I was a league and a sea cadet growing up at Naval Air Station here in Dallas. I’m joining the ranks again as a mentor/officer and giving back what was given to me!
I’m joining the Livestrong army in Corpus Christi. I will help our congressmen understand why raising money for cancer research is so important. With increased research the millions lost will not be in vain.
So today is My Turn Day. it’s the day where we’re supposed to come forward and announce a public service project we will undertake in 2009. I am very excited about everyone coming to the plate to say “hey, this is my world and I want to pitch in.” The reason that really excites me is because it’s such a wonderful message to share with my daughters. I want Alexa (6) and Ava (3) to grow up in a better world than what we have today. I want them to reach adulthood and have a different outlook than crusty old me and I want them to be active participants in their communities. My Turn Day not only affords me a chance to something with my kids, but it gives me a reason to open up a dialogue with them about the importance of thinking of others, volunteering and being a helper in the world and their community around them. Having said that, you should know that what I am doing for My Turn Day is something that I am only doing with my six year old, because I think Ava is too small to understand and be of real help.
So here’s the plan: Alexa and I went to Home Depot. We purchased some garden green house planters that allow you to see veggies in the house. We bought seeds and we planted. We seeded over 100 new plants: cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, onions, carrots, etc. We did this about 3 weeks ago in the office at the house. We’ve been putting them near the window for sun and watering them every few days. They are growing like crazy! Our plan is to transport the plants to an actual garden that we’ll make in our own backyard in about a month, then take care of them and let them grow into a wonderful garden. Alex and I will harvest the veggies and make donations to a food kitchen. I really like this idea because it’s not one day of volunteering, but it’s an on-going process that keeps her and I working towards a common goal. Plus, I get the fun of growing a garden with my little girl. You should try something like this… a family bonding project with a higher purpose. That’s my My Turn Day. Now, it’s Your Turn.
Melissa Wayne is giving to Kidd’s Kids today.
My Turn – Giving Back
Giving back not only gives great rewards to others, but also to you. The reward is simply putting a smile on someone else’s face.
Over the years I have given in many ways. Through different churches, during Christmas time, I find a family who is in need of food, clothing and gifts for their children and with the help of 2-3 friends we go to their home and give that family one of the best Christmas days of their lives, showering them with all the above. I have been doing this since high school, an experience my Fashion Merchandising teacher shared with some of her students and something I have never forgotten.
My husband and I have gotten up early Thanksgiving morning to pick up 2 soldiers and/or airmen for the day from Fort Sam and Lackland AFB who were not fortunate to go home to their families for the holiday and share our thanksgiving day with them. I didn’t realize what a blessing this could be, not only for them, but also for me and I plan to do it again in the future.
I have donated most of my time, money and services to the March of Dimes for the last several years. A great organization that is always looking for volunteers.
I have rallied with friends, family and neighbors to help family, friends and neighbors through difficult times, most of which who have and/or going through breast cancer. If you know of someone going through this I urge you to be there for them. You can organize people to cook for them, run errands for them, spend time with them to lift their spirits. If you think they might be afraid to ask for help, they are, so you don’t have to ask, just do it. You will be glad you did.
I have helped family members and friends through difficult times, stood by them, emotionally and financially through their drug and alcohol addictions, not only because I loved them, but because I knew down deep underneath those addictions there was a beautiful person wanting to emerge.
This Year I want to give to an organization that serves those I am passionate about and that’s children. This year I will make a donation to Kidd’s Kids. There is nothing greater to me than putting a smile on a kids face.
Something to think about; If you give things you do not want or need to the needy, you are not helping them, they are helping you.
Today is My Turn Day. I will be training my dog (D-O-G) to be a therapy dog. He is so sweet and loveable and I want to share his love with others. The purpose of a therapy dog is to go to nursing homes and hospitals and spend time with people. I am excited about the possibility of helping other just by spending some time with my dog. We are going through the process of learning the special skills we need to be certified.
Now, It’s your turn!
I will be providing 50+ books to our local jail for the inmates to enjoy. Their library is almost non-exsistant and it houses over 200 state and federal prisoners.
Today and the rest of the week I will be collecting donations from anyone who wants to help. My co-worker lost everything in the east dallas apartment fires two days ago. His family is safe but has nothing.
I have donated a sofa and some furniture but they need more.
I am adopting a space at the Community Garden to benefit Frisco Community Services and also walking in a 5K for Great Strides which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
I will return to my hometown in New York on March 6-7 to help 700 students at my alma mater raise hundred of thousands of dollars for local people in need by dancing for 28 hours. As a town, we will Take Our Turn together!! http://www.shmd.org
If you know me, you know I love my furkids (see my blog) as well as everyone else’s furkids. I love going to Petsmart on adoption day just to visit with the animals. I believe in adopting from shelters or rescue organizations and all of my babies are from the shelter or rescue. So I have applied to be a volunteer at a shelter, where I can give love, care and attention to animals that need it the most. I have completed an application to volunteer weekly with CAAWS, one of the local shelters. I plan to take part in cleaning the shelter area and playing with the dogs/cats, who are starved for attention. How fun is that?!? We have to be the change we want to see.
I will return to my hometown in New York on March 6-7 to help 700 students at my alma mater raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local people in need by dancing for 28 hours. We’ve been taking our turn for 32 years now, and have been named the most Fiscally Successful High School Marathon Dance in the country!!
I am sending a care package to the troops in Iraq. I have gotten some friends to help me out with
baking cookies, making cd’s and I’ve got lots of other snacks together.
I am going to donate to a few charities each month no matter what my financial situation. I am only 19 and don’t make much, but charities such as PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) are close to my heart and deserve my money more than I do.
Its my turn. I posted that I am donating materials to the animal shelter here in statesboro ga. I took some rawhide bones by to the shelter as well as some toys for the cats. I also volenteered some time to these animals. This is such a great idea, i hope people really start doing this. It’s your turn to do something!
I am making a very public pledge to spend as much time as possible with my maternal grandmother. She has done so much for me, and loved me so much through the years, that now it’s my turn. I love you grandma!
I volunteer every Monday afternoon at the Kansas Humane Society. I assist Dr. Townsley in surgery and offer relief to the technicians who work there, so they may have a break.
Because of My Turn Day, I am also adding plans to hold a charity poker tournament to raise $$ for the KHS.
HAPPY MY TURN DAY!
is helping her employer to raise money for additional AEDs. We are selling heart shaped cookies, heart pins, heart shaped suncatchers and a paper heart were we can fill in the name of the person who donated.
I am Co-Chairing a large community festival called FallsFest ( https://www.jlwf.org/?nd=fallsfest&und=28 ) Our proceeds go back to our community and the projects that we support.
I am going to bring clothes, books, and candy to the women shelter. I will also see what I can do to help. I will do this Saturday Feb. 14, 2009. Try to make their Valentines Day a Little Better.
I’m volunteering with Girl Scouting as a mentor and cooridnator of college volunteers to help inside girls to be involved in their community and become strong leaders.
I am an Ambassador for the Go Girl! Go! foundation and am helping girls fight obesity. I can’t do it alone so with the help of my synchronized swimming team we are putting on a clinic to get girls active in our community.
I volunteered to work at the Cook’s Children Hospital to help with different things, arts and crafts, sing, paper work, keeping the parents company and etc. I’m very excited. I helped raise over 100,00o with my company for Untied Way. I think this is my calling!
My 12 year old daughter and I are donating our time to Stitch-a-wish at Cook Children’s Hospital, sewing items such as procedure pillows, blankets, dolls, etc. for children.
I will be collecting school supplies to send for the school kids of Afghanistan. I have a friend that is a military contact over there currently that these supplies can be sent to, and he will make sure that they are given to the children for school.
An important note is that in this formerly Taliban ruled area, girls were NOT allowed to be educated. Many teachers, families, and children have been attacked and even killed for their desire to educate theirs or others children (specifically girls).
This is a mission of importance and my friend, whom I have known since middle school, requested that we not bother to send things for him but just to send school supplies that he can get out to the children. This is My turn…
I live my turn day everyday through my job. I am a social worker in an at risk high school. I help to provide hope and guidance to young people who do not have any supportive adults in their lives to guide them on the right path. I respect them and they respect me in return. Over the past 16 years I have seen the difference that my interaction and support has made on many lives. This is my calling, not for a day but for a lifetime.
I will be volunteering with my church to donate teddy bears to sick children on March 1st. On March 21st, I will be volunteering to play board games at a nursing home/rehab facility. I will also be donating to http://www.donorschoose.com.
For my turn day, I will setting up a year long schedule with the Savannah Community Blood Bank to donate platelets via volunteer donation. Volunteer donations are very important to maintain your local supply. If a disaster strikes, if the blood is not on the shelf, patients can not be helped.
PLATELETS are essential for blood clotting. They are routinely needed to support cancer therapy, open-heart surgery, blood disorders, and organ transplants. Platelets must be transferred within five days, requiring the supply to be constantly replenished. Donors can give platelets up to 24 times per year.
I am making sack lunches and handing them out to homeless people. It’s only one night a week now, but I hope it will turn into more. I just need more help!
CSRA Federal Credit Union will read to the children at the Joesph M. Still Burn Center to make a positive impact upon the patients and their recovery and to promote literacy among children in our community.
I have found over the past two years, the hard way, that my full time job is too demanding for me to give a meaningful gift of time to charity. So, I’ve given up my fast food breakfast habit and will be giving that money each week to charity. My first donation was to Kidd’s Kids. I have set up a blog and will post there about the charities each week and will be happy to take readers suggestions about who I should give to.
I volunteer with Upward Basketball. Our main goal is to share the love of Jesus Christ with the players and their families. You can check it out too at http://www.upward.com. I’m a 5th/6th grade girls head coach, and we have practice tonight. ITS MY TURN!
I am going to finish my Special Olympics Coaching certification so that I can start coaching Special Olympics Volleyball. I played Unified Volleyball in high school, which is where special needs students and non-special needs students play on one team together. I lettered in Special Olympics Volleyball. Now that I have graduated high school I want to continue where i left off over four years ago. It looks like the high school I played Volleyball for no longer has a team, so hopefully I can help them build a volleyball team once again and be at the next Special Olympics Winter session in February of 2010!
I am volunteering at the local animal shelter. I am going to clean out drawers and closets around my house and donate to the salvation army/good will. I am going to go give blood; I know a specific little girl who needs it and here is her story:
“I took Karli to 3 fun appointments today and spent all day in Birmingham to get some of the worst news. Her creatinine (kidney function) has gotten worse and her fistula is dead. They call it dead when it has no blood through it and cannot be used for dialysis. Don’t know why it happened. We were told our options now are a major vein redistribution surgery in her left arm to “try” to do dialysis there, but still couldn’t guarentee it would work. The transplant surgeon, Dr. Carlton Young, told us today that putting in a central line in her neck was not the best idea because her veins have narrowed in her neck due to an emergency central line that went it right after her first dialysis. An ultrasound was done on her lines today to give us that news. Anyway, 6 days after her first transplant her body went into shock and she quit breathing. The emergency central line was to send meds straight to her heart. We can do peritoneal dialysis as our only true option, the kind where they put a tube into her tummy. As a teenager she was hoping not to have to deal with a tube in her tummy, but may have no choice. Dr. Young told me I have about 2 weeks to make the decision as to do new arm surgery or peritoneal. I just want to go somewhere and scream. So please back me up, and pray for the decision that Karli and I will make together and please pray for a donor. Share her story and if you know of anyone with an A or an O blood type that would like to try to donate a kidney please call Cindy Richards at 205-939-6794 to get info on how to donate a blood sample and say it is for Karli Chadwick. Thank you with all my heart! Kelly Chadwick”
Thanks so much for this wonderful idea… this great day!!! Happy My Turn Day and God Bless!
Brandi
Through Lubbock Literacy, I will be teaching English to adults who want to learn. I have done this for two weeks now and love helping others gain the ability to interact in our community.
Today I am playin basketball with the BGC(boys and girls club) that i attend.
then i plan to do community service hrs there by volunteering and help clean!:)
i would do other stuff but i cant drive:(
I am buying homemade baby blankets from elderly ladies in my community and then donating the blankets to the neo-natal unit at a nearby hospital. To date 103 babies have left the hospital in a one of kind homemade blanket and 18 widowed elderly ladies have a purpose and some extra money that they spend on things like food.
I’m volunteering my time at a store house for people in need. We cook meals, can them onsite and distribute them to different shelters and familys that can use them. I’m going to try to volunteer atleast once a month. I eat WAY too good to not share that with those less fortunate.
Now i’m not sure if i understand the whole point behind bragging about the good things we’re gonna do for others, but it’s tight i guess. But as for any money that i make, a certain percentage goes back into the Church, some people call this the “Tithe” or simply offering. (in reality the word “Tithe” isn’t mentioned in the New Testiment at all) But, a portion of my new winnings, i will be giving to the youth group at the church i am a volunteer for. So some of the money will be going into the youth account at Calvary Christian Center, in The Colony. This money will be used for outreaches, mission work, and youth camp for the kids, and i know that plenty of good will come from it. Glory be to God. —MusikalFuture— a.k.a. —andrew—
I have started a program for girls ages 14-18. Its a once a month session that was birthed to help girls ages 14-18 understand true beauty and what it means to be a godly woman in today’s generation. It is designed to help cultivate and inspire young girls to find and pursue the talents that God has given them. It also is a place for girls to have an opportunity to develop life-long relationships with girls of like faith. http://www.glamourlife.org
I have started a program for girls called G.L.A.M.O.U.R LIFE. This program was birthed to help girls ages 14-18 understand true beauty and what it means to be a godly woman in today’s generation. It is designed to help cultivate and inspire young girls to find and pursue the talents that God has given them. It also is a place for girls to have an opportunity to develop life-long relationships with girls of like faith.
I have started a program for girls called G.L.A.M.O.U.R LIFE. This program was birthed to help girls ages 14-18 understand true beauty and what it means to be a godly woman in today’s generation. It is designed to help cultivate and inspire young girls to find and pursue the talents that God has given them. It also is a place for girls to have an opportunity to develop life-long relationships with girls of like faith. http://www.glamourlife.org
My nephew was diagnosed with a rare blood disease in 2005 called Histiocytosis. Since his diagnosis my family and I have sponsored several different fundraiser for The Histiocytosis Association of America. To date we have raised over $40,000 to promote scientific and medical research, with the aim of establishing better treatments, a cure, and ultimately, prevention of the diseases.
Histiocytosis is a rare blood disease that is caused by an excess of white blood cells called histiocytes. The histiocytes cluster together and can attack the skin, bones, lung, liver, spleen, gums, ears, eyes, and/or the central nervous system. The disease can range from limited involvement that spontaneously regresses to progressive multiorgan involvement that can be chronic and debilitating. In some cases, the disease can be life-threatening.
In some ways, histiocytosis is similar to cancer and has historically been treated by oncologists with chemotherapy and radiation. Unlike cancer, histiocytosis sometimes goes into remission without treatment.
The vast majority of people diagnosed with histiocytosis are children under the age of 10, but it is also found in adults of all ages.
It is approximated that histiocytosis affects 1 in 200,000 children born each year in the United States. This illness is so rare, there is little research into its cause and treatment, and it is often referred to as an “orphan disease,” meaning it strikes too few people to generate government – supported research.
I’m gonna rock the Race for the Cure in San Antonio,TX and raise as much money as I can. I’ve already arranged for a bake sale at work and am eager to spread the word:)
I plan to continue to be part of a women’s group that crochets blankets, scarfs, mittens, and hats for patients utilizing Victory in the Valley and for local school children that are less fortunate than my own.
I teach senior English and Theatre Arts at Arp High School and my students decided to collect items for an orphanage in Iraq and for the US soldiers who are responsible for keeping them safe. Spread the word about spreading the love!!!
I own a photography business and I am providing sessions at $100 with all images (30-80) provided on a disc with FULL copyright release. $60 of every session will go to Project Graduation for our local High School.
Just wanted to let you know that I love the idea behind MY TURN DAY! I am a mother of four and step mother of two and a full time college student studying to be a social worker! I have done many things for others and encourage my children to do the same. I posted a blog on myspace spreading the word and have posted a list to go around so that hopefully other s will be inspired to get out there and do some good for someone else…THANKS AND I LOVE THE SHOW!
I volunteer one weekend a month for several months during the year at a life management training seminar. We help people deal with and move past what has been holding them back, and design a future for them to live a joyous, free, purposeful life. Although I’ve been told that I have changed and saved people’s lives, I am the one who is rewarded by witnessing God’s miracles in the training room.
I heard about MyTurn Day and thought it was a wonderful idea. Around the same time, I was told my company was consolidating and everyone here was losing their job. As of April 1st I will be one of the many that are unemployeed. I am fortunate enough that I tried to ‘plan ahead’ and decided to go back to school to complete my marketing and management degree and take at least the summer, if not the rest of the year to cram in as many classes as possible.
I am going to volunteer at KANSEL (Kansas School for Effective Learning) as a Marketing Assistant and Special Event Assistant in an effort to help people obtain their GED, basic skills training, private tutoring, English as a Second Language (ESL), Spanish language instruction, computer training, and high school algebra.
Anyone in the Wichita area that is interested, they have several volunteering positions available. I’ve linked to their website above.
I will be joining the Livestrong army in Corpus Christi as well as volunteering for Relay for Life in honor of my sister in law Renee who passed away Jan 20 2009 at the age of 20.
I have chosen ChildLaw Services in Princeton, West Virginia as my partner for my turn day!
Currently, ChildLaw Services is serving over 400 children with legal services. These children come to them as a result of abuse or neglect, domestic violence, parental substance abuse, sexual assault or other high-risk situations. Often, ChildLaw attorneys are the only lifeline for these children and youth.
The ChildLaw attorneys and social worker are specialized in the field of children’s law and advocacy. They are the ONLY children’s legal services agency in the State of West Virginia. ChildLaw has a staff of seven professionals and an annual budget of less than $300,000. Our caseload has been rising for two years; however, our financial support has decreased. For example, grant funds from the Victims of Crime Act have decreased 40% in the past two years and because of lower interest rates, funding from the WV Bar Foundation is down by 20%.
The fundraisers that I am helping with will help an abused child through the healing process, help a special needs child obtain a more appropriate educational experience, or help a mentally ill child get the treatment he or she needs.
The first fundraiser that I will plan and help complete is an All Star Basketball Tournament to be held the weekend of March 20th in Bluefield, WV. I think a youth basketball tournament to help disadvantaged children is a great idea to raise money and increase awareness. Most of the children that will play on the teams in the tournament aren’t even aware of the things that the children go through that are helped by ChildLaw Services.
I will also assist in the fundraising for the 7th Annual Gala Art Auction. It will be held at Gary Bowling’s House of Art in Bluefield, WV on June 6th. We need businesses to give donations for sponsorships in the program and for advertising. We are also asking businesses to give packages for a silent auction such as “Spa Packages” or “Golf Packages”.
We will need other people to help in both of these fundraisers! Please let me know how you can help ChildLaw Services help more children!!!!
I will continue to donate blood, donate my used books to local charity groups, and put money back into my community by supporting local charity events…such as rummage sales, flea markets, and farmer’s markets.
I never know how my day is going to be due to disc problems in my neck and lower back and like this past weekend, it was severe. What I can do is donate all of whatever money received from downloads, radio plays,etc. to the charities in each city in each state in each country that plays the songs. Right now “What Would You Do…? is on http://www.kiddnation.com/profile/farrahr the only website I’m on because sitting and typing hurts me.
Other songs that will be put up as soon as I have good days and Roy Al Rendahl (the other half of The FaRo) when he is not taking care of his 88 year old mother record for charity:
1) “U R” FR for strays
2) “Never-Ending Pain” FR for battered women
3) “Love From Up Above” FR for orphans below 18
4) “I Believe In Me” FR for all kids
5) “Fantasy Flight” FR and my mom Sharifah Molek for Kidd’s Kids (instrumental)
6) “Look At Me” FR for the disabled
We do feed the stray cats outside and if we could, we would adopt all of them. That is why I can’t volunteer with animals because I’ll be crying as I’ve done in the past.
im putting myself through vet tech school so im gonna go work with the local shelter and help take care of the animals and do whatever needs to be done..i have a passion for all animals espically birds so on top of the shelter i think i will go work with the local avairy vet…
So it’s My Turn Day and I have decided to become a guardian for the Guardian Ad Litem program here in Tallahassee!
It’s a guardian/advocacy program for abused and neglected children. I get to interview family/foster families/teachers or whomever else may be involved in my child’s life, work with the community to make sure the children has the resources and support it needs and based on my investigation work with the local courts to make independent recommendations based on that one child’s needs, and becoming the voice for the child.
If only I can change the life of one child, it will be worth it for me.
I’m making and delivering valentine treats to the elderly at a local nursing home, teaching a class for free at the University of Hope (uhope.org), and donating books to the Half Price Books Half Pint Library.
I am going to help out for the special olypmics. I also helped donate blood for people who are in need of it. I help people at school who need to understand what they are learning. I can’t promise you that I know everything or that I can help you but I can try my best to help you understand.
I have enrolled my miniature schnauzer (Luci) and myself in dog therapy certification classes. The certification process takes a couple months but we should be a certified therapy team by the end of May. Luci and I will be visiting nursing homes and retirement communities in early June to share some TLC with residence. Looking forward to sharing smiles and laughter with residence.
I will be volunteering at the Crisis Center of the Plains in my local area. The Crisis Center helps women and children who have been sexually and/or domestically abused.
For my turn day, I am hosting a plant wide food drive for two months for the East Texas Food Bank at my company! All the food collected goes to supply EAST TX food pantries!
I am going to double plant veggies in my backyard and donate the produce from the 2nd crop to my local food bank/soup kitchen. That’s My Turn. Now it’s your turn!
I will be volunteering throughout the year at 1-800-volunteer.com. There are lots of opportunities on this site if you are having trouble thinking of something. Go look and let it be your turn!!
