Soap Saves Lives So Please Help Save Soap

In America we take so many things for granted.  If we get sick, we go to the pharmacy and pick up over the counter medication that can help us get well.  Other times, we go to the doctor and get prescription medicine to help us get well from an infection or sickness.  We are blessed.  We have instant access to information to help keep ourselves well.

The best thing is that we have been taught that washing our hands well with soap can help to keep us healthy.  We have access to soap and water on a regular basis.  Not everyone is so lucky.  What they don’t know and don’t have access to can harm them or kill them.  Soap and water save lives and there is a Global Soap Project that you may not be aware of to get soap into the hands of people who are in need of it, to stay well.  To continue click here.

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Stamp out Hunger Food Drive-National Association of Letter Carriers

Wow, that is a mouthful for the title of this blog post…but, it is what it says it is.  The National Association of Letter Carriers have committed themselves once again to their annual food drive.   They do this to help combat hunger.  In the last two years in the United States, more than 50 million people have found themselves living in homes that don’t have enough food.  This is outrageous, we can all do something to help.  No one should go hungry in a country that supplies other nations with food from our surplus produce that farmers work so hard to grow.

You may say, I am only one person…what can i do?  You can support the National Association of Letter Carriers help stamp out hunger by leaving a bag at your mail box, on Saturday May 14, 2011, with non-perishable food items.  That is only 2 days from now.   Make sure that the items you are donating are not out of date or in danger of expiring any time soon.   Don’t have a lot to give; give what you can.  If you are blessed enough to have the means to give…give generously; we all have a responsibility to share our blessings with others.

Support businesses and organizations that sponsor the annual Stamp Out Hunger food drive.  This is an amazing grass roots program that blesses your local food banks.  All the food collected by your local mail carrier stays in your local area.  The people you help may be your own friends, family or neighbors. With the economy being so challenging in recent years more people are affected by not having enough to eat.  The numbers of children in homes without enough food is rising.  The elderly are having a harder time making ends meet.  Young wage earners are finding themselves without steady income to support their families sufficiently.   Natural disasters have hurt many families and those people still need to eat.  Churches can’t do it all…they need our help to provide food for those who are struggling with hunger!  Won’t you help?

Would you like to learn more?  Visit their website here:  Stamp Out Hunger and if you happen to have a Facebook account or a Twitter account…then Like them or Follow them to lend your support.  Spread the work online and off.  Tell others about the food drive…encourage others to donate.

Remember to thank your mail carrier.  They are dedicated to helping people stamp out hunger in your community.   Do you know someone who has had to use food from a food pantry or food bank?  Tell them about my friend Connie who heads up a website that teaches people how to eat healthier with the food that they bring into their homes through SNAP, food pantries, commodities, and farmer’s markets.  She does this in a way to help people stretch their budgets and to encourage the people who visit her website to form a community to share tips and ideas with one another.  Her site isn’t just for food stamp users…but for anyone on a tight budget who wants and needs to eat well.  Food Stamp Cooking Club

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Share What You’ve Got-With Those Who Don’t Have Alot

       People are funny; when things get tight…their fists often get tighter; but not always.  This year, like no other year in recent memory, people are hurting.  They are hurting in many areas financially.  Many have lost their homes, their jobs, their savings…along with medical coverage.  It is a difficult time for many in our nation.

        Most everyone has something that they have been blessed with that they no longer use.  Those things that you have been blessed with and no longer use just might be terribly useful to someone else.  Have extra blankets (or sleeping bags) in the closet or attic that you have no use for?  Someone else has need for them; donate it to a shelter, a church, or an agency that gives to those in need.  Don’t forget places like the Salvation Army or Goodwill.  Let’s challenge ourselves to find ways to have a positive impact on those around us.

         What about checking out deals, when you grocery shop, that make use of buy one get one free…then, donating that extra item to a food pantry?  In fact, things people often run out of and have a hard time replacing are necessities such as laundry soap, shampoos/conditioners, toothpaste, dish soap, toilette paper; when money is limited…having those things donated to a food pantry can really be a big help.  Maybe you have a baby or toddler that has outgrown their diapers or pullups…and you have a partial package left; donate it, don’t let it set on a shelf somewhere unused.  What good are those items doing sitting there collecting dust?

