Volunteer Opportunities

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

November 20, 2009 by Rose Caplan

TEN YEAR OLD MARYMARGARET’S MUSIC FOR LIFE WILL PROVIDE LOADED MP3 PLAYERS TO KIDS TO HELP ENDURE STAYS IN HOSPITAL

Ten year old MaryMargaret O’Neill has raised $3,114.44 over the last year, through her Music for Life effort. The money she has collected will go to buy as many MP3 players (with adapters) as possible to give the gift of music to kids who are in treatment at the Children’s Medical Center in Washington DC. She and her family spent 10 rocky days there four years ago, and the experience has had a profound impact on her since she suffered through many invasive and painful tests.

Now MaryMargaret needs our help. She is looking for matching funds from a corporate sponsor to make the money she has raised over the last year go farther so she can give the gift of music to as many kids as possible enduring medical tests and procedures during their stays in hospital.

Based on her experience, MaryMargaret came up with the Music for Life project. She wants the kids to be able to enjoy the therapeutic qualities of the music. She knows that it will help them through the uncomfortable and painful tests and procedures they must endure during this difficult time in their lives.

The MP3 players will be prepopulated with music from Nicholas Giordano and Cowbell Digital Music. Nicholas is a 13-year-old hero who plays classical guitar and Cowbell Digital Music (@CowbellMusic on Twitter is an Australian company providing digital streaming music. They have offered as many free downloads as they need to populate all the players. As soon as the MP3 players have been purchased and preloaded the music, MaryMargaret will deliver them to Children’s Hospital.

MaryMargaret is looking for corporate sponsors to match the amount she has raised. While you are out and about this weekend visiting family and friends, please let them know of MaryMargaret’s efforts. You never know how far reaching these discussions will go. Let’s see if by spreading the word we can help MaryMargaret find a corporate sponsor. Let’s also think about our contacts at Sony, Apple, San Disk, Best Buy or CicuitCity.com that might possibly provide a meaningful discount on the players so MaryMargaret can purchase more of them and help more kids.

MaryMargaret, and her family, can tell you that a child’s stay in a hospital, especially while trying to figure out what is ailing them, is a very trying time for both the child and the parents — and they are hoping that they can make other kids’ stays just a little bit more comfortable. If you think you can help with this effort, please contact MaryMargaret, and her family, directly here. Thank you.

Sources:

KidsAreHeroes.com

and

Next Phase Music for Life

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

November 11, 2009 by Rose Caplan

To the men and women of the armed forces who defend our Constitution and keep us safe at home and abroad, and to the Veterans who have done the same, and to their families; and to the families and loved ones of the wounded and fallen soliders…we salute you and thank you every day, and especially on this Veterans’ Day 2009, for your service; and, we are humbled by your sacrifice.

In looking for ways to say thanks to our military, we came across an appropriately named organization, The Thank You Foundation. Its mission is to show appreciation and express gratitude for members of the U.S. Military both past and present. They believe that saying thank you is not enough and that the words must be followed up with action and commitment.

Following are two ways in which The Thank You Foundation meets its mission:

First…The Thank You Foundation had a dream to build a mobile health unit to better serve the health needs of military veterans. Cintas heard of their dream and partnered with the foundation to fund the unit’s creation.

On May 15, 2009, the Cincinnati Veteran’s Administration unveiled their new mobile health clinic thanks to the generosity of Cintas founder, Richard T. Farmer and the Farmer Family Foundation.

The new veterans mobile health unit is the only one of its kind in the country. It features most of the amenities of a typical doctor’s office, plus has online capabilities to instantly get veterans and their families enrolled in the VA network. This saves them from a trip to the VA Hospital.

The mobile health unit is booked for the next 6 months, stationed at many public events around the tri-state where many veterans may be in attendance.

And, second…The Thank You Foundation delivers the Kroger Neighborhood Rewards Program and makes it easy to help “Support the Troops” and our Veterans simply by shopping at Kroger.

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!

November 6, 2009 by Rose Caplan

WAYS TO MAKE YOURSELF FEEL GOOD THIS WEEKEND

These good deed ideas make “feeding your good dog” as easy as taking a walk in the park. Source: 50 good deeds for 50 days, By Daniela Payne

1. Make a double-batch of something delicious and freezable and give it to an older neighbour who doesn’t cook for him or herself as much anymore.

2. Buy a bag of good groceries – high-quality coffee, whole-grain pasta, a box of decadent cookies or other treats you’d normally buy for yourself – and donate it to your local food bank or shelter.3. Cut an armload of fresh flowers from your garden and bring them to your local nursing home so the residents can enjoy the smells of spring or summer.

4. Bring your well-behaved dog for a visit at a local nursing home. There’s nothing like a happy pup to raise someone’s spirits.

5. When out shovelling your walk or raking your leaves, it’s not too much more effort to do the same for a neighbour. Consider it good exercise as well as a good deed.

6. Hold the door for people behind you, especially if the person behind is carrying packages, bags or kids.

7. Volunteer at a local breakfast program. A warm smile and a friendly welcome go a long way.

8. Bring someone less fortunate a plant or some fresh flowers. This is something they might not want to spend money on.

9. Make soup for a friend recovering from surgery or an illness. Cooking is the last thing you feel like doing when you aren’t feeling 100 per cent.

