Cause #22 BONUS – Humane Society December 22, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.5 comments
The Humane Society defines puppy mills as business operations that “house dogs in shockingly poor conditions. After their fertility wanes, breeding animals are often killed, abandoned or sold cheaply to another mill to try and get “one more litter” out of the dog. The annual result of all this breeding is millions of puppies, many with behavior and/or health problems.”
They continue to thrive because they prey on unwitting consumers who are smitten by too-cute-for-words puppies in pet store windows and on legitimate-seeming websites.
All too often, the businesses who do business with puppy mills sell these dogs to families who end up heartbroken after those dogs end up sick, diseased, or debilitated because of the harsh conditions in which they were bred.
Especially considering all the cute, lovable puppies out there available for adoption via rescues, the existence of puppy mills is solely from a financial standpoint.
I volunteered with Jennifer Fearing, Chief Economist and California Senior State Director for the Humane Society today, and her 6-year old boxer mix Yoda.
Erik and Yoda, raising awareness of puppy mills
We were stationed outside of the Petland store in Roseville, armed with flyers and information about other, more ‘humane’ options for people to consider as they were looking for a new family puppy.
This particular Petland location had closed the week prior due to “The Economic Downturn,” so the storefront windows had all been papered up so no one could see inside.
Jennifer explained that she had partnered with News 10 recently on a story the week before that had raised awareness of Petland’s corporate policy of obtaining their puppies from contracted puppy mills.
A series of volunteer efforts to (peacefully) raise awareness of this in the weeks prior to Petland’s closing, coupled with the exposure from the news series, made me question whether the store closing was a little more than just a coincidence.
Regardless, we were here, and our role today was approaching anyone who went up to the Petland front entrance. We’d ask them if they were looking for puppies or puppy products today.
If they were, we’d explain Petland’s practices and provide information about puppy mills along with a list of ‘puppy-friendly’ places in the area they could go to fulfill all their puppy needs.
Most were very receptive to our mission; a couple of people brushed us off, thinking we were trying to sell something. Jennifer explained that today was a slow day as word was spreading of Petland’s closure.
All told, we probably talked to a handful of different groups of people on this day.
But it was a great opportunity for me to learn more about the horrific conditions puppies are bred in at puppy mills. I was able to spend some time talking with Jennifer about her role with the Humane Society. Her passion and concern for all animals is clearly evident.
While today was a slow day in terms of people directly reached, it was a good lesson for me to learn more about something I’d never really known or thought about. Being a dog owner/lover myself, I work to provide a caring home for my pups, as the majority of dog owners do.
Sure, I’d go look at the puppies for sale in the chain stores every now and then, but thanks to the efforts of Jennifer and the Humane Society, I will change my behavior moving forward and not support these businesses who value the dollar over the welfare of living creatures.
The Humane Society is always looking for local volunteers for various events. Those interested in longer-term volunteer opportunities need to fill out a Volunteer Information form, which can be found on the website. Volunteer information can be found below.
I only spent a shot while volunteering with the Humane Society today, but I learned a lot about the shady business side of selling animals. The passion with which Jennifer goes about her work is addicting, and that goes a long way to help protect animals. I suggest if you love animals to consider volunteering with the Humane Society to make a difference in your community.
The Humane Society
916.344.1710
Cause #21 BONUS – Hmong Youth and Parents United December 21, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.9 comments
One of the main goals of this 20 causes, 20 days project is for me to work outside of my comfort zone. In my opinion, there’s no better way for me to experience personal growth than to do things that I’ve never done before, to do things that give me butterflies in my stomach.
This was definitely one of those times. My friend Rashell of Invitations Ink invited me to help a youth group with which a friend of hers volunteers, called Hmong Youth & Parents United (HYPU).
HYPU was started in January 2005 by a group of Hmong parents concerned about the future of their children. This was a result of the many concerns brought forth regarding youth gangs and violence, dropouts, teenage pregnancy, achievement gaps, and generational gaps.
Their goal is to build communication and relationship within Hmong families and to provide parents the training and information needed to access and address the schools.
They provide gifts for the kids every Christmas season, and today my role was to dress up as Santa and provide the gifts to the boys and girls.
For the record, this was not only stepping outside of my comfort zone, it was smashing through the barrier with the force of an atomic bomb.
I had never dressed up as Santa before, nor had I had any real experience interacting with members of the Hmong community.
On top of sporting the suit among dozens of kids aged 2-18, it was a new and relatively intimidating experience to be the person in the room with all eyes on me.
With all those ‘out of the comfort zone’ aspects ahead of me, I nonetheless fought the butterflies and attacked this role with aplomb.
I arrived and met Rashell and her friend Mally, and we waited in the classroom with all the gifts as the HYPU families entered the multi-purpose room. Mally had worked hard to organize this portion of the Christmas gift giving, and she did all the shopping for the gifts that the kids indicated they wanted for Christmas. Her, Rashell and a couple others had spent an evening wrapping all the gifts a couple nights before.
I looked quite stellar in the Santa suit, I must say. Though, this was Santa 2009, as there was no beard included in the suit bag. But despite my worst fears of ruthless kids calling me out for not really being Santa, I forged ahead. The show must go on, beard or not.
Once we got the okay, I rolled the big wagon of gifts out to the side door of the multi-purpose room and waited for the director Steven’s introduction.
I rolled the cart into the big room and, parents and kids included, there were probably sixty people in the room. The Christmas tree was in the middle, with the school lunch tables circled around the tree.
HYPU Director Vince Xiong had set up a tiny chair for me to sit in, and I wheeled the wagon around in a full circle, accompanied by a few ‘Ho Ho Ho’s.
