December Love Drop- Diomi and Nallee

Help give a Love Drop this season! This is the last Love Drop. Over the course of this year, this amazing group of people has come together to give over $82,000 in goods, services, and cash to people in need. Love Drop is an amazing example of ordinary people coming together to help each other.

This Christmas the team's coming together for Diomi and her son Nallee, who are going into the cold Milwaukee winter with very little food, clothes, and other necessities. Diomi has been through so much, including the loss of her father, the loss of her job, and clinical depression. But even through the pain you can see all the love she has for Nallee, who has one of the most beautiful personalities you'll find. :)

We want to make this month special for them! We're working with their pastor to help get things they really need, including school uniforms for Nallee, interview clothes for Diomi as she looks for a job, and food to help them through the winter months.

If you can find it in your hearts to give one extra gift this year, whether it be money or a helpful item they can use, please send it in - our goal is to reach $3,000 worth of necessities.

Want to join us in helping Diomi and Nallee? Here are 3 ways:

1) Give $1.00 - This money will be put towards basic necessities and care. Maybe even a Christmas present or two (They're currently spending it alone, without anything at all).
2) Give a gift card - Gift cards are extremely helpful, especially to places that are national.
3) Donate personal products -These two need anything you can think of in the personal product department: bathroom/kitchen/bedroom stuff, etc.

Thanks guys! You can reach the Love Drop team anytime over at: team (at) love drop (dot) us, or by checking them out at LoveDrop.us. Thanks everyone! I'll let you know how it goes!

October Love Drop- The Triplets!

Hey guys! The Love Drop team is at it again! They just came back from the Boston area where they dropped $5,000 worth of appliances and gifts to a woman who recently got hit by a car and is recovering in a wheelchair, and THIS month they're trying to round up the love for precious newborn triplets!

We want to help Jeff and Becca (the parents) prepare to bring them home from the hospital, as all three were born very underweight and are currently in the Neonatal ICU (they're doing great though! And will be coming home soon). With four children already, adding a surprise batch of triplets is going to put considerable financial strain on the family, and that's where we come in!

Let's help give them everything they need to welcome the triplets home, including diapers, food, furniture, gift cards - any cool baby stuff you can think of. We're shooting for at least $3,000 in cash, plus gifts.

Want to help? Here are three ways you can participate:

1) Give $1.00 - This money will help go to their family, and every dollar counts!
2) Give a gift card - Gift cards are extremely helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would be incredible.
3) Donate baby stuff! - Specifically diapers, formula and clothes. Gift cards here are awesome too. (Or maybe you have contacts in the baby world?)

You can reach the Love Drop team here anytime with questions: team (at) love drop (dot) us, or by checking them out at LoveDrop.us. Thanks everyone! We'll let you know how it goes!

Spread the love. 

September Love Drop - Melanie

This month's Love Drop recipient is Melanie, a mother of four who was struck by a car driven by a distracted driver while walking near her home outside of Boston. She luckily survived but is currently wheelchair-bound and cannot stand or put weight on her legs. The goal of this month's Love Drop is to make her home more easily accessible during her 10 month to 1 year recovery and rehab. This includes a new stove with front controls so she can cook from her wheelchair, and a front-loading washer and dryer.

Check out this video featuring Melanie and her family.



The actions of her teenage son, who was on the walk with her, played a critical role in saving Melanie's life.

How can you help?
You can donate money, gift cards or services, and you can share the mission of Love Drop and Melanie's story with others. All info can be found here. Love Drop also strongly encourages creative giving. If you can think of something that might help Melanie and her family during this difficult time of recovery and healing, tell the Love Drop team.

Spread the love.

August Love Drop - Lucy

Check out this month's Love Drop. Last month's Love Drop, Felicity, was a huge success with over $5,000 raised and tons of other gifts for the family.



Here is the video about this month's Love Drop, Lucy.



Money raised this month goes to help Lucy, a young lady with aplastic anemia and tons of medical bills. Not only does she have to deal with a life-threatening illness, she has to figure out how to pay for necessary treatment.

Go here to drop some love on Lucy and her family this month. Money always helps, but Love Drop also encourages creative giving. Some ideas include grocery and gas cards, games and puzzles for the hours of travel ahead, a laptop, and handwritten notes of encouragement. Her family, which includes her sister who is donating bone marrow, will be staying with Lucy during her recovery and Lucy currently lives seven hours away. 

