General

P&G and Kroger are helping USO in “Honoring Our Heroes” Campaign

May 11, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

USO has been serving troops of U.S.A and their families since 70 years; new USO “Honoring our Heroes” campaign is a step forward to serve the purpose. Various programs and innovative services has been designed and delivered by USO to facilitate the American troops and their families, this time P&G and Kroger are jointly supporting the efforts of USO. Sloan Gibson USO president said, “We work every day through proven, cost-effective programs and services to relieve the tremendous burden our men and women in uniform shoulder on behalf of our nation. That is why partnerships with corporations like Kroger and P&G are so critical to our ongoing successes.”

New USO campaign by P&G and Kroger to honor our heroes is an ongoing campaign. P&G and Kroger have joined with USO as a matter of partnership for a good cause; Kroger has contributed with US$ 250,000. Kroger is the most prominent grocery retailer in U.S.A and its partnership with P&G for such a great cause is also expected to promote it and P&G. P&G Kroger Team leader Mindy Thompson said, “This year alone, more than 50,000 troops will be returning home from active duty – having done their part to help keep our country and its citizen’s safe. This program allows us to help consumers express their own gratitude to all the men and women who make such great sacrifices for our country.”

P&G and Kroger honoring our heroes USO campaign is kind of humanitarian campaign .P&G is already a renowned name in the field of consumer products and these philanthropic partnerships will help it to gain repute as an altruistic company. CEO of P&G Bob McDonald said, “Our commitment to the military men and women who serve dates back
to the Civil War where we supplied the Union Army with soap and candles. This commitment continues today with our dedicated Military team. Leveraging a strategic relationship with the USO enables us to connect our brands to American service members and their families while touching and improving their lives. We are excited to grow and develop this strategic relationship with the USO and our retail partners.”

Filed Under: General

Experience Foreign Nations With the Red Cross

March 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

One of the more exciting experiences in volunteering is the chance to go abroad. The Red Cross is an organization that offers this travel opportunity to Americans interested in traveling and helping others. Volunteering in your own community is a great way to help people in your area. It is also a fair way to satisfy volunteering requirements of your local high school. Some people however desire a lot more out of the volunteer experience. Here are just a few of the volunteering areas you could participate in by travelling abroad.

Teaching- There is no shortage of areas you could teach abroad, especially teaching English. This is an excellent opportunity for bilingual volunteers who want to experience another another culture and have the experience of working with foreign students. The benefits to the volunteer include not only the satisfaction that comes with teaching but you are bound to become more fluent in the native language of the country.

Sports- For th athletic volunteer, the chance to travel abroad can be a rewarding experience. Not only can you help underprivileged kids in other countries learn our games like baseball, basketball and football, but you can also experience there games and sports. It’s really a sobering experience to see that our sports are not played everywhere but that foreign cultures are just as enthusiastic about sports such as rugby and soccer in other countries.

The chance to volunteer abroad is likely not an opportunity that will always be around. For instance, once you settle down with a family or start a new career, it can be exceptionally hard to get away for long periods of time. If you’re thinking about volunteering, there is perhaps no better time than the present to find an opportunity abroad that’s right for you.

Filed Under: General, Volunteering Tagged With: Travel, United States, Volunteering

Finding the Right Charity

March 9, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Many fortunate members of society would like to donate to charity if only they trusted the process. Criminals who set up fake charities have ruined it for many legitimate charities and people are not willing to part with their hard earned money unless it’s to a charity they can trust. Luckily, there is a great website http://www.charitynavigator.org/ that helps you navigate all that is relevant in charities. They are a top notch resource which can help you decide where to best use your money. These are a few of the features available at Charity Navigator.

1.) Top ten lists- There are at least a dozen top ten lists available on the site. The have such information as the top celebrity charities, the 10 highest rated charites as well as 10 charities worth watching. These lists can be entertaining as well as great resources to decide where to spend your charity dollars.

2.) Hot topic in charity- Hot topics section keeps you informed about tragedies going on worldwide that are currently recruiting funds for charity. Often times this is the result of a natural disaster like an earthquake or a hurricane. It can also be a domestic issue or one that involves supporting out troops. Other people who could be the beneficiaries of your contributions are 9/11 victims, gulf oil spill victims or just people who have seeing harsh negative effects from the economic turmoil of recent years.

If you are looking for a one stop shop in all there is about charity then go no further. Charity Navigator does not endorse charities that are not trustworthy so you can feel safe contributing to any companies on the site. Make sure to visit this site before any others and only donate to a trustworthy site.

Filed Under: General, Volunteering Tagged With: charitable organization, Charity Navigator, Natural disaster

Interesting Volunteering Opportunities

March 7, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

For some people, tradition methods of volunteering do not have much appeal. For instance, a person willing to volunteer may not want to spend their time serving the homeless in a soup kitchen or counseling people. There are however many ways to incorporate your interests into volunteering opportunities. Indeed, volunteering doesn’t have to be a chore any more than going to work has to be a chore. If you do hat you love then you never have to do a day of a work in your life. Here are a couple of great opportunities you may not have considered for volunteering.