Once the room quieted, I addressed the beard situation by announcing that Santa had shaved this morning, a statement which was met with laughter and applause. I’d started off on the right foot, and the hard part was now over.
Steven began reading off the names on each gift, and that child would come up and grab their gift. The kid would then come sit on Santa’s knee for pictures. The first kid was pretty hesitant, but once the cameras flashed, the floodgates opened.
Santa and friend
Girls and boys, young and old. Every kid got a gift and a picture on Santa’s knee. Even the older (16-18) kids got involved. It was a cool moment to see the smiles on the kids’ faces as they got a picture with Santa.
Santa and friend
The time elapsed was pretty quick – 30 minutes or so – but it was such an amazing time.
I remember the joys of being young and seeing Santa ‘live’ and in person. Today it was truly an honor to be on the other side of that with the great kids of HYPU.
Santa and friend
Not only were the kids and adults of HYPU appreciative that I took my time and volunteered to play Santa, but at the same time I felt so great that I took the risk to do something that I’d never done before and had a great time succeeding at it.
The whole group and Santa
Working outside of the comfort zone is a commonly used term. But actually doing that is a completely different story. Today, I did that, and realized once again the absolute benefits of doing so.
Next time the butterflies strike you and you may be nervous about trying something new, attack them and know that you’ll feel an amazing sense of accomplishment and personal growth for doing so.
Hmong Youth and Parents United
916.606.0760
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #20 – Society for the Blind December 20, 2009
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Imagine for a second that you were blind. Close your eyes and think about doing the things you may take for granted every day. Walking to the fridge to grab a snack. Choosing a coordinating outfit from your closet. Reading the latest news via newspaper or a news website. Driving to work.
This is something that I deal with every morning as my vision is far from stellar (20/250), but thanks to technological advances my contact lenses and eyeglasses help me overcome this impairment.
However, the ability to see these things, along with countless others, have become second nature to most of us in today’s fast paced society. Well, there’s another society out there that is thriving despite not being able to visually see that which we overlook every day.
I had the privilege of volunteering with the Sacramento Society for the Blind this afternoon. I wore my glasses today to be able to put myself as close to their perspective as I possibly could. I checked in and immediately noticed the delicious smells emanating from the kitchen near the back of the building.
There was a lot of hustle and bustle going on around the kitchen area. Program Manager Joseph Hamilton introduced himself to me in the lobby, and we made our way to the administrative office where I would read articles for their Access News program.
Reading an article for Access News
I saw the kitchen and there were a dozen or so people busily working on preparing a variety of foods. It was a typical scene for any group of people preparing a holiday feast for an open house – except for one noticeable difference.
Every single one of them was blind.
This was amazing to me in and of itself, but as Joseph would explain to me, this was just another typical day. The people cooking the feast were all over 55 years old, and celebrating their graduation from the Senior Impact Program, a program the SSB provides to help people adjust to blindness via processes to help people improve their Orientation & Mobility skills.
We headed back into the office, where I was introduced to Regina Brink, volunteer coordinator. A couple things I noticed off the bat were Regina’s special braille computer keyboard, and in place of the monitor on Joesph’s computer, there was a plant.
Regina's special keyboard
Regina and Joseph in the office
We all chatted for a bit about the Society for the Blind, and I was astounded to learn that 100% of their instructional staff is visually impaired. This is purposely done to help provide that actual perspective and experience to people new to blindness. Joseph has glaucoma and Regina had lost both her eyes at a very early age.
But they both were very mobile and perceptive. I’ve heard it before, but today saw it first hand, that upon losing one’s sight, one’s other senses become keener. They explained to me that blind people were just as capable as those with sight, that the main hurdle people face is overcoming the fact that they had lost their vision.
Once people overcame that significant change in their life – which is no easy task – they learn that they are able to live their lives as efficiently as they had before. Granted, there are adjustments to make, but that’s what the Society for the Blind is here to assist with.
My role today was to provide content for the Access News program, which transcribes articles from paper sources to audio so visually-impaired people can stay caught up with news, entertainment, sports, politics, and anything else to be found in printed media.
Joseph showed me to their specially-made soundproof booths, and got me all set up. He gave me a couple publications to read from, I filled up a cup of coffee, and I was on my way.
I started out with the Spectrum, a local newspaper directed toward senior citizens. I read five articles which took me about a half hour, once I figured out how to effectively read an article without awkward pauses and saying the wrong words. It was an adjustment for me to make too!
We won’t even bring up the fact that I can’t stand the sound of my voice in a recording. But again, a theme of this 20 Causes, 20 Days project is working outside of my comfort zone, so I forged ahead.
Next, I grabbed the sports section of the Sacramento Bee. I read nine articles ranging from NHL Hockey to NCAA Basketball to NFL Football to NASCAR to an emotional read about the death of Cincinnati Bengals Wide Receiver Chris Henry.
All told, 14 articles read in about an hour and a half. The automated system made it very easy to log each article separately and be able to re-record ten seconds ahead when I made a mistake.
Most importantly, I felt a strong sense of comfort in knowing that I was helping people who couldn’t read these same articles receive this information. I could feel myself reading certain sentences and quotes with more passion to help bring the story alive for those people listening to my reads on Access News.
I finished up and overheard Joseph on the phone passionately talking to the person on the other end about Goal Ball. It’s a sport developed by – and for – visually impaired people. He said he was a part of the Sacramento River Bats team and since he was such a huge sports fan, this was a great way to stay active and competitive in a sports-related environment.
After hearing Joseph explain the sport with such passion, I’m thinking I’ll go participate in a pickup game soon.
Joseph and I headed out to the main area, where the Senior Impact Program had set out their feast. It was a nice spread of pinwheels, mushroom quiche, cornbread muffins, cheeses, crackers, cookies, and other finger foods.