Spread the love.

July Love Drop- Felicity

The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $5,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, the Aubin family, who was struggling financially after the passing of their dad, and this month they're ready to do it again and help out another person :) They've given out over $45,000 in the past 6 months, and show no signs of stopping. If you know of anyone yourself that could use their help, make sure to let them know.

This month they're heading down to Atlanta to help Felicity, a little 4-year-old girl who was just diagnosed with brain cancer. Felicity had immediate surgery and is currently undergoing aggressive radiation treatments for the remaining portion of her tumor. We want to raise $5,000 for her family to help cover mounting medical costs, as well as the future expenses a new baby on its way will bring. With your support and generosity, we can really do something special for them!

Here are three ways you can help:

1) Give $25 towards medical bills <--- Click this link to contribute $25 towards Felicity's radiation treatments. It'll help them out a ton!
2) Give a gift or service- Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would definitely help them out. Services too - especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.
3) Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.

Thanks so much guys! Here's to a great month of paying it forward!

Things have to change.

Check it out.

June Love Drop- Aubin Family

Hey guys! The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $9,200 worth of cash, goods and services to their recipient, the Stalnaker family, who had been going through a financially hard time due to the effects of the BP oil spill on the Louisiana economy. The family was in need of a car and the Love Drop team was able to surprise them with one, making it one of the most exciting Love Drops ever. You can watch how it all went down here.

This month they rally behind the Aubins - a Michigan mother and her three children who are mourning the death of Keith, husband and father, after his lengthy battle with multiple health problems. Our goal is to raise at least $3,600 to pay the family's rent for three months, which will allow them to focus on what they need to during this time, without fear of losing their home. Additionally, since Keith was an organ donor, he leaves a powerful legacy and the Love Drop team hopes to raise awareness of organ donation this month to honor Keith's memory. Help us make this month special for the Aubins!

Want to help? Here are three ways you can participate:

Give $25 towards rent -- Click this link to contribute $25 towards their rent for the next three months - it will relieve so much stress for them.
Give a gift or service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would definitely help them out. Services too - especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.
Organ donation - We're giving the Aubins the gift of knowing that the people on our team are organ donors. If you are one now, or pledge to be soon, please tell us so, and we'll relay the total number as a gift at the Drop.
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Thanks everyone! We'll let you know how it goes!

Thankful Thursdays

Today, I am thankful:
1) that people like the Love Drop team are doing work like this to make the world a better place. We're not alone.

May Love Drop- Stalnaker Family

Hey guys! The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $6,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, the Kahlen family, who had been going through a financially hard time due to the economy (and whose daughter is currently battling Tuberous Sclerosis). They focused on their love of spending time together, and brought them over 8 pairs of tickets to a whole bunch of local events. It was awesome, and you can watch how it all went down here.

This month they rally behind the Stalnakers - a family who, along with thousands of others along the gulf coast, are still reeling from the effects of the BP oil spill. Our goal is to get them a reliable used car this month as their previous two have died, and it's getting harder and harder for them to manage w/ the one they're currently borrowing. They've been giving back to their community since they moved in, and now it's time for US to help them!

Want to help? Here are three ways you can participate:

1. Help them get a car! - Our #1 goal is to give them a reliable used car in decent working order. If you have any leads, discounts, or connections in this area, please email Love Drop and let them know.
2. Give $1.00 - This money will help get them back on their feet, and relieve some financial burden. Every dollar counts!
3. Give a gift or service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Wal-mart, restaurants, etc would definitely help them out. Services too - especially those you can offer yourselves, or from your company.

Thanks everyone! We'll let you know how it goes!

April Love Drop- Kahlen Family

The Love Drop team is at it again! Last month they gave over $5,000 worth of cash and goods to their recipient, Katie, who had been battling a couple of brain tumors over the years, and it culminated with a surprise gift of 15+ friends showing up at her house to celebrate with her. It was awesome. You can watch how it all went down here.

This month they start all over again and grow support for the Kahlens - a family who has been hit hard by the economy, and by their daughter's serious medical condition, tuberous sclerosis. In addition to financial assistance, they're planning to unite the artistic community to help support Kent's glassmaking work.

Want to help? Here are two ways you can participate:

1) Give $1.00 - This is the best way to help out and join their team at the same time.

2) Donate a piece of art - They will be hosting an auction this month, and would love to feature your artwork in it. Proceeds go to help the Kahlen family this month, and is a great way to promote your work.