I am sorry! I meant 1-800-volunteer.org not com! (My 1st volunteer act will be giving make-overs to women at a Battered Women’s Shelter- what a fun way to make a difference!)
I used to help the teachers with the mentally challenged by help reading to them or help organizing their toys. I still do once in a while when I see them, but for now, I am just helping my sister get through Middle school. When I grow up, I would like to become a doctor to help those in need.
I am 10 years old and I donated 12 inches of my hair to locks of love. My hair grows really fast, so I am going to try and donate hair every year to help kids that might need a wig.
My uncle passed away a little over a year ago and my husband and I are going to be the guardian to his son who has Down’s when something happens to my aunt. We go once a month to see them and build a relationship with him. And we love him…it is crazy he blesses us more than he will ever know.
What are we here for unless we are to help others???
dear kidd, i don’t even know if you will read this but if you do i would like to say,i think it is great that you are getting people motivated to give there time to help others,but what about those of us who do it all the time i work with the mentally retarded every day i take them out into the community and assist them to purchase groceries and do socialization,i even HELP THEM find jobs. i don’t do it for the money,by the time i pay my monthly day care i have about 100.00 left a month. so i hope that today on myturn day the work that i am doing with my people that day will be enough to be recognized. i just felt like you should know i mean you seem so passionate and say it only takes an hour a week of your time and i give 40 hours a week of time to these blessed people ,they have opened my eyes to things i never would have even thought about.
Happy my turn day. Just hittin ya up to let you know I am celebrating my turn day. I am telling everyone I know. I’ve blogged about it on myspace, I posted a bulletin, and in a few minutes I will put out a memo at work! I am all about helping others. In fact, I am a volunteer fireman. I will not work at a full time fire dept, because I would rather make a difference in the community for the sole fact of receiving a thank you , and not a paycheck. I love the show Kidd!
Great idea to push for volunteer work!! Happy my turn day. I decided since my 14-year-old son has never volunteered, this is a great opportunity for him to participate. We contacted the Special Olympics and my only child will be working with kids with special needs.
I will have him follow up with you in the future to let you know what kind of impact this has on his teenage life!KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!
I just sent you an email telling you what I am DOING. I’m scared to death, but I am going to contact a rape crisis clinic in my town and see if I can go “talk” to their group. Wish me luck as I am NOT a public speaker!!
Hey Kidd! Just ran across this website today. They’re in a few major cities – not sure if any are in your syndication areas… http://www.onebrick.org
Mission Statement
One Brick provides support to local non-profit and community organizations by creating a unique, social and flexible volunteer environment for those interested in making a concrete difference in the community. We enable people to get involved, have an impact and have fun, without the requirements of individual long-term commitments.
About One Brick
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, One Brick is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that brings volunteers together to support other local non-profits by adopting an innovative twist to the volunteer experience: we create a friendly and social atmosphere around volunteering, and after each volunteer event — which typically lasts only 3 to 4 hours — we invite volunteers to gather at a local restaurant or café where they can get to know one another in a relaxed social setting.
Our ‘commitment-free volunteering’ allows you to choose when you volunteer, rather than having to make commitments for a certain number of volunteer hours, or agree to be available every week at a specific time.
Kidd,
On Twitter a popular thing to do for trending topics is to add a hashtag, which makes the topic more easily trackable and searchable.
For example, if you search the hashtag iphone, you get this: http://bit.ly/2HJSBc
Anyone who wants to join the discussion, so to speak, simply adds iphone to their tweet and their tweet will show up on the search page. What’s more, the search results are updated in real time, so it lets you know when new tweets have been posted.
I’m mentioning this because if you’d like to track what everyone’s doing (even people you’re not following), that might be a good way, especially since the staff is on Twitter now. As a side note, since many people feed their tweets to Facebook and MySpace, it’ll show their updates there as well.
So the posts would then look like this:
I’m working in a Homeless shelter. itsyourturn
I’m signing up to become a Big Brother. itsyourturn
I’m on my way to go serve at a soup kitchen. itsyourturn
I’ve decided to work in a dog shelter. itsyourturn
I’m going to clean a park. itsyourturn
We’re helping to build a playground. itsyourturn
I’m bringing food to the elderly. itsyourturn
Pat from Canada is volunteering on the community services board of directors and the fund raising committee. I also volunteer my reiki services at a cancer centre for those who are experiencing a very rought time in their lives and I do the 60km Weekend to end breast cancer walk to raise funds to end cancer. I believe we can all assist the new President Barack Obama to change the world one bit at a time.
Very touched this morning while listening to you guys talk about making a difference. I live in New Orleans and what I am going to do is donate all of our old clothes to a homeless shelter. We are moving to Texas and it’s a great time to spring clean!
I will also try to make the public aware of a very rare syndrome called Jacobson Syndrome! There are so many children that slip through the cracks without a proper diagnoses. I know for 1st hand. My daughter has this syndrome and it took her blood work to be sent to California 3 times before they diagnosed her. This syndrome hits 1 out of 100,000 children. It was discovered in 1973. There is so much more research that needs to be done so we can understand how it effects children in so many different ways.
I am organizing the 2nd annual St. Baldrick’s Foudation Event in Gladewater, Texas, which raises money for pediatric cancer research. I will be shaving my head in solidarity with the children that are diagnosed with cancer each year. Basically people donate money to help you reach your personal goal amount, and if you reach the amount you shave. Be brave – get bald!!!!! Sign up to be a shavee, or to host your own event, at http://www.StBaldricks.org .
And no excuses about vanity! I’m a mother of 3, with 1 on the way…and bald is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
I have contacted the Texas State Representative’s office and am going to testify before the House in Austin to help get HB 438 passed-that is a new law being considered banning the use of texting on cell phones while driving. My 16 year old daughter was killed in a car accident last year caused by texting and driving. I am going to testify to help get this law passed and hopefully save the lives of many other teens as well as adults.
I am donating $70,000.00 a year to CASA. The money will come from the sales of my books. My just released bio titled, “The Road To Me I Now Know Why That Caged Bird Sang” is primarily about my life growing up in foster care in the State of Indiana. My overall goal is to donate $100,000.00 a year to the organization.
I want to ensure that every child in state custody in Indiana, has a CASA to represent them. I never had one and my life was hell. Torture, rape, murder, beatings, burnings are nothing new to kids in foster care, but with a CASA to stand up for their rights, most cases of abuse can be caught and stopped. So help me help CASA by going to either m site http://www.jessicaangelique.com or my publisher’s site at http://www.eloquentbooks.com/theroadtome.html to purchase the book.
Also, if you know Dr; Phil or Robin, give them a shout and let them know what I am doing and ask if they can help me. Every little bit helps and if you want to donate to CASA, you can go to http://www.nationalcasa.org to see what you can do.
Soooo after the show was over i felt this feeling of “what can i do” what do i want to do that would truly matter… i knew what you were saying was a great idea, but I didn’t have that awh moment that feeling of that’s it I WILL blank blank! But as the day went on and I stopped trying to force a good idea to come out my brain it came to me, it came to me when I wasn’t even thinking about it anymore and the funny thing was I was pulling out my ID to buy a bottle of wine at the store and that’s when I saw it, I saw my little red and white American Red Cross blood donation card, the card that I had only used once last year and that’s when I knew that was my “MY TURN” I would not only give blood but my contribution would to be a dedicated donor! To keep giving the gift of life to someone!!! Now my blood is just your regular O positive but it can help and maybe some of you who have that rare type like A+ A- B+ B- or AB this might be you’re MY TURN
I love this! My children and I are in the midst of talking about what it is that we want to do together for my turn day. My oldest (10) wants to volunteer at the animal shelter, my youngest (5 today yay!!) wants to visit sick children in the hospital. So we will probably make volunteering a habit, with different things to do each time. I think this is a wonderfully contagious project and kudos to you Kidd for helping spread the humanity!!!!!!!
I am Volunteering at “Rain Tree”, which is a Girls Group Home in New Oreleans, LA, for young girls. I just want to go a talk to these young girls & try to put “Love & Hope Back Into There Lives”. I know these young girls will be able to relate to me, as I have been where they are now. Sometimes just sitting a talking with someone who understands your situation, makes I BIG difference. EVERYONE NEEDS A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON!. I want to be the shoulder these young girls might need. I want to be someone they can talk to & relate to. Wish me Luck! I lived in a group home many years ago & I also lived with Foster Parents & was eventually ADOPTED.
I now live just ouside of New Orleans in Marrero, LA. I am a mother of 4 & I am SO VERY HAPPY!
Hey All,
Just thought I would share with everyone what my classmates and I are doing for a fundraiser. I am the head of the fundraising committee at my cosmetology school and we are puting on a hair fashion show this spring. The profits will all go to the Paul Mitchell “FUNraising” Charities, which then get distributed to several worthwhile organizations, such as ‘Cancer Shmancer’, ‘Larry King Cardiac Foundation’, ‘Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation’, and many others. For more information on how you can “Start Doing”, please visit http://www.paulmitchelltheschool.com and click on the “How We Give Back” link. Thanks!
I would just like to say that I have been raising awareness for endometriosis. I have been e-mailing everyone about the stamp that they are coming out with to raise awareness for endometriosis. I am so glad that you have said this on the radio station to help other people out there kid kraddick. Thanks!
i am 12 years old and during this past year, My family and i adoupted a child from Peru. Her name is Karly and she is anericsic. we give her 20.00 a month, but we try to give more. i cant wait to come and visit her.Know its your turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
from and with love, sam
All I can offer at the moment is support for my loving, caring friends. Love them and care for them 10 times as much.
In the meantime, I wanted to feed a homeless person. Perhaps buy him a hamburger, or prepare him a sack lunch. It just bugs me to see a person on the streets with no home. I mean, I know that they can always do something about it, but I can’t turn my back and not care. Its a little stubborn. Who knows? Maybe that’ll give ‘em something to shoot for, I guess.
i joined a website called socialvibe, it is becoming a very big website, and i encourage more people to join. Its really easy, you join, choose your cause, choose a sponsor, and create a badge, the bagde will be put up on your myspace, facebook, etc. however many people look at that badge earns you points, the more points you get the more money you raise. You can also earn points by answering the question of the day, updating your status, uploading photos to your profile, adding your social network (myspace etc.), and making new friends, and once you get 2000 points you get sent a free socialvibe ball. i would really like if more people got involved with this organization
I will be volunteering in the classroom at the Rise School of Corpus Christi, a preschool which provides a high quality early childhood education to all young children including those with developmental delays such as Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
I’ve also been serving on a committee to plan the 3rd Annual 2009 Rise and Shine Walk benefiting the Rise School of Corpus Christi which will be held on February 21, 2009 at Cole Park. The goal of this walk is to promote awareness and the inclusion of people with special needs and to raise money for education and research.
I am now an official volunteer for Relay for LIfe. I lost a very good friend, Melissa Britt, to Lymphoma on January 3, 2009. She was an awesome woman and an inspiration to everyone she met. I love her and seeing her struggle makes me want to help people who are hurting.
I am not sure what to do yet, but I would like to help Habitat for Humanity rebuild homes. I am going to look into that. I am also going to start becoming more aware of other things I could help with. I think it will help to stop thinking about petty problems we all have, and start doing something for the big problems that others might be facing. Its about time this has started!! Yea!!!!
My preacher once said that if you REALLY want to experience true happiness, then give of yourself! I believe this wholeheartedly and I try my best to teach my children the same thing!
I am excited about helping with the homeless animals in DFW! It is called Paws In The City and I got the idea from Kellie. I am a dog fanatic and I hope to help this organization get more animals adopted so that they are not euthanized. I will also be helping my church build a house with the Habitat For Humanity project.
Scandalous Housewives in Plano are continual volunteers…this past Saturday, we co-hosted an event for the Ballet and the Arts of Collin County commission. Two of us serve on the Ballet Board and have for years.
Lushess (me) volunteers weekly for Second Chance SPCA where dogs and cats are rescued from neighboring county’s euthanasia list, nursed back to health, then adopted to good families. I do vet runs for them at least once a week. And I try to get my kids involved as often as I can.
Hello friends and family! Today is “My Turn Day”. What is “My Turn Day”? Here’s the skinny: On February 10, it’s your turn to announce to the world exactly what you’re doing to serve your community. You blog it, text it, e-mail it, twitter it, webcam it, maybe even write it on the back window of your car. Let the world know exactly what you’re DOING. Chances are, all those messages will inspire others to serve too. Stop Talking. Start Doing.
So, in searching for organizations to donate towards, I wanted them to have personal meaning to me as an aspiring filmmaker. In that spirit, I have researched two great film-related organizations I have decided to donate towards:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation: michaeljfox.org
My favorite movie of all time is Back to the Future. And it’s star, Michael J. Fox continues to suffer the effects of Parkinson’s disease. This disease has not only shorten his career, but also those of countless others…including Muhammad Ali and the Reverand Billy Graham. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease within the decade through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today. They believe without fail that their goal is within reach, and I have decided to aid them in the cause through my donation.
Darius Goes West: http://www.dariusgoeswest.org
The other organization is one Kidd Kraddick (creator of My Turn Day) himself made me aware of. 15-year-old Darius Weems from Athens, Georgia, was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common fatal genetic disorder to affect children worldwide. In 1999, he watched his beloved older brother, Mario, pass away from the same disease at age 19. Soon after, Darius lost use of the muscles in his legs and had to begin using a wheelchair.
A group of Darius’ college-age friends decided there was no need for his quality of life to disintegrate along with his muscles. In the summer of 2005, they rented a wheelchair-accessible RV and took Darius, who had never seen mountains, the ocean or even crossed a state line, on the adventure of a lifetime. The ultimate goal of their 7,000-mile cross-country journey was to reach Los Angeles and convince MTV’s hit show “Pimp My Ride” to customize Darius’ wheelchair. Along the way, they evaluated wheelchair accessibility in America, celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and raised awareness of DMD—particularly among a generation not familiar with Jerry Lewis. They also found joy, brotherhood and the knowledge that life, even when imperfect, is always worth the ride….and it was all captured on an amazing documentary called Darius Goes West . This documentary is designed to entertain as well as educate the masses about DMD by telling a story through the lens of friendship. In addition to hilarious footage from this all-male road trip, Darius Goes West features personal stories from two other families affected by DMD, as well as an in-depth interview with a medical expert discussing promising new research that offers hope for treatment and possibly even a cure. Darius Goes West is a nonprofit film. Therefore, I have decided to donate to their cause as well.
I encourage everyone to find an organization(s) that has meaning to you and donate your time or money…or both! That’s “My Turn Day” dedication…what’s yours? I hope we all have the courage to stop talking…and to start doing in 2009. Much Love, Steven
Students at Lakehill Preparatory School is East Dallas are aiming for 400 acts of service–every student in the school is making a pledge today and writing it down, with the goal of hitting 100% participation!
I volunteered at the Cancer Center in FTW. They have a movie night on the last weekend of the month for the patients. It allows the patients to spend time with their familys and not have to worry about all the other things that are going on. I will mostly just helping to cooking dinner for the familys and patients but I still feel great about it! Thanks for reminding us that we can all do more!
The last Saturday of every month my church goes downtown San Antonio Texas and feed the homeless at the SAMS shelter. If anyone is interested in volunteering please call 210-490-2827.
Hello its my turn to help children who have been mistreated and need a home. We all need someone to smile and hug with. So by doing this its my turn to join the Ft Worth C.A.S.A program
This week I will be cleaning a friends house while she is in Indiana helping her sister move.
We are also helping a neighbor build a back yard fence.
On March 7th my husband and I are volunteering to help build new playground equipment for the community park.
I am participating in the cycle for a cure to help fight diabetes. I am also signing up to be a volunteer for the Collin County Child Advocacy center to help with abused children.
FACTS:
There is a critical shortage of organs, tissues and eyes available for donation. There are more than 96,000 patients in the United States awaiting transplantation—more than 7,000 are Texans.
Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list. Every day, 17 people die waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
The Glenda Dawson Donate Life – Texas Registry is the official state organ, tissue and eye donor registry.
Historically, while signing a donor card and placing the “donor” sticker on your driver license served as an important symbol of your intent, it did not place you on any official list or registry.
In 2005, Texas joined 40 other states in the country by creating its own state donor registry.
Registering to become an organ, tissue and eye donor helps ensure your wishes will be carried out after you die.
You have the power to donate life. Sign up today to become an organ, tissue and eye donor. Your generosity can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through tissue donation.
My father and I are on the cycling team Gardere Gearheads with Gardere Wynne Sewell lawfirm. We have been riding with them for over a year now and participated in both events last year and training again for the MS150. Last year he and I raised around $1800 for MS and around $1300 for Children’s. We will volunteer for the running portion of the TX TOUGH in March and swim portion (date TBD). Please read below for information on the charities.
TX TOUGH http://www.txtough.org
The TX TOUGH Tour is a pledge fund-raiser created exclusively to raise money for Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. When you sign up and pledge to raise money for Children’s, you have the opportunity to participate in a RUN, SWIM or BIKE event.
~~~~~
MS150 Frisco to Fort Worth with my bike team GARDERE GEARHEADS http://www.gardere.com/ms150/
It’s time for the 2009 North Texas MS150 Bike Tour fun to begin! We would like very much for you to join in our Gardere Gearhead fun this year. The SAM’S CLUB MS150 is a 2 day bike tour and a vital fund-raiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter. It directly benefits more than 17, 000 men, women and children living with MS in 141 Texas counties. Join more than 3,500 cyclists this year on May 2-3, 2009 as we take to the Texas roads from Frisco to Fort Worth in the SAM’S CLUB MS150 Bike Tour. This important weekend will raise more than $2.5 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, giving hope to more than 20, 000 Texas families living with multiple sclerosis.
Hello there….Today I am signing up for the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY WALK….As a caregiver to my sister(WHICH IS A PANCREATIC CANCER SURVIVOR OF 5 YRS) , I feel obligated to take the walk for her honor…..Cancer doesn’t discriminate!!!!PERIOD…!!!!SO, I WILL TAKE THE WALK WITH PRIDE THAT I STILL HAVE MY SISTER WITH ME TO TAKE THAT WALK TOO!!!GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU….
I am getting my sons to get their friends to volunteer in the community. They are collecting money to send care packages to deployed soldiers for now. My goal is to keep kids out of trouble by taking them to volunteer or helping them find a way to help neighbors when they have nothing to do. Hopefully this will help them create a natural habit of looking around to see what can be done in a positive way when they are bored. I want them all to have a variety of volunteer experiences and am willing to do whatever it takes to help them become good citizens.
I’ll be volunteering with Heart Gallery of America. Its a great organization for photographers to volunteer their time photographing children who are up for adoption. Combines two of my biggest passions- Photography and Adoption.
Happy My Turn Day Everyone!
I plan on devoting my life to providing free medical care, I have helped with a clinic for the homeless for several years now, and I am planning to go to medical school so that I can open my own free clinic.
I work for the American Red Cross in Dallas, so I had no clue what I was going to do (feeling that I work for a volunteer driven non-profit company, but still wanting to do more.) I was curious how I could step out of my normal duties of the Red Cross….and here’s what I got…
I am getting involved in a program that our HR department introduced us to. Dallas Elevators Role Model Program (Boys & Girls Club with Coca- Cola)- It’s like the Big Brother/ Big Sister program, but it allows high school juniors and seniors to shadow people at their workplace and get to know about life after high school and college. It is great opportunity to get kids motivated about their future and career path. Ever generation to follow holds the key to our world’s future…we can take steps to help make that future better.
I am volunteering at my church library. It was going to close its doors due to lack of volunteers. Through this I will be able to provide materials and resources to those seeking godly wisdom.
My 5 year old grows like a weed, he out grows clothes sometimes faster than he can wear them. I’m donating all of his outgrown clothes to local charities to either resell so that they can raise money or to give to those in need. In this economic crisis many people can not afford to pay their rent let alone buy new clothes. As a single mom I have been on the receiving end and know how important it is to give back. It’s my turn to help someone else like I was once helped.
I will become more involved in a charity I already work for. This is the best cause that I could choose. Volunteering time to raise money for children’s brain tumor research is such a worthy use of time and energy.
http://www.marchforbabies.org/NTANN
It’s MY Turn! The North Texas Association of Neonatal Nurses will walk 5 miles for babies in our area that need help to survive and thrive.
With Your Support There’s Hope!!!
Premature birth and birth defects take a tremendous emotional and physical toll on babies and their families.
On April 18th, 2009
The North Texas Association of Neonatal Nurses (NTANN) will participate in the 5 mile “March for Babies”. By doing this we will raise money to be donated to March of Dime to support programs in our community that help moms have healthy full-term pregnancies; as well as to fund Nobel Prize-wining research to find answers to serious problems that threaten out babies.
Help us do our part to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
I’m spending at least an hour a week at Russell Elementary School in Missoula, MT. I’ll help where I’m needed. Maybe I’ll play on the playground with the kiddos or maybe I’ll read a book. Whatever it may be- I’m excited! I started last week. It is a great way to give back to the community and have fun while doing it.
I am going to keep volunteering my time for the American Cancer Society and I am also going to start doing more in my community to better the place I and my children live!
I am a substance abuse counselor at an outpatient treatment facility and I am organizing my clients in recovery to all volunteer in our community! This is a wonderful opportunity for me and my clients to give back to those that have helped them get back on their feet (i.e. homeless shelter, food bank, or the park and rec. dept.)!
Thanks for the inspiration!!
My husband and I volunteer every other month at our church. We teach 2nd and 3rd graders during service. I also volunteer in the nursery thier, every month on every 3rd Sunday. We love the kids.
The credit union has a whole will read to the children at the Joesph M. Still Burn Center to positively impact the patients and their recovery and promote literacy among children in our community.
Our branches will provide dessert for the Augusta Crisis Center for their Valentine’s dinner.
The Marketing and I.T. Dept will collect coupons monthly and give to Safe Homes of Augusta, a non profit organization that shelters women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
I am fostering two puppies from our local Animal Shelter that have tested positive for parvo. They have to be given an injection of antibiodics every day and possible IV fluids injected periodically if they start getting dehydrated. I also have to clean their area three times a day with bleach solution along with anything on my that comes in contact with the area, including the bottoms of my shoes. I pray my efforts save these little guys as the other 7 siblings have already passed from this virus.