The graduation feast!
I prepared a plate, removed my glasses, and soaked in the scene. Everyone was in a great mood, people were enjoying their meals, and everyone was moving around the room with ease. I met Christella Garcia, coach for the River Bats, and the fire in her personality shone as she described the thrill of not only Goal Ball, but the martial arts she participated in as well.
The food was delicious in taste, but in my opinion it tasted even better on this day because of the well-deserved sense of satisfaction the cooks must have felt from preparing this meal on their own.
Upon my departure, I thanked Joseph for allowing me to bring printed articles to life in this small part to help visually impaired citizens. However, I also really learned a lot of perspective about people who thrive despite what most of us would consider a detrimental life-changing situation.
Volunteer opportunities are always available with the Society for the Blind. Anyone can come in and read articles for Access News, and there are community events throughout the year. Take an hour and read some articles for people who wouldn’t be able to have that otherwise. It’s a fun and rewarding experience. Volunteer information can be found below.
I have a newfound respect for my ability to see, as well as for those people who are succeeding despite not being able to see. I strongly suggest assisting the great folks at the Society for the Blind to learn a valuable lesson in perspective and overcoming adversity.
Special thanks to Christine at the Volunteer Center of Sacramento for helping set up this opportunity for me today.
Sacramento Society for the Blind
916.452.8271
Volunteer Center of Sacramento
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #19 – Shriners Hospital for Children December 19, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.2 comments
The Shriners mission is truly amazing. Since 1922, they’ve been devoted to providing the highest quality pediatric specialty care, innovative research and outstanding teaching programs to kids up to age 18.
According to the Shriners’ website, every year the Shriners Hospitals for Children provides care for thousands of kids with orthopaedic conditions, burns, spinal cord injuries, and cleft lip and palate, in a family-centered environment – at no charge! (Source)
Shriners operates solely on private donations for funding, and considering the magnitude and elegance of the hospital, it’s no wonder that so many people see the value of this worthy cause to help kids lead normal, productive lives despite the adversity they may face.
Upon my arrival, Volunteer Coordinator Lillian Nelson took me on a quick tour and talked to me about the Shriners mission. I had no idea that all the kids they see – including all those in their main lobby today – were receiving world-class medical care at no charge.
Taking a look at some of these kids, one could not help but feel a tug at the heartstrings as they wheeled themselves by with stumps for hands, used a walker to get around, or were not able to even mobilize by themselves.
As Lillian spoke I could feel the passion in her voice as she gushed about the top-notch facilities, physicians, scientists, technology, volunteers that made up the Shriners Children’s Hospital. She loved her job, she loved that she helped improve kids’ lives, and she loved to help others help these kids. All that became clearly evident to me as we conversed.
My role today was to assist with an annual event organized by Shriners to help spread holiday cheer to the kids. Local fire departments from all over the region collected toys for the kids and today was the big event in which they distributed them to the hospital. The kids visiting the clinic that day were given gifts on the first floor, while the kids who were longer-term residents were given gifts on the second floor.
Erik and Sparky, the firefighting dog
The trucks arrived with their lights flashing and what a sight that was. The buzz began to increase throughout both floors as the trucks raised their ladders. I was lucky enough to be on the second floor at that time, and there were a few burn victims gathered around the window to see the trucks.
A few minutes later, a firefighter appeared right outside the window. They had raised the ladders on two trucks and positioned them so that the firefighters could climb up and greet the kids who couldn’t go downstairs could wave hello.
Firefighter saying hi to the kids
It was a touching moment to see the huge smiles on the kids’ faces. I was a little choked up as I saw how much they were in awe as they waved to the firefighters, who were soaking the moment in too. What a cool way to start a great day for these great kids!
The firefighter on the other ladder truck
While on the second floor, I had the privilege of meeting a couple other people, Ellie and Sebastian, who helped make these kids’ days better on a regular basis. Sebastian volunteered a few days a week, and Ellie was on staff, and they both had a magnetism that I knew helped make the kids’ stays at Shriners a bit more comfortable.
I headed downstairs to assist with the toys for the kids visiting the clinic that day. I was immediately shipped off by Penny Lee, who runs the Child Life aspect of Shriners, to the store room to grab another bunch of toys. The store room was full of black 35-gallon garbage bags full of toys. My conservative estimate: about 80 overflowing bags of toys. These firefighters weren’t messing around!
I took the toys out to the table, and posted up near the elevators where most of the kids were exiting the clinic.
I would intercept the families as they were heading toward the exit, and ask them if they wanted to pick up a gift on their way out. Nearly every person was shocked and surprised in the best of ways. I’d walk them over to the table, and bask in the joy that the children received as they got to choose from the bounty of cool toys on the table.
Which one to choose?
Seeing the kids’ smiles, along with the parents’ satisfaction, reaffirmed to me that what they received today was something so much more than just a new toy at Christmas time.
They had come to the hospital because there was something very serious going on in their lives. Not a very happy moment or time period for not only the kids, but for their entire family.
Leaving the clinic and being able to choose a cool new toy, hang out with Sparky the firefighting dog mascot, and meet some firefighters was a surprise for the kids and their families. It was a significant event that helped them all – as well as me – realize that Shriners and many people in the community care about them and are teaming up to help them get through it.
Thanks for all that you do to serve our community, firefighters
Shriners is the pinnacle of children’s hospitals for the western United States. As long as doctors think they can help the kids, they will be admitted – again, at no charge. In fact, a Mexican dignitary was also on-site this afternoon to visit some the kids who had been in the tragic Hermosillo fire in June 2009.
It’s the things like this that help Shriners shine brightly in their quest to help kids and their families deal with the debilitating situations they face.
