USA)

Q. Do I use Insurance, what do I declare, and what boxes should I tick.

A. Please send as an uninsured gift, and not to be returned. The declared amount for 15-pairs of used shoes is marked as $15 ( a subjective amount as the sales value is very low and taxes are charged to the locals upon delivery).

Q. Can I send clothing too?

A. Kenya is currently not accepting donations of secondhand clothes.

Q. What do I declare on the customs slip?

A. Exactly what is in the box - used running shoes.

Q. What happens to the shoes once they arrive? Do the shoes 'always arrive'?

A. The shoes go to trusted coaches who have a proven track record to distribute the shoes amongst athletes. We have a fabulous record so far with the boxes arriving (non returned), but the idea is if a box did not arrive at least it would have been stolen enroute by people who need the shoes!

Q. Can I send any type of shoes? Are some sizes better than others?

A. Most needed are running shoes, secondary spiked shoes, and thirdly leisure shoes. The most popular sizes needed are US6 to US10 (men's). The most needed size? Women's US 8!

If you have questions not answered by those above please feel free to email us. And we welcome your comments! Please contact us with any ideas how to better improve this program, and spread the word. Email: info@shoe4africa.org.

Shop to Serve!

2011-08-31T20:47:00.000-07:00

It's difficult finding time to dedicate to local charities when they require a regular commitment. But don't give up! There is still plenty of good you can do in the world from the comfort of your own couch!

Download the “Do Good” toolbar on your computer to have 2.5% of your on-line purchases (at Amazon.com, Barnes & Noble, iTunes, etc.) go to charity. As the site explains, "Just by shopping online, you can Do Good^TM , at no extra cost to you. Think about it: Just by doing what you normally do, shopping online, you can help other people and Do Good^TM in the world." Go to: www.dogoodtoolbar.com/Charity (or, agoodcause.com )

Now buying anything from books to baby supplies can serve as a way of giving back to the community and it won't cost you a dime! (And when your husband complains about all of the baby expenses, you can argue that those darling shoes were a justifiable purchase because part of the proceeds went to charity!)

Teach your children to serve others:

2011-08-30T22:33:00.000-07:00

The ways kids learn is by observing YOU. Let your children see you serve others and they will want to join you.

This is an excellent book that will help you find things for your children to do. Click on the following link to see if it is something you might be interested in:

52 Weeks of Fun Family Service

It includes simple things you can do at home such as:

1. Write a letter to a missionary

2. Bake cookies for a neighbor

3. Have children gather up their like new toys to donate to charity

4. Have children write thank you notes to the important people in thier lives.

What other Young Mothers Suggest:

2011-08-29T12:17:00.000-07:00

I put out a call to find out what other young mothers are doing or to see if they had any suggestions. Here are their responses:

Lisa suggests:
There are many ways your children will see you doing good for others. At the market if there is an elderly person who needs help reaching for something, you can help. Or help loading their groceries in their car. You can take a meal to a sick friend.
You can also call your local senior center and ask if there are any elderly persons who need help with their grocery shopping or a ride to the doctors, or even just sit and chat and make them lunch. Elderly people are so forgotten and have wonderful stories to tell.

Sara says:

Putting together care packages at home is always a good way to start. We did this over Christmas and involved our 2 year old and she really got into it! You can also make phone calls for certain organizations or mail out flyers for them. Also writing encouraging letters to our soldiers overseas is a wonderful "community service."

Kristin says:

I usually donate household items to local shelters. Several times a year when grocery shopping I buy double, then I take the extra to our local food pantry as a donation. If you belong to a local church ask if they have any programs that you might be able to assist from home.

Elise says:

When my daughter was an infant a I started a block party for our street. It's become an annual thing and has really built a feeling of community on our street. It's a small thing, but makes a big difference, for you and your neighbors.

Tiffany suggests:

Doing a litter clean-up in the local wash/riverbed or park works well. My sister has done this with her two boys (they keep bags in their car) and they actually now look for trash to pick up. Donating to the good will or another local charity, and having them pick out a few things to donate as well, will show that they are fortunate kids and there are always others who need more than they do. Good luck!

Melanie suggests:

You might want to think of finding out about the local women's shelter. They usually train people to work from home on their crisis lines.
If you have older kids too, you can be back up support for lemonade stands and the like as they raise money for charities. Or organize with other mothers around the neighborhood for a combined family garage sale then give the proceeds to some cause.
My friend knits hats for poor people in other countries.

A penny saved is a penny...donated:

2011-08-27T19:58:00.000-07:00

What do you do with all the change you get? I put mine in a Mason jar until it is full. I used to take it to the grocery store to one of their cash machines, but the machine takes a hefty chunk as a percentage of the transaction... So now I save it for charity drives. It is money I've gotten along without, so donating it is painless. Grocery stores usually have a collection going on; McDonalds collects coins for their charity, Keep your eyes open. When possible, have your little ones put the coins in the collection pots. Not only will it get them excited about helping others, but this is a great way to donate without making a dent in your budget.

Here are some other very low cost ways of helping others:
$10 to malarianomore.org will buy one mosquito net to protect one child from malaria for 5 years.
$20 to charitywater.org can give one person drinking water for 20 years!
$35 to unicefusa.org buys a bike to get a health worker to remote areas.
$35 to scaw.org provides bedding, clothing, school supplies and other needed items for a needy child.
$50 to yellowribbonfund.com provides a rental car for a wounded soldier's familly while he or she is at a military hospital.

Sit down with your family and decide which charity you'd like to help and have the whole family contribute something. Get a jar and have each person take money out of their allowance, or donate any coins they find around the house. For very small children, you can "find" a quarter and let them donate it to the jar. (of course you're not going to send the actual coins to the charities, you'll write a check or make an online donation - the point is, the whole family gets to share in the joy of giving).