1.) Are you an environmentalist? I don’t mean professionally, but if you feel a responsibility to help the environment and keep the earth clean then there are volunteering opportunities for you. Those who strive to help the environment can organize local recycling drives where cans, paper, cardboard, and other recyclables can be collected and brought to the proper facility. In addition, environmental volunteering could consist of cleaning up the grounds of local parks and schools. Once you take on the responsibility to lead these efforts, you may be surprised at the number of like minded individuals willing to join you.

2.) Interested in your local business environment? Your local Chamber of Commerce especially would love to have your help. The local business community may be a tourists attraction or perhaps it’s known for the manufacture of cars or for growing some of the best fruit in the country. Whatever it is your local area does well, there are things you can do to help. Many times this consists of stuffing mailers that go out to potential visitors to your town. There are also commercials that can be made, internet advertising to be done as well as posting signs for local events which could make your town money.

Filed Under: General, Volunteering Tagged With: Chamber of commerce, Soup kitchen, volunteer

Getting Free Legal Advice and Counsel

February 16, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

The first thing to comes to peoples minds when they think of volunteering is probably not lawyers. However, there are attorneys who are part of a network providing free legal advice to many people who could not otherwise afford it. In Maine, there is a network called the Maine Volunteer Lawyers Project who not only do pro bono work representing low income clients but will also provide counsel as to the proper steps to resolves their situation in the justice system. The network is well respected and even features a quote from the Governor praising the group.

The Importance of Free Legal Counsel- Unfortunatley, low income people are often easy prey in the criminal justice system. They may be bullied or intimidated if another party realizes they do not have the income required to properly defensd themselves in open court. A network such as this alleviates the concerns of someone who cannot afford an attorney but has a legal issue they need resolved. Pro Bono work, whether required by a firm or practice or done out of the kindness of ones heart has been important in many cases including victims of stingy insurance agencies who refuse to pay claims that are rightfully owed.

Naturally, a lawyer can’t survive doing only these cases but most are well enough off that they can afford to miss out on a few paying clients. Usually a few times a year a lawyer in the network will take cases where they expect no payment yet still work as hard as if they were being paid thousands. It is because of their generosity that some clients will get legal representation.

Filed Under: Contributing, General Tagged With: Law, Legal advice, Pro bono

Community Service as Alternative Sentencing

February 10, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Community service can be a show of good faith towards your community. It can help enrich your soul and allow you to make a difference in your free time. Not all community service kinds from the kindness of someones heart however. Indeed, many judges will order people to do community service as an alternative to jail or other punishments. Here are a few common forms of community service done by those who didn’t exactly volunteer their services. However, many without a job or means of earning money will view it as a better alternative to fines and jail.

1.) A Direct Reflection of an Infraction: Many times the community service assigned will reflect the crime committed by the offender. For example, a drunk driver given the choice to educate others on the dangers of drunk driving might be able to avoid jail time but talking to youn people at a school or community center. The same could be true for someone who hits someone in a crosswalk while texting their phone. If that person were to go to a school to tell the story of what could happen as a result of distracted driving, the may be able to get a reduced sentence.

2.) You Will Most Likely be Observed by the Police- A deterrent to this type of community service could be that you would be working directly under the police. For many people who have committed a crime, this is certainly not welcome news. Most of this type of community service is done on the weekend for a county agency and usually under police supervision. It should go without saying that it’s best to just do your work with your mouth closed and not risk further punishment by not working because a cop is around.

Being assigned community service leaves you with but one choice. Do your work and try and stay out of trouble so you don’t have to come back.

Filed Under: Community, General Tagged With: Community service, Crime, Prison

Connecting With The Homeless

February 8, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Image via Wikipedia

A great way to connect with your local homeless population is through volunteering. Many people have a desire to help the homeless but do not feel comfortable doing so by approaching a homeless person. This is perfectly understandable and wise practice to be sure. Volunteering at a local establishment which works with the homeless is a surefire way to get the access you desire but safely. Here are a few ways you can volunteer and help the local homeless.

1.) Local Shelter- Here you can volunteer time to help feed the homeless as well as help with setting up cots and other things that need to be done to keep a shelter going. A shelter provides great access in the event you want to hear people’s stories of how they became homeless as well as what their experience has taught them. Homeless children sometimes have known no other way of life and are in need of solid role models.

2.) Needle Exchanges- Dirty needles that pass deadly diseases are a common cause of death among the homeless population. You can help decrease this population by handing out clean needles to homeless people who request them. You may also be able to convince some who don’t know if they care about the cleanliness of their needles to make an exchange.

