Remember . . .

* 9 Simple Ways You Can Help Veterans *

* Ways To Give Back To Veterans *

* 10 Ways To Support and Honor Veterans *

* Here's How You Can Help Homeless Vets This Veteran's Day *

* Charity Navigator: Your Guide To Intelligent Giving / Support Veterans and Active Duty Servicemembers *

Dewey Help?

I found this floating around and thought it was a great idea. It lets kids know where they to find help that they might not be willing to ask for.

This would be the most helpful bookmark I've ever seen. The individual books each library contains may vary, but the Dewey Decimal System categories are the same in all libraries, it's nearly universal.

Nooooooooooo!

Oh No! They're Coming!

I Can't Think of a Better Mission. Can You?

The mission of Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is to assist the U. S. Marine Corps in providing a tangible sign of hope to economically disadvantaged children at Christmas. ...

The primary goal of the Foundation is ... to deliver, through a new toy at Christmas, a message of hope to less fortunate youngsters that will assist them into becoming responsible, productive, patriotic citizens. ...

Please help a child in need this Christmas. We all need hope. . . .

Hope is the thing with feathers—
That perches in the soul—
And sings the tune without the words—
And never stops—at all—

And sweetest—in the Gale—is heard—
And sore must be the storm—
That could abash the little Bird
That kept so many warm—

I've heard it in the chillest land—
And on the strangest Sea—
Yet, never, in Extremity,
It asked a crumb—of Me.

- Emily Dickinson

As I write this, the Philippines is being blasted . . .

 by what is believed to be the worst tropical storm in history,

 Typhoon Haiyan.

Please keep the people of the Philippines in your thoughts/prayers and give to disaster relief if you can. Below is the link for the Philippine Red Cross and you can find more choices under the 'To Reach Out' tab at the top of this page. Also: How to donate wisely & An update on to How to donate wisely.

* Philippine Red Cross *

{Photo Source: rixlauren}

We Can All Help Fight Poverty

To learn more about and find ways to become involved in this very worthwhile struggle, go to Mr. Kaufman's complete article HERE.

From: Greg Kaufman at The Nation.

This is a tough moment in the fight against poverty.

Sequester is the latest chapter in a time-honored tradition of kicking the poor when they are down. A do-nothing Congress certainly isn’t going to do something about poverty without pressure from the grassroots. And it seems that the only way most of the mainstream media will pay attention to the more than 1 out of 3 Americans living below twice the poverty line — on less than $36,000 for a family of three — is if their lives make good fodder for tabloid television or play out in a courtroom drama.

That said, there are still plenty of people and groups fighting for real change, and plenty of ways you can get involved or stay engaged. I reached out to a handful of folks who dedicate their lives to fighting poverty in different ways. Here is what they asked people to do:

1. “Support an increase in the minimum wage to more than $11 per hour.”

- Sister Simone Campbell,

 Sisters of Social Service, Executive Director of NETWORK.

2. “Tell Publix: Help end sexual harassment, wage theft and forced labor in the fields — join the Fair Food Program today.”

- the Coalition of Immokalee Workers.

3. “Make a Personal Commitment to Helping Homeless Families”

- Ralph da Costa Nunez,

 President and CEO, Institute for Children, Poverty and Homelessness.

4. “Fund the federal Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) at the maximum authorized level”
- Dr. Deborah Frank,
 Founder and Principal Investigator, Children’s HealthWatch.

5. “Support of a living wage and basic labor protections for home care workers”
- Sarita Gupta,
 Executive Director, Jobs with Justice/American Rights at Work and Co-Director, Caring Across Generations.

6. “Urge Congress to pass the Healthy Families Act (H.R. 1286/S.631) and a national paid leave program”
- Judith Lichtman,
 Senior Advisor, National Partnership for Women & Families.

7. “Increase regulation of private student loans and hold Sallie Mae accountable for its role in the student debt crisis.”
- Tiffany Loftin,
 President, United States Student Association (USSA).

8. “Support Pathways Back to Work”
- Elizabeth Lower-Basch, Policy Coordinator, the Center for Law and Social Policy (CLASP).

9. “Invest in the Older Americans Act”
- Marci Phillips,
 Director of Public Policy and Advocacy, National Council on Aging.

10. “Tell Congress NO CUTS to Social Security and SSI through the Chained CPI”
- Rebecca Vallas,
 Staff Attorney/Policy Advocate, Community Legal Services.

11. “Tell Congress: Increase, Don’t Cut SNAP (Food Stamp) Benefits”
- Jim Weill,
 President, Food Research and Action Center.

12. “Tell Congress to stop harmful cuts to anti-poverty programs now”
- Debbie Weinstein,
 Executive Director, Coalition on Human Needs.

If You'd Like to Reach Out & Help With the Relief Efforts in Oklahoma . . .

SAFE AND WELL

I hadn't heard of this before, but it is a wonderful idea. After a disaster, you can let your family and friends know that you are safe and well, bringing them peace of mind. 

Register Yourself as “Safe and Well”     
                     &  
Search for Loved Ones

Concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves and find a loved one’s first name, last name and a brief message.  

  
RED CROSS (central & western Oklahoma region)

REGIONAL FOOD BANK of Oklahoma

AID and SHELTER Information

Here are a couple of posts with some relevant information and links on giving:

• How to Donate Wisely.
• [Update] How to Donate Wisely.

Remember Those Who Served . . . Those Who Still Serve . . . and Those They Leave Behind . . .

Todd Heisler The Rocky Mountain News

The night before the burial of her husband's body, Katherine Cathey refused to leave the casket, asking to sleep next to his body for the last time. The Marines made a bed for her . . .

OPERATION HOMEFRONT

Ways you can help:

• Food Assistance
• Auto Repair
• Moving Assistance
• Vision Care
• Homefront Celebrations
• OH Villages
• Financial Assistance
• Travel and Transportation
• Home Repair

• Essential Home Items
• Morale Donated Items
• Morale Holiday Programs
• Community Events
• Wounded Warrior Wives
• Military Child of the Year®
• Army Homefront Fund
• Homes on the Homefront