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!

"Secret Millionaire"

Have you seen the show? It comes on Monday nights 8/7c on ABC.

In case you haven't seen it; it's about millionaires that live in some of the poorest areas of certain cities/towns for one week. During that week they are not allowed to bring any money with them. They and are given the equivilant of what welfare would give a single man/woman to live on for one week. They are to go out (without revealing their wealth) and find people in the community that are making a difference, volunteer with them and find out what they're doing to make a difference in their community. After the week is up they decide how much (of their own money) they want to donate and to whom.

I cry every time I watch this show.

A young man's father was shot 6 times and he watched as his father died in his mother's arm on the stoop off the sidewalk. He was a young child at the time. No one saw anything. He is now part of a neighborhood patroll to keep this from happening to someone else.
A set of 80+ year old twins opened Love Kitchen to feed the homeless. They go to work there every day.
A man who gets chemo/radiation  treatments for cancer quit his job as a limo driver and started a charity to drive people to and from their chemo/radiation treatments because he couldn't bear to wach people sitting in the lobby for hours after their treatment because they had no one to bring them home.
A woman started decorating rooms for children with terminal diseases because 7 years ago she heard a little girl had the choice of having her room redone or going to Disney. The little girl couldn't decide so the lady said she would decorate the room for her and she could go to Disney. She's been creating dream rooms for children ever since (using donated furniture).
The list goes on...

What I get out of it:
- It shows that you don't have to have money to make a difference. All you need is some time and love
- I appreciate what I have, where I live, my health, my friends and family
- It reminds me that there are so many forgotten or given up on people out there and all they want is for someone to care
- That I can make a difference - everyone can make a difference
- All I have to do is ask and I will find someone in need
- There are many programs out there to help people that I've never heard of but can easliy find if I just look
- Warmth in my heart when I see the people's faces and reactions and tears when they're given money to help their cause

I'm not a big fan of reality shows, but this is one of the best I've ever seen.

Click to Give - FREE - UPDATE

Click to Give has added a new tab! They have added Veterans to their list. They have also changed their web site slightly. If you look above the solid line at the top of the page you will see (in light gray as opposed to solid tabs - just click on them and it'll take you to the desired page): 

Breast Cancer

Animal Rescue

Veterans

Child Health

Literacy

Rainforest

Click every day - it's Free! (one click per day per support group)