I am going to help feed Hospice patients that can no longer feed themselves on the weekends! This is perfect for me. I’m a registered nurse and love caregiving and helping those that cannot help themselves!
I volunteering with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. Community service has been a large part of my life and this is one group I have always wanted to participate with but never got around to… I am very excited about getting my hands dirty to help build a home.
My husband and I will be participating in a 150 mile bike ride to raise money for MS in Virgina Beach. If you are interest in “taking your turn” and helping please visit our “group’ at http://www.facebook.com group name “The Cantley’s Ride for MS”. there you will find a link to our web site and you can make donations to the MS Society
I am going to volunteer at RIver Legacy Living Science Center and help as an animal care assistant! I will be feeding animals and cleaning cages! Position requires 2 hours a week and be done before 2pm .
Today I will start helping other families with special needs “children” who don’t know the system with organizations & programs. 6 years ago when my daughter was born I knew nothing & no one wanted to help or guide me. It has been a long long struggle to get my daughter the medical care she deserves & the help she needs to function so I have decided to help others & show them the way that I had to find on my own. THANKS TO KIDDS KIDS THAT HELPED ME DECIDE THIS!!!!!
Kaitlyn’s mom 08′ Kidds Kids
I serve on the Board of the local Humane Society, The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. I am the main online social networker, I help with planning events and fundraisers, help with decisions that effect the everyday operation of the shelter, occassionally help with the cleaning, help with workshops and adoption mobiles, and much more.
LumaCorp, we are committed to Texas, to the properties we manage and the clients we serve. As a company who cares we choose to participate as well in my turn day and below you we see some of the commitments made by our 21 properties over the state of Texas as well as the employees of our Corporate Office in Dallas TX.
Kim Moncibais-
Professionally, I volunteer on 3 separate committees for AAGD (Auction, Spring/Fall Golf Tournament, and Toys for Tots).
Personally, I just accepted a director position on the Allen Sports Association Football League Board, and will be volunteering countless hours to the young boys in our community.
I just made a charitable contribution to the American Heart Association, and recently to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I also adopt an Angel Tree child each year for the Salvation Army.
Rick Moncibais-
Professionally, I (with the help of Service Managers) will participate in the IREM Community project for 2009.
Personally, I am currently coaching 6 year old flag football and 6 year old soccer in Allen TX. I have coached soccer since fall of 2006 and coached football since fall of 2007. Football and soccer are year round sports in Allen. I plan to continue to coach, including coaching tackle football in fall 2009. Go Cowboys and Stingrays!
Kristi DeCarlo-
I have registered at booksforsoldiers.com to send not only books, but also dvds and games to our soldiers. Additionally, I am a member of a police officer spousal support group. We donate our time, meals, etc. to families in need. We also donated school supplies to needy families at the beginning of this school year.
Kathy Whitman-
Today, I wrote a letter for Sherry Jordan’s nomination as TAA Reg Spv of the Year; this spring I will clean out the closet of the clothes that I thought someday would fit but never will and donate to an organization that provides clothes for women who need for interviewing and work; this summer I will work for the AAGD community project; this fall I will donate to the Shriner’s Hospital; this winter, I will donate for Toys for Tots and the Salvation Angel Tree.
Ian Mattingly-
This year I am chairing the Dallas IREM chapter ARM committee (so please contact me if you’d like to participate!) and assistant coaching my 4-year-old’s YMCA soccer team (go Team Dinoco!). My family is a regular visitor to a local retirement community where my children do an excellent job performing for the seniors and bringing joy. We are supporters of AOPA, Public Radio, and the Crestone Preservation fund, and we try to instill civic-mindedness in our eldest child by bringing him along on regular trips to bring food and clothing to Metrocrest Social Services
Sherry Jordan-
Professionally – I will volunteer my time to the Union Gospel Mission assisting with their food pantry and any other needs they may have. Those of you on the west side can join me…AATC works closely with them.
Personally – I am going to mentor an elderly person. Doing things such as taking them to dinner, the movies, remising about old times, reading, any fun thing they may want to do that day.
Suzanne Schmidtke-
Personally, my family and I will be donating our time to the Adopt a Highway program picking up trash in Ellis County. Additionally, we participate in a local
Angel Tree gift giving event each Christmas. We also adopted “Robert” last year. He is a homeless man in downtown Dallas. We routinely make meals for him, buy him shoes and ensure he has a coat, hat and blanket while its cold. We save all of our cans for Robert so he can turn them in for money.
Professionally, I have signed up with AAGD to volunteer with community and legislative events
Kathi Tuttle-
I volunteer every year with my church, Calvary Temple as we give Food baskets that contain a Christmas dinner that will feed a family of 6. We fill these baskets with turkeys, fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, and candy for the children and everything that family will need to prepare their Christmas dinner. We hand out these baskets at the end of each service on the Sunday before Christmas.
I also volunteer to help buy and hand out Toys for 1000 children at Calvary Temple for underprivileged children for the week before Christmas. These are two of my favorite things that I am privileged to do at Christmas beside the Angel Tree that we do at LumaCorp and I am so thankful that I have a turn.
Nick Jerome-
I plan to clean my closet again and donate clothing and also participate in toys for tots over winter. I will also look for more ways to donate and help out those that are less fortunate!
Frankie Radabaugh-
I am so excited to announce that I have submitted a form to help the AAGD with community services this year! I don’t know the exact area I will be in, but told them where ever they may need me I will be there…it felt great! This is a new community service for me, however I also participate in Autism Speaks, TACA Now and Guardian Angel which are Autism Awareness groups each year. We participate in the cancer survivor walk in Midlothian to support my sister in law and we also participate in the Autism walk. I am so excited to take my turn on MY TURN DAY and commit to helping these organizations and the community in anyway that I can!!
I am so happy to be amongst great people that support community service efforts!
Emily Short-
Rather than cave into peer pressure and join Facebook, I’ve used My Turn Day to join CARE and become a virtual volunteer. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Feel free to visit my page, join my friend list and if so inclined, join yourself. http://we.care.org/Emily10
Phyllis Metevier-
Well, I will continue to donate time, energy, and groceries to the Chin Refugee Ministry at my church, First Baptist Church of Flower Mound. These are people that have been given asylum in the US after facing religious persecution, torture, and sometimes even death in their native country of Burma (Mynammar). Most of them have been in refugee camps in Malaysia and Thailand for several years and still have family members in the camps. They speak very little English and several are without jobs. I’ll also continue teaching Sunday school for 7th & 8th grade girls, help prepare the Wednesday night meal at church, and co-teach the 4th through 6th grade girls on missions. My family is planning to go on two mission trips to Monclova, Mexico this year to help paint, tile, and whatever else is needed to be done at their churches.
On a personal level, it’s been wonderful reading everyone’s plans and committments they are making this year!
Kelly Young-
I support the Breast Cancer 3-day every year. This past year the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day walk earned $7.9 million!
I also participate in the Carter BloodCare blood drives around town as well as donating regularly to Goodwill.
Virgie Wright-
I support the “Bowl for the Cure” – DFW bowling teams compete against Milwaukee to raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research every year and of course… DFW teams are the winners!!!! I also give bowling lessons to anyone who might need help improving their games.
Personally – I donate to Goodwill every year, help some of the elderly at our community – taking them to grocery stores, pharmacy and sometimes take the tour bus to the casino and enjoy their company, they love to talk and hang out…..
Mary Arceneaux-
I will continue to donate clothes and household items to the Leukemia Society and the ARC of Dallas. The ARC provides resources, information and programs for people with Developmental Disabilities. I am the legal guardian of my adult son that has numerous mental disabilities. Because of this I am very involved with MHMR (Mental Health and Mental Retardation). I have been involved with calling bingo at a retirement home, serving the homeless at Thanksgiving and cleaning up my neighborhood park. I will continue to participate in Toys for Tots and the Angel Tree at Christmas. I bring food items to Christian Community Action of Lewisville and have volunteered there as well.
Woodland Hills Apartment Homes-
Woodland Hills would like to share what we all will be doing for My Turn Day throughout 2009-
Misty will be volunteering 40 hours with the DFW Humane Society to help socialize the shelter dogs and cats.
JoAnn will be volunteering at Cook Children’s Hospital to help out with the newborn babies.
Leia will be volunteering with The Arrow Project to read and help out with the foster children.
Julio will be spending time with three elderly women who are sick and need care.
Rodolfo will be picking up the trash from his local park.
Delilah will be baking cookies and taking them to nursing homes.
Deer Wood and Deer Cross Apartment Homes-
Deer Wood and Deer Cross has contacted the Habitat for Humanity, we will donate a Saturday to help with building of a house here in Lufkin. We also are participating Toys for Tots and will volunteer our time with the Salvation Army during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Also this year at Christmas instead of drawing employee names we will choose an angel off the Angel tree for each of us.
Towne Centre Village Apartment Homes-
I (Tonya Schneider) have cleaned out my closet and have given clothes to the Salvation Army. I will adopt a senior from a retirement home and visit them with goodies. My family is donating funds each month to the Scottish Rite Hospital to help kids with disabilities.
Arbors of Burleson Apartment Homes-
Hollie will gathering the many, many boxes of her clothing and children’s clothing from her attic and storage building along with the unbelievable about of boxed up toys and will be donating them to the Harvest House here in Burleson. I will also participate in the Toys for Tots this year and really try to make this year boom for our property. My children and I always pick an angel for each of us, and we will continue that this year.
Richard will donate canned goods and clothing to the harvest house and will participate in toys for tots this year.
Wilson Crossing Apartment Homes-
Professionally:
Wilson Crossings Team has agreed to donate one weekend per quarter to help with “The Dallas Habitat for Humanity”. In addition we will send care packages to our troops and continue to help with food drives with the local apartment associations and Toys for Tots.
Sheli: Has signed up to help with daughters athletic programs at MISD and has volunteered my family to read to the elderly at Mansfield Retirement Center one Saturday per month. She also donate clothes, shoes, etc to Mission Arlington.
Carmell: Donating all her baby clothes to “The Ace Foundation for Kids” and make quarterly donations to “The Scottish Rite Hospital”.
Crystal: Will become a foster parent of an older child and eventually adopt a child of her own.
Pipers Cove and Eldorado Apartment Homes-
Pipers Cove and Eldorado will be donating time to Habitat for Humanity to assist in rebuilding our local communities devastated by Hurricane Ike. We will be devoting a Saturday along with our families and residents that would like to contribute.
Personally, I (Melissa Kolojaco) have started contributing substantially to one of our local churches. This is not just any church, it assists in helping our great residents (and surrounding communities) who run into financial crisis one month, and expect nothing in return. I have seen the tears of great people who just don’t know what to do after work hours were cut or job was cut. This organization is the key for people to get back up on the horse.
Pine Knoll Apartment Homes-
We are going to have a blood drive on property. Not only are we going to encourage our residents to participate but also other apartment communities in the area.
Entire staff is going to do some spring cleaning and donate everything to Hopes closet, which is for battered women and their children. Also in the fall we are going to donate out time to the Relay for life. We’re going to have Christmas in July! We will be collecting toys and clothes for the Longview Police Dept “Blue Santa” Program.
Arbors of Corsicana Apartment Homes–
Synthia, I plan to continue with my work in our Christian motorcycle group. We make rides to places all over Texas and do lots of fund raising for different needs across the state. Occasionally it is with little notice. We also ride in many toy runs collecting toys for children at Christmas. We also go to the FT Hood area and raise money at Thanksgiving for the families of the troops. I also take care of an old lady
Kelly, Is donating clothes to the Salvation Army. She is also organizing a group of residents to do something. They will meet on Feb 16th we are not sure what exactly they will do but we have lots of great ideas. She will also donate food to the food pantry.
Maribel, Donate food for the food pantry, her oldest daughter is in the military and will be active this year so she is also going to care for her 3 grand children while she is gone.
Pedro, Donate food for the food pantry, he will also assist Kelly in any activities the residents choose to do.
Charlie participates in the Relay for Life. He just donated clothes to the Salvation Army.
We are also checking in on adopting a portion of a highway close to the property.
Resident comments posted on our MySpace say that one of the residents is taking clothes to the Salvation Army.
Indian Creek Apartment Homes-
Fran Means has been volunteering at the Heritage Garden nursing home for 19 years strong!
Taye Bortters and husband have been dedicated volunteers to St Joseph’s Indian School for 6 years
and Taye volunteers time to the singing department at Marcus High School.
Alan Haught is a volunteer in the kitchen department of his church and he drives his church van.
The Courtyard Apartment Homes-
Angie McCalment will be sending at least one card a week to a child that is terminally or chronically ill in the hospital. Not a get well card but just a thinking of you card. I will as well have my son also participate in this since he was born with a congenital heart defect, so he can understand more. We started this past weekend going thru closets to clean out clothes to go to the Cancer federation and Blankets to go to Allen Animal shelter. We will of course donate for “Toys for Tots” again and this year as well the entire McCalment family has chosen to pick an angel off the Salvation Army tree instead of buying for each other.
Adriane Armstrong will be volunteering and donating time and Money to the Scottish Rite hospital this coming year.
Marshall Miller has been helping the blind and plans to continue this in the coming year as well as Marshall takes the time to pick up any trash he sees.
Vicente Farias is always willing to lend a hand to all projects that need completed around him and is always helping the elderly of our community. As well as he helps Rick Moncibais with his projects.
Somerset Apartment Homes-
Diane serves on the IREM Dallas Chapter Executive Council and will be participating with the Community Outreach Committee in the events scheduled so far: Meet the Troops in May, Hearts and Hammers in September. Heather will also be participating in these events.
Niki will be sorting through all of her children’s old clothing and donating to Goodwill.
Blaine, Francisco, Fernando, Maria, and Matt will also participate in Hearts and Hammers.
Pace’s Crossing Apartment Homes-
Brandy- Has given 14” of hair to Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. I will also donate my wedding dress to Heavenly Angels in Need, an organization that makes funeral layettes for preemies. (cause, let’s face it—nobody wants to wear their mother’s dress anymore). I will also knit needed caps and sweaters for preemies for Heavenly Angels in Need.
Brandy, Gracie & Allison will donate work clothes to The Women’s Alliance is a national organization of independent community-based members who provide professional attire and career skills training to low-income women and families seeking self-sufficiency.
Chris, John & Julio will donate clothes to the Salvation Army.
Gracie- is donating her time and efforts to teach English as a second language.
Chris has requested to remain anonymous in his altruism.
Christy Martinez-
I personally will be participating in the ACS Relay for life event in May. I will also be volunteering my time at the Shiner’s Hospital during Christmas.
I also twice a year donate my boys clothes they have outgrown to the Star of Hope Foundation in Houston.
Salado Apartment Homes-
Starting the month of February, Salado has volunteered our time to deliver meals on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month to senior who may not receive a meal at all without the help of Meals on Wheels Program. Our first time to do this is this Friday, Feb. 13th and our whole staff is looking forward to this exciting program. Salado has also started volunteering at the Senior Center a couple times a month. Elizabeth and Dianna went yesterday to help out with the Wii Bowling Tournament however when we arrived we helped out with aerobics instead. Salado is glad to help and also plans to recruit some residents this way as well. Salado will continue donating the Toys for Tots to the Salvation Army every year to help with children who may not have a Christmas without our help.
Elizabeth every year adopts a child from the Angel Tree and gives to them rather than her and her
fiancé spending money on each other, they would rather give to someone who has nothing at all. I think this is a wonderful program so Salado for Christmas 2009 will adopt a family instead of exchanging gifts to one another. This will be very much enjoyed from each one of us as well as the family that we select.
Arbors of Cleburne Apartment Homes-
Our team will be participating in Cleburne’s Relay for Life in June & we will encourage the entire property to join us.
Shirley will be cleaning out closets & storage building to donate clothes & toys to Operation Blessings & donating time to our Chamber of Commerce to help with their projects to help families in need, which I have found out there are many in need right now.
Martha will be donating clothing, household items, toys, and time to the Crisis Center.
Mark will be cleaning out unused items from his home and donating them to Goodwill.
Gerald will be donating one Saturday a month to help with any repairs needed at Operation Blessings.
Linda will be donating clothing and household items to Operation Blessings.
Brookside Apartment Homes-
Sasha is going to volunteer at the pound and also look into promoting literacy among children.
Liza is donating food.
Julio is donating clothes and also going to pay for the person behind him in line next time he goes out to lunch. We’re going to work on putting a little card together that says something like “Please pass along this random act of kindness.”
Jorge is going to volunteer at The Boys and Girls Club.
Hulen Oaks Apartment Homes-
Morgan will be spending time with her mom at the children’s hospital in the intensive care unit holding the sick babies.
Doug and his wife have always worked with abused children back home and are going to get involved with the same here.
Ernesto and Juan are going to team up and help some of the elderly get to the store and carry their groceries in each week.
And I (Gale Schilling) will continue to work with Medical City Transplant unit, I take calls on Sat and Sunday from patients and family members having a transplant or are waiting for one. I will also try to visit patients at least 1 day a month. My family will continue to give to the half way houses like we have since they have been teenagers.
Shiloh Oaks Apartment Homes-
Majority of the staff will go through the closet and donate to Goodwill, and we have decided to give blood.
The Vanderbilt Apartment Homes-
The Vanderbilt team and the residents have committed to adopting a highway in our area. The residents are so excited to be involved with the community!! The entire team at the Vanderbilt will also participate in this program and will help organize the groups on the days we help clean up!
On a personal commitment each team member will be helping out in the following ways:
Chad: Diabetes Awareness walks and helps in raising money to further research.
Amber: Will donate time to the Humane Society and help the furry friends she loves!
Robert: Will participate in the adopt a highway program and always helps out spontaneously
throughout the year to our less fortunate residents.
Tim: Participating in adopt a highway program and will continue to donate items to the Salvation
Army and those less fortunate.
Josh: Participating in the Breast Cancer Awareness walk this month and will continue efforts in this charity throughout the year.
Angel: Has volunteered in helping patients that are going through Chemotherapy with housekeeping, errands, and lending a supporting ear.
Lupe: Volunteers throughout the year with his church which help the elderly, homeless, and families in need.
Jose: Will help with cleaning up the area on a daily basis, which is not limited to the VND. He also is great at helping residents move things that they cannot do on their own and help them to their door when their hands are full all year long!
Frankie will also donate time in the adopt a highway to support the Vanderbilt Team on the weekends!!
As a public school teacher, I do everything that I can to help educate the future leaders of our world. I am offering free tutoring sessions for the students at my school, both before and after the school day. Hopefully, I can help make a difference!
In observance of MyTurnDay, I’ll make four commitments:
1) Posting rhymes: I hold a free weekly story time for kids 0-5 at the Art Space School in West Annapolis. This is my way of sharing the art of connecting with children through stories, rhymes, and songs. I recently started a FB group called “Rhyme Time with Kathryn Para” . For My Turn Day, I’ll commit to posting one rhyme/ story/ song a week and one video a Month. This is my way of helping others to connect with and nurture their children. I also commit to building a web page/ blog which would make the rhymes even more accessible.
2) Holding a Swap for a charity: I’ll also commit to holding a swap regularly. This is when people bring things they do not need anymore to a place. Kid’s stuff (not to be confused with Kidd’s stuff) , clothes, household stuff. They then search through everyone else’s stuff and take what they need. What’s left goes to charity. I am coordinating this to be at The Art Space as well. Priscilla, the owner is excited about the idea. The first swap will be this Sunday at 1:30 at the Art Space School. I am trying to coordinate with Sarah’s House, an organization which helps women and children in need. Hopefully they can get donations from the events.
3) Stroller Patroller: Beginning today, I’ll walk the 4+mile Crofton Parkway once a week to pick up trash. I’m committed to filling a bag. Not only will this be good for my health and great for my children to make sure they get outside, but it will be great for my community to have a nicer looking neighborhood. I also commit to starting a group I’m thinking about calling “Stroller Patroller, Changing our World one Walk at a Time.” I will work on having a website up and running in a month. I’ve had it in my head to start this for a while. Anyone interested in starting something like this for their neighborhood, call me at 443-995-2372 (cell).
4) A developer is trying to build a big box store on some wetlands near our house. I also commit to being involved with Crofton 1st in their efforts to prevent this from happening.
On Sundays, I attend a ministry in Dallas that serves the homeless. We serve breakfast every Sunday morning (spiritual and Earthly food) to those in need. On Feb. 14, we are holding a luncheon and day of pampering for the our ladies.
In observance of TyTurn Day, I’ll make four commitments:
1) Posting rhymes: I hold a free weekly story time for kids 0-5 at the Art Space School in West Annapolis. This is my way of sharing the art of connecting with children through stories, rhymes, and songs. I recently started a FB group called “Rhyme Time with Kathryn Para” . For My Turn Day, I’ll commit to posting one rhyme/ story/ song a week and one video a Month. This is my way of helping others to connect with and nurture their children. I also commit to building a web page/ blog which would make the rhymes even more accessible.
2) Holding a Swap for a charity: I’ll also commit to holding a swap regularly. This is when people bring things they do not need anymore to a place. Kid’s stuff (not to be confused with Kidd’s stuff) , clothes, household stuff. They then search through everyone else’s stuff and take what they need. What’s left goes to charity. I am coordinating this to be at The Art Space as well. Priscilla, the owner is excited about the idea. The first swap will be this Sunday at 1:30 at the Art Space School. I am trying to coordinate with Sarah’s House, an organization which helps women and children in need. Hopefully they can get donations from the events.
3) Stroller Patroller: Beginning today, I’ll walk the 4+mile Crofton Parkway once a week to pick up trash. I’m committed to filling a bag. Not only will this be good for my health and great for my children to make sure they get outside, but it will be great for my community to have a nicer looking neighborhood. I also commit to starting a group I’m thinking about calling “Stroller Patroller, Changing our World one Walk at a Time.” I will work on having a website up and running in a month. I’ve had it in my head to start this for a while. Anyone interested in starting something like this for their neighborhood, call me at 443-995-2372 (cell).