Shriners also utilizes 'puppy therapy'
I am truly happy I was able to participate in this afternoon’s events and learn these valuable lessons. It was an amazing experience that can only be seen through one’s eyes to be able to tell the true magnitude of what Shriners does for kids not only locally, but all across the country.
Shriners is always looking for volunteers, either on a regular basis, or they have ‘one-off’ opportunities for single people/groups. Regular volunteers are subject to background checks and drug testing. Those interested in volunteering should contact Lillian Nelson. Contact information is below.
So thankful that Christine from the Volunteer Center of Sacramento set me up with Lillian, Penny and the rest of the wonderful people at Shriners Hospital. Thanks to local firefighters for their hard work in collecting and delivering all the toys to the kids today.
Children are our future. Shriners works very hard to make sure that our kids who have to deal with adversity receive the best treatment and rehabilitation out there to help them lead normal lives. I strongly suggest you invest some time to learn more about the wonderful work Shriners does for our community and our future leaders. Get involved and help these kids see that they can have a bright future.
Shriners Hospitals for Children
Volunteer Information
Contact: Lillian Nelson via email
Or call: 916.354.2086
Volunteer Center of Sacramento
916.576.3100
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #18 – Leukemia & Lymphoma Society December 18, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.add a comment
Every four minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer. Every ten minutes, someone dies from a blood cancer. Broken down, that’s 146 people per day or six people per hour.
Leukemia and lymphoma are forms of blood cancer that originate in the bone marrow or lymphatic tissues. They ‘are considered to be related cancers because they involve the uncontrolled growth of cells with similar functions and origins.’
The diseases ‘result from an acquired genetic injury to the DNA of a single cell, which becomes abnormal (malignant) and multiplies continuously. The accumulation of malignant cells interferes with the body’s production of healthy blood cells.’ (Source)
The proliferation of this disease means that it’s one of the big killers in today’s society, so raising awareness of how to help people cope and survive is of the utmost importance.
I had the honor of helping the local chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma society today. We had a simple task: help spread cheer to youth who were hospitalized.
I arrived at the office and it was a madhouse. The staff had just finished their holiday party, and they were battling both their food comas and the fact that they had to get back to work.
Wrapping paper was strewn about the conference room. A couple ladies were busy wrapping presents, and Campaign Manager Kimberly Hicks came up and introduced herself.
My task today was a relatively easy and fun experience considering the severity of the diseases we were acting on behalf of. I would be delivering toys to local area hospitals on behalf of the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society.
So Kim, Mireya, Eve and I ventured to the spare office to divvy up the gifts destined for local hospitals.
What a sight! There were toys as far as the eye could see. They had already been separated into age groups – 0-3, 4-8, 9-12, teenager. Kim had a list of the hospitals and how many toys each needed.
We chose which hospital we’d stock for and got to work filling these big boxes full of toys.
It was a chaotic moment as we all dashed about to each of the toy piles, filling their respective boxes.
After about 15 minutes, the toys for each of the hospitals had successfully been stocked. The amazing part was how many great toys there were! Brand new, unwrapped gifts for the boys and girls in local hospitals. Cool gifts too! Transformers, Bratz, dolls, stuffed animals, Matchbox Cars, basketballs, toy sets, you name it…it was there.
I asked where they all came from. EuroSunday, an exotic car club, had organized a toy drive to benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma society. Boy did they ever deliver! They had undoubtedly helped make a LOT of kids’ lives a bit brighter with their toy drive.
Loaded up with toys
We packed the vehicles as full as we could and took off. A caravan of SUVs, destined to drop off hundreds of toys to the boys and girls around town. Yes, I developed a bit of a Santa complex on this day.
We eventually made it to the Shriners’ Hospital and left one box of 37 toys. The man in the hat thanked us and we took off to deliver 100+ toys across the street to the UC Davis Med Center pediatric ward.
We found our way through the maze of hallways and elevators. After checking in at the front desk, we were graciously provided a couple carts and headed back to the loading dock to load the bounty.
Two huge carts-full later, we were back up in the pediatric ward and all the staff thanked us immensely for not only providing so many toys, but that there were so many toys for boys. While we willingly accepted the thanks, it was all thanks to the EuroSunday toy drive for hosting such a wonderful event that benefited the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.
Cool toys!
They are always looking for volunteers throughout the year to assist with various events and other opportunities. Prospective volunteers should contact the local office or check out the Volunteer Information page on the website. Volunteer information can be found below.
Today’s volunteer task was a simple job, but it felt good to know that hundreds of kids were going to receive an awesome toy this year because I took the time to give to a cause that fights diseases that take six people’s lives every hour.
Thanks to Kim and the rest of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society for including me in this undertaking. Leukemia and Lymphoma are serious diseases, and I helped bring a bit of joy today to kids who could certainly use it. Take a few minutes out of your week to get involved with this cause and help fight cancer.
Leukemia & Lymphoma Society
916.929.4720
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #17 – Elk Grove Food Bank December 17, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.2 comments
I awoke this morning to a rainy residue. Streets wet, needed to run the windshield wipers to clear the residue, a cold chill in the air. Still, I had a feeling today would turn out to be a great day.
I put on my short-sleeved polo, braved the inclement weather, showed up at the Elk Grove Food Bank, where dozens of volunteers were huddling around their coffees, bundled up in multiple layers. Today was the EGFB’s distribution of complete Christmas dinners to hundreds of needy families in the Elk Grove area.
Volunteer coordinator Crystal Ham gathered us together and told us about the whirlwind we were about to encounter. There were people from all walks of life here to help out today. Men, women, young, old, Hispanic, African-American, returning volunteers, newbies. This morning, everyone looked cold but eager to help out.