Host a Student from Another Country

2011-07-08T20:25:00.000-07:00

The photo above shows "Emma" from Honduras with her American host family

Have you ever wished that you could really experience what it would be like to live in another country? By hosting a student through the American Field Service, you get to know what his or her culture is like, their food, their holidays, their recreation. It is a learning (and loving) experience for your whole family.

This was me coming home from Turkey in 1961

I was fortunate enough to be on both sides. In 1961, I went to Turkey as an exchange student and lived with a Turkish family. I have kept in touch ever since and made two more trip there. My Turkish "sister" has come many times to America. Then when my daughters were teenagers, we had a student from France come live with us. It was a great experience for the whole family.

If you'd like to read more about it, go to
http://www.afsusa.org/host-family/get-started/

Donate Books to a School Library in India

2011-07-01T18:34:00.000-07:00

We are collecting books to be shipped to an elementary school in India. So we are looking mostly for children's books, however, they have asked for adult books as well.

If you would like to donate new or like new books, please paste a photo of yourself or your family inside the front cover of the book and enclose a little note why you think they would like that book.

(The children like to see what Americans look like and they get more excited about the books. The books help them learn English, which will lead to better paying jobs in the future.)

Send to:
Jeri Johnson
P. O. Box 1505
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

$25 a month can save a "Mingi" child

2011-05-07T01:33:00.000-07:00

Many innocent children are killed every year because of the “Mingi” practice. We try to save and give proper attention to as many children as possible, but the harsh reality is that without the support of donors, we will not be able to save or provide for additional children. We need your help in order to expand our homes, and provide more food, medical attention, education, and nurturing care.

What is "Mingi?"

Mingi is deﬁned as the state of being impure or “ritually polluted” in certain African tribes, including the Kara and Hamar tribes of Southwest Ethiopia. In these tribes, a person, often a child, who is considered mingi is killed by being left alone in the desert or by being drowned in the Omo River. Reasons for being declared impure include birth out of wedlock, birth as a twin, the eruption of teeth in the upper jaw before the lower jaw, and chipping a tooth in childhood.

If you would like to donate, go to: http://omochild.org/

Donate your gently used magazines

2011-04-06T23:22:00.000-07:00

Donate your gently used - like new magazines to MagazineLiteracy.org and they will get them to homeless and domestic violence shelters, to food pantries for delivery with bags of groceries, and to other community literacy programs.

Donate to help Disaster Relief in Japan

2011-03-23T11:46:00.000-07:00

SHELTERBOX: ShelterBox responds instantly to natural and man-made disasters by delivering boxes of aid to those who are most in need. The box includes a tent for a family of 10, cooker, blankets, water purification, tool kit and other items survivors need to rebuild their lives in the days, weeks and months following a disaster. Donate here.

AMERICAN RED CROSS: The American Red Cross is currently supporting and advising the Japanese Red Cross, which continues to assist the government in its response. You can help people affected by disasters, like floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as countless other crises at home and around the world by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Donate here.

AMERICARES: AmeriCares and its relief workers in Japan are working to deliver medicines and supplies to hospitals, shelters and health responders to treat and care for survivors. The AmeriCares team began mobilizing within hours of the first reports of the dual disasters, dispatching an emergency response manager to Tokyo to direct the efforts of their relief workers in Sendai, the largest city closest to the impact zone. Their team is in direct contact with local officials, evacuation shelters and hospitals treating the injured in Miyagi, Fukushima and Iwate to determine health needs. Donate here .

INTERNATIONAL MEDICAL CORPS: A team of doctors flew to Sendai, where they will be delivering supplies, assessing needs, and identifying communities that have not yet been reached. They continue to coordinate with local health authorities and partners on critical gaps, providing technical expertise and assisting with logistics. Donate here .

Another way to Write the Troops

2011-03-04T00:16:00.000-08:00

The Care Package Project needs cards and letters from you, the American people who support our troops.

Please consider working with your office, school, church or organization to make cards or write letters to include in care packages sent overseas. Marines are especially touched by homemade cards from children, or letters that let them know what's going on back home: what books, movies, and music are coming out, or what your day-to-day life is like. Or write a letter to let them know what you're doing here at home to support the troops!

Mail letters to:

MarineParents.com, Inc.
Attn: Dear Marine
P O Box 1115
Columbia, MO 65205-1115

Guidelines:

Address cards and letters to "Dear Marine."
Please do not seal cards and letters in individual envelopes for delivery to the Marines. Instead, place cards and letters inside a larger mailing envelope to send to MarineParents.com.
Cards and letters must be handwritten, not typed.
Photo copies of the same letter will not be accepted. One copy of the “Dear Marine” letter will be included in a care package and the duplicates will be discarded.
Please send cards and letters of support that are unique and thoughtful; it means so much to the men and women defending our freedom

Write to the Troops

2011-03-03T23:31:00.000-08:00

For a list of soldiers who have requested mail, go to:

http://anysoldier.com/WhereToSend/

You can also search the site for detailed instructions of what to send and how to send it.

Donate a Goat!

2011-02-02T10:18:00.000-08:00

The gift of a dairy goat represents a lasting, meaningful way for you to help a little boy or girl on the other side of the world.

The gift of a dairy goat can supply a family with up to several quarts of nutritious milk a day - a ton of milk a year. Extra milk can be sold or used to make cheese, butter or yogurt. Families learn to use goat manure to fertilize gardens.