4) A developer is trying to build a big box store on some wetlands near our house. I also commit to being involved with Crofton 1st in their efforts to prevent this from happening.
I am volunteering as a “college mentor” in a local youth group to help high schoolers make the leap from high school to college without losing their mind.. or faith.
I want to find and create ways to raise money and awareness for Operation Smile, a charity that provides reconstructive surgeries for childhood deformities like cleft lips and cleft palets.
I’m donating my time to “Snowball Express”…it’s a charity set up to provide fun, meaningful trips for families of forgotten heroes – the men and women who have lost their lives while serving to protect our country. About 3 years ago the founders of Snowball Express heard about a child whose father promised to take him to Disneyland when he got back from Irag, sadly, he never made it home and thus, his son never made it to Disneyland. And so, Snowball Express was born!
I am actually participating in two “charities”:
(1) I am currently taking donations for the American Heart Association and in March will be participating in the heart walk.
(2) The month of July my family, including my mother and father, my brother and his three children, his girlfriend and her two children and son and myself will be driving from Gautier, MS (the Gulf Coast) to South Dakota. Due to the number of people we will be driving three cars. We will be pulling a U-Haul hopefully stuffed with children’s clothes. In South Dakota we will be visiting a Native American Reservation and school and donating all the clothes/blankets/shoes.
I’m volunteering with my co-worker/friend at Exodus. She goes at least once a week and I’m going to go with her at least every other week. Her name is Amber and she is an awesome volunteer and I only hope to learn from her.
I’m helping rehabilitate the wild animals that have been injured and return them to the wild! We’re also educating the public about our natural habitat and the animals in it. On top of it all, my daughter volunteers at the center too…our family helping the wild families.
I’m donating items to an auction to benefit 4 year old Tate Cavalier.
A TOKEN FOR TATE
Tate is the 4 year old son of Michelle Cavalier who was born with a rare chromosome 7 disease known as Williams Syndrome.
This is a rare genetic disorder that affects both pre and post natal growth. It is characterized by short stature, a varying degree of mental and physical deficiency, and distinctive facial features. Williams may also be associated with cardiac defects, abnormal levels of calcium in the blood during infancy and musculoskeletal defects.
Tate suffers from a majority of these characteristics and has undergone open heart surgery at New Orleans Children’s Hospital, and was sent to Boston Children’s Hospital for observation and possibly another heart surgery. Tate recently spent several weeks at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital where he was introduced to food and taught how to eat. Tate will have to return to Philadelphia every three months for the next year for observation.
While Tate does have medical insurance it does not cover some of the procedures that he needs and Michelle has been overwhelmed with medical expenses since Tate’s diagnosis.
Friends and family will have a benefit for Tate on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Ascension Civic Center on Airline Hwy in Sorrento, Louisiana. Festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and run until 8:00 p.m.
There will be jambalaya, spaghetti, beer, soda, sweets, hamburgers, hot dogs, boudin, hot tamales, games for the kids, a country store, mini pot jambalaya cooking contest, washer board tournament and much more.
Music will be provided throughout the day by several local musicians and a live auction will begin at 3:00 p.m. featuring Steve Broussard as auctioneer.
A bank account has been opened at United Community Bank. Anyone wishing to make an anonymous donation can do so by referencing account number 1502491. The account name is A Token for Tate.
So bring your family, friends and neighbors out to pass a good time and help this family in need.
For more information or to make a donation of any kind, contact Beverly Clouatre at 644-4042, Vanessa Melancon at 675-8011 or Sandra Templet at 675-5223.
To register for the mini pot jambalaya cooking contest call Roxanne at 353-4157 or 910-2407. To enter your 2 person team in the washer board tournament call Gretchen at 933-7866.
Instead of selling my babies clothes from newborn to 2T, and her car seat, as I had planned, I am going to take all of it (12 boxes of adorable clothes and shoes) to the Family Crisis Center in Livingston Parish, where I also hope to “adopt” a pregnant woman in need.
I am meeting with students at ITT Tech during their last semester of school to prepare them for interviewing and their job search. I’ll be conducting “mock interviews”, giving tips on how to write a resume that will stand, giving interview conduct tips.
IM GOING TO BE DONATING UNWANTED CLOTHES AND TOYS TO A HOMELESS SHELTER, MY STEP DAUGHTER BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SHE WANTED TO DO IT SO IM GOING TO JOIN HER. I DONATE MY FAMILYS CLOTHES ALL THE TIME TO THE CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER OF PLANO, BUT ON MYTURN DAY WE WILL BE GOING TO HOMELESS SHELTER TO DO IT. :~)
I have a disease called Cystic Fibrosis. I am helping to raise money to cure this disease. I know I will be helping others because I know how awful this disease is.
The program of Alcoholics Anonymous saved my life. I am 5 years sober by the grace of God and my AA family. As a part of giving back and sharing my experience, strength and hope I am on the host committee for our 2nd quarter AA Assembly in Chattanooga, TN in March and I volunteered yesterday to chair our yearly AA picnic. The best way I know how to stay sober is to help another suffering alcoholic.
You are never alone.
“I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”
I am ECOGEECO (eco-geek-oh) the ECO HERO! My family and i volunteer for an event every weekend for a year. We call it 52 Saturdays. So far we are up to 26 weeks and the next 6 are already booked. The list is to long to name them all but among them we clean a local lake, plant trees, Relay for Life, Race for the cure. As ECOGEECO the Eco Hero i visit area schools and teach kids about saveing the planet with sustainability. I drive my Solar Electric car to every event all year round. I have also used my car to raise money for Childrens Miricle Network by shuttling people to and from there cars at my day job. With my web site http://ecogeeco.com and Twitter, I talk about how to keep all your gadgets but save energy and save the Earth to. In all i live the My Turn Day objective 365 days a year and have a lot of fun doing it. To everyone out there Give your time and help everyone. ReThink It Green!
From 2006-present, I have been involved with an organization in Centerpoint, Texas (near San Antonio) called Camp CAMP. CAMP is a summer program for children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Also, they hold weekend respites once a month to give caregivers a well derserved R and R away from their charges that have disabilities. CAMP has many different activities such as swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, arts and crafts, music therapy, and nature…to name a few. There is also a weekly dance or which all of the CAMPers get to participate in, but is especially important to the older teenage CAMPers, because this is their Prom. They choose a date, get dolled up, and are wined and dined Because of my wonderful experience at CAMP, I have chosen to continue my work in this field. I now work in Conroe, Texas at a day program for adults with disabilites called Bridgewood Farms. I am also attending school to become a Registered Nurse to continue working with these individuals on a more medical level. Furthermore, my best friend and I are very active in raising awareness for Austim, and plan to attend Austim walks in the Houston area this year. Thanks Camp CAMP!!
It’s MY TURN to…
support and volunteer for the Nick Gonzales Foundation for Brain Cancer Research created in honor of my cousin Nick. http://www.nickgonzalesfoundation.org/ and to send care packages to veterans and overseas to US Military personnel.
I like to give bottled water to the garbage men during the summer and I’ve slacked so they pass on Feb 13th and I’m gonna give them Valentines. No one really ever thinks about the garbage men and that’s a dirty job and we can’t live without them so I truly appreciate them.
I am donating to three organizations in my local town that benefit the Youth and the animals! I help the Boys & Girls Club, Straight Street, Clay County Animal Shelter! Everyone needs to do all they can to help the Youth of America. There is so much violence and drugs going on today in our schools, homes and communtiies. We have to save our future generations!
I havent previously been able to do much to help out, but I do looooove helping people. Ive seen alot of great ideas here and Im going to implement a few. Im going to look into what it takes to train my dog to be a therapy dog, as well as volunteer for an animal shelter near my house. A smaller thing I will start doing is picking up any trash I see. If everyone picked up one thing a day and stopped throwing it out, we would have a cleaner world in no time at all. These are my goals for My Turn day…now its your turn =)
I am currently interning at Habitat for Humanity of Horry County, which is in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. My specific goal is to get the word out about Habitat’s mission, and how members of our community can contribute. There are Habitat for Humanity locations all over the world, so I urge you to find your local Habitat affiliate and donate, whether it be time or money, to assist in Habitat for Humanity’s mission to eliminate poverty housing worldwide.
My Turn- Yesturday, I gave a man on the roadside $5.00 no questions asked. It felt great to give, Especially since I don’t have money to be giving out in the first place. So here’s for all the KiddKraddick fans. It is my turn does not mean it is your turn to receive, but your turn to give! I plan on giving by volunteering my time to help out organizations that are Improving our community, like Community Renewal for one!
Today I got a “cry for help” at 6:40 am….from a young friend who needed someone to help him try to turn his life around. I got up and went to help and tried to do what I could to made a postive difference for him. He just called to thank me and tell me how much it meant to him. Guess that ’s what “it’s” all about! Doing the RIGHT things for the right reasons!
At during the month my daughter 9yrs. and my two granddaughters 6 yrs. and 3 yrs. make holiday, thinking of you, just to say hi, etc. cards. We then take them once a month to the Care Home and go door to door, in the great room or dining room and visit with the residents and pass out our cards of wishes. We are making great friends. This has brought us to tears many times. At Christmas I made sure the girls were dressed in their Christmas dresses and we shared handmade Christmas cards. I am the coordinator for my daughters Valentine party this year at school and we are going to make Valentine cards so that we can go and share with the residents. They look forward to it and so do we. It is such a win win for everyone and is so easy to do.
It’s something small – but once a week I buy whoever is behind me in the line in the cafe here at work their breakfast, lunch, coffee, or whatever. They alway seemed so suprised and happy, and can’t understand why. It’s something little – but seems to make a big difference for that person – that day. God is good!
Each year I try to step up our family’s giving from the year before. This year we will sponsor an orphan in Kenya for each child in our biological family. We will volunteer more at church to help families in need. I will start donating blood again. I will send my gift cards earned at work and from credit card points to a young military family we know to help them out. I am making a conscious effort to help specific people around us that need help, not just to donate $25 to every random charity that calls. Charity Navigator has been very useful in determining who uses their donations wisely.
So for My Turn I bought some Tee Shirts for my sister and I on the Save the TaTas website. I also work with people in need so I did all I could to help my clients today. Tonight I am going to go pick up trash in the park next to my house! YaY for My Turn.
I am excited and making arrangements for my trip to the Gaza Strip in June in order to help refugees that are still plagued by malnourishment and disease. Go New Orleans Saints..
For “My Turn Day”, what i decided to do wont be able to start til the end of the month because of a training schedule…but here it is: I signed up to volunteer at the Rape Crisis Center. I think it will be amazing to impact someones life on such a huge level. It will take a lot of heart and strength, but if you have it in you, I definately encourage you to contact your local Center and help out!
I RUN A SOCK EXCHANGE ON FACEBOOK.COM,I CREATED THIS GROUP ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO,WITH MY POWER,I AM ASKING ALL MY SOCK SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN THE GROUP TO DONATE SOCKS AND SHOES TO HOMELESS AND TO HAITI
I HAVE CREATED THE CHARITY CALLED HERECOMESTHESOCKS TO HAITI
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DONATE CAN JOIN MY GROUP HERECOMESTHESOCKS CHRISSY ON FACEBOOK AND THEY CAN ALSO EMAIL ME AT HERECOMESTHESOCKS@YAHOO.COM
I will begin consulting people on their holistic health, specifically focusing on food and food diets. I have spent my entire life archiving the details on how to eat better, cheaper, and “Funner” and I hope to help many more people by making this knowledge public. SO I hope to give people a new international food, cheap health kick, or ULtra cheap meal for a long time coming!
Our turn….Once a month my children and I make gallon size care packages for their dad and his troops in Afghanistan. Each bag contains 10 snacks/goodies and a our son draws a picture with a thank you message for each bag. It teaches our children to support the troops and teaches them to care for others while having fun.
I create baby announcements for free for people who have lost their babies. My life was changed forever by a 1 lb 9 oz. baby girl named Anabella almost 4 years ago. After my daughter died, three days after she was born I felt helpless. I wanted the world to know she existed if only for a moment. I experienced the immense pain that never goes away. She inspired me to learn graphic design and to create baby announcements( birth and death), invites etc. I promised her that I would do them for people who find themselves in a similar situation to save grieving parents the pain of explaining why a birth/death announcement was so important for their babies. Since Anabella’s passing I have offered people my services free of charge. If I hear about someone on the news or through word of mouth I always find a way to contact them to do something special for them. I created a business out of it which is driven by the gift my baby left me. I don’t make a lot of money at it. My mission is simple, honor the memory of my daughter by doing something for others.
I’m blessed to work for an organization that does a great deal to strengthen and inspire individuals with special needs – and those who care for them – through Recreation, Respite, and Education. The organization is Camp CAMP (www.campcamp.org) and I’m so proud to be part of all we do. CAMP takes volunteers starting at age 14, so if you would like to get involved… get in touch! (brandon.briery@campcamp.org)
I also volunteer with YouthBASE, Inc. (www.youth-base.org), an incredible organization founded by a visionary leader whose self-sacrifice has served to build not only the organization, but also a better world through the lives of the kids who were identified as at-risk for Behavioral, Academic, Social, or Emotional problems, and who are now getting help in those areas after becoming part of the organization.
Some other organizations I currently support or have supported in the past through volunteer service:
- American Cancer Society’s Camp Adventure
- American Cancer Society’s R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Cancer Kids) Programs
- Comfort Zone Camp (www.comfortzonecamp.org)
- Camp Boggy Creek (www.boggycreek.org)
- Camp Aldersgate (www.campaldersgate.net)
The Hattiesburg momslikeme website is teaming up with the March of Dimes each month for different fund raisers. January we collected new and used books and delivered to the local hopsital NIC unit. Our church collected 3 boxes and the total for the website collected was 15 boxes. We will be delivering them today. February and March we will be collecting tolietries to make gift packages for parents having to visit the babies in the NIC unit! This is a very inexpensive way to give!
About 5 years ago I joined a community service organization. I joined the local chapter, but the organization itself has state, national, and international affiliations. What’s great about it is that I can do something every month for the community (children, elderly, community, environmental, disabled, etc, etc), gain leadership skills, make friends, be sociable, AND have a great time doing it!!!
Joining the Jaycees (The Junior Chamber of Commerce) was one of the best things I have done in my life and I’m amazed at all that I have been able to accomplish with their guidance! I’ve done more for my community than I ever thought possible – I feel like I have actually made a difference – and made myself a better person in the process!
Christina Fortney
Proud Norfolk Jaycees Member
~We believe…that service to humanity is the best work of life!
CHECK OUT http://www.lemonstoaid.com
I started this website after the earthquake in Haiti…THIS IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY LEMONADE STAND!!!! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE…READ ON!
My four year old son asked me if we could sell lemonade and make a lemonade stand. I told him it was a great idea, but first I had to tell him a story. In an age appropriate way, I told him about the Haiti earthquake and what has happened to the people. He asked about the kids his age—did they lose their shoes, their toys. I told him they did and we could make a lemonade stand and send all the money to them. He was so excited! We made signs and set up our stand. It was a huge success!! We made $150 in 3 hours.
By challenging each child in America to turn lemons into lemonaid, we are not only sending money to earthquake relief, but we are teaching our children to get involved and help at an early age through this hands on experience. We have a map on our website that shows what cities have already participated in the Lemons to Aid campaign. I want to see which state can fill up first!
We know of fundraisers across America – Phoenix, Oakland, NYC, Tampa, Atlanta, San Antonio, Dallas, Plano, Chicago, Los Angeles….the list keeps going! Get your kids involved…email me when you do something and I will add it to the map on the website. My email address is help@lemonstoaid.com.
I will be volunteering at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo .. I will be working 6, 6 hour shifts. This is my 3rd year…and I love it … it may get wet and cold, but I wouldnt trade it for anything. It is a joy to help the cowboys/cowgirls and vistors …Let’s Rodeo San Antonio!!!
[...] It’s My Turn [...]
I was a league and a sea cadet growing up at Naval Air Station here in Dallas. I’m joining the ranks again as a mentor/officer and giving back what was given to me!
I’m joining the Livestrong army in Corpus Christi. I will help our congressmen understand why raising money for cancer research is so important. With increased research the millions lost will not be in vain.
So today is My Turn Day. it’s the day where we’re supposed to come forward and announce a public service project we will undertake in 2009. I am very excited about everyone coming to the plate to say “hey, this is my world and I want to pitch in.” The reason that really excites me is because it’s such a wonderful message to share with my daughters. I want Alexa (6) and Ava (3) to grow up in a better world than what we have today. I want them to reach adulthood and have a different outlook than crusty old me and I want them to be active participants in their communities. My Turn Day not only affords me a chance to something with my kids, but it gives me a reason to open up a dialogue with them about the importance of thinking of others, volunteering and being a helper in the world and their community around them. Having said that, you should know that what I am doing for My Turn Day is something that I am only doing with my six year old, because I think Ava is too small to understand and be of real help.
So here’s the plan: Alexa and I went to Home Depot. We purchased some garden green house planters that allow you to see veggies in the house. We bought seeds and we planted. We seeded over 100 new plants: cucumbers, spinach, tomatoes, peppers, lettuce, onions, carrots, etc. We did this about 3 weeks ago in the office at the house. We’ve been putting them near the window for sun and watering them every few days. They are growing like crazy! Our plan is to transport the plants to an actual garden that we’ll make in our own backyard in about a month, then take care of them and let them grow into a wonderful garden. Alex and I will harvest the veggies and make donations to a food kitchen. I really like this idea because it’s not one day of volunteering, but it’s an on-going process that keeps her and I working towards a common goal. Plus, I get the fun of growing a garden with my little girl. You should try something like this… a family bonding project with a higher purpose. That’s my My Turn Day. Now, it’s Your Turn.
I am donating money to the American Heart Association.
is bringing food cans with the rest of her class and going to visit and bringing at least 1,000 cans every month.
(to the North Dallas Shared MInistries)
Melissa Wayne is giving to Kidd’s Kids today.
My Turn – Giving Back
Giving back not only gives great rewards to others, but also to you. The reward is simply putting a smile on someone else’s face.
Over the years I have given in many ways. Through different churches, during Christmas time, I find a family who is in need of food, clothing and gifts for their children and with the help of 2-3 friends we go to their home and give that family one of the best Christmas days of their lives, showering them with all the above. I have been doing this since high school, an experience my Fashion Merchandising teacher shared with some of her students and something I have never forgotten.
My husband and I have gotten up early Thanksgiving morning to pick up 2 soldiers and/or airmen for the day from Fort Sam and Lackland AFB who were not fortunate to go home to their families for the holiday and share our thanksgiving day with them. I didn’t realize what a blessing this could be, not only for them, but also for me and I plan to do it again in the future.
I have donated most of my time, money and services to the March of Dimes for the last several years. A great organization that is always looking for volunteers.
I have rallied with friends, family and neighbors to help family, friends and neighbors through difficult times, most of which who have and/or going through breast cancer. If you know of someone going through this I urge you to be there for them. You can organize people to cook for them, run errands for them, spend time with them to lift their spirits. If you think they might be afraid to ask for help, they are, so you don’t have to ask, just do it. You will be glad you did.
I have helped family members and friends through difficult times, stood by them, emotionally and financially through their drug and alcohol addictions, not only because I loved them, but because I knew down deep underneath those addictions there was a beautiful person wanting to emerge.
This Year I want to give to an organization that serves those I am passionate about and that’s children. This year I will make a donation to Kidd’s Kids. There is nothing greater to me than putting a smile on a kids face.
Something to think about; If you give things you do not want or need to the needy, you are not helping them, they are helping you.
Today is My Turn Day. I will be training my dog (D-O-G) to be a therapy dog. He is so sweet and loveable and I want to share his love with others. The purpose of a therapy dog is to go to nursing homes and hospitals and spend time with people. I am excited about the possibility of helping other just by spending some time with my dog. We are going through the process of learning the special skills we need to be certified.
Now, It’s your turn!
I will be providing 50+ books to our local jail for the inmates to enjoy. Their library is almost non-exsistant and it houses over 200 state and federal prisoners.
Today and the rest of the week I will be collecting donations from anyone who wants to help. My co-worker lost everything in the east dallas apartment fires two days ago. His family is safe but has nothing.
I have donated a sofa and some furniture but they need more.
I’m participating in the Relay for Life in my Aunt’s memory. I am raising money to help fund cancer research.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/stephanieives
I am participating in the Relay for Life in my Aunt’s memory. I am raising money to help fund cancer research.
http://main.acsevents.org/goto/stephanieives
I am participating in Relay for Life to help fund cancer research. http://main.acsevents.org/goto/stephanieives
I am adopting a space at the Community Garden to benefit Frisco Community Services and also walking in a 5K for Great Strides which benefits the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
I plan on walking/raising money for every cause possible this year (Child, Adult and Animal)…now, it’s YOUR turn!
I will return to my hometown in New York on March 6-7 to help 700 students at my alma mater raise hundred of thousands of dollars for local people in need by dancing for 28 hours. As a town, we will Take Our Turn together!! http://www.shmd.org
If you know me, you know I love my furkids (see my blog) as well as everyone else’s furkids. I love going to Petsmart on adoption day just to visit with the animals. I believe in adopting from shelters or rescue organizations and all of my babies are from the shelter or rescue. So I have applied to be a volunteer at a shelter, where I can give love, care and attention to animals that need it the most. I have completed an application to volunteer weekly with CAAWS, one of the local shelters. I plan to take part in cleaning the shelter area and playing with the dogs/cats, who are starved for attention. How fun is that?!? We have to be the change we want to see.
I will return to my hometown in New York on March 6-7 to help 700 students at my alma mater raise hundreds of thousands of dollars for local people in need by dancing for 28 hours. We’ve been taking our turn for 32 years now, and have been named the most Fiscally Successful High School Marathon Dance in the country!!
http://www.shmd.org
I am sending a care package to the troops in Iraq. I have gotten some friends to help me out with
baking cookies, making cd’s and I’ve got lots of other snacks together.