          Do you have warm clothes that either don’t fit, things that aren’t your style; or, perhaps you just have an extra set of clothes that you could pass along?  What about coats or boots, mittens or hats/scarves?  Items such as these are desperately needed in colder temperatures and climates.  The fall and winter weather is unforgiving if a person is not sheltered and dressed appropriately for cold temperatures.  Children and adults are both in need; so, please check your closets and storage areas for things that you are not using.

          Here is another idea; have you had a tree fall on your property that you would like removed?  Offer it to those who heat their homes with wood for free…just for the taking.  Wow…how wonderful to get it removed and bless someone else with the wood who could use it to heat their homes. 

          So you say…you don’t have anything physical to give.  How about donating your time or possibly a service like raking leaves/shoveling snow for an elderly person who you know isn’t able to do it for themselves?  Maybe you could offer to get their mail so they don’t slip on the snow and ice or offer to run some errands for them.  There really are so very many ways to help another person who is in need. 

          Think about the homeless who are living on the streets.  Do you perhaps have a shelter or tent that is not going to be used in the near future?  Can you live without it?  Find an agency or charity that will use it to house those folks who cannot or will not live in a shelter.  We have many veterans and run-aways who live under bridges and tunnels all around this nation.  Is a tent or a shelter from your basement or garage an ideal place to live?  No but, it may just keep someone safer from the extreme elements, temporarily, until they can get back on their feet.

           Are any of these suggestions going to cure the ills our nation is facing; probably not…but, it may just help communicate caring to someone who is feeling desperate and alone.  Think about what you can do to help someone who has it a bit worse than you and yours.  Your donations could mean the difference between life and death for someone; and it doesn’t have to cost you more than a bit of compassion for others!

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How To Save A Life A Minute…Stand Up 2 Cancer

       Tonight there is going to be a historic program on television called Stand Up 2 Cancer on the major television networks, ABC<NBC<CBS.  They are working together in an unprecedented event to raise awareness and funds to fight the fight against cancer.  It is an amazing effort, which was planned to be the beginning of the end, of the horrible plaque on the earth called cancer.

      The statistics are horrendous…we lose one person per minute or 1,500 people a day to cancer…that is unacceptable.  Join the program tonight starting at 8pm on the major networks…will be journalists, music, celebrities and stories that will amaze you.  Please stop what you are doing and make a commitment to be a part of history and join the effort to bring an end to cancer.  Dig deep and pledge money, pledge awareness, pledge your time, skills, talents; and, more importantly pledge to care!   We have lost too much… lost too many people to allow this disease to continue to rob us of those lives.  Each of those who were lost has family, friends, communities who feel cheated.  It could be you or one of your friends or family members next…please get involved in the fight to stand up 2 cancer!

      I love this song…how to save a life…http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3cqJJ-u0nog&NR=1  You can help save lives by watching and committing to the battle to stand up to cancer tonight at 8 pm on the three major television networks.  Be there if you dare to make an impact!  Update:  StandUp2Cancer raised over $100 million dollars for research and development of experimental therapy for cancer patients!  Just amazing what can happen when people join together for the good of mankind. 

     

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Stand Up To (2) Cancer

        Do you know anyone who has been diagnosed with cancer?  Did you know that 1 out of 3 women will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetime…1 out of 2 men.  So unless you are a family of one, with no friends and you are the luckiest person in the whole wide world…cancer is going to touch someone you care about, at some point.  If you haven’t had to deal with the enemy cancer yet…consider yourself blessed beyond reason.  There is a movement afoot to Stand Up To Cancer.  It doesn’t matter if it is breast cancer, colon cancer, blood cancers, brain cancer,ovarian, or any other kind of cancer…it is a destroyer and needs to be eliminated.  Please join forces to battle a plague on the world that we live in…help fight cancer.

        The goal is to Stand Up To Cancer and understand it…take it apart…so that we can more efficiently battle it and WIN!  That is the end goal.   Cancer is the enemy…it is a thief…it has stolen enough, artists, doctors, mothers, muscians, pilots, cab drivers, babies, teachers, clerks, lecturers, fathers, students, writers, researchers, husbands, factory workers, miners, fire fighters, sons, nurses, daughters, child care workers, politicians, sisters, waitresses, brothers, lecturers, speakers, wives, caregivers, grandparents, role models, athletes, neighbors, librarians, friends, social workers, police men & women, military men and women, designers, dancers, clergy, you get the idea…Cancer is not picky about who it chooses to invade and try to destroy. 