Being an able-bodied man, she assigned me the task of ‘box running.’ Meaning, there were hundreds of boxes in the storeroom that were packed with canned food, pastries, and other foodstuffs. Enough to feed a family of eight.
Boxes...my new BFFs!
I would bring the boxes from the store room, up about six stairs, and stack them up at the ‘assembly line.’ Other volunteers, assigned to be courtesy clerks, had shopping carts and they’d run the food to the family’s car for them after being stocked with the family’s choice of meat: chicken, ham, or turkey.
We created a fairly efficient production line where the carts would form a half circle to be restocked after they ran the dinners out to the cars.
The crowd at EGFB
I had the privilege of working alongside Phil Machek, Community Service Coordinator for Sun Grove Community Church, the entity that provided the majority of volunteers for today’s event, and also collected information to determine which families were eligible to receive the dinners.
Everyone from the church was smiling, laughing, and enjoying being together helping those less fortunate today. It gave me a warm feeling on a chilly day.
Another thing that kept me warm was running the boxes from the store room to the assembly line. I didn’t count specifics, but I’d underestimate and say that I ran back and forth (yes, literally ran) about 70 times. Two boxes per load. About 15 pounds per box.
Add all that together, and I got my workout for the day! There were a few times there when I had to wipe the sweat beads from my eyes. So, I had another element of satisfaction: besides helping needy families enjoy a complete Christmas dinner I was also getting a good workout.
Erik working hard loading food boxes
This process continued for about two hours and we made a big dent in the 480 boxes that were packed and stacked for the eligible families. It was a sweaty but rewarding experience to see the smiles and gratitude on the faces of the people picking up the dinners.
I got to fill in for a few minutes as a courtesy clerk and run food out to cars with a couple of the recipients. The proficiency of ‘thank yous’ and handshakes I received told me they were so indebted and grateful to the Elk Grove Food Bank for providing them and their families with complete Christmas dinners.
But today’s event went one step above and beyond simply providing a complete Christmas dinner – today, these families were receiving a complete Christmas.
The families who picked up the food were given a voucher that they could take over to the church behind the Food Bank to redeem for a gift for each person in their family.
After a couple hours running boxes at the Food Bank, I headed over to the church to help out there.
When I arrived, the line for the gifts was around the block. I introduced myself to Debbie Schoeneshoefer, who was running the show. She had me help distribute the gifts to their categorized tables as they came down in large boxes from their storage upstairs.
The tables in the room each had a sign that the gifts needed to be sorted to. Men, Women, Toys, Baby, Girls, Boys, Christmas Décor, Linens, Clothes, Blankets, Books, Knick Knacks. There were so many gifts, we had to do it in phases.
The families would be let in, at about 50 at a time, and I handed them a garbage bag to collect their new treasures. Each person was allotted one gift per family member. There were families big and small. Some had a ‘1’ on their vouchers, others had a ‘14’ on their vouchers.
The gift room - controlled chaos
It was a free-for-all for the gifts. First come, first served. There were some really nice presents available, yet an uncharacteristic aura of calmness and harmony was very prevalent. People would reach for the same gift at the same time, and relent to the other as opposed to fighting over that gift.
I think everyone was truly grateful for the Elk Grove Food Bank and the various churches for providing them with a great, complete Christmas. It was very nice to be a part of this festive mood.
Thumbs up for the gifts!
After the 50 people were let in and the doors were closed for this phase, I would go act as a personal shopper to those who needed it. An elderly lady who had an ‘8’ on her voucher struggled to carry the 35-gallon garbage bag she was dragging around, so I offered my assistance as she ‘shopped.’ She smiled and thanked me with the utmost sincerity, then chose a teddy bear/book set for one of her youngsters.
Three phases of 50 families. In between, the volunteers would scramble to restock the tables with the seemingly endless supply of gifts. It was a scene best described as ‘controlled chaos.’ But considering the sheer volume and overwhelming positive energy in the room from both the volunteers and families, everyone was very satisfied with the way it turned out.
The Elk Grove Food Bank and Sun Grove Community Church deserve extra recognition for organizing such a large-scale, but very efficient charitable event. They combined to help hundreds of families enjoy a Christmas those families wouldn’t otherwise have been able to enjoy. Both organizations have volunteer opportunities throughout the year to assist with making the Elk Grove community a better place for everyone. See below for volunteer information for both organizations.
Special thanks to Katie and Laura from the Elk Grove Citizen for helping set me up with this volunteer effort today.
Volunteering for this event was a great reminder that many people have it worse than we might, but that there are people and causes who are devoted to helping others in their community enjoy the best life possible.
I am grateful for being able to do a small part to help hundreds of Elk Grove families enjoy a complete Christmas, and that fact alone will help me enjoy my Christmas that much more. What started out as a rainy day became a bright, warm ray of sunshine for me knowing that I helped those less fortunate today.
Elk Grove Food Bank
916.685.8453
Sun Grove Community Church
916.427.5125
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #16 – Adopt-A-Family December 16, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.2 comments
With Christmas coming up in ten days, either you may be relaxed that you’ve gotten your shopping done, or stressed because you haven’t done your shopping yet.
Imagine the stress that comes from not being able to buy – much less afford – ANY gifts for your family. The Volunteer Center of Sacramento runs an Adopt-A-Family program during the holiday season that helps to make Christmas special for needy families in the region.
I had the privilege of helping out with this Adopt-A-Family program today. My task was to identify and log which families had not yet picked up their gifts. Then I would call each family to remind them that they could pick up their gifts.
I started out in the gift office of the Volunteer Center, where the three rooms of the converted office were sectioned off into rows. Lime green tape created rows of two feet by two feet squares.
