Volunteer Opportunities

TGIFYGDF…Thank Goodness It’s Feed Your Good Dog Friday!

February 12, 2010 by Rose Caplan

SOMETHING TO CONTEMPLATE THIS WEEKEND AND CONSIDER DOING IN THE NEAR FUTURE

Consider participating in a volunteer activity at your child’s school in any way you can…the smallest gesture can make the biggest impact with your child. Talk to neighbors and friends, contact the school or a PTSA representative, or go to the school’s website to find out ways in which you can help. Try and volunteer for something that gives you visibility … whether they show it or not, the kids love to see parents working on their behalf. Be There provides us with reasons why your involvement in your child’s education is a good idea and research to back it up:

Parent involvement research can now document:

1.Create a home environment that encourages learning
2.Express high (but not unrealistic) expectations for their children’s achievement and future careers
3.Become involved in their children’s education at school and in the community

Parent involvement research can now document:
These benefits for students:

1. Higher grades and test scores
2. Better attendance and more homework done
3. Fewer placements in special education
4. More positive attitudes and behavior
5. Higher graduation rates
6. Greater enrollment in postsecondary education

These benefits for parents:
1. More confidence in school
2. Teachers have higher opinions of parents and higher expectations of their children, too
3. Greater confidence in themselves as parents and in their ability to help their children learn at home
4. Greater likelihood that the parents will enroll in continuing education to advance their own schooling.

Read the research, and find out more about Be There here

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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TGIFYGDF…Thank Goodness It’s Feed Your Good Dog Friday!

February 5, 2010 by Rose Caplan

JOIN “ TEAM TREY”
AND, ON MARCH 13, “JOG FOR A CAUSE”
FIGHTING CHILDHOOD CANCER
IN HONOR OF TREY ROOD

A 5K /10K Race 8AM

A 1 Mile Fun Run 9AM

The 10K Is A Peachtree Qualifier

Rain, Shine or Snow, Come Run With Us

Dogs Welcome

Jog For A Cause

Each person who registers will receive a high quality moisture-wicking shirt (a/k/a “dry fit”.) These shirts usually retail for about $30 so you’re actually saving money by running! You can also register but not run, thereby making a donation, and get a shirt as well!

Jog For A Cause will benefit The Justin Gaudineer Fund, The Kylie Barry Fund, The Keira Grace Foundation, and The Trey Rood Fund. To learn more about these charities click on the respective link.

Registrants can now create their own fundraising page for jog for a cause. Form your own fundraising team if you wish. There will be prizes for the top fundraising individual and team. Help raise funds for this great cause by clicking here.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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TGIFYGDF…Thank Goodness It’s Feed Your Good Dog Friday!

January 22, 2010 by Rose Caplan

HANDS TOGETHER HAS WORKED OVER THE LAST 25 YEARS TO HELP IMPROVE THE LIVES OF PEOPLE LIVING IN THE POOREST OF POOR CONDITIONS IN HAITI, AND, AFTER THE RECENT EARTHQUAKE, THEIR WORK IS NEEDED THERE NOW MORE THAN EVER

“All labor that uplifts humanity has dignity and importance and should be undertaken with painstaking excellence.” ~Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Dr. King’s words are inspiration for the work being done by Hands Together, a non-profit organization that works to improve the lives of Haiti’s poor so they may live with dignity. Hands Together volunteers are, and have been, “boots on the ground” in Haiti in one form or another for the past 25 years. You will find a first hand account of what happened in Haiti on the day of the earthquake, Hands Together’s response to it and their recovery plan on the Hands Together website.

Hands Together was born of a single service trip to Haiti in 1985, when Father Tom Hagan, O.S.F.S., who was serving as chaplain to Lafayette and Moravian Colleges in Pennsylvania, led a group of students on a visit to Haiti. The history of Hands Together is rich and its accomplishments many despite the years of violence and natural disasters that have threatened to shut them down.

