Soldiers' Angels
By now there is hardly a person in the U.S. who does not know someone who has served in the military or is currently serving today. My brother-in-law is a Marine who served in Iraq and thankfully returned home safely. I have heard from him, as well as others, how lonely and miserable their time away can be, yet they stay determined to do their duties and serve their country, many times signing up again and again. It is so easy to forget the misery they face as we go about our daily lives. That is why I love Soldiers’ Angels, who offer opportunities to get involved with different projects from care packages to pet care, supporting all branches of the U.S. Armed Forces.
"May No Soldier Go Unloved," is the motto of Soldiers' Angels. Founded by the mother of two American soldiers, this volunteer-led non-profit provides aid and comfort to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Forces and their families. With over 30 programs, volunteers can help in such ways as adopting a solider and sending care packages throughout their deployment, caring for a soldier’s pet during their absence, helping to supply handmade blankets and canes for the wounded as well as funding hero flights for emergency travel assistance.
To learn more or to participate in a program, go to www.soldiersangels.org
Best Friends Animal Society
I used to volunteer at a local animal shelter, so I could never imagine someone abandoning their pet or mistreating animals. Yet, day after day I would see more and more animals come in and fewer get adopted. I never actually witnessed the euthanasia though I knew it was part of the process. Sometimes I would get so emotionally attached that it would upset me for weeks. It was often the sick ones that would go first and then the “problem” dogs or more violent breeds. Who is to say if those dogs weren’t simply mistreated or just unsocialized? That is why I love the Best Friends Animal Society and donate to the cause every month. They believe that every dog deserves a chance.
Best Friends operates the nation's largest no-kill sanctuary for homeless animals at Angel Canyon in Southern Utah. Featured on National Geographic’s DogTown, Best Friends Animal Society works with shelters and rescue groups and is supported entirely by the donations of their members nationwide to bring about a time when there will be no more homeless pets. Best Friends' No More Homeless Pets campaign is a grassroots effort to place dogs and cats that were considered unadoptable into good homes and reduce the number of unwanted pets through effective spay and neuter programs.
To learn more, go to www.bestfriends.org
American Breast Cancer Foundation
My personal experience with a breast cancer scare was life changing. I was extremely lucky to find my lump through early detection. Since then, I have drastically changed the way I eat and how I care for my body. There are typically three things that lead to disease: poor genetics, environmental issues or an unhealthy lifestyle. There is really only one of those that you can control, so my message is to be proactive and take care of your body. For those who unfortunately fall ill, organizations like the American Breast Cancer Foundation not only offer education and medical support but a community of people ready to fight your battles with you every step of the way.
The American Breast Cancer Foundation's mission is to provide individuals in financial need, their families and their loved ones with education, support, and access to early detection screenings. The Key to Life Breast Cancer Screening Assistance Program provides financial grants for a variety of services including the screening mammogram, diagnostic mammograms, ultra sound and emergency biopsies. Since inception, the ABCF provides direct financial assistance to nearly 10,000 women and men per year.
To donate or learn more, go to www.abcf.org
SPCA International: Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals International
You know the infamous cat lady? Well, my house may someday be a wild kingdom. If I could afford to rescue every dog and cat on earth, I probably would. Until then, I resolve to donate my time and money to a worthy cause such as the SPCA.
The mission of SPCA International is to eradicate the need to euthanize healthy and adoptable companion animals by raising awareness of the abuse of animals, teaching good pet parenting practices and promoting spay and neuter programs around the world.
In addition, SPCA International has amazing programs such as their Shelter Program, awarding cash grants to needy shelters every other week, Operation Baghdad Pups which helps our troops safely transport homeless animals they befriend in a war zone back home to the United States, and SPCA International Answers Program, a wealth of information and referral resources for animal lovers around the world.
For more information about SPCA International and their upcoming programs, go to www.spca.com
Houston SPCA
My volunteer work at the local Houston SPCA has given me greater insight into the importance of freeing all animals from suffering, abuse and exploitation. I rescued my current best friend, a yellow lab named Molly, several years ago. My mother raised show dogs when I was younger and I have to say, Molly has been the best dog I have ever owned. If you have never considered a dog from a shelter, you are really missing out!
The Houston SPCA is the state’s oldest and largest Animal Protection Organization and remains completely privately funded, serving more than 100,000 animals per year.
To visit the Houston SPCA page, go to hspca.convio.net
Houston Ground Angels
I am so very proud of this local charity. Transportation to and from hospitals and doctors can be extremely expensive, especially if you live out of state or in a rural area. Houston boasts to have some of the best hospitals in the world, MD Anderson Cancer Center and Texas Children’s Hospital to name a few, but many people who need their care cannot get there. This amazing organization of volunteer drivers and pilots not only donate their time, but their own airplanes, helicopters, vehicles and gas money too, some of them transporting patients 2 and 3 times a week. Many are retired men and women and I am so very proud to say that this organization is so close to home. Please donate time and money to their amazing cause!
Houston Ground Angels is a network of volunteers who donate their time to help provide free healthcare access to patients in need of transportation to their required healthcare facilities, helping people in need of free air and ground transportation for medical and humanitarian purposes. In 2008 the Houston Ground Angels experienced tremendous growth and completed over 1,000 missions with the help of over 200 volunteers donating their time, money and kindness to accomplish their amazing mission!
To learn more or make a donation, go to www.HoustonGroundAngels.org
Make-A-Wish Foundation
What would it be like to know that your life was limited? As an adult, so many questions and desires would be left unanswered. Now, imagine if you were a child. Ask a child to wish for the one thing that they could ever want or the one thing that they would like to do most and the answers can often be as simple as a vacation to some place special or to meet their favorite athlete. Make-A-Wish foundation, with its awesome volunteers, do everything in their power to make those wishes come true. I have donated because many wishes take money to fulfill. Log onto their sight and read many of the amazing stories. Many are as life-changing for the giver as it is for the child. Whether you can volunteer to help grant a wish or provide money, I hope you will get involved.
The Make-A-Wish Foundation © has enriched the lives of over 167,000 children around the world with life-threatening medical conditions through its wish-granting work for over 25 years. The Foundation's mission reflects the life-changing impact that a Make-A-Wish © experience has on children, families, referral sources, donors, sponsors and entire communities. A network of nearly 25,000 volunteers act as wish granters, fundraisers, special events assistants and in numerous other capacities to make these dream wishes a reality.
To learn more, go to www.wish.org
