Help Teachers Fund Classroom Projects

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

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

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

Book Lovers:

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

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!

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!

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

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

 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

 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

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?

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

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

 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

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

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

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

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

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:

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.