Vast amounts of presents!
The gifts provided to the adopted families overflowed the boundaries each and every one of these squares. Boxes big and small, wrapped beautifully and stacked into large boxes or 35-gallon garbage bags. Based on the sheer volume of presents they would receive, this was sure to be a magical, memorable Christmas for each and every family this year.
Dolls, clothes, blankets, Bratz dolls, stuffed animals, a bicycle. These kids were surely in for a treat this year. The next part of my volunteer experience would help me truly learn how great of a Christmas would be for the adopted families.
A new bike for Christmas!
I was in sales for years, and a big part of that job was to do cold calling. Making calls out of the blue on the phone, getting people to listen to the spiel, trying to set up a meeting to sell them something is not easy.
This was another lesson in finding the opportunity. But I had a list, and I was going to call each and every person on that list. Luckily, I was calling with good news. In fact, I almost felt like Ed McMahon calling on behalf of American Family Publishers.
Many couldn’t speak English very well. Quite a few numbers were disconnected or no longer in service. A few people were reasonably surprised. A couple of people actually hung up on me. One call, however, made my day and made this experience truly memorable.
I dialed the number, asked for Jeanette, and the voice on the other end said she wasn’t there. The lady asked who I was, and I started to identify myself. The second I said I was from “Adopt-A-Family,” she interrupted me and yelled out for Jeanette.
Another voice took the phone and identified herself as Jeanette. I told her that I was calling on behalf of the Adopt-A-Family program and that her gifts were ready to be picked up.
I actually had to take the phone away from my ear as Jeanette screamed at a decibel level louder than the girls at the Justin Beiber concert during my volunteer event with Every37.com.
Jeanette was excited, to say the least. She told me that she was a single mom with three boys, and that they had all been so good this year. She went on to tell me that she was stressed and scared about this Christmas because she was unable to buy gifts for her sons.
As she told me this, she started sobbing because of the joy she was feeling. While I didn’t admit it to her, I was getting a little choked up too as I imagined the looks on the boys’ faces as they tore into their treasure trove of gifts on Christmas morning.
Jeanette literally thanked me a half dozen times before we got off the phone. Once I hung up, I sat back and realized that I had literally made that family’s Christmas with that phone call.
Granted, the people who adopted the family, and the Adopt-A-Family program were the ones who were really behind it all, but the three minute phone conversation with Jeanette was a neat reminder that someone like me, a volunteer coming in to help for a couple hours, could leave with such a warm, gratifying feeling.
After I had called all 45 families, my task for the day was accomplished. I thanked the Volunteer Center’s Community Resource Coordinator Christine for letting me help out and headed off.
I had to pass the gift office door again, and as I did I saw some of the other volunteers wheeling out a family’s gifts on a dolly. Yes, there were so many presents that a dolly was needed. I threw out a “Wow! It’s going to be a Merry Christmas!” as I walked by, and the lady awaiting the gifts asked if I was Erik.
She looked at me with a tear in her eye and thanked me with all her heart. Her name was Genesis, and I had left a voicemail on her phone no longer than ten minutes before. She was so ecstatic that Adopt-A-Family had chosen her family because, like Jeanette before her, she was really stressed out about Christmas this year. Yet another touching moment that will last with me a lifetime.
Within 15 minutes, I had experienced first-hand the real life benefits that the Adopt-A-Family program provides. What had started with a simple task that I had sworn off long ago (making ‘cold calls’) turned into a memorable, rewarding experience.
Families who want to provide for needy families should contact the Volunteer Center Adopt-A-Family program. They will be provided a list of the approved families (approved families make less than $1,600 per month and have passed a strict application process) and can choose which of the approved families to adopt.
Children receive a minimum of two new gifts, wish lists are provided, and Christmas dinners are also provided via grocery store gift cards.
While the Adopt-A-Family program runs during the holidays, volunteers are needed year round for a wide variety of programs. Contact Christine by phone or fill out the contact form on the Volunteer Center website. Complete volunteer information is below.
I spent a couple hours making phone calls, but it turned out to be one of the more rewarding experiences I’ve had during my 20 Causes, 20 Days project. Once my ears finally stop ringing, I’ll never forget Jeanette’s piercing scream along with the tears in Genesis’ eyes.
Special thanks to the families who adopted the families this holiday season, as well as the Volunteer Center for organizing the Adopt-A-Family program. The memorable moments I had today will make me appreciate the holiday season even more, and I ask you to make some time to experience this for yourself.
Adopt-A-Family program
Volunteer Center of Sacramento
916.567.3100
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #15 – Land Park WPA Rock Garden December 15, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.5 comments
I’ve always been a big fan of nature. I earned a two-year degree in Biology and thought I would eventually become an environmental engineer. A couple years later, NCAA Athletic policies dictated that I switch my major to stay eligible to play baseball, so my focus of study skewed from that of the environment.
But my love of nature never waned. I’ve always felt a deep connection to nature, and whenever I am able I take time to appreciate the environment we live in and take for granted. I made it a point to include an environment-centered cause in my 20 Causes, 20 Days project.
Erik at the WPA Rock Garden
I helped out today at the Land Park WPA Rock Garden. I met with the overseer Daisy Mah, and immediately I could sense the passion with which she tended for the Rock Garden and other aspects of Land Park. She’d been working with the City of Sacramento to make this a picturesque retreat for Sacramentans since 1988.
The multitude of Parks workers, joggers, and dog walkers all greeting Daisy with a wave and a smile this morning told me that her friendly face and demeanor was just a big an attraction to Land Park as the trails, fishing, and nature was.
