Make-A-Wish® South Carolina’s Post

Tackling Summer Hunger with Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin 🌞 Summer should be a time for kids to play, explore, and enjoy the sunshine. But for many families in Eastern Wisconsin, it's also a season of uncertainty. When school cafeterias close, thousands of children lose their most reliable source of nutritious meals. This is where Feeding America Eastern Wisconsin steps in. Did you know? - 1 in 9 people in Eastern Wisconsin face hunger. - Summer is one of the most challenging times for families struggling with food insecurity. But together, we can make a difference! Here are three impactful ways you can help: 🍎 **Donate Food**: Non-perishable items like canned fruits, vegetables, and proteins are always in high demand. Check your pantry or organize a neighborhood food drive. 💵 **Donate Cash**: Every dollar donated helps provide meals to those in need. Even a small contribution can have a huge impact. 🤝 **Volunteer**: Join us for a volunteer session at one of our food banks. Whether you’re sorting donations or packing boxes, your time and effort make a big difference. If you're inclined to take action and help us ensure that every kid in our community has something to eat this summer, please visit www.feedingamericawi.org to learn more about how you can help. Let's ensure that no one in our community goes hungry this summer. Together, we can fight hunger and provide hope. #SummerHunger #EndHunger #CommunitySupport #FeedingAmericaEasternWI #Volunteer #Donate #FoodMemories

Open Your Hearts, Share Your Hands ************************************** During this holidays season, let's not forget the warmth of giving that truly makes it special. This year, as we gather with loved ones and celebrate the season's blessings, let's also open our hearts and extend a helping hand to those less fortunate. Remember the families facing food insecurity, the children without presents under the tree, and the individuals struggling with homelessness and loneliness. In a nation as rich as ours, no one should have to face the holidays without basic necessities and a touch of Christmas magic. Here are some ways we can all make a difference: * Donate to local food banks and shelters: Every can of food, warm blanket, or toy donated can bring immense relief and joy to someone in need. * Volunteer your time: Soup kitchens, homeless shelters, and senior centers often rely on volunteers to provide meals, companionship, and holiday cheer. * Organize a toy drive: Spread the word in your community and gather new or gently used toys to brighten the holidays for underprivileged children. * Support local businesses: Many smaller businesses struggle during the holidays. Choose to shop local and support those who contribute to the vibrant tapestry of our communities. * Reach out to a lonely neighbor: A simple phone call, a plate of homemade cookies, or even just a friendly conversation can make a world of difference for someone who might be isolated during the holidays. Remember, even the smallest acts of kindness can have a ripple effect, creating a wave of hope and joy that extends far beyond the individual. Here are some additional resources to help you get involved: #FeedingAmerica: https://lnkd.in/e_xCcQg #SalvationArmy: https://lnkd.in/ers_bRH #HabitatforHumanity: https://www.habitat.org/ #ToysforTots: https://lnkd.in/dPMguPF #NationalAlliancetoEndHomelessness: https://lnkd.in/eMGtT63 Let's make this #holiday a season of shared #blessings and a testament to the #truespirit of the holidays!

🚐 The Safety Care-a-Van made a big impact in its first year! 🌟 18 community events attended 🔒 1,299 pieces of safety equipment distributed to families 📝 548 safety surveys completed from 45 ZIP codes Your voices were heard! The top concerns from our Safety Survey: 1. Not enough exercise, poor eating habits, and bullying are the top unhealthy behaviors parents wish to change. 2. Access to healthcare, nutrition, and mental health are the biggest health issues for families. 3. Medication storage lockboxes and gun locks are the most needed safety equipment. 4. Nearly 40% of respondents aren’t using age-appropriate car seats. To learn more about the Safety Care-a-van visit, https://lnkd.in/eDfHHmWq. The Safety Care-a-Van is funded by the Irvin F. and Alice S. Estcorn Charitable Foundation in partnership with Norton Children’s Hospital Foundation.

Interested in Getting Involved with the Community but Unsure Where to Start? Here Are 3 Tips: 1. Join Local Organizations: Get involved with business or professional groups like Scottsdale Rising Young Professionals or Junior League of Phoenix. These organizations are well-connected to the community and can guide you toward meaningful volunteer opportunities. 2. Attend Local Events: Sign up for events at local organizations (like the one below!) to learn more about the community's biggest needs and how nonprofits address them. 3. Bring a Friend: Volunteering is more fun with a friend! Plus, it's easier to commit and less intimidating. Who will I see at this upcoming event? 👋 #CommunityInvolvement #VolunteerOpportunities #MakeADifference #Phoenix

