Habitat for Humanity Research

Habitat for Humanity
"Habitat is not a give-away program. In addition to supporting the program through mortgage payments, Habitat families are required to invest 400 "sweat equity" hours by helping with construction to serve as a portion of their down payment. A hand-up, not a handout, Habitat instills a sense of self esteem in its families through the joy of homeownership that promotes success in other aspects of their lives."

• Volunteer Form
• Release Waiver

Soon to be filling out forms and helping to build a home.  I like building things, but I wonder where my skills would most benefit them?

What is the plan for this?  March - fill out the paperwork.

Is a Food Bank like a Soup Kitchen?

Is a Food Bank like a Soup Kitchen?  I haven't found a local Soup Kitchen (yet), but I found our local Rutherford County Food Bank.  They need volunteers and both food and monetary donations.  I can do some volunteer work, but my personal specialty is sitting on my butt and surfing the web.  I also like to experiment.  So, I'm going to see if I can raise $100 for the RC Food Bank using crowdfunding (Ok, after their overhead, RC Food Bank gets $96 dollars - still pretty good, as far as overhead goes...).  So, everyone, donate here.  ONE DOLLAR is all I'm asking.  And, no, I'm not writing it off on my taxes :D  Look for pictures in February!

Children's/School Garden

The seed catalogs with their airbrushed flowers and sparkling veggies have been arriving at my door for over a month now, so you know that Springtime urge to dig in the dirt will soon be upon me.  One of my friends has been thinking of starting a garden at her daughter's school.  I sent her an email to capitalize on that.  Maybe that will be the school that I help create a garden with.  I also know that several of my friends are teachers and homeschoolers, so I posted on my FB if any of them wanted to start a garden at their school, I could help with some of their seed needs.   ... it's a step...

VA Hospital Volunteers

Today's assignment: Research our local VA Healthcare System and register as a volunteer.

The TN Valley VA healthcare system has a need for a wide variety of volunteers.  Because I work more than 40 hours a week, it will be difficult for me to volunteer for some of the activities; however, I am sure that there is something useful I can do.  And, in addition to volunteers, they are in need of a wide range of patient "comfort" items, such as razors (their wish list is here) - I have a proven ability to collect these kinds of things for our military members.  I believe I can be effective here, too.

• DONE - Find local VA hospital and research their needs
• DONE - Register as a volunteer for two Saturday mornings a month
• In Progress - Begin planning for how to fund & collect items on the wish list

What to do...

I asked for practical, possible things that one woman could do.  In no particular order, these are the things that my family and friends thought important... so I'm going to try to do them.  I have been so blessed.  It's a small way of spreading the blessings around...

• Visit with vets (at the VA hospital)
• Create a school garden
• Help at a soup kitchen (probably they don't want me to cook... I'm not so good at that!)
• Tutor at the library
• Volunteer for Habitat for Humanity
• Support our military
• Buy "Made in the USA"
• Yard work for an elderly neighbor
• Calling companies to donate smoke/CO detectors for  families with newborns as they leave the hospital
• Working at a homeless shelter (the suggestion was to make lunches, but again, I probably shouldn't be cooking, so I will just leave it at working at a homeless shelter)
• Being a mental health advocate to help those who might be going down the path to violence
• Make some friends with vets at an assisted living facility
• Anything with health care