Caregiver Village: Making A Difference

Today in the U.S. alone over 50 million individuals are caregivers for an aged, ill or challenged family member.  Whether you have a child with autism or ADHD or a parent with Alzheimer’s disease or Parkinson’s, you may be one of those millions, experiencing an unprecedented level of stress and personal challenge.

Despite millions of dollars and hundreds of dedicated websites, family caregivers are still in trouble. With over 60 million family caregivers in the U.S. alone, many are sick (with nearly twice the rate of chronic illnesses as their non-caregiving peers); they’re depressed (40-60% report significant feelings of depression) and they’re frustrated, unable to find resources or solutions they need to help with the basic, day-to-day caregiving tasks they face. They’re also costly to our economy, accounting for an estimated $33 billion in lost productivity to our country’s businesses.

It’s time to change this description of the family caregiver. It’s time improve the lives of family caregivers. Caregiver Village, a brand new place on the web, is dedicated to doing exactly this.

Learn more:

caregivervillage.com
facebook.com/caregivervillage
twitter.com/cgvillage 

Knit for Kids 2010

Knit for Kids is a global organization created by Guideposts.  As the holidays are here, times are tough in many areas and in many households, however when you give to others it can warm your heart and build your own family bond.

Knitting may seem old-fashioned to some teens, but isn't it a great opportunity to learn when you know you will be helping keep a needy child warm?  Many grandparents and parents have been knitting for generations - let's start this tradition now in your family.

Since 1996, when Guideposts Knit for Kids began, the program has grown beyond anyones imagining because of dedication and creativity. Thanks to many, some kids for the first time in their lives have had something new; for others, the sweaters are cherished hand-me-downs.

A “million smiles”, that’s a conservative estimate of how many people have been touched with joy by these gifts: the children who have received them directly or as a hand-me-down, their parents or guardians, and needleworkers like you who found your lives changed as you created these treasures with heart and hands.
Start your family tradition today through stitches of love.  Whether you are in Clay, Duval or St. Johns County, download the simple knitting patterns here and share them with your friends and family.

Do you prefer to crochet?  Click here for the pattern.

Get your teens involved today.  To learn more about Knit for Kids and where to send your sweaters, click here.

Read more.

Sue Scheff: Right Response - A Fundraiser With Practical Products

The RightResponse fundraising program was developed by First Aid Only as a healthy alternative to old-fashioned candy and junk food fundraisers. For more than 20 years, First Aid Only has been committed to the health and wellbeing of our communities. By offering the RightResponse fundraising program:

• We help non-profits raise money
• We help homes and workplaces stay safe
• We help build healthier communities
• We create and support American jobs

Forget about the cookies, wrapping papers, nuts, pretzels - sell items that can actually be useful and make tremendous gift ideas.  After seeing these products, I am convinced if my kids sold these rather than the wrapping paper (no offense to the organization selling the pricey paper), this would have gone a whole lot further.

Sue Scheff: The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc.

The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc.

For many years you may have heard of Junior Leagues, but what exactly is there mission and who exactly are they?

Read more:

Welcome to the website of The Association of Junior Leagues International Inc. And welcome to the world of over 160,000 women in 293 Leagues in four countries who make a difference in their communities every day through their volunteer efforts.

As we travel across the Association, we are truly humbled, moved and awed by the amazing work the women in this organization do, continuing the work that women as Junior League members have been doing for over 100 years. Our website celebrates the energy, vision, determination and savvy of our Leagues and their members.

We hope you'll take the time to read about what Leagues today are doing. We hope you'll consider joining a League, sponsoring one of our activities or attending an event. And we hope you'll share our passion for this remarkable organization and its members.

Visit http://www.ajli.org/ for more information and find your local chapter today. Start making a difference in lives in your community.

Sue Scheff: Students Offering Support

SOS means a lot of things to different people, however in South Florida, SOS is Students Offering Support which is a non-profit organization designed to bring a positive impact into our community through charitable causes and much more.

The mission of this club is to introduce high school co-eds to the impact that they can have on their community as they themselves conduct the business each year of identifying community needs and creating a plan of fund raising and service that will assist in meeting those needs. Our goal is to fulfill this mission while providing an enjoyable and fun means of uniting our community youth.

Read more about their recent events. Click here.

Sue Scheff: Top Ten Youth Volunteers - Receive Awards

The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards, the United States’ largest youth recognition program based solely on volunteer service. For their extraordinary efforts in serving others through volunteerism, ten middle and high school students from across the country were named America’s top ten youth volunteers for 2009 in a ceremony at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce headquarters, capping the 14th year of The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards.

Each year, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards honors the outstanding community service of young Americans. The results are now in the top ten youth volunteers from the May 4th ceremony have been announced! Want to watch the winners receive their awards? I invite you readers to watch a webcast event, replaying all of the wonderfully inspiring moments and announcements:

http://www.visualwebcaster.com/event.asp?id=57997

You can get your children and community involved by encouraging them to visit http://spirit.prudential.com/ where they can find out how to become a nominee for next year’s honorary ceremony.