happy dog, happy cat, happy kids

Everyone needs love...even animals.  Many pet shelters will let you play with the animals if you call ahead and arrange a time.  This is a great rainy day activity.   Another great idea is sponsoring an animal and helping them find a home by posting signs in your neighborhood.

We like Brooklyn Animal Resource Coalition (BARC) www.barcshelter.org which is a not-for-profit, no kill, privately run animal shelter that provides a safe haven for abandoned animals and works to find them permanent loving homes.  They also have a volunteer schedule on their website to make it easy to help out.

Happy Giving!

Simple Ways to Show Appreciation

Have you thought of leaving a note for your mail carrier?  I'll bet it would really brighten his/her day if a note appeared from a child saying 'Thank you!"

Have you thought of donating old books to your local public library or doctor's office?

Have you thought of planting flowers at your local park?  (get permission first, but many parks would welcome new flowers and little 'workers' to help plant them!)


Happy Giving!

One For One

Toms shoes (www.toms.com) aren't only stylish and comfortable - they also give a pair of shoes to a person in need for every pair purchased.  As of September 2010, they donated 1,000,000 pairs of shoes to people in 20 different countries.  I love the little girls styles!

For more about One For One:  http://www.toms.com/our-movement/movement-one-for-one

Does Your Family Love Animals?

For $50 you can adopt one of more than a hundred different animals with the World Wildlife Fund – www.worldwildlife.org - and your child gets a matching stuffed toy.  What a great birthday or holiday gift!!! 

Fruit Stamping for Fun!

Love this idea!  Cut fruit in half and use them as 'stamps' - kids can create great gifts, like dish towels to donate, sell or give as gifts.

Happy stamping (and giving)!!

Vacations With A Heart

I’ve taken Abercrombie & Kent vacations before becoming a parent – they are fabulous!  I hope to do so again when my kids are older – they have wonderful family vacations that help families explore and learn together. 

A&K also has a philanthropy division - AKP.  AKP supports grassroots projects around the world, efforts spearheaded by dedicated local experts in conservation, education, community development and public health. AKP projects dig wells, teach and shelter impoverished children and strive to reverse the effects of global climate change.  For more information, visit www.akphilanthropy.org

Happy Giving!

The Volunteer Family

Heather Jack was looking for opportunities for her children to become involved in a charity and eventually launched The Volunteer Family (thevolunteerfamily.org) to help families find charitable opportunities they can do together. 

“Kids as young as three can learn empathy, tolerance, and respect…” says parenting expert Michele Borba, Ed.D.  Research shows that kids with at least one parent who volunteers are three times more likely to participate in a do-good activity versus those whose parents don’t get involved. 

Check out the VolunteerMatch app to find local charities and get involved! (free; itunes.com)

Happy Giving!