8 ways to fit volunteering into your busy life

You hear it all the time. We say it all the time. "I'm just so busy."

Sometimes we get so busy that is seems there just isn’t any time for volunteering. If there is, we'd probably prefer an afternoon nap or extra family time. But there is always time. Did you know that giving back can be as simple as writing a letter to brighten someone’s day? With these ideas for volunteering you are sure to find at least one that will fit into any busy schedule – even yours.

1. Make a Difference in...

http://www.volunteerguide.org/

Volunteer Guide lets you choose to make a difference in 15 minutes, in a few hours or on a volunteer vacation. They have hundreds of volunteer opportunities that will fit even the busiest of schedules.

2. Micro-volunteer

http://helpfromhome.org/

Help from Home is a UK based organization that connects volunteers to micro-volunteering opportunities all over the world.

3. Make a Blanket

http://www.projectlinus.org/

Make a blanket; comfort a child. Project Linus volunteers make blankets that are then distributed to children in hospitals, social services – to any child that needs comforting.

4. Find an Opportunity to fit your Schedule

http://www.volunteeryourtime.org/

Volunteer your Time has a unique search feature that allows you to find volunteer opportunities that fit your schedule.

5. Sponsor a Family in Need

http://www.boxproject.org/

The Box Project matches volunteer sponsors to families living in rural poverty in the United States. Sponsors send care packages and encouraging letters to the families, mentoring them and helping them.

6. Become an Angel

http://chemoangels.wix.com/chemo-angels-1/

Write a letter to a chemo patient or to a lonely senior.

7. Knit a Hat for Someone going through Chemo

http://www.knotsoflove.org/

If you can knit you can make a chemo patient smile. Knots of Love collects your hand knitted caps and gives them to chemo patients. You can knit the cap at your own pace and you are still giving back.

8. Fulfill a Soldier’s Wish list

http://www.anysoldier.com/index.cfm

Deployed soldiers often do not have access to many of the comforts that we take for granted like toiletry items, food items and even letters from home. AnySoldier.com is changing that. Access the database, find a wishlist and support a soldier.

Why giving back to the community is an important employee perk

By Amy Dinsmore
Marketing Specialist, PowerDMS

Affordable health insurance and flexible time off are important benefits when choosing a company to work for.  However, top talent is looking for more from their employers these days. An opportunity to give back has quickly become an important employee perk.

I work for a company called PowerDMS. At PowerDMS, our leadership understands how important it is to provide opportunities for our team to give back. They have invested time, resources and a budget line item to the creation of a Give Back Committee. This committee increases employee retention, involvement and productivity, both at work, home and in the community.

Our Give Back Committee is a volunteer group that meets monthly. The mission is “to contribute our time and resources to a variety of organizations in our community, assisting those in need with building their own positive futures." The committee is made up of employees and community members. 

PowerDMS sets aside an annual budget for the committee, and members vote monthly on the allocation of funds. The committee requests suggestions for charitable opportunities via our website, social media channels, employee submissions and word-of-mouth. 

By encouraging employees to give back, companies provide an opportunity to work together toward a goal outside the daily norm. It gives all employees the chance to make a difference in their community—something they may not have been able to do on their own. 

I recently asked some members of our committee to share why it’s important for them to give back and work for a company doing the same. This is what they had to say:

 “It’s important to give back, not only to help the community outside of our workplace, but also to strengthen the community and tighten the bonds our workplace family. It makes me proud to work for PowerDMS, a company with a passion for giving back to the community. It adds to the many things I love about the company, and it also attracts really great people who I want to work with.”

- Matt Lavoie, Software Developer

“Giving back boosts morale and promotes team building, while encouraging the community, customers and potential customers to follow and participate in our company's philanthropic efforts. It enables us to build/nurture new relationships within the community and get team members excited about working toward making a difference, together.”
- Abby Jarrett, Marketing Specialist

“I became involved with the PowerDMS Give Back Committee to help others, feel good about myself and set a good example for my children. It’s important to show our children how we all have a stake in the world and remember how fortunate we are.”

- Paul England, Lead QA Analyst

“Everything we have is a gift—our job, our family and our health. Participating in giving back to the community is a small way we can bless others, because we are so blessed.”