I am going to donate to a few charities each month no matter what my financial situation. I am only 19 and don’t make much, but charities such as PETA (people for the ethical treatment of animals) are close to my heart and deserve my money more than I do.
Now, it’s your turn!
I will continue to be a coach for Special Olympics.
http://www.specialolympics.org/volunteers.aspx
Its my turn. I posted that I am donating materials to the animal shelter here in statesboro ga. I took some rawhide bones by to the shelter as well as some toys for the cats. I also volenteered some time to these animals. This is such a great idea, i hope people really start doing this. It’s your turn to do something!
For the first time ever, I’m participating in the Relay For Life.
For the first time ever, I’m participating in the Relay For Life this April.
I am making a very public pledge to spend as much time as possible with my maternal grandmother. She has done so much for me, and loved me so much through the years, that now it’s my turn. I love you grandma!
I volunteer every Monday afternoon at the Kansas Humane Society. I assist Dr. Townsley in surgery and offer relief to the technicians who work there, so they may have a break.
Because of My Turn Day, I am also adding plans to hold a charity poker tournament to raise $$ for the KHS.
HAPPY MY TURN DAY!
is helping her employer to raise money for additional AEDs. We are selling heart shaped cookies, heart pins, heart shaped suncatchers and a paper heart were we can fill in the name of the person who donated.
I am Co-Chairing a large community festival called FallsFest ( https://www.jlwf.org/?nd=fallsfest&und=28 ) Our proceeds go back to our community and the projects that we support.
I am going to bring clothes, books, and candy to the women shelter. I will also see what I can do to help. I will do this Saturday Feb. 14, 2009. Try to make their Valentines Day a Little Better.
I’m volunteering with Girl Scouting as a mentor and cooridnator of college volunteers to help inside girls to be involved in their community and become strong leaders.
I am an Ambassador for the Go Girl! Go! foundation and am helping girls fight obesity. I can’t do it alone so with the help of my synchronized swimming team we are putting on a clinic to get girls active in our community.
I volunteered to work at the Cook’s Children Hospital to help with different things, arts and crafts, sing, paper work, keeping the parents company and etc. I’m very excited. I helped raise over 100,00o with my company for Untied Way. I think this is my calling!
I will be creating care packages for young moms in crisis.
My 12 year old daughter and I are donating our time to Stitch-a-wish at Cook Children’s Hospital, sewing items such as procedure pillows, blankets, dolls, etc. for children.
I will be collecting school supplies to send for the school kids of Afghanistan. I have a friend that is a military contact over there currently that these supplies can be sent to, and he will make sure that they are given to the children for school.
An important note is that in this formerly Taliban ruled area, girls were NOT allowed to be educated. Many teachers, families, and children have been attacked and even killed for their desire to educate theirs or others children (specifically girls).
This is a mission of importance and my friend, whom I have known since middle school, requested that we not bother to send things for him but just to send school supplies that he can get out to the children. This is My turn…
I live my turn day everyday through my job. I am a social worker in an at risk high school. I help to provide hope and guidance to young people who do not have any supportive adults in their lives to guide them on the right path. I respect them and they respect me in return. Over the past 16 years I have seen the difference that my interaction and support has made on many lives. This is my calling, not for a day but for a lifetime.
I am giving blood at my daughters elementry school today
I’m a junior in high school and I’m going to be helping tutor kids that have special needs from 2nd to 3rd grade.
I will be volunteering with my church to donate teddy bears to sick children on March 1st. On March 21st, I will be volunteering to play board games at a nursing home/rehab facility. I will also be donating to http://www.donorschoose.com.
For my turn day, I will setting up a year long schedule with the Savannah Community Blood Bank to donate platelets via volunteer donation. Volunteer donations are very important to maintain your local supply. If a disaster strikes, if the blood is not on the shelf, patients can not be helped.
PLATELETS are essential for blood clotting. They are routinely needed to support cancer therapy, open-heart surgery, blood disorders, and organ transplants. Platelets must be transferred within five days, requiring the supply to be constantly replenished. Donors can give platelets up to 24 times per year.
I am making sack lunches and handing them out to homeless people. It’s only one night a week now, but I hope it will turn into more. I just need more help!
I volunteer every week at Equest Therapeutic Horsemanship – where horses help people.
CSRA Federal Credit Union will read to the children at the Joesph M. Still Burn Center to make a positive impact upon the patients and their recovery and to promote literacy among children in our community.
I have found over the past two years, the hard way, that my full time job is too demanding for me to give a meaningful gift of time to charity. So, I’ve given up my fast food breakfast habit and will be giving that money each week to charity. My first donation was to Kidd’s Kids. I have set up a blog and will post there about the charities each week and will be happy to take readers suggestions about who I should give to.
I will be volunteering at the Discovery Science Place in Tyler. I hope to help kids find that learning can be fun.
I volunteer with Upward Basketball. Our main goal is to share the love of Jesus Christ with the players and their families. You can check it out too at http://www.upward.com. I’m a 5th/6th grade girls head coach, and we have practice tonight. ITS MY TURN!
I will be volunteering for Meals on Wheels to deliver meals to those in need.
I am volunteering at a local ranch for children with disabilities!
Is volunteering to be a penpal/mentor to young children at a local school in San Antonio,Tx.
I am going to finish my Special Olympics Coaching certification so that I can start coaching Special Olympics Volleyball. I played Unified Volleyball in high school, which is where special needs students and non-special needs students play on one team together. I lettered in Special Olympics Volleyball. Now that I have graduated high school I want to continue where i left off over four years ago. It looks like the high school I played Volleyball for no longer has a team, so hopefully I can help them build a volleyball team once again and be at the next Special Olympics Winter session in February of 2010!
IM GOING TO TRY TO START A RECYCLING CLUB AT MY COLLEGE (TEXAS WOMENS UNIVERSITY)
I am volunteering at the local animal shelter. I am going to clean out drawers and closets around my house and donate to the salvation army/good will. I am going to go give blood; I know a specific little girl who needs it and here is her story:
“I took Karli to 3 fun appointments today and spent all day in Birmingham to get some of the worst news. Her creatinine (kidney function) has gotten worse and her fistula is dead. They call it dead when it has no blood through it and cannot be used for dialysis. Don’t know why it happened. We were told our options now are a major vein redistribution surgery in her left arm to “try” to do dialysis there, but still couldn’t guarentee it would work. The transplant surgeon, Dr. Carlton Young, told us today that putting in a central line in her neck was not the best idea because her veins have narrowed in her neck due to an emergency central line that went it right after her first dialysis. An ultrasound was done on her lines today to give us that news. Anyway, 6 days after her first transplant her body went into shock and she quit breathing. The emergency central line was to send meds straight to her heart. We can do peritoneal dialysis as our only true option, the kind where they put a tube into her tummy. As a teenager she was hoping not to have to deal with a tube in her tummy, but may have no choice. Dr. Young told me I have about 2 weeks to make the decision as to do new arm surgery or peritoneal. I just want to go somewhere and scream. So please back me up, and pray for the decision that Karli and I will make together and please pray for a donor. Share her story and if you know of anyone with an A or an O blood type that would like to try to donate a kidney please call Cindy Richards at 205-939-6794 to get info on how to donate a blood sample and say it is for Karli Chadwick. Thank you with all my heart! Kelly Chadwick”
Thanks so much for this wonderful idea… this great day!!! Happy My Turn Day and God Bless!
Brandi
Through Lubbock Literacy, I will be teaching English to adults who want to learn. I have done this for two weeks now and love helping others gain the ability to interact in our community.
Today I am playin basketball with the BGC(boys and girls club) that i attend.
then i plan to do community service hrs there by volunteering and help clean!:)
i would do other stuff but i cant drive:(
I am buying homemade baby blankets from elderly ladies in my community and then donating the blankets to the neo-natal unit at a nearby hospital. To date 103 babies have left the hospital in a one of kind homemade blanket and 18 widowed elderly ladies have a purpose and some extra money that they spend on things like food.
I’m volunteering my time at a store house for people in need. We cook meals, can them onsite and distribute them to different shelters and familys that can use them. I’m going to try to volunteer atleast once a month. I eat WAY too good to not share that with those less fortunate.
Now i’m not sure if i understand the whole point behind bragging about the good things we’re gonna do for others, but it’s tight i guess. But as for any money that i make, a certain percentage goes back into the Church, some people call this the “Tithe” or simply offering. (in reality the word “Tithe” isn’t mentioned in the New Testiment at all) But, a portion of my new winnings, i will be giving to the youth group at the church i am a volunteer for. So some of the money will be going into the youth account at Calvary Christian Center, in The Colony. This money will be used for outreaches, mission work, and youth camp for the kids, and i know that plenty of good will come from it. Glory be to God. —MusikalFuture— a.k.a. —andrew—
I have started a program for girls ages 14-18. Its a once a month session that was birthed to help girls ages 14-18 understand true beauty and what it means to be a godly woman in today’s generation. It is designed to help cultivate and inspire young girls to find and pursue the talents that God has given them. It also is a place for girls to have an opportunity to develop life-long relationships with girls of like faith. http://www.glamourlife.org
I have started a program for girls called G.L.A.M.O.U.R LIFE. This program was birthed to help girls ages 14-18 understand true beauty and what it means to be a godly woman in today’s generation. It is designed to help cultivate and inspire young girls to find and pursue the talents that God has given them. It also is a place for girls to have an opportunity to develop life-long relationships with girls of like faith.
I will be sending care packages to our troops in Iraq and Afghanistan. Have sent out 5 packages so far this year.
I have started a program for girls called G.L.A.M.O.U.R LIFE. This program was birthed to help girls ages 14-18 understand true beauty and what it means to be a godly woman in today’s generation. It is designed to help cultivate and inspire young girls to find and pursue the talents that God has given them. It also is a place for girls to have an opportunity to develop life-long relationships with girls of like faith. http://www.glamourlife.org
My Family and I have a goal of $1,500 to raise and will be walking in the March of Dimes, March for Babies in April
I will be walking in the Walk Now For Autism walkathon in Atlanta on May 3rd. To help me raise money, you can make a donation by going to http://www.walknowforautism.org/georgia/leighajohnson.
I signed up with CAAWS to help with the adoption of cats into safe and happy homes.
My nephew was diagnosed with a rare blood disease in 2005 called Histiocytosis. Since his diagnosis my family and I have sponsored several different fundraiser for The Histiocytosis Association of America. To date we have raised over $40,000 to promote scientific and medical research, with the aim of establishing better treatments, a cure, and ultimately, prevention of the diseases.
Histiocytosis is a rare blood disease that is caused by an excess of white blood cells called histiocytes. The histiocytes cluster together and can attack the skin, bones, lung, liver, spleen, gums, ears, eyes, and/or the central nervous system. The disease can range from limited involvement that spontaneously regresses to progressive multiorgan involvement that can be chronic and debilitating. In some cases, the disease can be life-threatening.
In some ways, histiocytosis is similar to cancer and has historically been treated by oncologists with chemotherapy and radiation. Unlike cancer, histiocytosis sometimes goes into remission without treatment.
The vast majority of people diagnosed with histiocytosis are children under the age of 10, but it is also found in adults of all ages.
It is approximated that histiocytosis affects 1 in 200,000 children born each year in the United States. This illness is so rare, there is little research into its cause and treatment, and it is often referred to as an “orphan disease,” meaning it strikes too few people to generate government – supported research.
Adopted a soldier in Iraq
I’m gonna rock the Race for the Cure in San Antonio,TX and raise as much money as I can. I’ve already arranged for a bake sale at work and am eager to spread the word:)
I am a student at the Art Institute of Dallas, studying to be an interior designer, and I’ve signed up with Habitat for Humanity in Dallas.
I plan to continue to be part of a women’s group that crochets blankets, scarfs, mittens, and hats for patients utilizing Victory in the Valley and for local school children that are less fortunate than my own.
I help teachers use more technology in their lesson plans. I work in the Recovery School District in New Orleans. I help better educate the students!
I am Girl Scouts volunteer and I am going to donate items to the local Humane Society.
I am walking the Breast Cancer 3 day walk this year. I will raise $2300.00 to walk 60 Miles in 3 days for a great cause!!
I will be volunteering for three days at the Byron Nelson Golf Tournament checking passes, and marshalling on the course.
I teach senior English and Theatre Arts at Arp High School and my students decided to collect items for an orphanage in Iraq and for the US soldiers who are responsible for keeping them safe. Spread the word about spreading the love!!!
I volunteer each year for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society walk in Bismarck
I also volunteer at the Central Dakota Humane Society, walking the doggies and holding the kitties.
I am volunteering to help the SPCA, weekends I will help with the pet adoption days and I have also volunteered to take in foster dogs.
I will be volunteering for the Aids Resource Food Pantry for the move this week and on an ongoing basis.
I own a photography business and I am providing sessions at $100 with all images (30-80) provided on a disc with FULL copyright release. $60 of every session will go to Project Graduation for our local High School.
Just wanted to let you know that I love the idea behind MY TURN DAY! I am a mother of four and step mother of two and a full time college student studying to be a social worker! I have done many things for others and encourage my children to do the same. I posted a blog on myspace spreading the word and have posted a list to go around so that hopefully other s will be inspired to get out there and do some good for someone else…THANKS AND I LOVE THE SHOW!
I signed up to volunteer a few hours a week at my local chapter of Make A Wish Foundation
I am volunteering for Child Advocacy Services, who helps mentally,
sexually & physically abused children! Now it’s your turn!
I volunteer one weekend a month for several months during the year at a life management training seminar. We help people deal with and move past what has been holding them back, and design a future for them to live a joyous, free, purposeful life. Although I’ve been told that I have changed and saved people’s lives, I am the one who is rewarded by witnessing God’s miracles in the training room.
I heard about MyTurn Day and thought it was a wonderful idea. Around the same time, I was told my company was consolidating and everyone here was losing their job. As of April 1st I will be one of the many that are unemployeed. I am fortunate enough that I tried to ‘plan ahead’ and decided to go back to school to complete my marketing and management degree and take at least the summer, if not the rest of the year to cram in as many classes as possible.
I am going to volunteer at KANSEL (Kansas School for Effective Learning) as a Marketing Assistant and Special Event Assistant in an effort to help people obtain their GED, basic skills training, private tutoring, English as a Second Language (ESL), Spanish language instruction, computer training, and high school algebra.
Anyone in the Wichita area that is interested, they have several volunteering positions available. I’ve linked to their website above.
I will be joining the Livestrong army in Corpus Christi as well as volunteering for Relay for Life in honor of my sister in law Renee who passed away Jan 20 2009 at the age of 20.
I have chosen ChildLaw Services in Princeton, West Virginia as my partner for my turn day!
Currently, ChildLaw Services is serving over 400 children with legal services. These children come to them as a result of abuse or neglect, domestic violence, parental substance abuse, sexual assault or other high-risk situations. Often, ChildLaw attorneys are the only lifeline for these children and youth.
The ChildLaw attorneys and social worker are specialized in the field of children’s law and advocacy. They are the ONLY children’s legal services agency in the State of West Virginia. ChildLaw has a staff of seven professionals and an annual budget of less than $300,000. Our caseload has been rising for two years; however, our financial support has decreased. For example, grant funds from the Victims of Crime Act have decreased 40% in the past two years and because of lower interest rates, funding from the WV Bar Foundation is down by 20%.
The fundraisers that I am helping with will help an abused child through the healing process, help a special needs child obtain a more appropriate educational experience, or help a mentally ill child get the treatment he or she needs.
The first fundraiser that I will plan and help complete is an All Star Basketball Tournament to be held the weekend of March 20th in Bluefield, WV. I think a youth basketball tournament to help disadvantaged children is a great idea to raise money and increase awareness. Most of the children that will play on the teams in the tournament aren’t even aware of the things that the children go through that are helped by ChildLaw Services.
I will also assist in the fundraising for the 7th Annual Gala Art Auction. It will be held at Gary Bowling’s House of Art in Bluefield, WV on June 6th. We need businesses to give donations for sponsorships in the program and for advertising. We are also asking businesses to give packages for a silent auction such as “Spa Packages” or “Golf Packages”.
We will need other people to help in both of these fundraisers! Please let me know how you can help ChildLaw Services help more children!!!!
My kids and I will be visiting nursing homes to read to the elderly. Now it’s your turn!
I am going to be a CASA volunteer (Court Appointed Special Advocate) and be a voice for foster children who can’t speak for themselves.
I will continue to donate blood, donate my used books to local charity groups, and put money back into my community by supporting local charity events…such as rummage sales, flea markets, and farmer’s markets.
I am a Red Cross and Citizen Corps Volunteer!
I will be volunteering at the k9 search and rescue every sunday !!!!!
I am participating in March of Dimes March for Babies in April. I did it last year and it is such a wonderful cause!
I never know how my day is going to be due to disc problems in my neck and lower back and like this past weekend, it was severe. What I can do is donate all of whatever money received from downloads, radio plays,etc. to the charities in each city in each state in each country that plays the songs. Right now “What Would You Do…? is on http://www.kiddnation.com/profile/farrahr the only website I’m on because sitting and typing hurts me.
Other songs that will be put up as soon as I have good days and Roy Al Rendahl (the other half of The FaRo) when he is not taking care of his 88 year old mother record for charity:
1) “U R” FR for strays
2) “Never-Ending Pain” FR for battered women
3) “Love From Up Above” FR for orphans below 18
4) “I Believe In Me” FR for all kids
5) “Fantasy Flight” FR and my mom Sharifah Molek for Kidd’s Kids (instrumental)
6) “Look At Me” FR for the disabled
We do feed the stray cats outside and if we could, we would adopt all of them. That is why I can’t volunteer with animals because I’ll be crying as I’ve done in the past.
im putting myself through vet tech school so im gonna go work with the local shelter and help take care of the animals and do whatever needs to be done..i have a passion for all animals espically birds so on top of the shelter i think i will go work with the local avairy vet…
So it’s My Turn Day and I have decided to become a guardian for the Guardian Ad Litem program here in Tallahassee!
It’s a guardian/advocacy program for abused and neglected children. I get to interview family/foster families/teachers or whomever else may be involved in my child’s life, work with the community to make sure the children has the resources and support it needs and based on my investigation work with the local courts to make independent recommendations based on that one child’s needs, and becoming the voice for the child.
If only I can change the life of one child, it will be worth it for me.
I’m making and delivering valentine treats to the elderly at a local nursing home, teaching a class for free at the University of Hope (uhope.org), and donating books to the Half Price Books Half Pint Library.
Now it’s your turn.
I am going to help out for the special olypmics. I also helped donate blood for people who are in need of it. I help people at school who need to understand what they are learning. I can’t promise you that I know everything or that I can help you but I can try my best to help you understand.
I help people in need at school like homework and help them go around school. Also i am going to help out in special olypmics.
I have enrolled my miniature schnauzer (Luci) and myself in dog therapy certification classes. The certification process takes a couple months but we should be a certified therapy team by the end of May. Luci and I will be visiting nursing homes and retirement communities in early June to share some TLC with residence. Looking forward to sharing smiles and laughter with residence.
I will be volunteering at the Crisis Center of the Plains in my local area. The Crisis Center helps women and children who have been sexually and/or domestically abused.
For my turn day, I am hosting a plant wide food drive for two months for the East Texas Food Bank at my company! All the food collected goes to supply EAST TX food pantries!
I’m going to volunteer at a local animal shelter.
So it is my turn…I just contacted a local group called Shadowcats to go and feed stray and feral cats…it is your turn
I’ll be serving lunch on my off Saturdays at the Salvation Army.
I am going to double plant veggies in my backyard and donate the produce from the 2nd crop to my local food bank/soup kitchen. That’s My Turn. Now it’s your turn!
I am a high school teacher in New Orleans. I am volunteering part of my time to help students learn how to get and keep a job
I am a tutor at our local boys and girls club.
I will be volunteering throughout the year at 1-800-volunteer.com. There are lots of opportunities on this site if you are having trouble thinking of something. Go look and let it be your turn!!
I am sorry! I meant 1-800-volunteer.org not com! (My 1st volunteer act will be giving make-overs to women at a Battered Women’s Shelter- what a fun way to make a difference!)
I am donating 4 bags of clothes to Goodwill. And plan to get a group together to make baby blankets for the Threads of Love Organization.
I have started PS-MAPP classes so that I can become a foster parent and/or adopt a child from the system.
I used to help the teachers with the mentally challenged by help reading to them or help organizing their toys. I still do once in a while when I see them, but for now, I am just helping my sister get through Middle school. When I grow up, I would like to become a doctor to help those in need.
I am 10 years old and I donated 12 inches of my hair to locks of love. My hair grows really fast, so I am going to try and donate hair every year to help kids that might need a wig.
My uncle passed away a little over a year ago and my husband and I are going to be the guardian to his son who has Down’s when something happens to my aunt. We go once a month to see them and build a relationship with him. And we love him…it is crazy he blesses us more than he will ever know.
What are we here for unless we are to help others???
dear kidd, i don’t even know if you will read this but if you do i would like to say,i think it is great that you are getting people motivated to give there time to help others,but what about those of us who do it all the time i work with the mentally retarded every day i take them out into the community and assist them to purchase groceries and do socialization,i even HELP THEM find jobs. i don’t do it for the money,by the time i pay my monthly day care i have about 100.00 left a month. so i hope that today on myturn day the work that i am doing with my people that day will be enough to be recognized. i just felt like you should know i mean you seem so passionate and say it only takes an hour a week of your time and i give 40 hours a week of time to these blessed people ,they have opened my eyes to things i never would have even thought about.
Happy my turn day. Just hittin ya up to let you know I am celebrating my turn day. I am telling everyone I know. I’ve blogged about it on myspace, I posted a bulletin, and in a few minutes I will put out a memo at work! I am all about helping others. In fact, I am a volunteer fireman. I will not work at a full time fire dept, because I would rather make a difference in the community for the sole fact of receiving a thank you , and not a paycheck. I love the show Kidd!