Its vision is the hope that not only will the people of Haiti benefit from the tireless efforts of its volunteers who work to help the poor become free and live dignified lives through education, clean water, and health care, but that the volunteers return to their own community with the ability to identify its needs with a renewed sense of compassion and desire to fulfill those needs.

One can not help but be inspired and feel moved to serve after reading the following Hands Together vision message:

We hope that members of Hands Together work passionately to build a more compassionate and human world; that Hands Together’s workers will be known for their tenderness and mercy, especially toward the poor; that people will visit our projects and experience the beauty and goodness of the people they encounter; that our volunteers will assess the needs of their own communities with a renewed sense of compassion, and search for ways to respond respectfully to help others; that the families who live in Haiti’s desert villages will be healthy, that the people in the slums of Port-au-Prince will drink clean water; that everyone in Haiti will have access to education; that in the poorest communities, Hands Together helps people use their resources so that they become free and live dignified lives; and we hope that the people of Haiti will be able to build a strong community with their friends from Hands Together and exchange ideas in order to improve their quality of life.

Following are concrete goals set by Hands Together to give you an idea of the work being done to carry out its vision:

Education

15 school campuses with 11,000 students

Emergency Intervention

Spontaneous charity to poorest of the poor
Response to disasters

Nutrition – Health

Daily meals to 11,000 students, staff and elderly
Canteens for children ages 2-7
Medical outreach through 2 clinics

Sustainable Development

Water well and irrigation drilling
Agricultural promotion through Bassen Center & Clarke Farm & Environment Protection
Employment for 500 people

If you find some time to peruse the Hands Together website over the weekend, please do and think about donating what you can to this worthwhile effort. Hands Together has received a four star rating from Charity Navigator for the past four years. Charity Navigator is one of the leading Charity watchdog and assessment organizations.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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TGIFYGDF…Thank Goodness It’s Feed Your Good Dog Friday!

January 15, 2010 by Rose Caplan

It Won’t Happen To Me presents DRIVE FOR LIFE – a program designed to educate Teens and Parents of the serious matter that is teen driving. Throughout the program, stories will be shared of teens who have lost their lives in teen driving related CAR CRASHES. There will also be discussion regarding the decisions and choices that cost them their lives and how the accidents could have been prevented. It is said to be a very powerful program and parents are encouraged to attend with their teens.

Location: Dunwoody United Methodist Church

1548 Mt. Vernon Road

Dunwoody, GA

Who: Teens and Parents

WHAT IT IS…The Drive for Life Programs raise awareness that car accidents are the No. 1 cause of teen deaths in the country; and gives purpose to the loss experienced by families who have lost a teen because of a car accident. These families know that perhaps by raising awareness and through education this way other families may not have to go through what they are.

HOW IT GOT STARTED…These programs are put on by It Won’t Happen To Me, which was founded by Bill Richardson and Lauren Winborne, based on their experience and reserach regarding teen driving fatalities. Bill and Lauren formed It Won’t Happen to Me as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit foundation with the specific goal to reduce teen driving fatalities. This goal has expanded to changing the mind set of teens and their parents that tragedies like this can happen to anyone. So to meet these goals, and because these deaths are usually caused by inexperience and unsafe driving habits of our young drivers, IWHTM seeks to educate teens and their parents. In addition to these programs, It Won’t Happen to Me also puts on an annual “In Memory Of” walk-a-thon for the same purpose.

WHO CAN PARTICIPATE…All teens, parents of teens (especially those whose teens are preparing to start driving) are encouraged to participate in the program for a whole new perspective on the responsibility and the serious nature of teen driving.

POSSIBLE COMMUNITY SERVICE HOURS…If you are a teen check with your school to see if they will give you community service credit for attending the program!