- Ray Lau, Web Marketing Manager

“Giving back to our community is not about volunteering or doing a good deed; it's about restoring dignity to someone in our community who is like us in many ways, who knows sorrow and joy, laughs and cries, loves and angers, matters to someone, wants to make a difference and longs for connection with others.”
- Sarahbeth Dikun, Project Manager

“The health of our community and ourselves is intertwined, and we need to take care of both equally.”

- Alex Cook, Product Owner

In 2013, PowerDMS donated thousands of dollars and employee volunteer hours directly to people in need. We did the math, and together with Change This World and the Ronald McDonald House of Central Florida—two organizations we support regularly—we prepared and/or provided 13,300 meals to families in our community and worldwide.

We are proud to report that due to our efforts, we were listed on the Orlando Business Journal’s Top Philanthropic Companies—alongside companies like Walt Disney World, Wells Fargo and the Orlando Magic. Not bad for a fun, little software company!

If you’re interested in submitting a charitable opportunity to the PowerDMS Give Back Committee, visit our web site for details.

Flyer Friday: Help these local Girl Scouts go to camp!

Did you ever attend Girl Scout Camp as a child? Time to pay the memories forward!

By: Kelly Trace

I was fortunate enough to be a Girl Scout in my youth days and met some of my lifelong friends in my own troop... 586 where you at? :) ps. This picture is NOT me...I am not that old. But this just shows you how long little ladies of the world have been attending camps as Girl Scouts. The camping, earning patches, buying all the gear. There is a lesson to be learned in each one of those things. Things I still hold with me in my everyday life. I also remember absolutely dying over the fact that I had an Aladdin camping set complete with plate, cup, bowl and flatware all in an easy to carry bag I made out of recycled material. I wonder where that is... ? Hmmm.


Anyway.. my friend Luis is trying to help his daughter (picture to the right) and the rest of her Girl Scout Troop here in Central Florida gather the items below so that they don't have to pay out of pocket for them. Not just HER Troop, but 200 other little ladies hoping to make a difference in this world. It's time to help these girls. I am going to by paying it forward. Someone did it for me!

Plus, I happen to have some of these things lying around the house and perhaps you do too. Can you help?

General Items Needed

• Fish Net - 15
• Cargo Net - 10
• Mardi Gras Beads - 200
• Gold Coins - 1000
• Chocolate Gold Coins - 200
• Ring Pops - 200
• Wine Corks - 100 (I know you have some of these lying around!)
• Small Beads - any kind
• Small Pearls - any
• Safety Pins - 100
• Black Paint (spray paint) - 8
• Red Paint (spray paint) - 8
• White Paint (acrylic) - 8
• Tape (packaging, duct, any)
• Rope for knots- 30’
• Styrofoam Balls (cannonball size) - 25-40
• White Bandanas (plain) - 200
• Black Construction Paper - couple packages
• Straws - 1000
• Paint Brushes - 100
• Shoe Boxes - 100
• Glitter - any
• 1/4” clear PVC vinyl tubing - 100 ft
• 3/8” clear PVC vinyl tubing - 20 ft
• Painter’s tape - 1 role
• Clear Plastc Cup (5-10oz) - 100
• Bar Magnets - 5
• Thread - 2 spools
• Sewing Needles - 100
• Small Nails - 100
• Styrofoam Swords - 10
• 91% rubbing alcohol - 10 bottles
• Sharpies - 3 dz
• Barrels for Decor - any
• Wood for Decor - any

Food Items Needed

• Pancake Batter - 6 boxes
• Butter - 4 boxes
• Syrup - 2 jugs
• Eggs - 5 dozen
• Sausage Links - 400 links
• Ketchup - 3 bottles
• Ground Beef - 60lbs
• Small Bags of Doritos - 200
• Lettuce - 10 heads
• Cheddar Cheese - 25lbs
• Taco Seasoning - 13 jars
• Salsa - 5 jars
• Black Olives - 5 cans
• Plates - 400 ct
• Napkins - 1000 ct
• Plastic cups - 400 ct
• Forks - 400 ct
• Orange Juice - 10 gallons
• Water - 20 gallons

Misc. Items Needed

• Prizes for games - anything you can get
• Goodies for girls or literature

If you CAN help, please send Luis Flores an email at lc.flores21@gmail.com. The items are due by March 1st.

