The Lakeview Center

This past weekend I went to Olive Baptist Church to listen to Leigh Anne Tuohy (Sandra Bullock played her in the movie "The Blind Side") talk about Lakeview Center and the importance of giving and helping one another. I couldn't agree more.

The Lakeview Center is through Baptist Healthcare and it's an organization "Helping People Overcome Life's Challenges." They help by providing couseling, drug and alcohol services, and have a crisis hotline. My brother worked the hotline 23 years ago...they've been helping people for a long time.

Look for a place like this in your community and see how you can help them to help others.

P.S. Me and Leigh Anne Tuohy

April: Donate Art

I hear a lot of people say, "I don't have an artistic bone in my body." I disagree. I think there is some form of art everyone is blessed with; drawing, painting, making scrapbooks, decorating, baking, etc.
What is considered art? Any and everything, it just depends on who is looking at it and how they're looking at it. So the next time you see a request to donate your art for charity, give it a try.

If you want to try drawing or painting I would suggest picking up any art book by Lee Hammond. I credit her with taking my art from ok to really good.
My 20 year reunion is coming up so I offered to donate a painting. I have also donated art work to raise money for an animal shelter.

I would love to display a few pieces, but my server has been a pain lately and I am not able to upload at this time, but I will keep working on it.

Now it's your turn to take that talent you've been given and put it to use to help others.

Lauren's Kids

As I type this a group of men, women and children are walking through Gulf Breeze, FL bringing awareness, education, and support and guidance to people who have been (are) victims of sexual abuse.

They are a bringing hope to those who feel hopeless.

Visit their web site and see how you can help.

http://www.laurenskids.org/
 

Finding Ways to Help

I know sometimes it may seem difficult to find places to volunteer at or donate to. I have run into this problem myself, but I have found several ways to find places that need help.

• Look for flyers. They can be found on bullentin boards, in fitness clubs, at the grocery store, etc.
• Ask around
• Look in the newspaper
• Look for vehicles that have charity information on them
• Internet searches
• Drive or walk around and look for buildings/offices that house charitable organizations
• Inquire at churches
• Go to a place you enjoy to visit (i.e.the zoo) and ask if they accept volunteers

Other Ways to Give - 3

21. Sign Petitions
22. Tell others about charities that mean something to you; spread the word
23. Start a recycling program at your work
24. Hand write a letter to your parents and snail mail it. It's always nice to get something in the mail other than bills.
25. Donate preemie items (blankets, hats, clothes...) to your local hospital
26. Send flowers to someone
27. Listen to an elder talk of their younger years. They'll enjoy the memories and you'll learn something.
28. Read to your children at night
29. Try to be more open minded, seeing all sides of a situation
30. Donate to your local grocery store's sponsered charity. Sometimes it's giving a dollar at the register, other times it's buying a meal for a hungry family.

March: Prom

I feel terrible, I am late in posting March's charity. I'm sorry.

Here it is: Prom

Prom season is here and there are so many young ladies who would love to go, but can't afford a dress.

Now is a great time to go through your closet and donate a cocktail/evening dress you don't wear anymore or a bridesmaid dress you'll never slip into again. Help make the prom possible for a young lady.

Part of the reason I am late in posting this is because I struggled to find a place that accepted and gave away prom dresses. I am still searching. With that said, check your local high schools (I am in the process of doing that) and see if they have something set up for those less fortunate. A local dry cleaner where I live used to give away donated or left behind dresses for prom. See if a friend of your child needs a dress. Ask around and make the dream of prom come true.

(I will keep looking for places to donate dresses and will update this blog as I find them.)

Locks of Love

A couple of years ago I donated 10" of hair to Locks of Love. Today I donated another 10" of hair.

I have watched several people in my family lose their hair as they battled cancer. I am not a scientist, doctor, or nurse, but I have been blessed with a lot of hair and this is one way I can help - help someone feel a little better during their struggle.

I can't find my before and after photos but I will update the blog when I find them.

Please visit http://www.locksoflove.org/donate.html to find out how you can donate your hair or if you would rather give a cash gift (that information is on there as well).

Thank you!