Great idea to push for volunteer work!! Happy my turn day. I decided since my 14-year-old son has never volunteered, this is a great opportunity for him to participate. We contacted the Special Olympics and my only child will be working with kids with special needs.
I will have him follow up with you in the future to let you know what kind of impact this has on his teenage life!KEEP UP THE GREAT WORK!!
I just sent you an email telling you what I am DOING. I’m scared to death, but I am going to contact a rape crisis clinic in my town and see if I can go “talk” to their group. Wish me luck as I am NOT a public speaker!!
Hey Kidd! Just ran across this website today. They’re in a few major cities – not sure if any are in your syndication areas… http://www.onebrick.org
Mission Statement
One Brick provides support to local non-profit and community organizations by creating a unique, social and flexible volunteer environment for those interested in making a concrete difference in the community. We enable people to get involved, have an impact and have fun, without the requirements of individual long-term commitments.
About One Brick
Headquartered in San Francisco, California, One Brick is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization that brings volunteers together to support other local non-profits by adopting an innovative twist to the volunteer experience: we create a friendly and social atmosphere around volunteering, and after each volunteer event — which typically lasts only 3 to 4 hours — we invite volunteers to gather at a local restaurant or café where they can get to know one another in a relaxed social setting.
Our ‘commitment-free volunteering’ allows you to choose when you volunteer, rather than having to make commitments for a certain number of volunteer hours, or agree to be available every week at a specific time.
Comment by Ally:
Kidd,
On Twitter a popular thing to do for trending topics is to add a hashtag, which makes the topic more easily trackable and searchable.
For example, if you search the hashtag iphone, you get this: http://bit.ly/2HJSBc
Anyone who wants to join the discussion, so to speak, simply adds iphone to their tweet and their tweet will show up on the search page. What’s more, the search results are updated in real time, so it lets you know when new tweets have been posted.
I’m mentioning this because if you’d like to track what everyone’s doing (even people you’re not following), that might be a good way, especially since the staff is on Twitter now. As a side note, since many people feed their tweets to Facebook and MySpace, it’ll show their updates there as well.
So the posts would then look like this:
I’m working in a Homeless shelter. itsyourturn
I’m signing up to become a Big Brother. itsyourturn
I’m on my way to go serve at a soup kitchen. itsyourturn
I’ve decided to work in a dog shelter. itsyourturn
I’m going to clean a park. itsyourturn
We’re helping to build a playground. itsyourturn
I’m bringing food to the elderly. itsyourturn
Pat from Canada is volunteering on the community services board of directors and the fund raising committee. I also volunteer my reiki services at a cancer centre for those who are experiencing a very rought time in their lives and I do the 60km Weekend to end breast cancer walk to raise funds to end cancer. I believe we can all assist the new President Barack Obama to change the world one bit at a time.
Very touched this morning while listening to you guys talk about making a difference. I live in New Orleans and what I am going to do is donate all of our old clothes to a homeless shelter. We are moving to Texas and it’s a great time to spring clean!
I will also try to make the public aware of a very rare syndrome called Jacobson Syndrome! There are so many children that slip through the cracks without a proper diagnoses. I know for 1st hand. My daughter has this syndrome and it took her blood work to be sent to California 3 times before they diagnosed her. This syndrome hits 1 out of 100,000 children. It was discovered in 1973. There is so much more research that needs to be done so we can understand how it effects children in so many different ways.
Thank you!
I am organizing the 2nd annual St. Baldrick’s Foudation Event in Gladewater, Texas, which raises money for pediatric cancer research. I will be shaving my head in solidarity with the children that are diagnosed with cancer each year. Basically people donate money to help you reach your personal goal amount, and if you reach the amount you shave. Be brave – get bald!!!!! Sign up to be a shavee, or to host your own event, at http://www.StBaldricks.org .
And no excuses about vanity! I’m a mother of 3, with 1 on the way…and bald is BEAUTIFUL!!!!!
I have contacted the Texas State Representative’s office and am going to testify before the House in Austin to help get HB 438 passed-that is a new law being considered banning the use of texting on cell phones while driving. My 16 year old daughter was killed in a car accident last year caused by texting and driving. I am going to testify to help get this law passed and hopefully save the lives of many other teens as well as adults.
I am donating $70,000.00 a year to CASA. The money will come from the sales of my books. My just released bio titled, “The Road To Me I Now Know Why That Caged Bird Sang” is primarily about my life growing up in foster care in the State of Indiana. My overall goal is to donate $100,000.00 a year to the organization.
I want to ensure that every child in state custody in Indiana, has a CASA to represent them. I never had one and my life was hell. Torture, rape, murder, beatings, burnings are nothing new to kids in foster care, but with a CASA to stand up for their rights, most cases of abuse can be caught and stopped. So help me help CASA by going to either m site http://www.jessicaangelique.com or my publisher’s site at http://www.eloquentbooks.com/theroadtome.html to purchase the book.
Also, if you know Dr; Phil or Robin, give them a shout and let them know what I am doing and ask if they can help me. Every little bit helps and if you want to donate to CASA, you can go to http://www.nationalcasa.org to see what you can do.
Thanks
Soooo after the show was over i felt this feeling of “what can i do” what do i want to do that would truly matter… i knew what you were saying was a great idea, but I didn’t have that awh moment that feeling of that’s it I WILL blank blank! But as the day went on and I stopped trying to force a good idea to come out my brain it came to me, it came to me when I wasn’t even thinking about it anymore and the funny thing was I was pulling out my ID to buy a bottle of wine at the store and that’s when I saw it, I saw my little red and white American Red Cross blood donation card, the card that I had only used once last year and that’s when I knew that was my “MY TURN” I would not only give blood but my contribution would to be a dedicated donor! To keep giving the gift of life to someone!!! Now my blood is just your regular O positive but it can help and maybe some of you who have that rare type like A+ A- B+ B- or AB this might be you’re MY TURN
I love this! My children and I are in the midst of talking about what it is that we want to do together for my turn day. My oldest (10) wants to volunteer at the animal shelter, my youngest (5 today yay!!) wants to visit sick children in the hospital. So we will probably make volunteering a habit, with different things to do each time. I think this is a wonderfully contagious project and kudos to you Kidd for helping spread the humanity!!!!!!!
I am Volunteering at “Rain Tree”, which is a Girls Group Home in New Oreleans, LA, for young girls. I just want to go a talk to these young girls & try to put “Love & Hope Back Into There Lives”. I know these young girls will be able to relate to me, as I have been where they are now. Sometimes just sitting a talking with someone who understands your situation, makes I BIG difference. EVERYONE NEEDS A SHOULDER TO LEAN ON!. I want to be the shoulder these young girls might need. I want to be someone they can talk to & relate to. Wish me Luck! I lived in a group home many years ago & I also lived with Foster Parents & was eventually ADOPTED.
I now live just ouside of New Orleans in Marrero, LA. I am a mother of 4 & I am SO VERY HAPPY!
Hey All,
Just thought I would share with everyone what my classmates and I are doing for a fundraiser. I am the head of the fundraising committee at my cosmetology school and we are puting on a hair fashion show this spring. The profits will all go to the Paul Mitchell “FUNraising” Charities, which then get distributed to several worthwhile organizations, such as ‘Cancer Shmancer’, ‘Larry King Cardiac Foundation’, ‘Andrew Gomez Dream Foundation’, and many others. For more information on how you can “Start Doing”, please visit http://www.paulmitchelltheschool.com and click on the “How We Give Back” link. Thanks!
I would just like to say that I have been raising awareness for endometriosis. I have been e-mailing everyone about the stamp that they are coming out with to raise awareness for endometriosis. I am so glad that you have said this on the radio station to help other people out there kid kraddick. Thanks!
I have been a volunteer for the Emergency Department at Baylor University Medical Center since March of 2008. I will continue my service for 2009. http://www.baylorhealth.com/About/Community/Volunteer/Pages/Default.aspx
Local hospitals have so many areas of need, if your looking for ways to give…
i am 12 years old and during this past year, My family and i adoupted a child from Peru. Her name is Karly and she is anericsic. we give her 20.00 a month, but we try to give more. i cant wait to come and visit her.Know its your turn!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
from and with love, sam
All I can offer at the moment is support for my loving, caring friends. Love them and care for them 10 times as much.
In the meantime, I wanted to feed a homeless person. Perhaps buy him a hamburger, or prepare him a sack lunch. It just bugs me to see a person on the streets with no home. I mean, I know that they can always do something about it, but I can’t turn my back and not care. Its a little stubborn. Who knows? Maybe that’ll give ‘em something to shoot for, I guess.
I just hope it helps some…
I’m donating to and researching for the Multiple Sclerosis Association of America (MSAA).
i joined a website called socialvibe, it is becoming a very big website, and i encourage more people to join. Its really easy, you join, choose your cause, choose a sponsor, and create a badge, the bagde will be put up on your myspace, facebook, etc. however many people look at that badge earns you points, the more points you get the more money you raise. You can also earn points by answering the question of the day, updating your status, uploading photos to your profile, adding your social network (myspace etc.), and making new friends, and once you get 2000 points you get sent a free socialvibe ball. i would really like if more people got involved with this organization
:]]]
I will be volunteering in the classroom at the Rise School of Corpus Christi, a preschool which provides a high quality early childhood education to all young children including those with developmental delays such as Down syndrome and Cerebral Palsy.
I’ve also been serving on a committee to plan the 3rd Annual 2009 Rise and Shine Walk benefiting the Rise School of Corpus Christi which will be held on February 21, 2009 at Cole Park. The goal of this walk is to promote awareness and the inclusion of people with special needs and to raise money for education and research.
All children deserve the chance to Rise!!
I am now an official volunteer for Relay for LIfe. I lost a very good friend, Melissa Britt, to Lymphoma on January 3, 2009. She was an awesome woman and an inspiration to everyone she met. I love her and seeing her struggle makes me want to help people who are hurting.
I am not sure what to do yet, but I would like to help Habitat for Humanity rebuild homes. I am going to look into that. I am also going to start becoming more aware of other things I could help with. I think it will help to stop thinking about petty problems we all have, and start doing something for the big problems that others might be facing. Its about time this has started!! Yea!!!!
I will be helping Paws in the City as a photographer. Taking cuter pictures of the puppies and trying to get them adopted…so excited!
My preacher once said that if you REALLY want to experience true happiness, then give of yourself! I believe this wholeheartedly and I try my best to teach my children the same thing!
I am excited about helping with the homeless animals in DFW! It is called Paws In The City and I got the idea from Kellie. I am a dog fanatic and I hope to help this organization get more animals adopted so that they are not euthanized. I will also be helping my church build a house with the Habitat For Humanity project.
Scandalous Housewives in Plano are continual volunteers…this past Saturday, we co-hosted an event for the Ballet and the Arts of Collin County commission. Two of us serve on the Ballet Board and have for years.
Lushess (me) volunteers weekly for Second Chance SPCA where dogs and cats are rescued from neighboring county’s euthanasia list, nursed back to health, then adopted to good families. I do vet runs for them at least once a week. And I try to get my kids involved as often as I can.
along with her family, will get involved with habitat for humanity.
I will be volunteering with the elderly at First Baptist Church in Downtown San Antonio!
Hello friends and family! Today is “My Turn Day”. What is “My Turn Day”? Here’s the skinny: On February 10, it’s your turn to announce to the world exactly what you’re doing to serve your community. You blog it, text it, e-mail it, twitter it, webcam it, maybe even write it on the back window of your car. Let the world know exactly what you’re DOING. Chances are, all those messages will inspire others to serve too. Stop Talking. Start Doing.
So, in searching for organizations to donate towards, I wanted them to have personal meaning to me as an aspiring filmmaker. In that spirit, I have researched two great film-related organizations I have decided to donate towards:
The Michael J. Fox Foundation: michaeljfox.org
My favorite movie of all time is Back to the Future. And it’s star, Michael J. Fox continues to suffer the effects of Parkinson’s disease. This disease has not only shorten his career, but also those of countless others…including Muhammad Ali and the Reverand Billy Graham. The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson’s disease within the decade through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson’s today. They believe without fail that their goal is within reach, and I have decided to aid them in the cause through my donation.
Darius Goes West: http://www.dariusgoeswest.org
The other organization is one Kidd Kraddick (creator of My Turn Day) himself made me aware of. 15-year-old Darius Weems from Athens, Georgia, was born with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD), the most common fatal genetic disorder to affect children worldwide. In 1999, he watched his beloved older brother, Mario, pass away from the same disease at age 19. Soon after, Darius lost use of the muscles in his legs and had to begin using a wheelchair.
A group of Darius’ college-age friends decided there was no need for his quality of life to disintegrate along with his muscles. In the summer of 2005, they rented a wheelchair-accessible RV and took Darius, who had never seen mountains, the ocean or even crossed a state line, on the adventure of a lifetime. The ultimate goal of their 7,000-mile cross-country journey was to reach Los Angeles and convince MTV’s hit show “Pimp My Ride” to customize Darius’ wheelchair. Along the way, they evaluated wheelchair accessibility in America, celebrated the 15th anniversary of the Americans With Disabilities Act (ADA) and raised awareness of DMD—particularly among a generation not familiar with Jerry Lewis. They also found joy, brotherhood and the knowledge that life, even when imperfect, is always worth the ride….and it was all captured on an amazing documentary called Darius Goes West . This documentary is designed to entertain as well as educate the masses about DMD by telling a story through the lens of friendship. In addition to hilarious footage from this all-male road trip, Darius Goes West features personal stories from two other families affected by DMD, as well as an in-depth interview with a medical expert discussing promising new research that offers hope for treatment and possibly even a cure. Darius Goes West is a nonprofit film. Therefore, I have decided to donate to their cause as well.
I encourage everyone to find an organization(s) that has meaning to you and donate your time or money…or both! That’s “My Turn Day” dedication…what’s yours? I hope we all have the courage to stop talking…and to start doing in 2009. Much Love, Steven
I’m organizing a 2 week long food drive at my place of work.
I will continue to try new things and record my results to help myself and others as we search for healing and relief from chronic pain.
Today is My Turn Day: I will continue to mentor an elementry kid who needs help in academics.
Students at Lakehill Preparatory School is East Dallas are aiming for 400 acts of service–every student in the school is making a pledge today and writing it down, with the goal of hitting 100% participation!
I volunteered at the Cancer Center in FTW. They have a movie night on the last weekend of the month for the patients. It allows the patients to spend time with their familys and not have to worry about all the other things that are going on. I will mostly just helping to cooking dinner for the familys and patients but I still feel great about it! Thanks for reminding us that we can all do more!
The last Saturday of every month my church goes downtown San Antonio Texas and feed the homeless at the SAMS shelter. If anyone is interested in volunteering please call 210-490-2827.
I am going to donate blood/platelets regularly
Hello its my turn to help children who have been mistreated and need a home. We all need someone to smile and hug with. So by doing this its my turn to join the Ft Worth C.A.S.A program
This week I will be cleaning a friends house while she is in Indiana helping her sister move.
We are also helping a neighbor build a back yard fence.
On March 7th my husband and I are volunteering to help build new playground equipment for the community park.
I am participating in the cycle for a cure to help fight diabetes. I am also signing up to be a volunteer for the Collin County Child Advocacy center to help with abused children.
I Signed up to become an organ, tissue and eye donor. http://www.donatelifetexas.org
FACTS:
There is a critical shortage of organs, tissues and eyes available for donation. There are more than 96,000 patients in the United States awaiting transplantation—more than 7,000 are Texans.
Every 13 minutes, a new name is added to the national transplant waiting list. Every day, 17 people die waiting for a life-saving organ transplant.
The Glenda Dawson Donate Life – Texas Registry is the official state organ, tissue and eye donor registry.
Historically, while signing a donor card and placing the “donor” sticker on your driver license served as an important symbol of your intent, it did not place you on any official list or registry.
In 2005, Texas joined 40 other states in the country by creating its own state donor registry.
Registering to become an organ, tissue and eye donor helps ensure your wishes will be carried out after you die.
You have the power to donate life. Sign up today to become an organ, tissue and eye donor. Your generosity can save up to eight lives through organ donation and enhance another 50 through tissue donation.
I signed up to be a organ, tissue and eye donor. http://www.donatelifetexas.org
My father and I are on the cycling team Gardere Gearheads with Gardere Wynne Sewell lawfirm. We have been riding with them for over a year now and participated in both events last year and training again for the MS150. Last year he and I raised around $1800 for MS and around $1300 for Children’s. We will volunteer for the running portion of the TX TOUGH in March and swim portion (date TBD). Please read below for information on the charities.
TX TOUGH
http://www.txtough.org
The TX TOUGH Tour is a pledge fund-raiser created exclusively to raise money for Children’s Medical Center in Dallas. When you sign up and pledge to raise money for Children’s, you have the opportunity to participate in a RUN, SWIM or BIKE event.
~~~~~
MS150 Frisco to Fort Worth with my bike team GARDERE GEARHEADS
http://www.gardere.com/ms150/
It’s time for the 2009 North Texas MS150 Bike Tour fun to begin! We would like very much for you to join in our Gardere Gearhead fun this year. The SAM’S CLUB MS150 is a 2 day bike tour and a vital fund-raiser for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Lone Star Chapter. It directly benefits more than 17, 000 men, women and children living with MS in 141 Texas counties. Join more than 3,500 cyclists this year on May 2-3, 2009 as we take to the Texas roads from Frisco to Fort Worth in the SAM’S CLUB MS150 Bike Tour. This important weekend will raise more than $2.5 million for the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, giving hope to more than 20, 000 Texas families living with multiple sclerosis.
Hello there….Today I am signing up for the AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY WALK….As a caregiver to my sister(WHICH IS A PANCREATIC CANCER SURVIVOR OF 5 YRS) , I feel obligated to take the walk for her honor…..Cancer doesn’t discriminate!!!!PERIOD…!!!!SO, I WILL TAKE THE WALK WITH PRIDE THAT I STILL HAVE MY SISTER WITH ME TO TAKE THAT WALK TOO!!!GOD BLESS ALL OF YOU….
I am getting my sons to get their friends to volunteer in the community. They are collecting money to send care packages to deployed soldiers for now. My goal is to keep kids out of trouble by taking them to volunteer or helping them find a way to help neighbors when they have nothing to do. Hopefully this will help them create a natural habit of looking around to see what can be done in a positive way when they are bored. I want them all to have a variety of volunteer experiences and am willing to do whatever it takes to help them become good citizens.
I’ll be volunteering with Heart Gallery of America. Its a great organization for photographers to volunteer their time photographing children who are up for adoption.
Combines two of my biggest passions- Photography and Adoption.
Happy My Turn Day Everyone!
I am picking up trash around my neighborhood and in my favorite parks.
I Pledge to help my mom at planning activities at the nursing home she works at this weekend.
I plan on devoting my life to providing free medical care, I have helped with a clinic for the homeless for several years now, and I am planning to go to medical school so that I can open my own free clinic.
I work for the American Red Cross in Dallas, so I had no clue what I was going to do (feeling that I work for a volunteer driven non-profit company, but still wanting to do more.) I was curious how I could step out of my normal duties of the Red Cross….and here’s what I got…
I am getting involved in a program that our HR department introduced us to. Dallas Elevators Role Model Program (Boys & Girls Club with Coca- Cola)- It’s like the Big Brother/ Big Sister program, but it allows high school juniors and seniors to shadow people at their workplace and get to know about life after high school and college. It is great opportunity to get kids motivated about their future and career path. Ever generation to follow holds the key to our world’s future…we can take steps to help make that future better.
I am volunteering at my church library. It was going to close its doors due to lack of volunteers. Through this I will be able to provide materials and resources to those seeking godly wisdom.
We took 2 big bags of bananas and 8 big bags of oranges to the Shreveport Bossier Rescue Mission homeless shelter!
I hate needles, they make me cry…. but I am going to donate blood for the first time.
Building bikes for school children.
My 5 year old grows like a weed, he out grows clothes sometimes faster than he can wear them. I’m donating all of his outgrown clothes to local charities to either resell so that they can raise money or to give to those in need. In this economic crisis many people can not afford to pay their rent let alone buy new clothes. As a single mom I have been on the receiving end and know how important it is to give back. It’s my turn to help someone else like I was once helped.
I will become more involved in a charity I already work for. This is the best cause that I could choose. Volunteering time to raise money for children’s brain tumor research is such a worthy use of time and energy.
For more infomation please visit: http://markslegacy.com/gpage.html
I’m volunteering as a chairperson and Team co-captain for Relay for Life.
http://www.relayforlife.org/metairie
My kids (Autumn and Jude) and I will be making PB&J sandwiches and brown bag lunches for the homeless. We have signed up with Hands on Baton Rouge.
http://www.marchforbabies.org/NTANN
It’s MY Turn! The North Texas Association of Neonatal Nurses will walk 5 miles for babies in our area that need help to survive and thrive.
With Your Support There’s Hope!!!
Premature birth and birth defects take a tremendous emotional and physical toll on babies and their families.
On April 18th, 2009
The North Texas Association of Neonatal Nurses (NTANN) will participate in the 5 mile “March for Babies”. By doing this we will raise money to be donated to March of Dime to support programs in our community that help moms have healthy full-term pregnancies; as well as to fund Nobel Prize-wining research to find answers to serious problems that threaten out babies.
Help us do our part to improve the health of babies by preventing birth defects, premature birth, and infant mortality.
You can visit our March of Dime secure donation website at: http://www.marchforbabies.org/NTANN
NTANN is a DFW local chapter of the National Association of Neonatal Nurses. Visit our chapter website at http://www.nicunurses.com
I’m spending at least an hour a week at Russell Elementary School in Missoula, MT. I’ll help where I’m needed. Maybe I’ll play on the playground with the kiddos or maybe I’ll read a book. Whatever it may be- I’m excited! I started last week. It is a great way to give back to the community and have fun while doing it.
I am going to keep volunteering my time for the American Cancer Society and I am also going to start doing more in my community to better the place I and my children live!
