How do you give back - The Community Service Thread

[JustSkipIt]

I've referenced in other threads that a friend of ours, a 10 year old boy, died last week. It is tragic and terrible. My wife is over at his house today just trying to be there for the mom and other 3 kids however they need her. She did the same on Friday. The Funeral is Monday evening, then Tuesday. Anyway... the family has very little money and of course they didn't have money set aside to bury their (they believed) completely healthy son. Some friends have set up a fund to try to defray funeral expenses. So far I think people have donated $2300 of $10,000. We donated $200. I don't know if it's tax deductible but if any one has anything you'd like to contribute, it would be wonderful of you.

[tarawhipped]

I'm not sure this is the place for this, so feel free to move it to a better home, Mods.

Some of you may know that I work at Children's Memorial Hospital in Chicago, and we are moving to a brand new, state of the art facility in June. As part of the fund raising efforts to offset costs, I'm participating in a 5k this May, called Move for the Kids. Please consider making a donation; any size is greatly appreciated. The link below is to my personal page (ignore that it has Joy's name on it; she's the team leader and I couldn't figure out how to personalize it).

http://www.heroesforlife.org/site/TR/RacefortheKids/RacefortheKids?px=1538168&pg=personal&fr_id=1330

Thank you!
-Cameron aka tarawhipped

[JustSkipIt]

Cam - I'm not a moderator but I think this is a perfect place to post such...

[tarawhipped]

Cam - I'm not a moderator but I think this is a perfect place to post such...

Thanks, Debra. I've seen some similar posts here in the past. Also, Thanks for the donation!

-Cam

[CrazyTaraWitch]

I'm trying to get in the habit of donating blood regularly; it was actually the only clear goal I had for 2012 when the new year arrived. I donated a few days before Christmas so my first donation of the year should've been mid February, but first I went out of town then took a few days to get settled back in, so I didn't make it to the blood center until the 1st of March. From now on, I'm going to do my best to go every 8 weeks, or as close to it as I can manage.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Deb - Again I am sorry to hear about your friend's child. Thank you for posting the link to their fundraising raising page. I went ahead and dropped $100 to them.

Cameron - Suerte on your 5K run/walk/sprint and a hop. Whatever suits you! I went ahead and dropped $50 to your fundraising page. Best wishes.

[tarawhipped]

Cameron - Suerte on your 5K run/walk/sprint and a hop. Whatever suits you! I went ahead and dropped $50 to your fundraising page. Best wishes.

Thank you so much for the very generous donation. [bad Southern belle accent]I have always relied on the kindness of strangers.[/bad Southern belle accent]

-Cam

[CrazyTaraWitch]

Today I learned about a man named Joseph Kony. I am giving back back putting his name out there, by trying to make as many people go "Who the hell is that?" and do what they can to find out. Because people need to know of him, and stop him.

I'm giving back by asking everyone who reads this to take half an hour from their lives and watch this video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y4MnpzG5Sqc

Please.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Jas - Thank you for passing this info along. I never heard of Kony until now. It's crazy cos after watching the video my little buddy Liz(she's 16) sent me a text about him. She said that her high school was spreading the word and getting involved. I went ahead and purchased a couple of t- shirts, a kit and some posters from the website http://invisiblechildrenstore.myshopify.com. I can say this is only the beginning. Thank you again for the introduction.

[CrazyTaraWitch]

Jen - sadly I did something similar. I posted the video everywhere I could think of, and bought a kit. However, today it has been brought to my attention that the charity tied to Kony 2012 is not a good charity. Very little of the money actually goes to helping the cause, and the ways in which they help are a bit corrupt. I've been going around today retracting my support of the group, and trying to suggest that others learn more before making my mistake and supporting the group.

[JustSkipIt]

My iron was high enough today so I donated a double-unit of platelets. It was quite easy today for some reason: high platelet count (325), easy needle stick, very little lip tingles.

[JustSkipIt]

I need to find a time to head back for a platelet donation. The platelet supply is low right now. I've made a few donations this month: the food bank for my nephew's birthday, a friend's ride across Iowa for Livestrong, and today my brother's MS150 ride. He was at 1993 of raising a $2000 goal for MS so I added $8 to the donation I made earlier this year.

I was chatting in the hallway with a friend and a co-worker (high - up muckedy muck level) stopped me and said she is thinking of running a marathon (she's gotten in shape this year and probably lost 40 pounds) and she wants to fund raise and wants to chat for ideas from me about fundraising. Again, I was totally excited to be asked. That said she was in a hurry and said she would get back to me and hasn't done so.

[JustSkipIt]

Donated double platelets today. My iron was high (41) but my platelet count was pretty low. I did a double but it took 108 minutes and that was just time on the machine. I think the next time my platelet count is that low I will do a single.

[CrazyTaraWitch]

As of today I can donate blood again, but I was too busy. To my delight I discovered the blood center is open Sunday, so planning to go then.

[JustSkipIt]

Jas - There are also a bunch of blood drives every day at different locations. You can enter your address into their search and find where/when there are drives near you so you don't have to take the bus.

So today registration for the Austin Livestrong Marathon and Half-marathon opened for next year (2/17/2013) and I registered already for Team Livestrong for the third year. I'm going to do the half-marathon again and this year try to raise $1500 to fight Cancer and support those living with it.