3.) Clothes Handouts- Homeless people generally have very little access to basic food, shelter, and clothing needs. In fact, clothes are often outgrown and appropriate attire is absent over long grueling winters. While many people donate goods, and that is great, people are still needed to hand these donations out to the needing public.

Helping the homeless is a great way to hear true stories of tragedy. It is often the most unfortunate of circumstances which leads someone to have to live on the streets. Maybe you can help them and help you to feel great about yourself.

Filed Under: Contributing, General Tagged With: Clothing, Homeless shelter, Homelessness

Education Breakdown of Volunteers

February 3, 2011 By admin Leave a Comment

Each year, the Bureau of Labor Statistics releases statistics related to volunteering. The statistics break down the various demographics of volunteers such as breaking the volunteer population down by sex and race. One of the more interesting breakdowns is how the volunteering population splits by education level. Below is the breakdown of which groups volunteer from most to least:

1.) Bachelor’s Degree or Higher- More than 43 percent of those who volunteer have at least a bachelor’s degree. This comprises the highest category of volunteers. Many people pick up goof volunteering habits on their way to their degree and contine the tradition after they graduate. Others are just thankful at their good fortune and want to give back to the community.

2.) Some College- Those who didn’t quite get a degree but did attend some college comprise 31 percent of the volunteer population. That means 74 percent of those who volunteer have at least some form of college.

3.) High School Graduates- A high school diploma is the level of schooling achieved for about 19 percent of volunteers. Many times it is a requirement to graduate high school to fill about 20 hours out on the community volunteering. Though it is largely in the hands of the students, there are certain criteria that must be met in order for the volunteering to count towards graduation.

4.) Non-graduates- Less Than 10 percent of volunteers have not graduated high school. This group can include those who got their GED diploma or have no diploma at all. It is certainly uncommon to find people who didn’t graduate high school yet still have the opportunity to get out and volunteer.

It isn’t overly surprising that volunteers tend to be the better educated members of society. They are often in the best position to volunteer if they are economically secure and have the time and desire to get out there and make a difference.

Filed Under: General, Volunteering Tagged With: Graduation, High school, volunteer

Volunteers Can Help You Get Out of Debt

December 13, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

: Image via Wikipedia

If you are in debt, and feel like you will never get out, you may feel alone, and like there is no one there to help you. This is very far from the truth today. In fact, there are many companies out there that are noticing how many people need financial help and advice. These companies are taking the time to volunteer to help those who are in debt a little over their heads.

So, what kind of services are these volunteers offering? First, you may find that they help you put together a budget. This is something that many people are not very good at. If you are in over your head with debt, you may find that having someone volunteer to help you figure it all out is an amazing resource. Once you have things initially written out, the next step is to do something about it.

You may find that these volunteers can walk you through the ins and outs of how to get out of debt. They may talk to you about a bill consolidation loan. This is something that can help many people get their monthly out-of-pocket expenses lowered. When you put all of your loans and debt into one bill, the payment may be significantly lowered. It is something that many people don’t consider, but you may want to think about.

Another thing that they may discuss with you would be getting a second job. Though this may seem like a stretch at first, and stressful, as well, it is something that more and more people are having to consider. If you are not able to make it on the income that you currently have, you may need to consider upping that income, and one of the easiest ways to do that is with a second job.

Filed Under: General, Money Tagged With: Credit card, Debt, Debt consolidation

Preparing Your Home for an Adopted Child

December 12, 2010 By admin Leave a Comment

When you are in the middle of the adoption process, it is easy to forget about preparing your home for your adopted child. It is, however, important to take some time out and truly get your home ready for the child’s arrival. This will help make the transition easier for the adopted child, your other children and you.

Buying Clothes for Your Adopted Child

Depending on your new child’s age, he or she might already have developed an individual sense of style. If that child has, then try to conform to that style when purchasing clothes for his or her closet. If she or he likes a hip-hop style of dress, then try purchasing clothes from companies such as Ecko. This will not only give your adopted child new clothes that he or she will love, but also show that you are welcoming him or her as a new member of the family. You have to show adopted children that you accept them as they are rather than force them to conform to your expectations.

Buying Toys for Your Adopted Child

Before purchasing toys for your adopted child, talk to the adoption agency to determine whether he or she has any favorites. This will make it much easier for you to choose the right types of toys. A child’s interests can vary greatly, so don’t be surprised to find out that the child like books as much as Lego blocks.

Stocking the Child’s Favorite Foods

Fixing the child’s favorite dinner is a good way to welcome him or her to your home. You should also stock up on some of his or her favorite snacks. Imagine how intimidating it would be to move in with a new family. That’s how your adopted child will feel. Now imagine how much better the transition would be if the new family tried to accommodate you by offering your favorite foods.

Filed Under: General Tagged With: Adoption, Family, United States