🌟 Nourishing Lives: The Power of Healthy Food 🌟 At God's Grace and Mercy Community Organization, we believe in the transformative power of nourishment. Providing access to healthy food is not just about filling empty stomachs; it's about nurturing bodies, minds, and futures. Why Nourishment Matters: Health and Well-being: Proper nutrition is essential for physical health and overall well-being. Educational Success: Well-nourished children perform better in school, paving the way for brighter futures. Community Strength: When we nourish others, we strengthen our community and foster a culture of care and support. Our Commitment: At God's Grace and Mercy, we are dedicated to ensuring that everyone has access to nutritious meals. Through our food distribution programs and community outreach, we provide essential nourishment to those in need. How You Can Help: Support: Your donations enable us to purchase and distribute nutritious food to families and individuals facing food insecurity. Volunteer: Join us in preparing meals, organizing food drives, or distributing food to community members. Spread the Word: Share our mission to raise awareness about the importance of nourishment and encourage others to get involved. Together, let's continue to nourish lives and build a healthier, stronger community. 📧 Email: [email protected] 📞 Phone: +256741918198 🔗 Linktree: God's Grace and Mercy Organization #Nourishment #HealthyFood #CommunitySupport #GodsGraceAndMercy #NutritionMatters #SupportOurCommunity #EmpowerThroughFood #HealthyEating #Wellbeing #LoveInAction #TogetherWeCan #BuildingStrongerCommunities #SupportEachOther #GiveBack #MakeADifference #FaithAndService #ServeWithLove #TransformLives #EmpowerOthers #HealthyFutures #FoodForAll #EndHunger #FeedTheHungry #InspireChange #VolunteerToday #SupportLocal #ShareLove

The #MassachusettsPublicHealthAssociation has its sights set on five key issues for the next year--and you can help: Expanding regional transit: today 55% of residents in Massachusetts do not have access to reliable public transit needed to access employment, food, and social networks.   Improving food access: today more than 2.8 million people in Massachusetts, including 700,000 children and 500,000 seniors, live in food deserts with limited access to grocery stores and other healthy food retailers. Promoting housing stability and affordability: today the skyrocketing cost of housing and inadequate tenant protections means that 64% of extremely low-income renters spend more than half their income on rent.  Advancing environmental justice: today residents of color experience greater risk of lung and other cancers, asthma, flooding, and more due to poor monitoring, enforcement, and standards for clean air, water, building, transportation, and other conditions impacting the communities where they live and work.    Fortifying the local public health system: today public health emergencies, including climate change, overdose deaths, unsafe food and water, are overwhelming our local boards of health.  Fixing the structural problems caused by policy choices, past and present, that have resulted in health inequities is complex and long-term work. It takes time and requires resources.    That’s why we are asking any and all who care about healthy communities and health equity to make a generous donation before the end of the year: https://lnkd.in/ddY4bBEs THANK YOU!

One of the great scandals of our time is the routine placement of children in care in homes many miles away from their close connections. The reasons for this are complex but one of them is the shortage of providers willing to reserve their places for local children (‘local’ meaning within an easy travel distance of their original home). This shortage is fuelled in part by the commercial pressures created by investor-owners to keep homes fully occupied, regardless of where in the country those children are sent from. Many areas, therefore, end up with quite a few homes occupied by children from outside the area while the local council will be forced to place their own children further afield, should a local placement not be available. Yes, it’s a form of madness, but one that is the norm in most of England. Is there a solution? Yes there is and one of them is to create more providers like We Are Juno CIC (of which I am honoured to be Chair) who explicitly commit our places to children from Liverpool City Region. This, of course, means a smaller ‘pool’ of children for our homes (which is operationally more challenging) but it does mean that a child from the Liverpool City Region area will not be sent out of area when they don’t need to be. The piece below from C4 News is a superb investment of time for anyone trying to understand the nature of the problems in the children’s social care system and what possible solutions look like. In short, what are needed are homes EVERYWHERE that prioritise local children and don’t rely on an economic model that drives the provider to take children from further afield. My own view is that chains of homes run on impact-first lines are needed, ideally where there are clear incentives to provide exclusively for local children. This is easier said than done. At We Are Juno CIC and other fantastic providers like Social adVentures and Navigo we are trying to demonstrate the art of the possible. We also need social investors to step up to the plate on this and make the capital available to create more of these places. Local homes for local children. It can’t be that difficult, can it? #childrenssocialcare #c4 #dfe #ceo #leader #guardian #safeguarding #become