I am a substance abuse counselor at an outpatient treatment facility and I am organizing my clients in recovery to all volunteer in our community! This is a wonderful opportunity for me and my clients to give back to those that have helped them get back on their feet (i.e. homeless shelter, food bank, or the park and rec. dept.)!
Thanks for the inspiration!!
I have volunteered with the SPCA of Mckinney.
I’m volunteering with the Tarrant County AIDS Interfaith Network (TCAIN).
Today I’m the WATCHDOG at my son’s school.
I donate hours weekly at a home for teenaged mothers and their babies. I love it. Sometimes it is challenging, but it is always highly rewarding.
My husband and I volunteer every other month at our church. We teach 2nd and 3rd graders during service. I also volunteer in the nursery thier, every month on every 3rd Sunday. We love the kids.
I am donating plasma for the first time on Friday February 13, 2009!!!
I have registered to become a mentor for the Big Brothers Big Sisters Organization as there are many youth in my community who are needing this!
I volunteer for the Red Cross, donate to United Way and I am adopting a baby boy!
Happy My Turn Day!
I signed up to be a organ, tissue and eye donor. http://www.donatelifetexas.org
I’m upping my volunteer hours at Children’s Medical Center, Dallas- “Making life better for children”.
The credit union has a whole will read to the children at the Joesph M. Still Burn Center to positively impact the patients and their recovery and promote literacy among children in our community.
Our branches will provide dessert for the Augusta Crisis Center for their Valentine’s dinner.
The Marketing and I.T. Dept will collect coupons monthly and give to Safe Homes of Augusta, a non profit organization that shelters women and children who are victims of domestic violence.
CSRA FCU is taking our turn on My Turn Day!
I am fostering two puppies from our local Animal Shelter that have tested positive for parvo. They have to be given an injection of antibiodics every day and possible IV fluids injected periodically if they start getting dehydrated. I also have to clean their area three times a day with bleach solution along with anything on my that comes in contact with the area, including the bottoms of my shoes. I pray my efforts save these little guys as the other 7 siblings have already passed from this virus.
I will be volunteering every Wednesday at our Good Samaratine’s Center, my local food bank. You guys enspired me so much!
~Charlotte~
I am donating blankets and quilts to a retirement home and i just sent in my registration to volunteer at Cooks Children’s. Now it’s your turn!
I am going to start recycling today. I got out my bin and filled it with water bottles. I also got a water filter so I could stop buying water.
My Daisy Troop is going to make care packs to send to the troops. We are going to include some Girl Scout Cookies too !!
I am going to help feed Hospice patients that can no longer feed themselves on the weekends! This is perfect for me. I’m a registered nurse and love caregiving and helping those that cannot help themselves!
I volunteering with Habitat for Humanity on Saturday. Community service has been a large part of my life and this is one group I have always wanted to participate with but never got around to… I am very excited about getting my hands dirty to help build a home.
My husband and I will be participating in a 150 mile bike ride to raise money for MS in Virgina Beach. If you are interest in “taking your turn” and helping please visit our “group’ at http://www.facebook.com group name “The Cantley’s Ride for MS”. there you will find a link to our web site and you can make donations to the MS Society
I am going to volunteer at RIver Legacy Living Science Center and help as an animal care assistant! I will be feeding animals and cleaning cages! Position requires 2 hours a week and be done before 2pm .
A friend and I are volunteering with the local Habitat for Humanity!
I’ve been thinking about doing it for years, but ‘My Turn Day’ was the little push I didn’t know I was waiting for. I can’t wait!
I WILL BE VOLUNTEERING WITH SAMMINISTRIES EVERY TUESDAY , A PROGRAM THAT ASSISTS THE HOMELESS IN SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS. http://www.samm.org
Today I will start helping other families with special needs “children” who don’t know the system with organizations & programs. 6 years ago when my daughter was born I knew nothing & no one wanted to help or guide me. It has been a long long struggle to get my daughter the medical care she deserves & the help she needs to function so I have decided to help others & show them the way that I had to find on my own. THANKS TO KIDDS KIDS THAT HELPED ME DECIDE THIS!!!!!
Kaitlyn’s mom 08′ Kidds Kids
I will continue to volunteer at the local Community Center;
http://www.bendscommunitycenter.org
I serve on the Board of the local Humane Society, The Humane Society of Southeast Missouri. I am the main online social networker, I help with planning events and fundraisers, help with decisions that effect the everyday operation of the shelter, occassionally help with the cleaning, help with workshops and adoption mobiles, and much more.
I plan on organizing a school supply drive at my children’s preschool and participating in the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure.
My turn Day by LumaCorp:
LumaCorp, we are committed to Texas, to the properties we manage and the clients we serve. As a company who cares we choose to participate as well in my turn day and below you we see some of the commitments made by our 21 properties over the state of Texas as well as the employees of our Corporate Office in Dallas TX.
Kim Moncibais-
Professionally, I volunteer on 3 separate committees for AAGD (Auction, Spring/Fall Golf Tournament, and Toys for Tots).
Personally, I just accepted a director position on the Allen Sports Association Football League Board, and will be volunteering countless hours to the young boys in our community.
I just made a charitable contribution to the American Heart Association, and recently to the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation. I also adopt an Angel Tree child each year for the Salvation Army.
Rick Moncibais-
Professionally, I (with the help of Service Managers) will participate in the IREM Community project for 2009.
Personally, I am currently coaching 6 year old flag football and 6 year old soccer in Allen TX. I have coached soccer since fall of 2006 and coached football since fall of 2007. Football and soccer are year round sports in Allen. I plan to continue to coach, including coaching tackle football in fall 2009. Go Cowboys and Stingrays!
Kristi DeCarlo-
I have registered at booksforsoldiers.com to send not only books, but also dvds and games to our soldiers. Additionally, I am a member of a police officer spousal support group. We donate our time, meals, etc. to families in need. We also donated school supplies to needy families at the beginning of this school year.
Kathy Whitman-
Today, I wrote a letter for Sherry Jordan’s nomination as TAA Reg Spv of the Year; this spring I will clean out the closet of the clothes that I thought someday would fit but never will and donate to an organization that provides clothes for women who need for interviewing and work; this summer I will work for the AAGD community project; this fall I will donate to the Shriner’s Hospital; this winter, I will donate for Toys for Tots and the Salvation Angel Tree.
Ian Mattingly-
This year I am chairing the Dallas IREM chapter ARM committee (so please contact me if you’d like to participate!) and assistant coaching my 4-year-old’s YMCA soccer team (go Team Dinoco!). My family is a regular visitor to a local retirement community where my children do an excellent job performing for the seniors and bringing joy. We are supporters of AOPA, Public Radio, and the Crestone Preservation fund, and we try to instill civic-mindedness in our eldest child by bringing him along on regular trips to bring food and clothing to Metrocrest Social Services
Sherry Jordan-
Professionally – I will volunteer my time to the Union Gospel Mission assisting with their food pantry and any other needs they may have. Those of you on the west side can join me…AATC works closely with them.
Personally – I am going to mentor an elderly person. Doing things such as taking them to dinner, the movies, remising about old times, reading, any fun thing they may want to do that day.
Suzanne Schmidtke-
Personally, my family and I will be donating our time to the Adopt a Highway program picking up trash in Ellis County. Additionally, we participate in a local
Angel Tree gift giving event each Christmas. We also adopted “Robert” last year. He is a homeless man in downtown Dallas. We routinely make meals for him, buy him shoes and ensure he has a coat, hat and blanket while its cold. We save all of our cans for Robert so he can turn them in for money.
Professionally, I have signed up with AAGD to volunteer with community and legislative events
Kathi Tuttle-
I volunteer every year with my church, Calvary Temple as we give Food baskets that contain a Christmas dinner that will feed a family of 6. We fill these baskets with turkeys, fresh vegetables, fruits, bread, and candy for the children and everything that family will need to prepare their Christmas dinner. We hand out these baskets at the end of each service on the Sunday before Christmas.
I also volunteer to help buy and hand out Toys for 1000 children at Calvary Temple for underprivileged children for the week before Christmas. These are two of my favorite things that I am privileged to do at Christmas beside the Angel Tree that we do at LumaCorp and I am so thankful that I have a turn.
Nick Jerome-
I plan to clean my closet again and donate clothing and also participate in toys for tots over winter. I will also look for more ways to donate and help out those that are less fortunate!
Frankie Radabaugh-
I am so excited to announce that I have submitted a form to help the AAGD with community services this year! I don’t know the exact area I will be in, but told them where ever they may need me I will be there…it felt great! This is a new community service for me, however I also participate in Autism Speaks, TACA Now and Guardian Angel which are Autism Awareness groups each year. We participate in the cancer survivor walk in Midlothian to support my sister in law and we also participate in the Autism walk. I am so excited to take my turn on MY TURN DAY and commit to helping these organizations and the community in anyway that I can!!
I am so happy to be amongst great people that support community service efforts!
Emily Short-
Rather than cave into peer pressure and join Facebook, I’ve used My Turn Day to join CARE and become a virtual volunteer. CARE is a leading humanitarian organization fighting global poverty. Feel free to visit my page, join my friend list and if so inclined, join yourself. http://we.care.org/Emily10
Phyllis Metevier-
Well, I will continue to donate time, energy, and groceries to the Chin Refugee Ministry at my church, First Baptist Church of Flower Mound. These are people that have been given asylum in the US after facing religious persecution, torture, and sometimes even death in their native country of Burma (Mynammar). Most of them have been in refugee camps in Malaysia and Thailand for several years and still have family members in the camps. They speak very little English and several are without jobs. I’ll also continue teaching Sunday school for 7th & 8th grade girls, help prepare the Wednesday night meal at church, and co-teach the 4th through 6th grade girls on missions. My family is planning to go on two mission trips to Monclova, Mexico this year to help paint, tile, and whatever else is needed to be done at their churches.
On a personal level, it’s been wonderful reading everyone’s plans and committments they are making this year!
Kelly Young-
I support the Breast Cancer 3-day every year. This past year the Dallas/Fort Worth 3-Day walk earned $7.9 million!
I also participate in the Carter BloodCare blood drives around town as well as donating regularly to Goodwill.
Virgie Wright-
I support the “Bowl for the Cure” – DFW bowling teams compete against Milwaukee to raise millions of dollars for breast cancer research every year and of course… DFW teams are the winners!!!! I also give bowling lessons to anyone who might need help improving their games.
Personally – I donate to Goodwill every year, help some of the elderly at our community – taking them to grocery stores, pharmacy and sometimes take the tour bus to the casino and enjoy their company, they love to talk and hang out…..
Mary Arceneaux-
I will continue to donate clothes and household items to the Leukemia Society and the ARC of Dallas. The ARC provides resources, information and programs for people with Developmental Disabilities. I am the legal guardian of my adult son that has numerous mental disabilities. Because of this I am very involved with MHMR (Mental Health and Mental Retardation). I have been involved with calling bingo at a retirement home, serving the homeless at Thanksgiving and cleaning up my neighborhood park. I will continue to participate in Toys for Tots and the Angel Tree at Christmas. I bring food items to Christian Community Action of Lewisville and have volunteered there as well.
Woodland Hills Apartment Homes-
Woodland Hills would like to share what we all will be doing for My Turn Day throughout 2009-
Misty will be volunteering 40 hours with the DFW Humane Society to help socialize the shelter dogs and cats.
JoAnn will be volunteering at Cook Children’s Hospital to help out with the newborn babies.
Leia will be volunteering with The Arrow Project to read and help out with the foster children.
Julio will be spending time with three elderly women who are sick and need care.
Rodolfo will be picking up the trash from his local park.
Delilah will be baking cookies and taking them to nursing homes.
Deer Wood and Deer Cross Apartment Homes-
Deer Wood and Deer Cross has contacted the Habitat for Humanity, we will donate a Saturday to help with building of a house here in Lufkin. We also are participating Toys for Tots and will volunteer our time with the Salvation Army during Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays.
Also this year at Christmas instead of drawing employee names we will choose an angel off the Angel tree for each of us.
Towne Centre Village Apartment Homes-
I (Tonya Schneider) have cleaned out my closet and have given clothes to the Salvation Army. I will adopt a senior from a retirement home and visit them with goodies. My family is donating funds each month to the Scottish Rite Hospital to help kids with disabilities.
Arbors of Burleson Apartment Homes-
Hollie will gathering the many, many boxes of her clothing and children’s clothing from her attic and storage building along with the unbelievable about of boxed up toys and will be donating them to the Harvest House here in Burleson. I will also participate in the Toys for Tots this year and really try to make this year boom for our property. My children and I always pick an angel for each of us, and we will continue that this year.
Richard will donate canned goods and clothing to the harvest house and will participate in toys for tots this year.
Wilson Crossing Apartment Homes-
Professionally:
Wilson Crossings Team has agreed to donate one weekend per quarter to help with “The Dallas Habitat for Humanity”. In addition we will send care packages to our troops and continue to help with food drives with the local apartment associations and Toys for Tots.
Sheli: Has signed up to help with daughters athletic programs at MISD and has volunteered my family to read to the elderly at Mansfield Retirement Center one Saturday per month. She also donate clothes, shoes, etc to Mission Arlington.
Carmell: Donating all her baby clothes to “The Ace Foundation for Kids” and make quarterly donations to “The Scottish Rite Hospital”.
Crystal: Will become a foster parent of an older child and eventually adopt a child of her own.
Pipers Cove and Eldorado Apartment Homes-
Pipers Cove and Eldorado will be donating time to Habitat for Humanity to assist in rebuilding our local communities devastated by Hurricane Ike. We will be devoting a Saturday along with our families and residents that would like to contribute.
Personally, I (Melissa Kolojaco) have started contributing substantially to one of our local churches. This is not just any church, it assists in helping our great residents (and surrounding communities) who run into financial crisis one month, and expect nothing in return. I have seen the tears of great people who just don’t know what to do after work hours were cut or job was cut. This organization is the key for people to get back up on the horse.
Pine Knoll Apartment Homes-
We are going to have a blood drive on property. Not only are we going to encourage our residents to participate but also other apartment communities in the area.
Entire staff is going to do some spring cleaning and donate everything to Hopes closet, which is for battered women and their children. Also in the fall we are going to donate out time to the Relay for life. We’re going to have Christmas in July! We will be collecting toys and clothes for the Longview Police Dept “Blue Santa” Program.
Arbors of Corsicana Apartment Homes–
Synthia, I plan to continue with my work in our Christian motorcycle group. We make rides to places all over Texas and do lots of fund raising for different needs across the state. Occasionally it is with little notice. We also ride in many toy runs collecting toys for children at Christmas. We also go to the FT Hood area and raise money at Thanksgiving for the families of the troops. I also take care of an old lady
Kelly, Is donating clothes to the Salvation Army. She is also organizing a group of residents to do something. They will meet on Feb 16th we are not sure what exactly they will do but we have lots of great ideas. She will also donate food to the food pantry.
Maribel, Donate food for the food pantry, her oldest daughter is in the military and will be active this year so she is also going to care for her 3 grand children while she is gone.
Pedro, Donate food for the food pantry, he will also assist Kelly in any activities the residents choose to do.
Charlie participates in the Relay for Life. He just donated clothes to the Salvation Army.
We are also checking in on adopting a portion of a highway close to the property.
Resident comments posted on our MySpace say that one of the residents is taking clothes to the Salvation Army.
Indian Creek Apartment Homes-
Fran Means has been volunteering at the Heritage Garden nursing home for 19 years strong!
Taye Bortters and husband have been dedicated volunteers to St Joseph’s Indian School for 6 years
and Taye volunteers time to the singing department at Marcus High School.
Alan Haught is a volunteer in the kitchen department of his church and he drives his church van.
The Courtyard Apartment Homes-
Angie McCalment will be sending at least one card a week to a child that is terminally or chronically ill in the hospital. Not a get well card but just a thinking of you card. I will as well have my son also participate in this since he was born with a congenital heart defect, so he can understand more. We started this past weekend going thru closets to clean out clothes to go to the Cancer federation and Blankets to go to Allen Animal shelter. We will of course donate for “Toys for Tots” again and this year as well the entire McCalment family has chosen to pick an angel off the Salvation Army tree instead of buying for each other.
Adriane Armstrong will be volunteering and donating time and Money to the Scottish Rite hospital this coming year.
Marshall Miller has been helping the blind and plans to continue this in the coming year as well as Marshall takes the time to pick up any trash he sees.
Vicente Farias is always willing to lend a hand to all projects that need completed around him and is always helping the elderly of our community. As well as he helps Rick Moncibais with his projects.
Somerset Apartment Homes-
Diane serves on the IREM Dallas Chapter Executive Council and will be participating with the Community Outreach Committee in the events scheduled so far: Meet the Troops in May, Hearts and Hammers in September. Heather will also be participating in these events.
Niki will be sorting through all of her children’s old clothing and donating to Goodwill.
Blaine, Francisco, Fernando, Maria, and Matt will also participate in Hearts and Hammers.
Pace’s Crossing Apartment Homes-
Brandy- Has given 14” of hair to Locks of Love is a public non-profit organization that provides hairpieces to financially disadvantaged children in the United States and Canada under age 18 suffering from long-term medical hair loss from any diagnosis. I will also donate my wedding dress to Heavenly Angels in Need, an organization that makes funeral layettes for preemies. (cause, let’s face it—nobody wants to wear their mother’s dress anymore). I will also knit needed caps and sweaters for preemies for Heavenly Angels in Need.
Brandy, Gracie & Allison will donate work clothes to The Women’s Alliance is a national organization of independent community-based members who provide professional attire and career skills training to low-income women and families seeking self-sufficiency.
Chris, John & Julio will donate clothes to the Salvation Army.
Gracie- is donating her time and efforts to teach English as a second language.
Chris has requested to remain anonymous in his altruism.
Christy Martinez-
I personally will be participating in the ACS Relay for life event in May. I will also be volunteering my time at the Shiner’s Hospital during Christmas.
I also twice a year donate my boys clothes they have outgrown to the Star of Hope Foundation in Houston.
Salado Apartment Homes-
Starting the month of February, Salado has volunteered our time to deliver meals on the 2nd and 4th Friday of every month to senior who may not receive a meal at all without the help of Meals on Wheels Program. Our first time to do this is this Friday, Feb. 13th and our whole staff is looking forward to this exciting program. Salado has also started volunteering at the Senior Center a couple times a month. Elizabeth and Dianna went yesterday to help out with the Wii Bowling Tournament however when we arrived we helped out with aerobics instead. Salado is glad to help and also plans to recruit some residents this way as well. Salado will continue donating the Toys for Tots to the Salvation Army every year to help with children who may not have a Christmas without our help.
Elizabeth every year adopts a child from the Angel Tree and gives to them rather than her and her
fiancé spending money on each other, they would rather give to someone who has nothing at all. I think this is a wonderful program so Salado for Christmas 2009 will adopt a family instead of exchanging gifts to one another. This will be very much enjoyed from each one of us as well as the family that we select.
Arbors of Cleburne Apartment Homes-
Our team will be participating in Cleburne’s Relay for Life in June & we will encourage the entire property to join us.
Shirley will be cleaning out closets & storage building to donate clothes & toys to Operation Blessings & donating time to our Chamber of Commerce to help with their projects to help families in need, which I have found out there are many in need right now.
Martha will be donating clothing, household items, toys, and time to the Crisis Center.
Mark will be cleaning out unused items from his home and donating them to Goodwill.
Gerald will be donating one Saturday a month to help with any repairs needed at Operation Blessings.
Linda will be donating clothing and household items to Operation Blessings.
Brookside Apartment Homes-
Sasha is going to volunteer at the pound and also look into promoting literacy among children.
Liza is donating food.
Julio is donating clothes and also going to pay for the person behind him in line next time he goes out to lunch. We’re going to work on putting a little card together that says something like “Please pass along this random act of kindness.”
Jorge is going to volunteer at The Boys and Girls Club.
Hulen Oaks Apartment Homes-
Morgan will be spending time with her mom at the children’s hospital in the intensive care unit holding the sick babies.
Doug and his wife have always worked with abused children back home and are going to get involved with the same here.
Ernesto and Juan are going to team up and help some of the elderly get to the store and carry their groceries in each week.
And I (Gale Schilling) will continue to work with Medical City Transplant unit, I take calls on Sat and Sunday from patients and family members having a transplant or are waiting for one. I will also try to visit patients at least 1 day a month. My family will continue to give to the half way houses like we have since they have been teenagers.
Shiloh Oaks Apartment Homes-
Majority of the staff will go through the closet and donate to Goodwill, and we have decided to give blood.
The Vanderbilt Apartment Homes-
The Vanderbilt team and the residents have committed to adopting a highway in our area. The residents are so excited to be involved with the community!! The entire team at the Vanderbilt will also participate in this program and will help organize the groups on the days we help clean up!
On a personal commitment each team member will be helping out in the following ways:
Chad: Diabetes Awareness walks and helps in raising money to further research.
Amber: Will donate time to the Humane Society and help the furry friends she loves!
Robert: Will participate in the adopt a highway program and always helps out spontaneously
throughout the year to our less fortunate residents.
Tim: Participating in adopt a highway program and will continue to donate items to the Salvation
Army and those less fortunate.
Josh: Participating in the Breast Cancer Awareness walk this month and will continue efforts in this charity throughout the year.
Angel: Has volunteered in helping patients that are going through Chemotherapy with housekeeping, errands, and lending a supporting ear.
Lupe: Volunteers throughout the year with his church which help the elderly, homeless, and families in need.
Jose: Will help with cleaning up the area on a daily basis, which is not limited to the VND. He also is great at helping residents move things that they cannot do on their own and help them to their door when their hands are full all year long!
Frankie will also donate time in the adopt a highway to support the Vanderbilt Team on the weekends!!
I am going to a local nursing home to play the piano for all of the residents during their Valentines Day party. (:
I’ll be volunteering for Special Olympics Texas
As a public school teacher, I do everything that I can to help educate the future leaders of our world. I am offering free tutoring sessions for the students at my school, both before and after the school day. Hopefully, I can help make a difference!