Thank you. You know, this blog has only been active since Thanksgiving 2013 and I am starting to run out of fingers and toes counting the number of people you all have helped. Let's keep it going!

Kelly

An opportunity to share God's word... in Central Park?! Twist my arm. Florida Worship Choir - Travis & Takara Pate

By: Takara Pate

I'm really excited for the opportunity to share this potential experience with all of you! Here's a little background on me before I get to the part where I ask for money... ;)

My husband, Travis, and I have been a part of the music ministry at our church since we can remember. Travis has been leading worship for our youth since 2002 (kinda sorta a big reason why I came into the picture) where I accompanied him with back up vocals in 2004. We dated, got engaged and now have been married for almost 3 years. Yep... high school sweet hearts with the same love for the Lord and for music! Put those 2 together and we have a pretty amazing worship experience!

Well.. fast forward to today and we have been very active with our church choir, praise band, praise team, and other music ministry opportunities.

Before I get into the "Yes, we need money to make this possible" speech, first and foremost, we wanted to make as many people aware of this cause in order to raise awareness and prayer for it! We thoroughly believe that when a church body has worship resources, their witness is that much stronger. Now, that said, we know New York City is no third world country, but there are just as many lost souls there than anywhere else. Our goal is to REACH as many as possible through the love of Christ and the music He's given us. Now, here comes the pitch. :) 

We have had the opportunity to sing in the choir and on the Praise Team with the Florida Worship Choir and Orchestra since 2011. The FWCO exists to provide opportunities for singers and musicians to experience great worship and to lead others into His presence. 600 (yep - that's a lot!) members of this choir and orchestra are worship pastors, senior pastors, choir/orchestra members, and praise team/praise band members from over 300 churches in Florida!! Read more about the FWCO here. 

[Here's a video from 2012 where you can peak at Travis & I on the Praise Team: http://youtu.be/IOWvXIH318Q]

One of the things we love about FWCO is that we get to sing brand new music that is distributed throughout the entire country, arranged and orchestrated through Prism Music. In other words, the choir CDs that churches all across the country use to listen to and then rehearse for their own performances could be listening to Florida Worship Choir. So cool, right?! This year, not only are we premiering brand new music, provided by Prism Music, and while we still have our normal concert schedule, an added element to our worship was revealed: The NY WORSHIP PROJECT. This project is a mission experience designed to make God known in a big way. The North American Mission Board (NAMB) has defined it as a "Send North America City". Missional opportunity which will include street witnessing, bottled water stations, as well as handing out free tickets to the worship concert at Carnegie Hall (that WE get to sing at!) We have also developed relationships with leaders in 15 new church plants in the Metro New York City area. The goal here is to partner with them and help provide worship resources and training based on their requested needs. Music instruments and equipment are super expensive so we are setting the goal of raising money and awareness to help satisfy those specific needs (we’re talkin’ everything from portable sound systems, microphones, acoustic guitars, to sheet music, etc.).

But get this… God has opened up the doors to these amazing and historical places for our worship concerts: 

• Carnegie Hall
• Central Park
• Times Square (2 flash mobs… yep… that’ll be on YouTube for sure)
• Brooklyn Tabernacle

How neat, right?! While this mission sounds amazing… it will go on with or without Travis or myself. However, the “mission” will not happen without the missionaries. The messengers go when they are called, and Travis and I feel called to make this happen! Will you help us?

If you have an interest in giving or donating to help fund our trip (it's $2,445 pp for a double occupancy), you can do so by visiting our super duper, easy to use website: http://www.gofundme.com/6mrplw 

Or mail a check made out to Travis & Takara Pate to our church:

First Baptist Church of Kissimmee

Attn: Kyle Grizzard (for Travis & Takara Pate)

1700 N. John Young Parkway

Kissimmee, FL 34741

Sincerely,

Takara Pate
http://www.gofundme.com/6mrplw 

Flyer Friday: Help victims in Central Florida find the help they need

Help victims get help in Central Florida find the help they need

By: Kelly Trace

Every Friday I post a flyer that I found supporting people or organizations that are looking for help, sponsors, volunteers and just simply anything really that our readers might want to get behind and support. 

