Food for Thought on Martin Luther King Day

Happy Monday, friends. I hope the weekend treated you kindly.

I thought I'd help you start your day off right with a serving or two of change-inducing inspiration.

First off, head on over to Seth Godin's blog to read his proposition for transforming a national day of service into an everyday kind of mindset. He includes a list of 18 things that can be done to make a difference at little monetary expense.

When you're finished reading, why don't you give this article by Alex Muller of the York Daily Record/Sunday News a once over just in case you're not sure why you should do anything Seth suggested. Muller recently penned "Without a home, 'surviving' the cold: Local homeless centers cope with sub-freezing temperatures."

You may also want to read "Out of the Cold: More homeless seek shelter from frigid air," which was written by Ford Turner of the Patriot-News in Harrisburg.

While you're making an effort to stay warm this winter, please take a moment to think of your neighbors - next door, across the street, over in the city and around the globe. I've been compiling a list of shelters and services for our homeless friends over to the right side of this blog. Check it out (and please let me know what else I can add to it).

-JLB-

Who is the author of Change 101?

My friend and fellow blogger, Ken Mueller, has requested that I participate in a thread where bloggers introduce themselves to their readers by sharing seven interesting or weird facts about themselves. If for some reason you're interested in learning more about the author of Change 1o1, please click here and enjoy. :o)

-JLB-

Unveiling the needs of the world with video

A coworker of mine recently introduced me to Flip Video Spotlight -- a program dedicated to helping nonprofits make the world a better place by way of the power of video. Sounds interesting, right? Well, it is.

The program has a goal of delivering 1 million of their camcorders to qualified nonprofits over a five-year period, which began in Sept. 2007. The idea is to conceptualize the difference such videos could make if e very nonprofit had a camcorder to tell the world about problems that need solving, opportunities that need seizing, abuses that need correcting, stories that need to be told and so on. I think it could be incredible, don’t you?
The program was implemented by Pure Digital Technologies Inc. -- creators of Flip Video Ultra camcorders. The camcorders are high-quality devices with built-in software that allows editing, organizing and video publishing through YouTube, MySpace and other video-sharing spaces online. Plus they’re compact, lightweight and easy to operate.

So, how can you help? Individuals and groups can become Spotlight Sponsors and work directly with Flip Video Spotlight to donate funds to a nonprofit of their choice for the purchase of a Spotlight Kit. Or they can use giving networks like Network For Good or JustGive to make Spotlight Kit donations online.

The cost for a kit is $150. Each kit contains two 60-minute Flip Video Ultra camcorders and various training materials. Organizations interested in receiving a kit can apply here. Eligibility requirements can be found here.

Those interested in purchasing kits directly for an organization that might not meet the qualifications necessary to receive a kit can contact Marci Glazer, executive director, by sending an e-mail to spotlight@puredigitalinc.com.

-JLB-

Community love for a 4-year-old cancer patient

An entertaining and easy way to do a good deed is coming Lancaster County way this Saturday, Jan. 10, at Bube’s Brewery in Mount Joy. It’s also cheap, thanks to a $5 cover charge that will go directly to the cause at hand.

Beginning at 9 p.m., a benefit concert will begin in the Bottling Works at Bube’s to support Hannah Garman. At least nine local bands will be performing.

Hannah is a four-year-old native of Lancaster County who was diagnosed in October with a rare and aggressive cancerous brain tumor. The little lady has been through a few operations to remove the tumor, as well as some treatments in an attempt to cure her of the disease. The doctors have given Hannah 2-3 months to live without treatment. To boot, Hannah’s mother passed away several years ago from cancer, leaving father Darin to care for Hannah and her two older siblings.

All of the funds raised at the benefit concert will go to helping Hannah’s family with their tough situation. So come on out, have a couple of drinks and participate in the raffle. Anyone who wants to help out with the event (including making a donation for the raffle) can contact Todd Johnston at (717) 468-8807 or by sending an e-mail to todd@ksoundstudios.com.

More information on Hannah’s situation can be found by watching this video or this slideshow.

More information on the event can be found on Facebook.

-JLB-

Helping the homeless of Harrisburg

A quick Tuesday afternoon serving of inspiration:

Surviving on the streets: Woman goes on weekly crusade to help homeless by Mary Klaus of The Patriot-News

Kelly Shaffer spends her Sundays feeding and clothing the homeless on the streets of Harrisburg. What do you do on Sunday? Maybe we all need to head out and help Kelly change the world.

Take note of this excerpt from the article: "Kelly's Christian Crusade to help Harrisburg's homeless can use new or gently used items such as wool blankets, sweat shirts, sweat pants, jeans, long underwear, socks, sleeping bags, hats and gloves. It also needs toiletries such as nail clippers and travel sizes of deodorant, toothpaste and shampoo. To arrange a drop-off for donations, call Kelly Shaffer at 903-3262 or 367-8211 or e-mail her at kelly@rt230church.org."

-JLB-

Stoves for Women in Darfur

So, I was flipping through the television this weekend and came across a CNN story about a 17-year-old who is single-handedly doing what he can (a whole lot, it turns out) to change the world. His name is Spencer Brodsky and his story is truly inspiring.

Brodsky has been raising funds to purchase fuel-efficient stoves for women living in Darfur, where war is raging. To learn more about the situation in Darfur and what is being done by at least one group to stop it, click here.

The Maryland resident started his project in 2007. He has raised enough money to purchase more than 400 stoves, which go for $30 a piece. The importance of the stoves goes beyond face value. A little research (or a visit to Brodsky's Web site) shows that families in Darfur must travel far into dangerous territories to collect enough wood to build a fire and cook their food. The stoves Brodsky supports requires 75 percent less wood to cook the same amount of food.

So, I propose we help Brodsky out by contributing $30 to his project. He'll take care of the rest, which results in making life a tiny bit easier for women and children who are experiencing a kind of life that most of us only visit in our nightmares. Click here to buy a stove.

Brodsky purchases the stoves by partnering with CHF International - an organization that has worked to improve the social, economic and environmental conditions in more than 100 countries over the past 50+ years. To learn more and/or donate directly to CHF's fund for stoves for women in Darfur, click here. To read what CHF had to say about Brodsky, click here. And to find out how else you can change the world by partnering with CHF, click here.

Happy Changing,
JLB

Donate while you Celebrate the Season

Christmas is upon us, people. What does that entail? Tons and tons of food consumed during numerous parties and gatherings.

I've been attending a number of parties myself, and one recently took place that I thought I should share with the masses. While attending an event thrown by a couple of lovely ladies I graduated college with whom are now living in the Philadelphia area, I was struck by their cleverest of open-hearted ideas. Instead of asking their guests to bring along a dish or a beverage or anything else at all, they requested donations to pin to their Christmas tree.
Not just any donation, mind you, but a combined donation that would be split between two causes chosen by the hosts. It was a somewhat small gathering, but the pair managed to raise $250. I think this is awesome. I also think you should follow suit. It is Christmas, after all...and those resolutions of change are just around the corner. Start early. Begin making your changes now.

Already throw your holiday shindig? Not to worry. This is a great idea for any kind of party all year round. Tuck it in your back pocket, but don't leave it there. Do it.

Wishing you the kindest of holiday blessings,
JLB