          It could be you next, or someone you care about.  Cancer claims one life a minute each day!  Can you believe that?  One person a minute per day is too many loses! That is 1,500 deaths per day… that is unacceptable.    Protect your health best way that you can, eat right, exercise, protect your environment, take your vitamins, stay away from contaminants, be aware and educate yourself.  Honor those who have fought with everything they have…help out someone in a health crisis with cancer…be a supporter to someone in need. 

          Once cancer strikes…there are many needs, physical,spiritual, medical, emotional, financial, transportation, and daily care needs.  Do what you can to lift someone up!  Life is precious.  Will you make a commitment to be a force to be reckoned with and help make an impact in the fight against cancer?

         For us to win the war on cancer it requires courage, support, awareness, education and funding.  The television networks are joining together to bring those tools to the public and try to create a historic event that will hopefully rev up the odds of winning.  http://abcnews.go.com/Health/StandUp2Cancer/  There are many celebrities who are adding their voice and their talents to the project.  They have a wonderful website that you can view here that will explain more.  In the meantime, look for the program to hit the networks on Sept 5th, at 8 pm.  You can go to the website and read up on the idea here:  http://www.standup2cancer.org/  Let’s not be idle and let others do the fighting…there is something that we all can do…what are you willing to do to help?  Let’s envision a future without cancer!!!

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Live’s High Heel-A-Thon

       Today, on Live With Regis And Kelly’s morning show , they had there much promoted high heel a thon.  It was a sprint of 150 yards in high heels; it was done to benefit the March of Dimes.  The participants had to register and then run pre-race heats to get their placement in the race.  Each contestant wore a timing chip to help determine the winner.  The high heels had to be a minimum of 3 inches in heighth.  The winner was declared to be a woman from Queens, New York.   Another woman, by the name of Jill Stamison who is from my very own state of Michigan,  won the best legs portion of the contest, as well as, set a  Guiness World record with her time in the race which was 21.95 seconds.  Congrats to Jill Stamison from the wonderful and scenic Grand Haven, Michigan!!!

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Cancer is a Thief

        Well, another life was stolen by cancer.  Today, we found out that a person that we loved and admired was taken too young by breast cancer.  She was the mother of a young 3 year old son.  She was the wife of a strong upstanding positive man.  She was the teacher of my sons and so many others; and, she was and is a blessing to all who knew her.

         My heart aches because of the loss.  She was one of those people who just made such an impact on all who knew her.  I thought she was going to beat the aggressive disease…i really did.  She fought it with all she had and she didn’t dwell on negatives.   She got into a clinical trial and was making progress.  Through surgeries, chemo, radiation and prayer and faith…she waged the cancer war on every level.   Her battle was courageous and focussed on healing.  She truly engaged all of those around her with a positive energy.  I can’t tell you how much this world has lost today.  I know how much her friends, family and community has lost.

         Cancer is a thief…stealing so much joy, brillance, compassion, energy, laughter, sensitivity, education, potential, love, understanding…and the list goes on.  Help to fight it in your own way.  Donate money, donate time,donate your skills, donate your experience, donate help, donate your free time, donate your educational/research abilities…because, cancer doesn’t just steal from those who can afford to lose extra people in their lives, every life is valuable, cancer steals from us all.  See what you can do: www.cancer.org/ or www.relayforlife.org/ .  www.acscsn.org.   

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Robin Roberts Made Me Cry

        Robin Roberts made me cry…again :)!  You know what…she has decided to take off her wig and present herself as she is.  Since the chemo treatments and the radiation, she has been wearing a wig.   She said she now realizes that she was clinging to the Robin of before her diagnosis.  That is ok…the wig helped get her through that time more comfortably. 

         Healing from cancer or any other disease or illness is about more than physical treatments…it is an emotional journey as well.  We would benefit from realizing that treatment should include the whole person…physical, emotional, spiritual,medical, financial and any other way that would help to bring total wellness.

         There were moments where Robin showed us parts of the process that she was going through.  First, she shaved her head on the air during Good Morning America.  Then, she showed us her bald head when she “modeled” a dress for a fashion designer.  Her beauty, both inside and out, has always revealed itself.  Robin has a strong network of support in her family, her friends and her viewers.  At times, she seems almost apologetic about how much love and support she has.  But, I think of it as inspiration for others; because true support is a lifeline when facing health challenges. 