[JustSkipIt]

I donated double platelets today. My iron was 40 and my platelet count was nice and high (333) so it only took like 73 minutes. The needle stick was so perfect I barely felt it go in and literally couldn't feel it the entire time. Still, I felt really physically antsy after. It's hard to describe the reaction I have to the coagulant or maybe anti-coagulant they put back in but sometimes it is pretty unpleasant.

I also donated $10 to a friend's Ride across Iowa for Team Livestrong yesterday because it's her birthday.

And I joined this weird fitness community called Earndit or something like that. It automatically syncs my runs from Nike+ and most of the rewards are shit I don't care about like 15% off at some site or something but they also have charity selections so today I donated 500 points to "part of a goat" for Heifer. I have no idea how "part of a goat" that counts but hopefully a bunch of other people will do the same.

[JustSkipIt]

Yesterday I donated to Austin Dog Rescue for a friend who is having his birthday this week (he will be 8) and also to Capital Area Food Bank for some friend who have their wedding anniversary today.

Also, since I'm running the half-marathon for Livestrong again this year and trying to do a better job with my fundraising I decided to offer an incentive. So hopefully some people will donate to get a hat.

[Finey_McFine]

A couple weeks ago my friend was diagnosed with breast cancer. Since the initial diagnosis, they have found a number of masses throughout her body, including her lymph-nodes. She will have to undergo a double mastectomy and six months of chemo. During that time she will be unable to work. So, yesterday I donated to her cancer fund. To which she responded, "I'll try not to spend it all on booze and hookers." LOL

If you'd like to find out more about JD or contribute to her fund, click HERE.

[JustSkipIt]

Shelby - I've made an (admittedly small) contribution to your friend's fund. Also, please make sure that she knows about [url=http://www.livestrong.org/Get-Help/Get-One-On-One-Support]Livestrong Navigation Services[/ur;]. They help with... basically everything having to do with Cancer treatment and support.

[Finey_McFine]

Deb- Thanks so much, I know she'll appreciate it. I'll pass on the information:)

[JustSkipIt]

I donated a double unit of platelets today. It was a pretty easy donation and only 75 minutes on the machine. I have to admit that I didn't really want to do it - I was somewhat thinking that if my iron was too low, I could go run but it was high enough so I stuck with my commitment.

[JustSkipIt]

Donated to the Houston area food bank for my nephew birthday. Oh god. I have a 15 year old nephew!

[Finey_McFine]

Oh god. I have a 15 year old nephew!

Yeah well, just wait until the little guy whose diapers you changed heads off to college. #feeling old

[JustSkipIt]

My cousin, his wife, and their youngest daughter (the others are at college) are taking the Food Stamp Challenge. I'd never heard of it but you commit to eating for $31.50 for one week which is the food stamp allowance. Wow. That's not much money. I made a donation in their honor to the fundraising part of the campaign.

I also made a donation to Livestrong for a friend/mentor who's daughter turned 9 this week. Her husband/child's father died the day before his youngest child turned 1 year old. To celebrate her birthday, she hulahooped and unicycled a 5K for Livestrong, then the next day rode 21 miles for Livestrong all with her mom. Way cool kid.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

I am super happy that I was able to donate blood in England today. I registered with National Blood Service and donated at a drive in Ashford, Saint Simon of England. It was great exchanging info with all the British nurses. Everybody was wonderful! The whole process was spectacular!

I am elated to add England on my list of countries I've donated blood in. So far I've donated in Mexico, Argentina and England.

I don't count the USA because I have another list for my own country. Since we're a big country I want to donate blood in every individual state. So anytime I find myself traveling in different states I'll add them to my list. So far I have California down. Only 49 states to go.

[RainbowNerdette]

Cool! Was it easy for a foreigner to do? Because I've been thinking about it too, with the amount of time I spend there!

I should really call my donation facility because I've got a feeling that they've forgotten about me registering for bone marrow and tetanus antibody donations or something, been waiting months for a callback.

[JustSkipIt]

Jen - That is totally fantastic! There are organizations for people who run a marathon in every state. There should be one for someone who donates blood in every state.



My mother's Yartzeit was the 12th (anniversary of her death). I donated money to Livestrong. My birthday is next week and my sister donated to a food bank/assistance center and my father donated to United Way for me. I hope everyone skips any considered gifts for me and donates to either the food bank or my Livestrong fundraising.

[JustSkipIt]

I donated a doubleof blood platelets today.my count was a rockin 334 so it only took 77 minutes.

[Ariel]

Wow . . so many give so much. Mostly it's money, regular monthly gifts to a school, a homeless center with rehab and meals and holiday gifts (Poverello house in Fresno) and the Boys and Girls Clubs. Also like to give to Heifer, and help families eat better and improve their life situation. Also love teaching improv classes, seeing someone shy or someone without confidence get better and have fun.

Ariel

[RainbowNerdette]

I no longer give money to charity unless it's small scale and I know the money's going to the right place.
I see too much waste of money in charities, a very small percentage actually goes where it should :(
I do donate to some Kickstarter projects and to funds for sick children without health insurance.

When I see someone who's feeling bad, I always try my hardest to cheer them up by finding something (genuinely) nice or helpful to say to them. It may not be much, but I know it's at least helped some people