Today's flyer is for an event put on by the Victim Service Center promoting their "Cheers to Change" event. This event is a fundraiser for the organization, but above all else, to raise awareness of just how much being a victim of any crime can totally take over your life. Being a victim wasn't their choice, but getting help is. 

I was speaking with law enforcement a while back and they shared that one out of every three phone calls is related to domestic violence in Central Florida. ONE. OUT. OF. THREE. We have to do better. And even still, there are plenty of other ways people are victimized that I didn't even know the VSC offered counseling for until volunteering with this organization. Rape, robbery, slander, assault, battery, abuse. The list is longer than we think.

Some statistics that will make your blood boil:

• An average 233,986 Americans age 12 and older are sexually assaulted each year.
• Every 2 minutes, someone in the U.S. is sexually assaulted.
• In 2010, 1,277 children and youth were victims of homicide. Of these, 890 were male and 386 were female (the sex of one victim was unknown). 

The need to help organizations find victims and share the help that is available to them (usually at no cost), will always be a priority in our community. But little by little we can chip away at the number.

The event helps to educate society on the needs regarding victimized crime in Orlando (Orange and Osceola Counties). The $50 ticket gets you food that is catered by the Tap Room at Dubsdread, great wine pairings from Quantum Leap Winery and local organic brews from Orlando Brewing. But more than that and experiencing the Menello Museum of Art, is to help this organization reach victims who are out there and don't know where to get help. 

Please visit the Cheers to Change website for more information and to purchase tickets.

All for now,

Kelly Trace

10 ways to get your kids involved in the community

Kids have a short attention span when it comes to volunteering. It's worse when you're competing with technology. Trust me, I would know. I have no kids, but used to run a local non-profit and often would use kids to volunteer at our events to help them get their hours for college. We didn't always have Instagram-worthy opportunities for them to share with their friends that qualified for the "#myweekendwasbetterthanyours" hashtag war.

So how can you get them to recognize all ages are needed to build a community? Here are a few ways that will have them SnapChatting their friends in no time.

1. Let them bring a friend

Because everything is cooler when my #bff is with me.

2. Allow them to pick the clothes they donate

When they are in charge, kids and teens take great pride in what they do. If you're donating a bag of clothing to an organization, let them decide what to give to another child who is in need. It will help them resonate with the project more.

3. Supermarket sweep!

Pick up a few items for your local food pantry in a hurry. Each of you take a list of items needed and the first one who gets to the cash register with all their items wins... and the loser buys ice cream.

4. Storytime

Find your nearest children's hospital or special needs school and have your tweens brighten someone's day by reading them a book. Everyone loves a good read and new visitors!

5. Pick a park or a monument to keep tidy

No one really LOVES cleaning, but by allowing your kids to choose where and what they are going to keep tidy in their community builds pride in their neighborhood.

6. Make a neighborhood e-newsletter

Kids and technology are inseparable these days. Put all that knowledge to good use by building a weekly newsletter for your neighborhood. Coordinate BBQs, neighborhood clean up or make special announcements. Communication goes a long way!

7. Help them start a "Random Acts of Kindness" (RAK) Club at school

Because let's be honest, who doesn't LOVE a good random act of kindness? Your son or daughter could lead a movement to bring a more positive environment to the classroom with just one RAK.

8. Find a run/walk to support a cause they love

5k or 10k runs are so much fun for kids (plus it gets all their energy out of the way early in the morning) especially if it is behind a cause they are familiar with. Educate them on why they are running so they can continue to know the importance of fighting illness or helping those in need as they grow older.

9. Do I hear $10? $20? - Art Auction!

Kids of all ages LOVE to make art. Host an art auction as a fundraiser for their school library or a fellow students who need school supplies. It doesn't have to be a painting. It can be made of wood, an old antique they fixed up for reselling, jewelry and more. Plus it teaches them to take ownership in their work early in life.

10. Find a community garden 

Teach your children the importance of food care by renting a spot in your local community garden. Take it a step further. If you don't need the fresh veggies, bring it to a family who does. The gift that keeps on giving. :) Mother nature!