You can donate a goat for $120 (or go in on the purchase of a goat for only $10). Go to:
http://www.heifer.org/site/c.edJRKQNiFiG/b.2529663/?msource=kw4746 (for other animal donations, click on the "view more Heifer gifts" at the bottom of that page)

"With all the money donated to help fight famine around the world, with all the grandiose plans conceived to conquer poverty, sometimes all it takes to save a child is a goat." — 60 Minutes, CBS News Magazine Program

52 Nice Things to Do to Make Someone Happy

2011-01-20T23:43:00.000-08:00

I'm the author of this book. It is now out of print so I have put the whole book on the internet so you all can have access to it (for FREE) Go to:

52thingsbook.blogspot.com
(Your kids will love doing #25 - "Doorbell Ditching")

1 out of 4 AMERICAN children go hungry every day

2011-01-13T19:42:00.000-08:00

The Food Network is partnering with Share Our Strength to identify these children and get nutritious food on their table Their goal is to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

Every donation helps those in need. For example:

$25 will help feed a child three meals a day for more than a month.
$50 can connect two children with nutritious meals for the entire summer when school is out.
$100 will help provide 25 grocery bags of healthy foods for families at food banks.

If you would like to help, go to: http://strength.org/ways_to_give/

Helping the Homeless

2011-01-09T11:39:00.000-08:00

When I see the homeless on street corners, it tugs at my heartstrings. However, the one time I stopped and offered to give all the groceries I had just purchased to the homeless man, he said to me, "I don't want your food lady. I need cash." So now, every time I see a homeless person, I go home, stick some money in a jar and when it gets full, I donate it to our local homeless shelter.

Another idea: carry gift certificates for meals at McDonalds in your wallet or glove compartment of your car and offer that. If he's really hungry, he'll take it.

If you know of a place where the homeless (or jobless) convene looking for handouts or work, go through a drive-thru with a cheap dollar menu (like Taco Bell or Wendy's), and you can feed A LOT of people for twenty bucks! Drop off the bag of goodies at lunch-time.

Pajama Program

2011-01-05T10:56:00.000-08:00

The Pajama Program provides new, warm pajamas and books to children in need in the United States, and around the world, many who are waiting and hoping to be adopted. These are youngsters who may not know the comforts of a mother or father to tuck them into a cozy bed and read them a bedtime story. Too many have been abandoned, most deprived of any love at all.

Oprah featured them on her show and the studio audience brought 35,000 pair of brand new P.J.'s but that doesn't scratch the surface of what they need. There are 100,000 children in the U.S. alone and each child needs more than one pair - and they'll outgrow them, so this is an on-going need. Go to their website and see how you can help:
http://www.pajamaprogram.org/

Help Teachers Fund Classroom Projects

2010-12-30T00:35:00.000-08:00

One of Oprah's favorite things for 2010 is "Donorschoose.org"

This is a REALLY terrific site that I think everyone should check out. This charity allows you to help schools by funding the projects that mean most to you (from science to literacy, and everything in between.) You can choose the school location and you can make sure your dollar(s) goes exactly where you want it.

http://www.donorschoose.org/

Help a Homeless Veteran

2010-12-29T01:15:00.000-08:00

The Veterans Administration estimates that more than 100,000 veterans are sleeping on the streets every given night of the year. Approximately 1.5 million veterans from World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Afghanistan, and Iraq are currently considered at risk of homelessness due to poverty and lack of support networks.

Every penny of your $25 donation goes to help the homeless veterans and is 100% tax deductible

GreaterGood.org is using The Hunger Site to collect donations.

$25 Helps Supply Fresh Drinking Water to people in Vietnam

2010-12-26T09:35:00.000-08:00

Make your donation through UniversalGiving.org 100% goes directly to the project.

Book Lovers:

2010-12-12T23:24:00.000-08:00

Buy books at bargain prices with FREE delivery and help literacy programs all over the world.

Read about it at: http://www.betterworldbooks.com/

Funds Raised for Global Literacy:

$8,559,987.00

Books Saved From Landfills:

34,169,806

Project of the Month: Autism Insurance Reform Project

2010-12-11T12:33:00.000-08:00

1 in 110 children have autissm

1 in 70 boys have autism

Autism therapy can cost families $50,000 per year or more, with no insurance reimbursement in most states!
Autism Speaks is dedicated to ending the common practice of insurance companies not covering autism related therapy. As a result of their effort, ten states now require insurance carriers to provide such coverage. But that means forty states do not. This must change. They are working state by state to help relieve autism’s enormous financial burden on families.
But they need your assistance.

For information regarding how you can help, go to : autismspeaks.org

Feed the Hungry...for FREE!

2010-11-30T08:30:00.000-08:00

Click every day to provide 1 cup of food to feed the hungry. FREE to you.(the advertisers on the site pay)

(My button takes you to their site. You have to click on THEIR button to have them donate the food)

Help the Homeless in San Diego!

2010-11-03T22:18:00.000-07:00

Trinity House desperately needs your help. There are nearly 10,000 homeless men, women, and children in San Diego county (2,000 children under 18). Every $15 raised provides one night of housing for a homeless woman or child. Go to http://thetrinityhouse.org/index.htm to see how you can help.

They are also in need of the following:

· Furniture: Bedroom sets, desks, chairs clothing, clothing Items for All Ages (Clothing should be clean, repaired and have size indicated.)

· Shoes (Casual and Athletic)

· Books (English and Spanish)

· Developmental/Educational Games

· Child Safety Seats (Infants and Toddlers),

· Toys /Bicycles

· Sleeping Bags and Pillows

· Toiletry Kits/Personal Care Bags

· School Supplies

· Computers/Printers /Fax Machines

· All Office Equipment Accepted

· Luggage

Thanksgiving Meals for the Homeless in San Diego

2010-10-20T23:50:00.000-07:00

You can feed 20 people for $35!

Go to the San Diego Rescue Mission's website: sdrescue.org

(Discuss this with your children and have them donate as well)

Read a book - and support Literacy programs

2010-10-12T11:07:00.000-07:00

Back to the Best Books
How the Classics Can Change Your life

by Marilyn Green Faulkner

This is one of the best books I've ever read and all the profit from it goes to support Literacy Programs. So, if you love to read, do yourself a favor and help others in the process.