Ever considered 'Adopting a Family'? That's what Every Day is a Miracle does on the daily. On any given week, they serve anywhere from 60-80 hungry families, in a single WEEK!🍝 Did you know that 1 in 3 children and 3 in 5 adults face food insecurity in the Bronx? By providing residents with access to nutritious foods, this incredible nonprofit aims to eliminate food scarcity and insecurity one household at a time. How? By offering the following invaluable resources to those in need within the Bronx: 🍚 Food Choice Pantry 🍴 SNAP Screening and Application ⚖️ Health Buck Coupons 🌱 Access to Gardening I'm thrilled to have had the opportunity to provide marketing strategy support to Every Day is a Miracle through Taproot Foundation. Working on their 'Adopt a Family' fundraiser was a truly rewarding experience. It was inspiring to connect with Natia Bueno, their wonderful Development and Communications Manager. Her dedication to the cause and passion for the mission brightened up the whole room!🌟 Here are some solutions we discussed to amplify their campaign's reach: 1. Social Media Campaign: - Platforms: Focus on Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for their wide reach and engagement potential. - Content: Share stories and testimonials of families who have been helped by similar initiatives. Use compelling images and short videos. - Hashtags: Create a unique and catchy campaign hashtag, e.g., #FeedAFamily2024, to increase visibility. - Call to Action: Encourage followers to donate, share, and use the hashtag. 2. Email Marketing: - Audience: Reach out to existing donor base and newsletter subscribers. - Content: Send personalized emails with a clear and urgent message about the campaign. Include success stories, infographics, and links to donate. - Follow-Up: Send thank-you emails to donors and update them on the progress and impact of their contributions. 3. Local Media: - Press Releases: Send press releases to local newspapers, radio stations, and TV channels. - Interviews: Arrange interviews with key campaign representatives to share the campaign's mission and goals. - Community Events: Partner with local events to promote the campaign and engage with the community directly. 4. Website and Blog: - Landing Page: Create a dedicated campaign landing page with detailed information about the campaign, donation options, and real-time updates. - Blog Posts: Publish regular blog posts highlighting the campaign’s progress, including stories from beneficiaries and behind-the-scenes looks at operations. 5. Collaborations and Partnerships: - Influencers: Collaborate with local influencers and bloggers to spread the word about the campaign. - Corporate Partnerships: Reach out to local businesses for sponsorships and matching donation programs. Any other ideas to help promote this campaign? Let me know in the comments💬 #NonProfit #EndFoodInsecurity #CommunityImpact https://edmnyc.org/

This #Thanksgiving, join me in supporting @CommunityServings' 31st annual #PieInTheSky bake sale! A $35 donation provides a week of meals for a critically ill neighbor and a scrumptious apple, pecan, or pumpkin #pie for you. I've teamed up with the wonderful folks at Community Servings, a Boston-based organization that provides much-needed support to our neighbors across Massachusetts. This program is no ordinary meal service – it annually prepares and delivers over 1,000,000 medically tailored, scratch-made meals to individuals and families facing critical and chronic illnesses. These are people dealing with conditions like cancer, heart disease, diabetes, kidney disease, HIV/AIDS, and more. The impact of these meals is immeasurable, providing not just nourishment but also comfort and support to those who need it most. You can help his heartwarming initiative in a couple of ways: * Make a $35 donation at PieInTheSky.org, and as a token of our appreciation, select your choice of a locally-baked Apple, Pecan, or Pumpkin pie, which will be ready for you to enjoy on Thanksgiving. Each pie you purchase provides a week's worth of meals to those in need. * If you don't need a pie this year, no worries! You can still make a difference by gifting a pie to someone else or by purchasing a 'Pie for a Community Servings Client.' Both options directly contribute to providing a week's worth of meals for those supported by Community Servings. You can pick up your chosen pie the Tuesday before Thanksgiving (Nov. 21st) at one of the many conveniently-located pick-up sites. Keep in mind that the number of pies available is limited, so I recommend visiting the website and donating to secure your pie today before your favorite flavor runs out! When you make your donation, don't forget to select me as your pie seller. Together, we can support Community Servings' efforts to ensure that food-insecure, critically ill neighbors and their families have a warm and hearty Thanksgiving. Let's make a difference together!

🌟 An inspiring story from Simon who will be doing his Challenge for PANS PANDAS UK this July 🏃♂️🚶♀️ 👟 "My name is Simon, I am taking on a hike of the Gower Coast Path, which is a 43 mile route around the Gower Peninsula, near Swansea. My friends, Nick and Jamie, are also walking it with me to give me some much needed support. We recognise and are prepared that we will need our Speedos if the tide is against us, our boots will need to be snake proof, and we know that the severity of the sand dunes seems to change month on month. It all adds up to a tough challenge, fingers crossed it’s dry and cool to give us the best chance! We are setting off from Mumbles at sunrise and hope to arrive at Penclawdd by sunset for a well earned beer! I have decided to take on this challenge for my son, Osian, and to try and help in some small part, to raise awareness and funds for PANS PANDAS UK. On 14th January 2022 our world turned upside down, when Osian woke up like a different child. Very sudden onset of sensory issues, anxiety and OCD. Other symptoms included separation anxiety, hallucinations at night, joint pain, episodes of rage, and school refusal. To name but a few. Unfortunately, there is limited awareness and guidelines surrounding treatment of PANS/PANDAS under the NHS, and this has been our experience over the last two years of trying to get Osian the help he needs." 💙 How You Can Help: Join us in supporting this inspiring endeavor by signing up for our Challenge for PANS PANDAS UK event. Every step you take and every donation you make will bring us closer to better understanding and support for individuals like Osian. 🔗 Sign Up Now: https://lnkd.in/exs5HwqQ Let's come together to make a difference and show our support for families affected by PANS and PANDAS. Together, we can make strides towards a brighter future. #ChallengeforPANSPANDASUK #RaiseAwareness #MakeADifference 🌟✨