All for now!

Kelly

Helping Our Veterans Transition. Alan Alford, Vice President, Fighting For Our Heroes Foundation Inc

Every Tuesday I hope to have a guest blogger feature certain initiatives or efforts going on in Central Florida. Know of someone? Send me their information here! - Kelly

“Thank You, For Your Service”

By: Alan Alford

Vice President, Fighting For Our Heroes Foundation, Inc.

How many times have you seen a service member in uniform or wearing a ball cap that identifies him or her as a veteran and then thanked them for their military service? We all do this. A little way we can say thanks for protecting our freedom. While a thank you is always appreciated and welcomed, I'd like to shed some light on the challenges our veterans face after their military service ends. You might be surprised.

Some veterans have many difficulties transitioning back into society and the civilian workforce because their military occupations do not translate into the civilian world. Others have severe life changing medical issues from their military service. Either way, most civilians are under the impression that when a service member returns home, they will be taken care of in an acceptable standard and in a timely manner. After all, if you have a slip and fall accident at your job, you reasonably, expect that workman’s compensation will begin paying you within a month or so to help out with your loss in earnings, right?

Currently the VA’s national backlog of pending disability compensation claims sits at 603,909 with an average wait time of 326.3 days. In Florida, which has the third highest veteran population in the U.S., there are currently 40,928 disability compensation claims pending with an average wait time of 313 days. Then if the applicant does not agree with the VA’s decision, your only recourse is to file a “Notice of Disagreement” which takes another year, request a “De Novo Review” which takes close to 2 years, or file an appeal with the “Board of Veterans Appeals” which can take upwards of 4 years. This is why so many veterans become upset, discouraged and ultimately give up. After all, they each signed up to fight for their country, not to fight against it!

For all these reasons, we began the Fighting For Our Heroes Foundation. Twenty years ago, I was in this exact situation myself. As a severely disabled veteran who spent close to 4 years in a hospital bed, fighting, not only to walk again, but also to receive the veteran’s benefits I was entitled to receive just to support my family. Throughout this period of my life, my spouse and I were forced to fight through mountains of red tape and bureaucracy from an ICU ward. During that time we kept praying that if we could just make it through this, we would continue fighting tirelessly to help others not have to endure that cold dark walk alone, as we did.

Over the years since then, we have assisted over 70,000 veterans, service members and their families with various challenges they have faced since their military service came to an end. Many are served through our flagship program “Veterans Benefits Support”, which teaches veterans benefits in an online, interactive format using layman’s terms to our 19,150 active members. Numerous other programs which include:

• Online Benefits Resource and Video Library
• Veterans Benefits Lecturing Programs
• Disabled Veterans Fishing Program
• Veterans Workforce Development Program
• Care Package Program
• PTSD Peer Mentoring Program
• Support Networks- for various segments of the veteran population
• Homeless Veterans Outreach Program

Read this testimonial of a Veteran we were able to help. Just think about how many more there are out there.

"Dear Alan, I just wanted to let you know how much you helped me. When we spoke last year I was so confused with the whole process. You not only gave me accurate information but you seemed to understand what I was going through and gave me the courage to file my NOD. My VSO said they will never approve it and that filing a NOD could actually lower my rating. Today I was approved at 100% IU with retro from 2011. Thank god for veterans like you. I will surely pay it forward. - Rob Gravel (from NY)"

So how can you help? Our foundation acts as a conduit to bring both goods and services to our local veterans that need them the most. We are always in need of donations of various types of professional services for our veterans. Services like legal assistance, car and home repairs, resume assistance, tax preparation and many other areas as well. Additionally, we continually need the donation of gas and store gift cards, fishing and camping equipment, clothing, hygiene products, canned and dried foods, furniture, cell phones and computer equipment. Most importantly we need your time though to assist us in helping our fellow veterans. Our organization is made up of 100% volunteers that dedicate their time and energy in order to show each veteran how thankful we are for their military service. Please join us in fulfilling this mission in our community. 

Sincerely,

Alan Alford

Vice President- Fighting For Our Heroes Foundation Inc

http://www.ffohf.org/

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