Here is just one review from Amazon.com
"Marilyn Faulkner's enthusiasm and knowledge for good literature can convert any reader into a lover of the classics. In the past I have found myself intimidated by the length or content of the classics but this guide has helped me navigate my way through many pieces of literature I would have never before considered reading. I recommend this book to anyone looking to expand their library or for those looking to take a fresh look at classics they have read in the past. A must buy!"

Winter Clothing Drive for Afghanistan

2010-10-08T00:54:00.000-07:00

I got this email from my mother (Emily, below, is her best friend's grand daughter)

Hello everyone! The Egyptian Hospital here at Bagram is looking for donations to support the local families here in Afghanistan. Winter time is coming and right now the local families outside the wire don't have any warm clothing to help them get through this winter. So the military is asking for help by reaching out to church groups, friends and family back home, anyone and everyone that would love to help. The families need anything we can give them like zip sweaters, long sleeve shirts, socks, shoes, pants, gloves, blankets. The age range of the patients that come in to the hospital are from infants to adults. Anything you can think of will be greatly appreciated if you are willing to donate to those less fortunate. If you would like to help out families on the other side of the world please send me your donations and I will make sure the donations get to the hospital and to the families. Do not feel obligated, only if you are willing and able. My address is:

SSgt Emily Gaffey

CJTF 101 CJ6 Projects

APO, AE 09354

Words of Support for the military

2010-09-26T10:42:00.000-07:00

Send troops an encouraging card - or send empty cards soldiers can use to write home.

For info, go to

OperationWriteHome.org

Do you have Books, Magazines, and CD's you are willing to part with?

2010-09-26T10:36:00.000-07:00

Help relieve stress for our troops by logging on to:

BooksForSoldiers.com

for info on how to help give service members a little escape

Help Families of Troops

2010-09-15T17:16:00.000-07:00

These young men have to leave their families behind as they go to battle to fight for freedom. They hope someone will help their families when they are in need since they can't be there themselves.

Even small things like back packs for their children to start back to school, Easter Baskets, etc. are needed.

If you would like to help the families back home of our soldiers in the field, go to this website to see what you can do:

http://www.operationhomefront.net/

Games That Give

2010-03-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

Do you like to play computer games?
Now you can play for the cause!
More than 20 of the most popular "casual" games, all absolutely free, are now available here at The Hunger Site. The more you play*, the more you can help fight hunger!

How does it work?
Games that Give^TM provide a simple, free, and fun way to help the hungry by playing some of the most popular "casual games" of all time. The games contain sponsor advertising, and 70% of that advertising is donated to fight hunger.

Everybody wins!

The Hunger Site's charity partners get funding to help the hungry, sponsors get good advertising, and you get to play fantastic classics like Solitaire, Gems, Snake, Memory, and more!

Play the Recycling Game

2010-03-17T18:38:00.000-07:00

Dosomething.org is the place for teens to find things online to do for others when they are off line. LOTS of interesting causes and activities to become involved with.

Go to their site and find something you think your teen would enjoy - then go to the site together and explore the possibilities.

Doing something is empowering and helps teens feel good about themselves.

Dosomething.org has come up with some fun online games. Here's one to try: (or go to dosomething.org/games/sudoku and play sudoku - 70% of their advertising money goes to help their causes)

Small Donations Can Give BIG Benefits

2010-03-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

The Child Health Site has put together eleven pages of ways you can help all over the world with donations as small as $1

Sit down with your children and see if they would like to donate their allowance to a good cause. (I'll bet they would!)

While you are at that site. Look at the left margin. Everything you buy from their store benefits children.
For example, Each "Good Times" Photo Album purchased (for only $21.95) will fund health services to save or improve the lives of 9 children.

we found this cute prayer box necklace that your teen daughter would love. It is only $12.95 and when you purchase it, it funds services to help 4.5 children. There are hundreds, no thousands, of items in their store. Check it out and start having your shopping help children.

Donations to Haiti Relief - Update

2010-03-15T00:25:00.000-07:00

The flights to Haiti have been curtailed. Donations for further relief can be made through one of seventeen organizations through the Network for Good website:
http://www1.networkforgood.org/help-haiti-quake-relief

Donate Books to Africa

2010-01-15T23:46:00.000-08:00

Books For Africa appreciates all book donations. It costs 50 cents to ship each book to Africa. Consider making a financial donation to cover the costs of shipping the books you donate. Please send financial donations separately in an envelope to the BFA office: Books For Africa, 253 East 4th Street, Suite 200, St. Paul, MN 55101, USA.

If mailing books, please send book donations to:

Books For Africa Warehouse-Atlanta
2971 Olympic Industrial Drive SE, Suite C
Smyrna, GA 30080 USA

For More Information about what kind of books to send or how to package, go to: http://www.booksforafrica.org/books-computers/donate-books.html

Random Acts of Kindness

2010-01-02T09:23:00.000-08:00

I can't overstate the importance of letting your children see YOU serve others. Let them see you make service a natural part of your life, and it will naturally become a part of their life.

Let someone go in front of you in the check out line.

Help an elderly neighbor by taking out their trash, or doing their grocery shopping.

Have your children help you select canned goods to donate to food drives.

Write letters to missionaries or those serving in the military (if your children are old enough, have them add a note or a picture they've drawn)

Take a meal to a new mom.

Bake cookies for a new neighbor. (If you see someone moving in, you can bet they have no dishes or utensils to eat with that day. Bring a little bag of paper plates, napkins, plastic cups, plastic utensils, paper towels, toilet paper, Ivory liquid, etc. )

For a list of 52 Things you can do for anyone, anytime, go to: http://www.freewebs.com/kindnesshandbook/52thingsanytime.htm

New Year's Resolution:

2010-01-01T01:25:00.000-08:00

Volunteer and Help Others

Volunteering has risen sharply in recent years. This suggests the possible emergence of a new civic generation and a resolve to make a bigger and better difference with your life.

