Day 45

After the awful attacks in Paris and elsewhere, I wanted to offer some kind of help or donation, but I couldn't find a lot of good options. I've already contributed to Médecins Sans Frontières and the Red Cross, and honestly, the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the French are very capable of taking care of this themselves. 

So instead I made a donation to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. 

Day 44

Six years ago today, we got news that our daughter was being paired with a service dog named Bobo. Bobo is a big part of our family now, and his services have been incredibly valuable -- in particular, tracking down Amelia when she wandered off. So today I made a donation to 4 Paws for Ability, the agency that trained Bobo.

My donation went toward getting a service dog for Ellie Stein. Here's an excerpt from her story:

Eleanor Stein is a sweet, funny five year old who loves popsicles, Taylor Swift, and her twin sister, Laurel. Ellie also happens to have an extra 21st chromosome. Like many children with Down Syndrome Ellie has had more than her share of medical interventions.  Her parents have always tried to provide her with the tools she needs to reach her full potential.  Most recently they have begun the process of fundraising for 4 Paws for Ability to gain the volunteer credits needed to qualify for a service dog.

Day 43

Today I bought lunch for a homeless veteran I see regularly. He is clearly struggling and I wish I knew what else to do for him.

Day 42

Today, in honor of Veterans' Day, I donated to Paws4Vets.

Placing customized Assistance Dogs with veterans and military dependents living with various disabilities.

Through the paws4vets Assistance Dog Placement Program, Veterans, Active-Duty Service Members or their dependents with physical, neurological, psychiatric or emotional disabilities can receive Psychiatric Service Dogs, Mobility Service Dogs and Rehabilitative Assistance Dogs.

Day 41

Today I put coins in all kinds of tip jars, donation boxes, and any other places I could find.

Day 40

Today I donated 61 lbs of food to the

Day 39

Today I donated some clothing and other items to a local thrift shop, benefiting Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Triangle.

Day 38

 

Today I dropped off some food and other items for the Food Bank of Central & Eastern North Carolina.

I called them to find out what they needed most, and after listing off a number of items, the woman I spoke to said, "Honestly, we'll take anything you bring us. As fast as it arrives, it gets taken. The need is so great."

Day 37

Today's contribution will take a sec to explain, but stick with me because it's very cool.
- A child picks an organization that they'd like to support
-- then writes / draws an original story
--- which a songwriter uses as inspiration for an original song
---- which people like you and me support by donating to the cause

It's like three for the price of one! And that doesn't even count the people who benefit from the services.

So I'm supporting Keith Alan Mitchell's original song, inspired by a story called The Fashion Show, written by Kiralee (age 11), in support of Gilda's Club - Quad Cities, which is an affiliate of the Cancer Support Community and is "dedicated to providing support, education and hope to all people affected by any type of cancer, including the family members and friends of those diagnosed."

So just to recap, an 11-year-old girl wrote a story, which was turned into a song by a musician (and a friend of mine) in California, which inspired me (in North Carolina) to donate money to an organization supporting families in Iowa and Illinois who are dealing with cancer.

If that's not the coolest chain of awesomeness, then I don't know what is.

Day 36

Today I donated to Jenny Fletcher Davis's 3rd grade classroom at Michigan Primary School in Ashtabula, Ohio. As Ms. Davis puts it:

I teach 24 eager-to-learn 3rd graders in a high poverty district. Some of my students are on IEPs to help with attention issues and learning disabilities. Many of my students find it hard to sit in chairs for long periods of time. My goal is for each student to get the most out of every school day!

Day 35

Today I let people go ahead of me. At doorways, in line, in traffic, in parking lots, or anywhere else I had an opportunity.

Day 34

Today I removed some dangerous debris from the road near my house. A metal ramp like you see on the back of landscaping trailers was in the road, and at least one car got it's tires flattened in the pre-dawn hours by driving over it. I stopped and moved it to the side of the road, then made sure the driver of the disabled vehicle was ok before heading on.

Day 33

Today I donated to Meals on Wheels Chapel Hill-Carrboro.

Day 32

I'm cheating just a little bit. Most of today's task occurred yesterday. But as I had already completed one task yesterday, and since I didn't home from this until after midnight, I'm counting it for today. Plus, I'm too tired to accomplish much else today. Four hours at a party followed by seven hours on my feet at a concession stand took it's toll on this 45-year-old body of mine.

I volunteered to work the concession stand at the Duke / Miami football game. We sold hot dogs, pizza, chicken sandwiches, popcorn, peanuts, cotton candy, soft drinks, hot cocoa, tea, cracker jacks, candy, water, and a few other things. Proceeds go to help local schools.

And in case you missed it, check out the controversial game-ending play:

...and the aftermath:

ACC Suspends Officials for Errors in Wild Ending of Duke-Miami