I'll let you know how it goes! Thanks everyone.

March Love Drop - Katie

Note about Monday posts:
I know my Monday posts tend to be heavy, but I have the most time to write over the weekend. I enjoy working through these things through writing and blogging. I tend to keep things quiet and private until I have processed them fully myself. I have to know where I stand before I bring it to light. I'm not guaranteeing emotional posts every Monday.

Enough about me. Check out Katie, this month's Love Drop recipient. She's a single mom fighting her second brain tumor and hydrocephalus. Despite all of this, she remains positive.

March Love Drop

Last month the Love Drop Team raised over $13,000 (and 3 iPads!) to help two little boys with autism receive a service dog. They were beyond touched, and they did this in only 1 month. 1 month! Everyone came together and gave a few bucks each to impact one family's life. If you were a part of it, THANK YOU! You can check out the final video of the Love Drop Team showing up to their house here or below.



This month, the team will start all over again and rally behind Katie, a single mom out in Dallas battling not only two brain tumors so far (she's knocked out one, and currently working on the other), but who's also dealing with hydrocephalus. The Love Drop Team is teaming up with folks at Blissdom this month to not only bring the community her way, but to make a huge dent in her medical bills.

Want to help? Here are 3 ways:

1. Give $1.00 - This is the best way to help out and join our team at the same time.
2. Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need.
3. Give a gift or provide a service - Gift cards are always helpful. Places like Target, Safeway, gas stations, etc would definitely help them out.

Thanks for reading! Here's to love, baby.

Save PBS!-- Act Now

I'm sure you're aware of budget proposals to cut funding for public broadcasting. Please go here to take action, write to your representatives in Congress, and read more about the issue.

I'm not going to even pretend that Goose doesn't watch her fair share of shows. She does. Maybe too much, I don't know. But I do know that I need PBS to help me get through the day, get dinner on the table, at least attempt to clean this sty we call home.

Goose loves Sesame Street and Curious George, among others. The alternative for children's programming for her age is Nick Jr. I've seen it and the shows aren't nearly as educational as those on PBS, and they seem to have a faster, more ADD pace.

 

image from Sesame Street

Please go here to let your representatives in Washington know how you feel about the funding of Public Broadcasting-- radio and television.

Breastfeeding in the Workplace-- Feedback Requested by Feb 22

image from La Leche League

The Department of Labor is requesting comments from the public regarding an amendment to the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA). The amendment requires employers to accommodate nursing mothers-- reasonable break times, a private place to pump-- for up to one year after the birth of her child. YAY!

I think this is a great step forward in acknowledging the benefits of nursing and the needs of nursing mothers in the workplace. I nursed Goose for 16 months (a tad longer than I wanted), but there is no way I could have continued for that long had I been working outside the home.

If you feel passionate about this issue, please read the notice and supporting information, and provide comments here (click on "Submit a Comment" orange button on right of page) to help with interpretation of the amendment.

February Love Drop

I found Love Drop through a crazy string of connections on Twitter, and thought I'd share this amazing group with you guys. 

Love Drop is a micro-giving network of people who unite as a community to make a difference in the lives of one person or family a month. By giving just $1.00, they make it easy for their members to change lives in a fun, easy, and meaningful way.

At the end of every month, Nate and J$ show up in the town the families live in and present them with everything the team raised -- all the money, the gifts, whatever the community helped get. It's all on film, and it all ends with us making a difference! (And then it starts all over again the next month.)

This month we are coming together for 2 beautiful kids with severe autism -- Ethan & Alex.

Our goal is to raise $13,000 on behalf of 4 Paws for Ability so that we can place a highly trained service dog with their family (the dog is completely free, but the training that goes into it is quite expensive). And if possible, three iPads so they can all communicate better with each other (Alex is completely non-verbal). Here are 3 ways you can help:

1. Join the team - This is the best way to help out, and all it takes is $1.00.
2. Join our blogger network - Blog about our Love Drops each month like I am :) It's easy, it's rewarding, and it REALLY helps spread the word (which in turn helps our families). Love Drop will give you all the content you need. (Like everything you see here-- so easy!)
3. Give a gift or provide a service - Gift cards (iTunes would be great!), two iPads (so we can help the boys speak again!), and anything else you think could help out.

You can also view the video here.

So spread the word and spread the love. And look out for info about future Love Drops on this blog.