Resolve to replace the pursuit of success and materialism with the pursuit of contribution and generosity. For this to occur, the critical question must move from, “How can I become successful?” to, “What can I contribute that will significantly impact other people's lives?” By focusing on what we can contribute, we automatically become successful.

Be an "Angel" to a needy child

2009-11-28T18:19:00.000-08:00

When you are out doing your Christmas shopping, look for Salvation Army's "Angel Trees" - stop by and pick a child to shop for. (Let your children help shop for the child - they'll love it and want to do more).

If you can't find a tree, have your children put some money in the Salvation Army kettle - and tell the kids what the money is used for. (see their website: Angel Trees

(Note: Some of you have complained that you can't find the Angel Trees in your area. Good News!
J C Penney has made it easy for you. You can select your angel online! ) Go to jcp.com/angel

"Give a Day, Get a Disney Day"

2009-11-16T05:09:00.000-08:00

Breaking news…as announced on Good Morning America, if you give a day of volunteer service to a participating organization, you’ll get one day of free admission to a Disney Park. It’s a first-of-its-kind program called “Give a Day, Get a Disney Day.”

And yes, it’s that simple — a free one-day ticket to a Disneyland or Walt Disney World theme park for guests who volunteer a day of service to a participating organization. They’re celebrating you and the good things you do for your communities.

The program officially begins on January 1, 2010. When it’s live, you’ll be able to visit www.DisneyParks.com or http://www.disneyparks.ca/ and search for an eligible volunteer project. After completing the volunteer work, an e-mail will be sent from Disney with a link to print out a voucher to redeem at a theme park for a free one-day, one-park admission. And if you’re unable to use the ticket, it can be donated to a charity designated by Disney.

They are looking for 1 million people with a passion to make a difference. And they are working with HandsOn Network to do it. They’re helping make sure you find the perfect volunteer work. And many of the program’s volunteer opportunities will be for the family.

Family Christmas projects

2009-11-14T11:50:00.000-08:00

Nothing feels more like Christmas than helping to brighten someone's day. Sit down with your family and discuss things you could do to spread a little joy in your neighborhood. Here are some ideas to start you off:

1. Go Christmas caroling to your neighbors.

2. Bring a basket of homemade goodies to a widow or someone who could use a visit.

3. Call a local charity that might need helpers during the holiday.

4. Call a local nursing home, or hospital and ask if there is someone who could use a visit.

5. Participate in the Salvation Army Angel tree program by buying a toy for a child.

6. If you live by a military base, call to see if any service men would like to join you for Christmas dinner.

Drop in and Decorate: Bake, Decorate, and Donate Cookies!

2009-11-10T01:25:00.000-08:00

With the holidays approaching, many of us will be knee deep in flour, sugar, icing, and sprinkles making scores of holiday cookies. Of course, many of us make scores of cookies year-round because cookies just make us happy. Well if you're a cookie lover and love to make people happy, then you should know about Drop In & Decorate, a year-round, nonprofit organization, created by food writer, Lydia Walshin of The Perfect Pantry.

Lydia founded Drop In & Decorate in 2002, and before the end of this year, the 10,000^th cookie will be decorated and donated . Here's how Drop In & Decorate works:

1. Bake some cookies.

2. Gather a group of family, friends, neighbors, co-workers, etc. to decorate them

3. Donate the cookies to a nonprofit agency serving basic human needs in your own community.

If you’d like to host your own Drop In & Decorate event, Pillsbury and Wilton would like to help. Pillsbury has donated 50 VIP coupons, worth $3.00 each, off any Pillsbury product -- including sugar cookie mix, icing and flour -- to be distributed, first come, first served, while supply lasts, to anyone who plans to host a Drop In & Decorate event (max. 5 coupons per person). And Wilton will throw in a Comfort Grip cookie cutter, while supplies lasts. Write to lydia@ninecooks.com for more information on how to get your free coupons and cookie cutters.

Now, let's bake some cookies!

p.s. You don't have to be a part of the Drop in and Decorate program - this is something you can do on your own. Have your children help make, bake and decorate cookies and go with you to donate to a local rest home or neighbors who could use some cheering up.

Thanksgiving Food Drives

2009-11-09T18:07:00.000-08:00

Don't forget to participate in local food drives for the holidays. (Have your children put the cans in the collection box so they can feel the spirit of giving)

Some grocery stores are asking for turkeys and they'll match your donation.

Here in San Diego we feed 480,000 people (10,000 homeless, the rest are families in need). Our local rescue mission and the Salvation Army provides meals, but they depend on donations to help them do it. Each meal costs less than $1 so if you make a donation of only ten dollars, you'll feed eleven people.

Donate a Laptop to "One Laptop Per Child"

2009-10-26T01:34:00.000-07:00

The One Laptop per Child association develops a low-cost laptop— The "XO Laptop" (shown in photo)—to revolutionize how we educate the world's children. Their mission is "to provide educational opportunities for the world's poorest children by providing each child with a rugged, low-cost, low-power, connected laptop with content and software designed for collaborative, joyful, self-empowered learning."

The laptops cost $199 each. If you would like to donate one, go to:

http://wiki.laptop.org/go/The_OLPC_Wiki

How Can I Donate Quilts to the TROOPS?

2009-10-24T00:31:00.000-07:00

phrogster1 answers:

There are a couple of very reliable places that send quilts to those in military service and to veterans.

One is Quilts of Valor and the local group gave out two quilts today at the Veteran's Day program I attended. They have organizations in many states so you should be able to contact someone locally about your quilts.