If you need further information please email Bill.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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Wednesday Wide Smile

January 13, 2010 by Rose Caplan

13 year-old Emily Kirsche heard of the great work being done by St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital to help children with cancer. She also heard that the hospital relies on donations to keep the work going. So soon after becoming aware of this, she started a fundraising effort. Half way through last October Emily started raising money for St. Jude by asking friends and family for spare change. In no time, she had collected $200.

Emily decided to step it up and reach out to her surrounding community. In a fundraising letter to a potential donor she wrote: I would like to start an organization called ‘Give A Dollar, Save A Life’. I was wondering if you would be able to help me with this by encouraging students to bring in just a dollar (or more if they wish) to help raise money to save the lives of children battling cancer? St. Jude Hospital is a nonprofit organization that treats children with cancer who can’t afford operations. They also have a research program that is trying to find a cure for cancer. It takes a great deal of money for the hospital to do these things. They rely entirely on donations to operate and I would like to be a part of that with your help. Even if only 50 dollars was raised, that would be tremendous.

Due to policies in place, the donor was unable to help. Emily understood and quickly came up with another plan. With the help of her family, she decided to throw a holiday party. By December’s end she had raised over $600. 100% of which will go to help children battling life threatening cancer now, and for research to help those in the future.

Emily sent the money she raised to St Jude’s, and ended her letter to them with this: This has been an amazing experience for me and I have learned so much from it. I will definitely continue to raise more and more money for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital each year. I thank you for taking time to read this letter and I hope I have helped.

We think Emily’s effort will help indeed! Congratulations, Emily, on a job well done! You recognized a need and took action to help find a way to fill it. And, as evidenced by your letters, did it with grace and humility! Feed Your Good Dog looks forward to hearing of your future service efforts.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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TGIFYGDF…Thank Goodness It’s Feed Your Good Dog Friday!

January 8, 2010 by Rose Caplan

TEN WAYS TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE IN SOMEONE ELSE’S LIFE AND FEED YOUR OWN SPIRIT AT THE SAME TIME (continued from TGIFYGDF dated November 6, November 27, December 4, and December 18, 2009).

Acts of kindness and altruism can reduce stress in our lives according to a recent WebMD Feature article entitled The Science of Good Deeds, The ‘helper’s high’ could help you live a longer, healthier life., written by Jeanie Lerche Davis and reviewed by Louise Chang, MD.

Following are good deed ideas (41 through 50) that make performing acts of kindness and “feeding your good dog” in the new year easy as pie. Check out number 49…an easy and fun way to raise money for your favorite non-profit. Source: 50 good deeds for 50 days, By Daniela Payne

41. A few days before a family member’s birthday, head over to your parents’ or grandparents’ home to wrap their gifts for them. They’ll appreciate your help and the company.

42. On a random weekend, surprise your unsuspecting spouse with breakfast in bed. It will make their day.

43. When you come across a two for one deal (which are popular at book and movie stores), donate your free product to a local shelter or youth group.

44. Allot yourself a set amount of compliments to dole out a day. Your co-workers will love hearing something good about what they are doing.

45. Getting out and about isn’t so easy for some. Volunteer to do your grandparents’ grocery shopping for them every two weeks.

46. Next time you’re at your favourite local pub or breakfast diner, leave your server a very generous tip.

47. Everyone knows how annoying it is to rush back to your car only to find a parking ticket sitting on your windshield. To make sure someone else doesn’t suffer the same fate, feed parking metres that you notice are about to expire.

48. Next time you do your grocery shopping, pick up a large bag of cat or dog food to donate to a local animal shelter.

49. Host a movie night for 10 of your closet friends. Charge $10 admission, provide the popcorn, candy and drinks, and donate the $100 to a charity you all decide on. It’s a perfect way to feel good about having fun.

50. After you complete your 49 days worth of good deeds, treat yourself to a mani-pedi, dinner at your favorite restaurant or those fabulous shoes you’ve been eyeing. After all your selfless acts, you deserve a little treat.

And, remember…Feed Your Good Dog, so your good dog always wins!
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