In observance of MyTurnDay, I’ll make four commitments:
1) Posting rhymes: I hold a free weekly story time for kids 0-5 at the Art Space School in West Annapolis. This is my way of sharing the art of connecting with children through stories, rhymes, and songs. I recently started a FB group called “Rhyme Time with Kathryn Para” . For My Turn Day, I’ll commit to posting one rhyme/ story/ song a week and one video a Month. This is my way of helping others to connect with and nurture their children. I also commit to building a web page/ blog which would make the rhymes even more accessible.
2) Holding a Swap for a charity: I’ll also commit to holding a swap regularly. This is when people bring things they do not need anymore to a place. Kid’s stuff (not to be confused with Kidd’s stuff) , clothes, household stuff. They then search through everyone else’s stuff and take what they need. What’s left goes to charity. I am coordinating this to be at The Art Space as well. Priscilla, the owner is excited about the idea. The first swap will be this Sunday at 1:30 at the Art Space School. I am trying to coordinate with Sarah’s House, an organization which helps women and children in need. Hopefully they can get donations from the events.
http://www.artspaceschool.com
http://www.cc-md.org/emergency/sarahs-house.html
3) Stroller Patroller: Beginning today, I’ll walk the 4+mile Crofton Parkway once a week to pick up trash. I’m committed to filling a bag. Not only will this be good for my health and great for my children to make sure they get outside, but it will be great for my community to have a nicer looking neighborhood. I also commit to starting a group I’m thinking about calling “Stroller Patroller, Changing our World one Walk at a Time.” I will work on having a website up and running in a month. I’ve had it in my head to start this for a while. Anyone interested in starting something like this for their neighborhood, call me at 443-995-2372 (cell).
4) A developer is trying to build a big box store on some wetlands near our house. I also commit to being involved with Crofton 1st in their efforts to prevent this from happening.
http://www.croftonfirst.org
Thanks for reading. And thanks for the inspiration to make a commitment.
On Sundays, I attend a ministry in Dallas that serves the homeless. We serve breakfast every Sunday morning (spiritual and Earthly food) to those in need. On Feb. 14, we are holding a luncheon and day of pampering for the our ladies.
In observance of TyTurn Day, I’ll make four commitments:
1) Posting rhymes: I hold a free weekly story time for kids 0-5 at the Art Space School in West Annapolis. This is my way of sharing the art of connecting with children through stories, rhymes, and songs. I recently started a FB group called “Rhyme Time with Kathryn Para” . For My Turn Day, I’ll commit to posting one rhyme/ story/ song a week and one video a Month. This is my way of helping others to connect with and nurture their children. I also commit to building a web page/ blog which would make the rhymes even more accessible.
2) Holding a Swap for a charity: I’ll also commit to holding a swap regularly. This is when people bring things they do not need anymore to a place. Kid’s stuff (not to be confused with Kidd’s stuff) , clothes, household stuff. They then search through everyone else’s stuff and take what they need. What’s left goes to charity. I am coordinating this to be at The Art Space as well. Priscilla, the owner is excited about the idea. The first swap will be this Sunday at 1:30 at the Art Space School. I am trying to coordinate with Sarah’s House, an organization which helps women and children in need. Hopefully they can get donations from the events.
http://www.artspaceschool.com
http://www.cc-md.org/emergency/sarahs-house.html
3) Stroller Patroller: Beginning today, I’ll walk the 4+mile Crofton Parkway once a week to pick up trash. I’m committed to filling a bag. Not only will this be good for my health and great for my children to make sure they get outside, but it will be great for my community to have a nicer looking neighborhood. I also commit to starting a group I’m thinking about calling “Stroller Patroller, Changing our World one Walk at a Time.” I will work on having a website up and running in a month. I’ve had it in my head to start this for a while. Anyone interested in starting something like this for their neighborhood, call me at 443-995-2372 (cell).
4) A developer is trying to build a big box store on some wetlands near our house. I also commit to being involved with Crofton 1st in their efforts to prevent this from happening.
http://www.croftonfirst.org
Thanks for reading. And thanks for the inspiration to make a commitment.
I’m feeding 6 children a month in Malawi, Africa through Nourish the Children.
I am volunteering after school and starting a computer club for kids that have no access to computers or the internet at home.
I am going to mentor young kids of single family homes.
I am volunteering as a “college mentor” in a local youth group to help high schoolers make the leap from high school to college without losing their mind.. or faith.
I want to find and create ways to raise money and awareness for Operation Smile, a charity that provides reconstructive surgeries for childhood deformities like cleft lips and cleft palets.
I’m donating my time to “Snowball Express”…it’s a charity set up to provide fun, meaningful trips for families of forgotten heroes – the men and women who have lost their lives while serving to protect our country. About 3 years ago the founders of Snowball Express heard about a child whose father promised to take him to Disneyland when he got back from Irag, sadly, he never made it home and thus, his son never made it to Disneyland. And so, Snowball Express was born!
I am actually participating in two “charities”:
(1) I am currently taking donations for the American Heart Association and in March will be participating in the heart walk.
(2) The month of July my family, including my mother and father, my brother and his three children, his girlfriend and her two children and son and myself will be driving from Gautier, MS (the Gulf Coast) to South Dakota. Due to the number of people we will be driving three cars. We will be pulling a U-Haul hopefully stuffed with children’s clothes. In South Dakota we will be visiting a Native American Reservation and school and donating all the clothes/blankets/shoes.
I am a pen pal for an at risk child in an innercity school.
I’m volunteering with my co-worker/friend at Exodus. She goes at least once a week and I’m going to go with her at least every other week. Her name is Amber and she is an awesome volunteer and I only hope to learn from her.
I am going to walk in the 2009 March for Babies.
Would you like to Sponsor me in my Walk and help me reach my fundraising goal? Here is my Page:
http://www.marchforbabies.org/felinity
My Event:
Biloxi Town Green
April 25, 2009
US Highway 90
Biloxi, MS
Walk Distance: 3 miles
Thank you for your Support!
I will continue to volunteer for Little League.
I’m helping rehabilitate the wild animals that have been injured and return them to the wild! We’re also educating the public about our natural habitat and the animals in it. On top of it all, my daughter volunteers at the center too…our family helping the wild families.
I was going to take my clothes to the salvation army but had to watch my sick child. So I did my part at watching her instead of taking the clothes.
I’m donating items to an auction to benefit 4 year old Tate Cavalier.
A TOKEN FOR TATE
Tate is the 4 year old son of Michelle Cavalier who was born with a rare chromosome 7 disease known as Williams Syndrome.
This is a rare genetic disorder that affects both pre and post natal growth. It is characterized by short stature, a varying degree of mental and physical deficiency, and distinctive facial features. Williams may also be associated with cardiac defects, abnormal levels of calcium in the blood during infancy and musculoskeletal defects.
Tate suffers from a majority of these characteristics and has undergone open heart surgery at New Orleans Children’s Hospital, and was sent to Boston Children’s Hospital for observation and possibly another heart surgery. Tate recently spent several weeks at Philadelphia Children’s Hospital where he was introduced to food and taught how to eat. Tate will have to return to Philadelphia every three months for the next year for observation.
While Tate does have medical insurance it does not cover some of the procedures that he needs and Michelle has been overwhelmed with medical expenses since Tate’s diagnosis.
Friends and family will have a benefit for Tate on Sunday, April 26, 2009 at the Ascension Civic Center on Airline Hwy in Sorrento, Louisiana. Festivities will begin at 11:00 a.m. and run until 8:00 p.m.
There will be jambalaya, spaghetti, beer, soda, sweets, hamburgers, hot dogs, boudin, hot tamales, games for the kids, a country store, mini pot jambalaya cooking contest, washer board tournament and much more.
Music will be provided throughout the day by several local musicians and a live auction will begin at 3:00 p.m. featuring Steve Broussard as auctioneer.
A bank account has been opened at United Community Bank. Anyone wishing to make an anonymous donation can do so by referencing account number 1502491. The account name is A Token for Tate.
So bring your family, friends and neighbors out to pass a good time and help this family in need.
For more information or to make a donation of any kind, contact Beverly Clouatre at 644-4042, Vanessa Melancon at 675-8011 or Sandra Templet at 675-5223.
To register for the mini pot jambalaya cooking contest call Roxanne at 353-4157 or 910-2407. To enter your 2 person team in the washer board tournament call Gretchen at 933-7866.
I’m walking and fundraising for those living with Multiple Sclerosis and also going to be the Director of Vacation Bible School.
Instead of selling my babies clothes from newborn to 2T, and her car seat, as I had planned, I am going to take all of it (12 boxes of adorable clothes and shoes) to the Family Crisis Center in Livingston Parish, where I also hope to “adopt” a pregnant woman in need.
I will be orgainizing a golf outing for cff.
I will be volunteering on weekends with the children at Children’s Medical Center in Dallas,TX.
I am meeting with students at ITT Tech during their last semester of school to prepare them for interviewing and their job search. I’ll be conducting “mock interviews”, giving tips on how to write a resume that will stand, giving interview conduct tips.
I am volunteering for The Woodlands Waterway Arts Festival. I will continue to search for volunteering opportunities.
IM GOING TO BE DONATING UNWANTED CLOTHES AND TOYS TO A HOMELESS SHELTER, MY STEP DAUGHTER BROUGHT IT TO MY ATTENTION THAT SHE WANTED TO DO IT SO IM GOING TO JOIN HER. I DONATE MY FAMILYS CLOTHES ALL THE TIME TO THE CHILDRENS ADVOCACY CENTER OF PLANO, BUT ON MYTURN DAY WE WILL BE GOING TO HOMELESS SHELTER TO DO IT. :~)
I have a disease called Cystic Fibrosis. I am helping to raise money to cure this disease. I know I will be helping others because I know how awful this disease is.
The program of Alcoholics Anonymous saved my life. I am 5 years sober by the grace of God and my AA family. As a part of giving back and sharing my experience, strength and hope I am on the host committee for our 2nd quarter AA Assembly in Chattanooga, TN in March and I volunteered yesterday to chair our yearly AA picnic. The best way I know how to stay sober is to help another suffering alcoholic.
You are never alone.
“I am responsible. When anyone, anywhere, reaches out for help, I want the hand of AA always to be there. And for that: I am responsible.”
I volunteered at CAMP Camp and loved it! Hope everyone would get a chance to help out the Camp community!
I am volunteering at CAMP camp helping and being a friend to children with special needs.
I am ECOGEECO (eco-geek-oh) the ECO HERO! My family and i volunteer for an event every weekend for a year. We call it 52 Saturdays. So far we are up to 26 weeks and the next 6 are already booked. The list is to long to name them all but among them we clean a local lake, plant trees, Relay for Life, Race for the cure. As ECOGEECO the Eco Hero i visit area schools and teach kids about saveing the planet with sustainability. I drive my Solar Electric car to every event all year round. I have also used my car to raise money for Childrens Miricle Network by shuttling people to and from there cars at my day job. With my web site http://ecogeeco.com and Twitter, I talk about how to keep all your gadgets but save energy and save the Earth to. In all i live the My Turn Day objective 365 days a year and have a lot of fun doing it. To everyone out there Give your time and help everyone. ReThink It Green!
From 2006-present, I have been involved with an organization in Centerpoint, Texas (near San Antonio) called Camp CAMP. CAMP is a summer program for children and adults with Intellectual Disabilities. Also, they hold weekend respites once a month to give caregivers a well derserved R and R away from their charges that have disabilities. CAMP has many different activities such as swimming, horseback riding, canoeing, arts and crafts, music therapy, and nature…to name a few. There is also a weekly dance or which all of the CAMPers get to participate in, but is especially important to the older teenage CAMPers, because this is their Prom. They choose a date, get dolled up, and are wined and dined
Because of my wonderful experience at CAMP, I have chosen to continue my work in this field. I now work in Conroe, Texas at a day program for adults with disabilites called Bridgewood Farms. I am also attending school to become a Registered Nurse to continue working with these individuals on a more medical level. Furthermore, my best friend and I are very active in raising awareness for Austim, and plan to attend Austim walks in the Houston area this year. Thanks Camp CAMP!!
http://www.campcamp.org
http://www.bridgewoodfarms.org
It’s MY TURN to…
support and volunteer for the Nick Gonzales Foundation for Brain Cancer Research created in honor of my cousin Nick. http://www.nickgonzalesfoundation.org/ and to send care packages to veterans and overseas to US Military personnel.
I like to give bottled water to the garbage men during the summer and I’ve slacked so they pass on Feb 13th and I’m gonna give them Valentines. No one really ever thinks about the garbage men and that’s a dirty job and we can’t live without them so I truly appreciate them.
I am donating to three organizations in my local town that benefit the Youth and the animals! I help the Boys & Girls Club, Straight Street, Clay County Animal Shelter! Everyone needs to do all they can to help the Youth of America. There is so much violence and drugs going on today in our schools, homes and communtiies. We have to save our future generations!
I havent previously been able to do much to help out, but I do looooove helping people. Ive seen alot of great ideas here and Im going to implement a few. Im going to look into what it takes to train my dog to be a therapy dog, as well as volunteer for an animal shelter near my house. A smaller thing I will start doing is picking up any trash I see. If everyone picked up one thing a day and stopped throwing it out, we would have a cleaner world in no time at all. These are my goals for My Turn day…now its your turn =)
I am currently interning at Habitat for Humanity of Horry County, which is in Myrtle Beach, South Carolina. My specific goal is to get the word out about Habitat’s mission, and how members of our community can contribute. There are Habitat for Humanity locations all over the world, so I urge you to find your local Habitat affiliate and donate, whether it be time or money, to assist in Habitat for Humanity’s mission to eliminate poverty housing worldwide.
My Turn- Yesturday, I gave a man on the roadside $5.00 no questions asked. It felt great to give, Especially since I don’t have money to be giving out in the first place. So here’s for all the KiddKraddick fans. It is my turn does not mean it is your turn to receive, but your turn to give! I plan on giving by volunteering my time to help out organizations that are Improving our community, like Community Renewal for one!
I’m giving $27/month to help a woman in a war-torn country start a business, feed her family, and send her children to school. Womenforwomen.org
I help out at the Boys and Girls Club, I read to elementary school children as a part of SMART and I volunteer at my local hospital each week.
Today I got a “cry for help” at 6:40 am….from a young friend who needed someone to help him try to turn his life around. I got up and went to help and tried to do what I could to made a postive difference for him. He just called to thank me and tell me how much it meant to him. Guess that ’s what “it’s” all about! Doing the RIGHT things for the right reasons!
At during the month my daughter 9yrs. and my two granddaughters 6 yrs. and 3 yrs. make holiday, thinking of you, just to say hi, etc. cards. We then take them once a month to the Care Home and go door to door, in the great room or dining room and visit with the residents and pass out our cards of wishes. We are making great friends. This has brought us to tears many times. At Christmas I made sure the girls were dressed in their Christmas dresses and we shared handmade Christmas cards. I am the coordinator for my daughters Valentine party this year at school and we are going to make Valentine cards so that we can go and share with the residents. They look forward to it and so do we. It is such a win win for everyone and is so easy to do.
It’s something small – but once a week I buy whoever is behind me in the line in the cafe here at work their breakfast, lunch, coffee, or whatever. They alway seemed so suprised and happy, and can’t understand why. It’s something little – but seems to make a big difference for that person – that day. God is good!
Each year I try to step up our family’s giving from the year before. This year we will sponsor an orphan in Kenya for each child in our biological family. We will volunteer more at church to help families in need. I will start donating blood again. I will send my gift cards earned at work and from credit card points to a young military family we know to help them out. I am making a conscious effort to help specific people around us that need help, not just to donate $25 to every random charity that calls. Charity Navigator has been very useful in determining who uses their donations wisely.
Today I will donate all of my unwanted T shirts/shoes to the Help Haiti cause. It’s an organization at my school.
So for My Turn I bought some Tee Shirts for my sister and I on the Save the TaTas website. I also work with people in need so I did all I could to help my clients today. Tonight I am going to go pick up trash in the park next to my house! YaY for My Turn.
I am excited and making arrangements for my trip to the Gaza Strip in June in order to help refugees that are still plagued by malnourishment and disease. Go New Orleans Saints..
For “My Turn Day”, what i decided to do wont be able to start til the end of the month because of a training schedule…but here it is: I signed up to volunteer at the Rape Crisis Center. I think it will be amazing to impact someones life on such a huge level. It will take a lot of heart and strength, but if you have it in you, I definately encourage you to contact your local Center and help out!
I RUN A SOCK EXCHANGE ON FACEBOOK.COM,I CREATED THIS GROUP ABOUT 5 YEARS AGO,WITH MY POWER,I AM ASKING ALL MY SOCK SISTERS AND BROTHERS IN THE GROUP TO DONATE SOCKS AND SHOES TO HOMELESS AND TO HAITI
I HAVE CREATED THE CHARITY CALLED HERECOMESTHESOCKS TO HAITI
ANYONE WHO WOULD LIKE TO DONATE CAN JOIN MY GROUP HERECOMESTHESOCKS CHRISSY ON FACEBOOK AND THEY CAN ALSO EMAIL ME AT HERECOMESTHESOCKS@YAHOO.COM
I am volunteering my time to http://www.morganswonderland.com in San Antonio and making a monetary donation to http://www.kiddskids.com
I will begin consulting people on their holistic health, specifically focusing on food and food diets. I have spent my entire life archiving the details on how to eat better, cheaper, and “Funner” and I hope to help many more people by making this knowledge public. SO I hope to give people a new international food, cheap health kick, or ULtra cheap meal for a long time coming!
Our turn….Once a month my children and I make gallon size care packages for their dad and his troops in Afghanistan. Each bag contains 10 snacks/goodies and a our son draws a picture with a thank you message for each bag. It teaches our children to support the troops and teaches them to care for others while having fun.
I create baby announcements for free for people who have lost their babies. My life was changed forever by a 1 lb 9 oz. baby girl named Anabella almost 4 years ago. After my daughter died, three days after she was born I felt helpless. I wanted the world to know she existed if only for a moment. I experienced the immense pain that never goes away. She inspired me to learn graphic design and to create baby announcements( birth and death), invites etc. I promised her that I would do them for people who find themselves in a similar situation to save grieving parents the pain of explaining why a birth/death announcement was so important for their babies. Since Anabella’s passing I have offered people my services free of charge. If I hear about someone on the news or through word of mouth I always find a way to contact them to do something special for them. I created a business out of it which is driven by the gift my baby left me. I don’t make a lot of money at it. My mission is simple, honor the memory of my daughter by doing something for others.
I’m blessed to work for an organization that does a great deal to strengthen and inspire individuals with special needs – and those who care for them – through Recreation, Respite, and Education. The organization is Camp CAMP (www.campcamp.org) and I’m so proud to be part of all we do. CAMP takes volunteers starting at age 14, so if you would like to get involved… get in touch! (brandon.briery@campcamp.org)
I also volunteer with YouthBASE, Inc. (www.youth-base.org), an incredible organization founded by a visionary leader whose self-sacrifice has served to build not only the organization, but also a better world through the lives of the kids who were identified as at-risk for Behavioral, Academic, Social, or Emotional problems, and who are now getting help in those areas after becoming part of the organization.
Some other organizations I currently support or have supported in the past through volunteer service:
- American Cancer Society’s Camp Adventure
- American Cancer Society’s R.O.C.K. (Reaching Out to Cancer Kids) Programs
- Comfort Zone Camp (www.comfortzonecamp.org)
- Camp Boggy Creek (www.boggycreek.org)
- Camp Aldersgate (www.campaldersgate.net)
The Hattiesburg momslikeme website is teaming up with the March of Dimes each month for different fund raisers. January we collected new and used books and delivered to the local hopsital NIC unit. Our church collected 3 boxes and the total for the website collected was 15 boxes. We will be delivering them today. February and March we will be collecting tolietries to make gift packages for parents having to visit the babies in the NIC unit! This is a very inexpensive way to give!
About 5 years ago I joined a community service organization. I joined the local chapter, but the organization itself has state, national, and international affiliations. What’s great about it is that I can do something every month for the community (children, elderly, community, environmental, disabled, etc, etc), gain leadership skills, make friends, be sociable, AND have a great time doing it!!!
Joining the Jaycees (The Junior Chamber of Commerce) was one of the best things I have done in my life and I’m amazed at all that I have been able to accomplish with their guidance! I’ve done more for my community than I ever thought possible – I feel like I have actually made a difference – and made myself a better person in the process!
Christina Fortney
Proud Norfolk Jaycees Member
~We believe…that service to humanity is the best work of life!
CHECK OUT http://www.lemonstoaid.com
I started this website after the earthquake in Haiti…THIS IS NOT YOUR ORDINARY LEMONADE STAND!!!! YOU CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE…READ ON!
My four year old son asked me if we could sell lemonade and make a lemonade stand. I told him it was a great idea, but first I had to tell him a story. In an age appropriate way, I told him about the Haiti earthquake and what has happened to the people. He asked about the kids his age—did they lose their shoes, their toys. I told him they did and we could make a lemonade stand and send all the money to them. He was so excited! We made signs and set up our stand. It was a huge success!! We made $150 in 3 hours.
By challenging each child in America to turn lemons into lemonaid, we are not only sending money to earthquake relief, but we are teaching our children to get involved and help at an early age through this hands on experience. We have a map on our website that shows what cities have already participated in the Lemons to Aid campaign. I want to see which state can fill up first!
We know of fundraisers across America – Phoenix, Oakland, NYC, Tampa, Atlanta, San Antonio, Dallas, Plano, Chicago, Los Angeles….the list keeps going! Get your kids involved…email me when you do something and I will add it to the map on the website. My email address is help@lemonstoaid.com.
Can’t wait to hear from you!!!!
Melissa
I will be volunteering at the San Antonio Stock Show & Rodeo .. I will be working 6, 6 hour shifts. This is my 3rd year…and I love it … it may get wet and cold, but I wouldnt trade it for anything. It is a joy to help the cowboys/cowgirls and vistors …Let’s Rodeo San Antonio!!!