The other is Operation Quiet Comfort. They would accept the jeans quilts. They also accept quilt squares from jeans that have messages on them and sew them into quilts that are then sent to wounded troops. I also know this group is reliable because of past experience with them through Girl Scouts. Many Girl Scout troops send quilt squares to them. They also have a Yahoo! group that they ask people to join so they can share information about the quilts that are sent.

http://www.qovf.org/
http://www.operationquietcomfort.com/
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/operationquietcomfort/
http://www.persimmonquilts.com/QuiltsofValor.html

Donate to Charity by shopping at Amazon.com

2009-10-22T19:59:00.000-07:00

This holiday, you can donate easily to leading charities with Amazon Payments. Amazon Payments gives you a simple and trusted way to donate online using the information in your Amazon.com account. Choose the charity you want to support and complete the donation on the charity's website without sharing your credit card information. According to Amazon, its new Holiday Giving with Amazon Payments highlights organizations such as American Red Cross, UNICEF, Greenpeace, Nature Conservancy, Feeding America, Heifer International, Autism Society of America, International Federation for Animal Welfare, and Children's Miracle Network, who will accept donations using Amazon.com accounts.

So when you do your on-line Christmas shopping, make a contribution to your favorite charity.

Macy's "Feed America"

2009-09-30T12:28:00.000-07:00

Macy's wants to provide 10 million meals to feed families in need. Here's how YOU can help:

1. Macy's National Charity Shopping Day is OCTOBER 17th, 2009. You can purchase a $5 shopping pass at any Macy's store between now and then. The entire $5 goes to your local food bank. Then shop at Macy's or Macys.com on October 17th for great savings.

2. Participate in Macy's All American Dinner Party. Pick a date, host a party, set a fundraising goal, and invite your friends to contribute. Macy's will match your contributions. Money goes to feed local families in need.

For more information, go to Macys.com/cometogether

(Note: This is an annual event, so if you missed it this year, look for it next year.)

"Save Our Children's Sight"

2009-09-29T17:57:00.000-07:00

The "Save Our Children's Sight" program effectively addresses and overcomes the transportation, language, cultural and financial barriers that face most disadvantaged populations. They have successfully reached out, through their EyeMobile, to 140 preschool and Head Start locations in San Diego County with the necessary vision care that will prevent long-term vision problems and blindness. Since January 2000, they have screened over 20,000 low-income preschoolers for serious eye disorders. Over 4,000 children were referred for complete eye examinations and were provided glasses, and/or specialist eye-care, as necessary.

If you would like to donate to help fund this program, Click HERE.

Cell Phones for Soldiers

2009-09-24T23:37:00.000-07:00

Donate your used cell phones to the troops. go to http://www.cellphonesforsoldiers.com/

Donate your old camera to charity

2009-09-23T12:24:00.000-07:00

Do you have some old digital cameras lying around that you don't know what to do with? Why not let someone else use them?

Global Classroom Connection accepts donated digital cameras for use with children ages 5 to 19 years. The program pairs classrooms in countries across the globe to promote learning and cultural understanding.

Donate your hair to charity

2009-09-21T23:25:00.000-07:00

Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. We meet a unique need for children by using donated hair to create the highest quality hair prosthetics.. The prostheses we provide help to restore their self-esteem and their confidence, enabling them to face the world and their peers.

The minimum length required for a donation is a 10” pony tail . So if you have LONG hair and are planning to cut it, consider donating it to Locks of Love.

If you only have an 8” pony tail to donate, The Pantene Pro-V Beautiful Lengths campaign collects hair donations from throughout the United States and Canada and turns them into wigs which are distributed free to women suffering from the loss of their hair due to the effects of chemotherapy needed to fight the cancer that is ravaging their bodies.

Donate your car to charity

2009-09-20T23:08:00.000-07:00

Thanks to generous car donation donors like you, over 1 million automobiles (cars and trucks), boats, trailers, RV's, motorcycles and other vehicles have supported non-profit charitable causes across America

Donate My Car – will quickly arrange pick up of your vehicle donation in all continental states and Hawaii

Your vehicle donation will be towed away by a professionally licensed, bonded and insured towing company - so that it's hassle free

They handle the entire car donation process from start to finish - saving you the headache

Have the proceeds from your car donation go to the charity that you want to help, including the American Red Cross, American Diabetes Association, United Way, American Association for Cancer Research, United Breast Cancer Foundation, Humane Society & SPCA, Boy Scouts of America, USO, and many more

Donate your car and you'll not only receive a tax deductible car donation receipt and feel good about supporting a worthwhile cause, you'll also receive a fabulous travel gift entitling you and a guest to Three Vacation Certificates!

Donate shoes (old or new) to Soles 4 Souls

2009-09-18T13:47:00.000-07:00

We need the 'gently worn' shoes taking up space in your closet. It is estimated that Americans have 1.5 billion pairs of unworn shoes lying in their closets. We can use each and every one of these pairs to make a tangible difference in someone's life.

Donate the shoes in your closet to: soles4souls.org

Clean Water Campaigns

2009-09-12T23:57:00.000-07:00

Roughly one sixth of the world’s population does not have access to clean drinking water. (1.1 billion people)

Nearly two million children die each year from preventable disease due to unclean water and inadequate sanitation. (5000 deaths per day)

Forty billion working hours are spent carrying water each year in Africa.

Rural African households spend more than 25% of their time fetching water. This burden generally falls upon women and girls.

The Voss Foundation has partnered with Virgin Unite and singer-songwriter Jewel (and her Project Clean Water charity) to promote what they call “Give a Drop”,

If you care, GIVE A DROP now. (you can donate as little as $2)

Or go to charitywater.org 100% of your donation will directly fund freshwater projects in developing nations. Each $20 can give one person clean, safe drinking water for 20 years.

Recycle!

2009-09-10T22:09:00.000-07:00

Recycling is important for the earth. In fact, the energy saved by recycling one aluminum can is enough to power a TV for three hours. Recycling aluminum cans each year saves enough energy to light Washington, D.C. for 3.7 years.

Have a special container for your aluminum cans. Take the kids with you to the recycling center. (You get paid for the cans, and you are protecting the environment. It's a win, win.)