10. Take your sibling’s kids out for the day – to the movies, apple picking, for a hike. The parents could probably use a break and the kids will love it.

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!

October 23, 2009 by Rose Caplan

WAYS TO FEED YOUR GOOD DOG THIS WEEKEND

The Queen of Hearts Foundation’s Cardio Kids’ program is back at the Green Market at Piedmont Park, and invites you and your kids to “a day for Awareness and Heart Health Education dedicated to Children. The Cardio Kids is all about an ECO Play Day to share fun outside. Games and activities to get their hearts pumping and to share information as to why it is so very important for them.”

The Cardio Kids’ tent is set up as a drop by in a market setting at Piedmont Park in Atlanta. Activities on the hour.

Destination: Atlanta, GA – Queen of Hearts Foundation’s Cardio Kids tent at the Green Market.

Date: Saturday, October 24, 2009

Time: 9:00am – 1:00pm

Location: Piedmont Park’s Green Market

Address: 1071 Piedmont Ave NE

Atlanta, GA 30309

If you are looking of ways to make a difference this weekend (or any other day in the future for that matter) and affect the lives of others in a positive way, check out the following:

This Saturday, October 24th is World Polio Day. Find out what is happening in your community by contacting your local Rotary Club and make a donation to the End Polio Now Campaign., posted by Mary McManus on DarynKagan.com (link no longer available), and

the new All for Good website.

All for Good lets you browse activities and find events based on your location or interests. It is the “Craigslist for Service”.All for Good makes finding a good deed project in your community easy as pie. Check out volunteer activities and events on All for Good’s website.

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

October 21, 2009 by Rose Caplan

HERE’S A GUIDE TO HELP YOU, YOUR FAMILY, AND/OR YOUR COMMUNITY RECONNECT WITH NATURE…THE CHILDREN & NATURE NETWORK MAKE IT AS EASY AS…WELL…A WALK IN THE PARK

In the United States and internationally, a vibrant children-and-nature movement is helping parents, grandparents and caregivers reconnect children with nature. The Children & Nature Network (C&NN) was created to encourage and support this movement.

One way your family can get directly involved and reconnect children with nature is to create a family nature club. C&NN created a resource to make it incredibly easy for anyone to do so….the C&NN Nature Clubs for Families Tool Kit. Do It Yourself! Do It Now!

C&NN Nature Clubs for Families Tool Kit. Do It Yourself! Do It Now!

The purpose of the Tool Kit is to provide inspiration, information, tips and resources for those who are—or who might be—interested in creating a Nature Club for Families. In creating the Tool Kit, C&NN has drawn on what many other families have done and learned.

The Tool Kit contains a Quick Start Guide which lists five steps to start your own club and it provides templates for each step. The five steps to get started are: (a) Create a plan; (b) Check it out; (c) Invite as many people as you like; (d) Make it Easy; and (e) Ready, set, go! It doesn’t get much easier than that. And…if you have your own ideas all the better. C&NN encourages you to think outside the box.

A few key benefits from creating your own Nature Club are listed in the Tool Kit. Here is a summary. Nature Clubs for Families can be created in any neighborhood and in any economic setting. They can be joined or created by any family. The Nature Clubs for Families approach can break down key barriers, including fear of strangers, since there is safety in numbers. There is the group motivation factor within Nature Clubs for Families. Nature Clubs for Families shared knowledge. And, importantly, there is no need to wait for funding.

The Tool Kit includes a list of testimonials from people who have started their own Nature Clubs for Families and you can view them starting on page 6 of the Tool Kit. It may be that you find inspiration to start your own Nature Club for Families there.

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!

October 9, 2009 by Rose Caplan

EVERYONE LOVES BAXTER, a 19-1/2 year old therapy dog who is no longer able to walk. Watch this video from YouTube and find out why…and how he goes about bringing love and comfort to patients and their families at the San Diego Hospice even though he can not walk.

BAXTER is a 19-1/2 year old certified therapy dog who brings comfort and love to hospice patients and their families even though he himself can no longer walk. He rides in a little red wagon pulled by his owner, Melissa Joseph.

Melissa and Baxter volunteer at the San Diego Hospice, in San Diego, California. He was spotted by hospice trainers as a special dog while with his owners, who were training to become hospice volunteers. Baxter became a certified therapy dog at the trainers urging. During the last six years, Baxter has helped hundreds of patients ease out of their lives with dignity and peace. His uncanny intuition and almost human responsiveness demonstrates the unique and inextricable bond between human and dog.

Melissa has written a book called Moments with Baxter. It is a collection of touching, true stories about the poignant connection between Baxter, and the hospice patients and their families to whom he brings comfort and love.

You can read Baxter’s story on the About Us page on the Moments with Baxter website and find out about:

Therapy Dogs on the Therapy Dogs page on the MWB website

Geriatric Dogs on the Geriatric Dogs page also on the MWB website.

And, you can read more about Hospice at Hospice Foundation of America

You can help support charitable causes that support hospice and therapy dog training by buying a copy of Moments With Baxter. Please see the Products Page on the MWB website.

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