Daisy, overseer of the WPA Rock Garden
My task today was to help prune back the plants who had fallen victim to the recent cold streak. Normally a relatively temperate climate, the freezing temperatures a couple weeks past took their toll on many plants.
I put my gloves on, grabbed my pruning shears, and got to work. The air was crisp and the ground still moist with dew. I filled a black garbage can full with the dead plants, went back to where I left off, and repeated the process.
As I pruned away, I tuned my senses and listened to the sounds of Land Park. Dozens of birds chirped away. The fountains in the lake created a soothing tone. A squirrel hopped up on a fence, twitched its tail, and watched me prune away the plants.
My assistant at the Rock Garden
It was a very tranquil, peaceful setting.
I took a deep breath and sunk everything in, I realized why Daisy was a popular person around these parts. She worked very hard to make this place as beautiful as can be.
She described a couple of varieties of plant species to me as if she was reading the information verbatim out of an encyclopedia. She was friendly and knowledgeable, and the beauty of the garden was only eclipsed by her devotion to making the garden beautiful.
I ended up filling the garbage can about 18 times today, and after I was finished I could notice a marked difference from the mass amounts of wilted leaves present when I showed up.
Last load!
Today was a perfect day to find truly a hidden gem of Sacramento. The WPA Rock Garden is a great place to come escape the stresses and the quickness of today’s society. Encompassing only about 50 square meters, the WPA (Works Progress Administration) Rock Garden was created in 1940 and is a haven for a multitude of flora and fauna. Ferns, flowers, squirrels, cacti, birds, trees, ducks, shrubs, bees, and so much more. Truly a tiny Xanadu here in our back yard.
Daisy, along with the City of Sacramento, is looking for volunteers to help maintain Land Park, especially considering their funding has been cut by 60% over the past few years. Specifically, Daisy mentioned she needed help with some different pruning tasks both in the Rock Garden and elsewhere around Land Park. Those interested in getting involved need to fill out a simple Volunteer Interest form which can be obtained by contacting the City of Sacramento volunteer coordinator. Volunteer information is below.
Daisy Mah is a staple around these parts, a friendly persona to the regulars who run, walk their dogs, and fish at Land Park. The beauty of the WPA Rock Garden exemplifies her passion for maintaining this hidden secret of Sacramento. I suggest you take an afternoon to escape from your stresses and peruse the Rock Garden and all of Land Park.
Or better yet, make some time to volunteer and help Daisy keep this private paradise as beautiful as it can be.
Land Park WPA Rock Garden
City of Sacramento
916.808.8317
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #14 – Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center December 14, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.1 comment so far
As the winter weather rolls in, it’s easy to turn the heater on in our home, curl up in front of the TV, and spend an evening with family.
What if you and your family had no TV, no heater, no home?
Unfortunately, many families are in this situation. The Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center is a Family Shelter program that helps families transition from being homeless to being able to get back on their feet again.
It’s a program that was founded in 1972 to help focus on the needs of seven families, but has blossomed to serve 500 people per day across all 14 of its various programs.
As they serve hundreds of families, there are likewise a significant amount of children in the SAEHC program.
My task this evening was to help set up and supervise a Birthday Magic party at the Mather Community Center. Each month, the Birthday Magic program sets up & hosts a party to celebrate the kids’ birthdays that month. The party I was a part of tonight was for the kids ages 1-3.
There were ten kids celebrating birthdays this evening. I hung out in the corner at the toy slide, and this seemed to be the most popular spot for the youngest kids.
Erik and the kids on the slide
None of the kids could talk very well, but we communicated perfectly. I’d pick each one up and put them on top of the slide. They’d slide down and the process would repeat. This continued for twenty minutes.
It was clear from the amount of kids and the frequency with which they made the loop, that the slide was the main attraction. I found a lot of humor in the static electricity. The kids would be at the top of the slide with their hair sticking straight up.
It was a classic moment that reminded me of my youth. I have a picture of me in my crib, ca. 1978, with my hair sticking straight up off my head. I couldn’t help but laugh each time one of the kids had ‘crazy hair.’
"Crazy hair"
The kids knew it too, and they milked it. It seemed like they’d deliberately shuffle their feet on the slide to get that static electricity firing, just to make me laugh.
Just as the fun on the slide was kicking into full gear, it was dinner time, with presents after.
The younger kids were placed in the half-circle baby table. The image of them eating their mini-slices of pizza is timeless, cute, adorable, unforgettable, and many other baby-riffic adjectives.
They had their pizza, and we cleared the plates off for the cake and candles for the true ‘birthday boy’ Nathaniel. He was the only one whose birthday was that exact day, and boy was he treated right!
The kids with their delicious pizza
He got a cupcake with a candle, which another of the volunteers blew out. We sang Happy Birthday to him, and he got to dig into his cupcake. The other kids were then served dessert, and as most kids do, they absolutely loved their sweet treat.
Once they had devoured their birthday cake, it was present time. While they each got a small gift, Nathaniel hit the mother lode this evening. Six huge presents, including brown shoes, two outfits, a toy radio, and a colorful toy scooter.
Nathaniel the birthday boy loves his presents!
The kids were all about ‘helping’ Nathaniel open the presents. He was very excited about being spoiled on this evening, though his relatively calm demeanor may have suggested otherwise.
After presents, the party came to an end. The parents came to pick up their children, and each received a Beanie Baby as another gift for their birthday.
Not having any kids, this was definitely a fun but exhausting evening for me. What a constant bundle of energy they are!
But knowing the struggles their families had endured to get here, it made me happy to know that they were able to enjoy a fun birthday party with their friends that they might not have had without the help of SAEHC.
There was another party going on simultaneously, for the 11-14 kids. I didn’t get to make it to that party, though I heard there was karaoke. Since I am now a seasoned karaoke veteran after starting this project, I was a little disappointed that I didn’t get to participate.