(You can put the money you receive for recycling into your coin jar to donate to charity. See following blogs)

Clean Up the environment

2009-07-04T08:25:00.000-07:00

When you take your children to the park or beach, end the outing by cleaning up the area around you. Hand each child a small garbage sack, or, you hold the sack and let the child/children put the litter in the sack. If there are aluminum cans, put them in a separate sack. (Be sure to stay with the children at all times. Don't let them get out of sight. Don't forget to bring a hand sanitizer to clean their hands after the activity)

Plant Roses that donate 10% to charity

2009-07-02T01:00:00.000-07:00

Pope John Paul II Hybrid Tea Rose

$19.95

10% of net sales donated to the poor of sub-Saharan Africa. (More than $121,751 donated to date). Pope John Paul II /White /Ovoid,Pointed buds / Blooms 5" / 50 petals / 16"-20" stems / Dark Green foliage / Strong,Citrus fragrance / Full Sun

Nancy Reagan Hybrid Tea or Ronald Reagan Rose

$19.95

10% of the net sales supports the work of the Ronald Reagan Presidential Foundation. (More than $232,962 donated to date). Nancy Reagan /Apricot /Ovoid buds / Blooms 5" / 30 petals / 16"-18" stems / Dark Green foliage / Light,Sweet fragrance / Full Sun OR, the Ronald Reagan Rose.

All three available at:

http://www.rosemagazine.com/articles02/rosecatalog/rosecatalog2/

Help the Children

2009-07-01T23:10:00.000-07:00

Help The Children is building a hospital in Northwest Guatemala where over 300,000 people are currently without medical care. The hospital will provide much needed medical care for seven Provinces in Northwest Guatemala. Help The Children would like to have the hospital completed by May 2010.

Help The Children is looking for 5,000 people to commit to donating $20 a month, for six months ($120 total) , to help continue funding the Love Carton Food Box Program and to complete the construction of the Guatemala Hospital Project.

Go to helpthechildren.org for more information

Every $1 plants a tree!

2009-06-12T10:34:00.000-07:00

Help plant trees to restore areas damaged by wildfire, where critical wildlife habitat has been lost, and to clean our air and water. Go to: http://www.americanforests.org/

Buy Concert Tickets and Donate to Charity

2009-05-17T09:35:00.000-07:00

Is there a foster home in your community? * Teenagers LOVE going to concerts. The hottest ones these days are Miley Cyrus, Taylor Swift, and the American Idols.
.

Call the home and ask how many would be interested in attending and be sure they have a way of transporting the kids to and from the concert before you purchase tickets.

*Five Acres, in Pasadena, CA and the San Pasqual Academy in Escondido, CA are two that I'm aware of that would love your donations.

Buy Jewelry "for Charity"

2009-05-16T20:44:00.000-07:00

Yes. If you purchase cetain items of jewelry, 100% goes to charity.

for $3,250 you can have Jennifer Meyer's 18 k-gold and diamond Star (or get without diamonds for $750) and the total amount goes directly to "Stand Up to Cancer.(https://su2c.thegivingbridge.com/necklace.asp )

For $550 you can have Temple St. Clair's 18k-gold Harvest pendant and the total amount goes to "Services and Food for the Homeless." (buy it at templestclair.com)

For $600 you can have Jennifer Fisher's 14k-rose-gold Leaf pendant and 100% goes to REST to help chemotherapy patients relieve pain and stress. (buy it at jenniferfisherjewelry.com)

We love this "Lovebird necklace." Proceeds go to changing the lives of women in developing countries. $53 at shop.buildanest.com (put "lovebird necklace" in search bar).

For 30 Euros (about $50 including tax) you can buy this beautiful "clear drop of water" by Swedish designer, Karl-Oskar, and 10% goes to UNICEF for helping to supply clean water in Ethiopia,

To purchase, click HERE (and click on "art glass", then "jewelry")

for LOTS more choices, go to: http://peaceofmindjewelry.com/charity.htm

Food for Thought

2008-09-17T15:08:00.000-07:00

Play an on-line vocabulary game and for each correct answer, the sponsor will donate 20 grains of rice to the United Nations World Food Program. It doesn't seem like much, but they have donated over 64 trillion grains of rice! Play the game at http://www.freerice.com/ and improve your vocabulary while feeding the hungry.

Combat illiteracy

2008-08-21T00:23:00.000-07:00

Twenty-one million Americans can't read at all, 45 million are marginally illiterate and one-fifth of high school graduates can't read their diplomas,

What can YOU do?

• Be an example. Let children and teenagers see you as a positive example of reading. If families with children visit your home, let the kids browse your book collection and invite them to join in discussions about books. Never lecture or force kids to read. Just let them see your enthusiasm, and they will be more likely to catch the reading bug.

• Get your children library cards and take them to the library

• Start a lending library. Offer to let children borrow the books in your collection. You may want to keep track of your books and give kids a chance to check out your "library catalog" with an online program such as LibraryThing.com. If you live in an apartment complex, consider starting a give-one-take-one laundry room lending library. Just fill a cardboard box with a few books and leave the collection in your common laundry room. Tell your neighbors about the idea and watch as the people in your complex discover and share their favorite books. You can also start a book swap at your church, community group, or child’s school

• Give books as gifts

• Donate books to classroom libraries

Help "Room to Read"

2008-08-20T23:32:00.001-07:00

Here's your chance to help bring education to children around the world. Help Room to Read reach their goal of 20,000 libraries by the year 2020! Founded by former Microsoft executive John Wood, Room to Read is dedicated to bringing schools, libraries and other educational opportunities to countries in need. In addition, they provide scholarships, publish local-language children's books and create computer and language labs. With 770 million illiterate adults in the world and 100 million children not enrolled in primary school, Room to Read needs your help! Click here to donate today! (Every $1 equals 1 book!)

