Cards that give back

This week’s blog is inspired by a family friend who was recently diagnosed with Leukemia. She is receiving care at a children’s hospital and the other day my mom brought home a pack of cards bought at the hospital. The money from the cards goes toward the center for cancer and blood disorders and are designed by patients. The cards are a mix of 15 cards for $10. You can also get cards of just one of the designs. The cards from this hospital are not the only ones available to help others. St Jude’s Ranch (an earlier blog entry) has cards that you can buy, 10 for $10, and supports the foster children that are being cared for at the ranch. Cards from Africa is a fair trade company that is helping people in Rwanda. They’re cards are a little more expensive, however they are handmade and obviously going towards a good cause. Being someone who enjoys receiving and sending hand written cards, this is definitely something worth contributing to. By sending these cards to others you are informing them about the cause you are supporting because they tend to put an explanation of the cause in the card. I’m sure these are not the only card’s that give back but they are what I have found for right now. So this week when you are wondering how your college friend is doing think about getting a card from one of these organizations to write your friend a letter on. Happy keeping in touch with others!

Until next week,

Annie

Phoenix Children’s Hospital Cards: 

http://www.pchkidsart.com/onlinestore/scripts/prodList.asp?idCategory=45

St. Jude’s Ranch Cards: http://www.stjudesranch.org/help_card.php

Cards from Africa: http://cardsfromafrica.com/prince-jungle-p-13.html

We Give Books

This week’s blog we are getting ready to go back to school! Just kidding but we are helping people throughout the world by reading children’s books online. WE GIVE BOOKS (a Pearson Foundation Initiative) is a website that has loads of children’s books online that you can read. By reading these books you are also donating a book for every one you read to someone who does not have them. Once you sign up you can add books to your online library to read later or read a book right then. You also choose the campaign you want to have your books donated to. For example, the campaign that I just signed up for is reading for Chicago Public Schools and so for every book I read, on this website, a book will be donated to them. Even though these are children’s books they are fun for all ages. I’ve been looking through the books and smile when I see ones that I read as a child and put those in my online library to read. So this week when you have five minutes of down time think about going onto WE GIVE BOOKS and increase your knowledge of the books that bring us so much joy and early knowledge! Happy Reading!

Until next week,

Annie

http://www.wegivebooks.org/

Nature Valley

This week’s blog came to me in today’s Sunday paper! Nature Valley has committed to donating $400,000 to the National Parks Conservation Association and will donate up to $100,000 more with our help. For every UPC code that is entered on their site they will donate 10 cents and items bought in bulk will donate up to $1. There is also an initial “click here” button that will donate $1. So when you are at the store this week wondering what snacks you should buy, stick a box of nature valley bars in there so you not only get to enjoy them but can also contribute to helping our environment.

Until next week,

Annie

http://www.naturevalley.com/upcEntry.aspx

Sleeping Mats for the Homeless

This week’s post is a little different. It doesn’t cost any money however it’s a great way to help in the recycling effort and helping others. It’s recycling used plastic bags to be made into sleeping mats for the homeless. My coworkers and I have been making them, I make the part I can while someone else crochets the mat together. All you have to do is collect used plastic bags, create the “yarn” to be used and then crochet the mat. I am including a video that explains things very well and makes understanding how to make the mat much easier. Earlier this summer I was on Skid Row and saw someone just sleeping on the sidewalk, with nothing under her. These mats may not seem like much however they will help to give someone at least a little cushion and comfort when they are sleeping on the sidewalk. So as you are taking your groceries out of the bag think twice about throwing them away, there are plenty of ways to re-use them including making a mat so someone can sleep a little better at night. Happy recycling!

Until next week,

Annie

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BiUC0iDQtkA

Join My Village

This week’s post comes from a site that has been in my favorites for quite awhile and I revisited this past week. To my surprise they had added some new things to the site that makes it very easy for us to be able to help their cause. It is another “click-and-give” site which I love because it makes giving very easy and does not cost us anything. Join my village is an organization that is helping girls in Malawi continue to get an education, houses to be built, and women to be able to start their own businesses. They focus on women because they tend to have fewer opportunities and continue the cycle of poverty because of the beliefs that are instilled in them and their life experiences. All we have to do is click the button on their home page “Click-to-commit $1” and $1 is donated to Join My Village. So as we are celebrating the birth of America this week also remember those in other countries and that it takes just a minute to bring justice to all. Happy Clicking!

Until next week,

Annie

http://www.joinmyvillage.com/Home.aspx