That said, I thoroughly enjoyed my time with the young kids party. It was nice to see the gratitude on the parents’ faces as they picked up their happy, smiling kids. It felt good to know that our time on the slide together had undoubtedly made their day.
SAEHC is looking for volunteers to help with these types of events. If the events, which typically are sponsored, are not staffed by those sponsors, volunteers are welcome and encouraged. There are a myriad of volunteer opportunities across all their vast network of programs. Volunteer services and opportunities are coordinated through the Volunteer Center of Sacramento. Volunteer information is below.
It was a fun, exhausting evening that was just a small piece of the big picture SAEHC puts together to create an empowering, encouraging environment for the families who are in the process of getting their lives back together.
It was an hour spent with some great kids who may or may not remember this particular party, but I will certainly remember it and feel good that I helped these families enjoy their experience en route to getting back on their feet.
Sacramento Area Emergency Housing Center
916.454.2120
Volunteer Center of Sacramento
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
Cause #13 – American Diabetes Association December 13, 2009
Posted by 20causes20days in Causes, Charities, Volunteer.4 comments
It really is the little things in life that matter. A warm smile. Holding the door open for a stranger. A hug when someone needs it. A small gesture can do a lot to make someone’s day. Sometimes the little things done in our lives aren’t recognized until quite a bit of time later. But they are still significant.
My mom really appreciated the little things. She always loved to give me the biggest hugs, and never hesitated to tell me how proud she was of me and that she loved me. While I reciprocated her love fully, it wasn’t until she was gone that I fully appreciated how amazing and kind-hearted of woman she was.
Needless to say, I yearn to have a hug from her just one more time.
Today (December 13, 2009) would have been her 59th birthday. As I’ve mentioned before, this 20 Causes, 20 Days project has been inspired by her and a dream she had about me. (If you have a minute, please click through to that video about the dream she had about me. It’ll give you a lot of perspective about the motivation behind this project.)
Today’s cause is especially near and dear to me.
She passed away in 2006 from complications arising from Type 2 Diabetes. I distinctly remember her having to check her insulin levels and monitor her diet on a daily basis. She could no longer eat a lot of the things we enjoyed eating together when I was growing up. She had good days and she had bad days. It saddened and confused me. I really had no idea what this diabetes was that made some days so tough for her.
I volunteered my time at the American Diabetes Association because I wanted to do a small part to help raise awareness of this disease, but also to learn more about it myself.
As I mentioned before, the little things matter. My task with the ADA was simply to stuff envelopes with holiday cards that were going to board members and donors.
Seemingly a remedial task, but again, the little things. I met Christina at the ADA office and she led me to the conference room, where the thick stock card paper, envelopes, and address labels all awaited me on the conference table.
I did one ‘test’ envelope where I folded the card in half, put in the envelope, and affixed both the sender and recipient labels. It took me just under three minutes. Considering there were 240 envelopes (yes I counted), this was an arduous task that needed to be done much more efficiently.
Channeling my inner Henry Ford, I created a production line that would maximize my efficiency and make him want to hire me as his operations manager. I spent 15 minutes folding all the cards. I laid the envelopes across the entire perimeter of the conference table, with just enough space for the sender label.
Henry Ford would be proud of Erik.
Once those labels were in place, I took the address labels and affixed each of them to an envelope. Then I stacked the envelopes and put a card into each one.
Total time elapsed: 3 hours. Total envelopes stuffed: 172. Yes, I counted that too.
Executive Director Patrick Dunlap stopped in to introduce himself and, after commenting on my productivity in envelope-stuffing, told me a few things about diabetes.
It’s a very common disease. 23.8 million people suffer from it in the United States. That’s 7.8 percent of the total U.S. population. 57 millions more are unaware they are at risk, or categorized as ‘pre-diabetes.’ (Source)
It’s very easy to think of it as the “sugar and obesity” disease, but the reality is that it is much deeper and more dangerous than that.
Amputation, blindness, death. Left unchecked and untreated, this is the path that people who suffer from diabetes inevitably take.
It’s scary, and for me personally, it’s all too real.
It is preventable too. A healthy diet, regular exercise, and maintaining a healthy weight all are simple proactive steps to help prevent Type 2 Diabetes. With these positive steps, you can stay healthier longer and reduce your risk of diabetes
The mission of the ADA is to prevent and cure diabetes and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes. The Sacramento office focuses on both Type 1 and Type 2 diabetes.
They are always looking for volunteers. There are a myriad of volunteer opportunities, ranging from assisting with community events to helping in the office to being on various committees. They have a very simple but profound volunteer strategy.
They strive to find the right role match for the volunteers because they recognize that everyone has different strengths and passions, and people who are passionate about their roles make the best team members. People interested in volunteering simply fill out a volunteer interest form after contacting volunteer coordinator Heather Beaudreau. Volunteer information can be found below.
While my role today was simply stuffing envelopes, I found solace in the fact that I was helping the ADA get closer to their goal of raising awareness of diabetes. It’s the small things like this that may make the difference in someone’s life.
I feel fortunate to have been able to spend a few hours and learn a bit more about what mom was going through. On her birthday today, I remember the fond memories we shared in our lives, but I also cannot help but think of the struggles she endured in her later years due to diabetes.
Thanks to the American Diabetes Association for their hard work in raising awareness and their efforts to cure this debilitating disease. Considering how prevalent diabetes is in our society, odds are you know someone who is affected. Take some time to educate yourself about their situation, and to give some of your time to help fight diabetes.
Rest in Peace, Mom. Happy birthday to you.
American Diabetes Association
916.924.3232
Please leave a comment below. Thanks!