       Today, she peeled away the private side of her struggle with the hair loss. She held hands with her co-worker friends and told it all.   She wasn’t ready to go “au natural” all of the time in public in the beginning.  In private, she did as she pleased…but, i’ll bet she wore the wig not only to feel comfortable herself in public; but also, to make her viewers more comfortable.  She said that she didn’t want to distract from reporting the news, in any way, by doing it bald.

        As always, i thank Robin for showing the world, through example, how to follow your instincts and do what is right for you in your healing process. There is no single ONE answer for everyone…healing is a personal and individual thing.  This is the right time for Robin to give up the wig; as she said…she is ready.

         Robin is going to auction the wig and then use the money to donate to an organization that helps those without insurance.  She hopes the wig and the money will help someone who doesn’t have the means.  She can’t cut her own hair to donate but this is the next best thing to doing so.  There is an organization for those wishing to donate their hair in a gesture of goodwill for those in need of a wig; it is called Locks of Love.  Their website is:  http://locksoflove.org/.

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Charity Work…Help Petey Who Has Muscular Dystrophy

      If you are one of my regular readers, you know that i don’t do this type of posting often.  However, Petey is a young man who is suffering from a FATAL disease called Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy.  He is going to be 13 years old on the 18th of April.  Petey is in NEED people, in a big way!  http://petey.heartheirstories.com/.

      Petey was recently upgraded to a power wheel chair; the kind that weigh a couple hundred pounds and take several people to load into a vehicle.  That presents more than a few problems, as you can imagine, when you don’t even have a vehicle.

      Not to worry…Petey has friends who care.  Petey’s friends are trying to raise money to get him a wheel chair accessible van.  Now, that wheel chair accessible van doesn’t come cheap.  Petey is in a very large family (9 children and he is the second to the youngest) and no one in the family has a driver’s license or a vehicle,yet.  That will all change with some $$ help.  http://petey.heartheirstories.com/.

       Jason Marshall, from  Joel Comm’s The Next Internet Millionaire show, is one of Petey’s good friends; and, he is heading the campaign to raise the approximately $40,000.00 for that life changing van. 

         Jason is also an internet marketer, with a big heart. He is a man of faith.  He hopes to rally people to either donate monies; or, purchase some incredible internet marketing tools for a mere price of $47.00 from some really successful internet marketers who are donating some great goods worth a grand total value of 2,487.00 !    Wow, that is amazing trust me.  People really do care…they want to make Petey’s 13th birthday a day to remember! 

         If you aren’t interested in internet marketing tools don’t let that stop you from just going to the sales page and donating whatever your heart and your finances will allow.  If you have been blessed with a healthy body…go there and donate.  If you know someone who has been affected by a muscle disease…please go and donate.

        Help Petey….go to this address:  http://petey.heartheirstories.com/.   Come on, some corporate sponsor’s support wouldn’t hurt either…how about it Ford, Chevy, Pontiac, Honda, Chrysler…Petey needs transportation.  Check out:  http://www.mda.org/.

        

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A Good Cause

         It’s a good cause; if i have heard that phrase once, i have heard it a million times.  How do you know if a cause is good enough to support.  Hmmmmmmmmm…you really dont.  🙂  You have to trust your own instincts.   How is that for clarity? 

         With the economy being so depressed and everyone feeling the pinch…schools, churches, communities, and organizations are pulling out all the stops when it comes to fundraising.

          Every young child that comes to get you to purchase a non-essential item to help fund a band booster program,  scouts needing to sell more and more items each year to provide a positive influence on the girls , communities trying to fund activity centers to keep kids off the streets and out of trouble, the groups fighting a debilitating illness or disease; the list goes on and on, and the needs of each group or individual are no less important than the one before them.

         What it really comes down to is, that most of these causes are good ones, it is true.  So, how do you decide where to throw your own dwindling funds?  Personally, i have to make a judgement call; which cause most affects those that i care about? 

          Often, i have to remind myself that those causes don’t just need MONEY; they volunteers, organizers, fundraisers, problem solvers etc.  So, if lack of money is an issue…maybe there is another way you can support the “Good Cause”.  Don’t just file the request in the back of your to do list…get creative if the cause pulls at your heart strings; make a commitment…find another way to “donate to the cause” whatever that cause may be!

       

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