Donate Clothes to Charity:

2008-02-20T01:20:00.000-08:00

You know about the Salvation Army, Veterans, and Deseret Industries.

Another you should know about is: Dress for Success (212-532-1922 ), whose numerous affiliates accept clothing donations throughout the U.S. It's a great cause: Their goal is to help needy women in its programs schedule job interviews. Once they do, DFS "personal shoppers" will outfit them in your donated suits (or other business-appropriate duds): and when the women land jobs, they come back for a week's worth of clothing suitable for their new offices. This organization has aided 450,000 women since it started, in 1997.

Sew Many Ways to Serve

2008-01-17T18:25:00.000-08:00

12.6 million children have been orphaned by the AIDS epidemic in Africa. This means that 8 out of every 10 children have lost a parent. As the death toll continues to mount at a rapid pace, there is a tremendous need for supplies for babies and small children who have been orphaned by the AIDS outbreak. While we may not be able to put an end to this growing epidemic, we can do something. We know of an organization that supplies quilts to an orphanage in Tanzania. (One of its members has personally checked out this particular orphanage and our quilts will be hand delivered to the children in need at least once a year.)

Quilting is something you can do at your leisure, in your own home, and in a relatively short period of time. If you don't quilt but would like to help, you can donate old, gently used baby blankets and quilts to the cause. We are also collecting fabric, yarn, and batting for those people who will make the quilts if supplied the materials.

You can send your quilts and/or materials to:
The Johnson family
P. O. Box 1505
Rancho Santa Fe, CA 92067

The young and innocent victims of this scourge are growing in number every day. Anything you can do to alleviate their suffering is appreciated. This project will continue as long as this post is up. THANK YOU!

Disaster Relief

2008-01-02T22:40:00.000-08:00

Unicef and the American Red Cross are always in need of your donations. You don't have to wait for a disaster. But whenever you hear of one, give what you can. (It's MONEY that is needed first. It takes too long to get clothing and food to the victims.)

Family First

2008-01-01T21:30:00.000-08:00

When you think about serving others, your first priority should be your family and friends... but finding time to visit in between naps, carpools, and work (and/or housework as the case may be) can prove difficult. Nevertheless, there are ways to keep in touch and show your love:

Send them a kiss by going to www.virtualkiss.com/ekiss

Send a free greeting card by going to Kiwee.com , MyFunCards.com , or 123Greetings.com

Send them links to family photos or blogs (by utilizing blogspot, myspace, flickr.com, or babyjellybeans.com, to name a few) This is especially helpful for busy moms because it allows you to update your entire family with one link in a mass e-mail.

Send flowers, a cookie bouquet, or a special drawing or craft from your child to let them know they are in your thoughts.

And, naturally, don't forget the power of a simple phone call or e-mail "just because."

Mothers of Young Children Serving Others

Arlington National Cemetery at Christmas

Letters to Santa = Donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation

Spend a Little, Give a Lot

Holiday Service Opportunities

Halloween Candy Buyback! (Candy goes to the TROOPS!)

Treats for Troops

Support the Troops: Holiday Stockings

Give Without Spending a Cent:

Give Without Spending a Cent:

You can donate without spending a cent, by clicking on sites where advertisers make a donation in return. Click on the links below, then click daily to help the cause:

Donate your Bridesmaid Dress to Charity

Donate your old eyeglasses

Donate your old running shoes to charity

Shop to Serve!

Teach your children to serve others:

What other Young Mothers Suggest:

A penny saved is a penny...donated:

Host a Student from Another Country

Donate Books to a School Library in India

$25 a month can save a "Mingi" child

Donate your gently used magazines

Donate to help Disaster Relief in Japan

Another way to Write the Troops

Write to the Troops

Donate a Goat!

52 Nice Things to Do to Make Someone Happy

1 out of 4 AMERICAN children go hungry every day

Helping the Homeless

Pajama Program

Help Teachers Fund Classroom Projects

Help a Homeless Veteran

$25 Helps Supply Fresh Drinking Water to people in Vietnam

Book Lovers:

Project of the Month: Autism Insurance Reform Project

Feed the Hungry...for FREE!

Help the Homeless in San Diego!

Thanksgiving Meals for the Homeless in San Diego

Read a book - and support Literacy programs

Winter Clothing Drive for Afghanistan

Words of Support for the military

Do you have Books, Magazines, and CD's you are willing to part with?

Help Families of Troops

Games That Give

Play the Recycling Game

Small Donations Can Give BIG Benefits

Donations to Haiti Relief - Update

Donate Books to Africa

If mailing books, please send book donations to:

Books For Africa Warehouse-Atlanta 2971 Olympic Industrial Drive SE, Suite C Smyrna, GA 30080 USA

Random Acts of Kindness

New Year's Resolution:

Be an "Angel" to a needy child

"Give a Day, Get a Disney Day"

Family Christmas projects

Drop in and Decorate: Bake, Decorate, and Donate Cookies!

Thanksgiving Food Drives

Donate a Laptop to "One Laptop Per Child"

How Can I Donate Quilts to the TROOPS?

Donate to Charity by shopping at Amazon.com

Macy's "Feed America"

"Save Our Children's Sight"

Cell Phones for Soldiers

Donate your old camera to charity

Donate your hair to charity

Donate your car to charity

Donate shoes (old or new) to Soles 4 Souls

Clean Water Campaigns

Recycle!

Clean Up the environment

Plant Roses that donate 10% to charity

Help the Children

Every $1 plants a tree!

Buy Concert Tickets and Donate to Charity

Buy Jewelry "for Charity"

Food for Thought

Combat illiteracy

Help "Room to Read"

Donate Clothes to Charity:

Sew Many Ways to Serve

Books For Africa Warehouse-Atlanta
2971 Olympic Industrial Drive SE, Suite C
Smyrna, GA 30080 USA