March 22, 2013

Please share all pet-related organizations you know of...

And if you know of any good regional or national comprehensive portals that already have such information (and is kept updated), please share that as well!

This heartbreaking post in GD yesterday by HillWilliam is what inspires this post:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2547380


Along with supernova's reply, sharing info regarding an organization:

http://www.democraticunderground.com/?com=view_post&forum=1002&pid=2549374


The need to find new homes for beloved pets is arising more and more often as a result of various traumatic life events, combined with the financial limitations of so many. This is a key reason people come to Wishadoo.

Compiling a resource directory of PET RESOURCES (rescue organizations, free/low-cost vet care, pet food banks, etc.) would be very helpful. I have the directory structure already set up; I just need the information to insert.

Would you kindly share resources you recommend? Again, if there is already a comprehensive directory out there that is maintained, please share that as well!

Thanks.

March 5, 2013

A chain email worth sharing :)

This is one of the few chain email messages that is worthy of being shared and forwarded, in my humble opinion. It seems to be incorrectly attributed to Andy Rooney but, in this case, the message is more important than the messenger.


I've learned.... That the best classroom in the world is at the feet of an elderly person.

I've learned.... That when you're in love, it shows.

I've learned.... That just one person saying to me, 'You've made my day!' makes my day.

I've learned.... That having a child fall asleep in your arms is one of the most peaceful feelings in the world.

I've learned.... That being kind is more important than being right.

I've learned.... That you should never say no to a gift from a child.

I've learned.... That I can always pray for someone when I don't have the strength to help him in some other way.

I've learned.... That no matter how serious your life requires you to be, everyone needs a friend to act goofy with.

I've learned.... That sometimes all a person needs is a hand to hold and a heart to understand.

I've learned.... That simple walks with my father around the block on summer nights when I was a child did wonders for me as an adult.

I've learned.... That life is like a roll of toilet paper. The closer it gets to the end, the faster it goes.

I've learned.... That we should be glad God doesn't give us everything we ask for.

I've learned.... That money doesn't buy class.

I've learned.... That it's those small daily happenings that make life so spectacular.

I've learned.... That under everyone's hard shell is someone who wants to be appreciated and loved.

I've learned.... That to ignore the facts does not change the facts.

I've learned.... That when you plan to get even with someone, you are only letting that person continue to hurt you.

I've learned.... That love, not time, heals all wounds.

I've learned.... That the easiest way for me to grow as a person is to surround myself with people smarter than I am.

I've learned.... That everyone you meet deserves to be greeted with a smile.

I've learned.... That no one is perfect until you fall in love with them.

I've learned.... That life is tough, but I'm tougher.

I've learned.... That opportunities are never lost; someone will take the ones you miss.

I've learned.... That when you harbor bitterness, happiness will dock elsewhere.

I've learned.... That I wish I could have told my Mom that I love her one more time before she passed away.

I've learned.... That one should keep his words both soft and tender, because tomorrow he may have to eat them.

I've learned.... That a smile is an inexpensive way to improve your looks.

I've learned.... That when your newly born grandchild holds your little finger in his little fist, that you're hooked for life.

I've learned.... That everyone wants to live on top of the mountain, but all the happiness and growth occurs while you're climbing it.

I've learned.... That the less time I have to work with, the more things I get done.



Here is the same in blog form in case you'd like to share it that way.


Check out this page to see other inspiring news and stories: CURATE GOOD


[font size=3]Check out the latest "Help a DUer" post to DO GOOD, even simply K&R'ing.[/font]

March 4, 2013

Aaron's Last Wish: Servers gifted with $500 tips

Here's some GOOD to start your week. I thought this was a one-time thing when I read about it several months ago, but it's not! How wonderful, especially knowing how much servers struggle, essentially surviving on tips



“Back in July, my brother Aaron passed away and he worked here when he was 18,” Seth Collins told Nikki Moore, a server at Pizza Hut in Berea on Wednesday.

“In his will,” Seth continued, “the last thing was that he wanted us to leave an awesome tip for a waiter or waitress. Thanks to the response we got from everyone around the world, we’ve had the opportunity to do that 34 times, and today is the 35th. So today, for Aaron, I have a $500 tip for you.”

Since the sudden death of his brother in July, just weeks after his 30th birthday, Seth has given $500 tips at 35 locations in eight states. His goal is to visit at least 100 locations in all 50 states within the next year, he said.

In Aaron’s will, created several years before his death, he wrote: “Leave an awesome tip — and I don’t mean 25 percent; I mean $500 on a [freaking] pizza — for a waiter or waitress.”


FULL STORY AT LINK: http://richmondregister.com/localnews/x36435476/Aaron-s-last-wish-granted-at-Berea-restaurant


Check out this page to see similar stories of GOOD: CURATE GOOD


Check out the latest "Help a DUer" post to DO GOOD, even simply K&R'ing.

March 3, 2013

*HELP DUers: Please...we need to get creative!!! (Please K&R)

[font color="brown"](I was previously given permission by Skinner to post periodically about http://www.wishadoo.org, especially when it involves DUers, with this required disclaimer: "The administrators of Democratic Underground have given permission for one discussion thread on this topic. The administrators of Democratic Underground make no claims regarding the legitimacy or illegitimacy of this fundraising effort. Permission was granted by Skinner on 8/6/2010, and the moderators have been notified.&quot [/font]





If you're not familiar with Wishadoo, please see my journal for previous posts.

Please also check out two recent related OPs: 1) Asking for your help in spreading the word and 2) an OP -- a rant, really -- introducing the idea of a DU Angel Circle.


HERE'S THE SITUATION, and it will come as no surprise to anyone here. The needs of DUers outweigh the number of DUers (who see these posts, at least) who have the ability to help. And I'm not only talking about financial support; I'm also talking about emotional support and advice. I need your help in spreading the word about Wishadoo! so we can gather more people who may have the resources to help others and who want to be of service to The Common Good.

[font color=blue]I posted an OP yesterday offering another creative idea as a way to raise funds: AUCTIONS. Please read and let me know if it is something you may be interested in, both in offering products/services/creations/yourself (!) for auction or in bidding on such auctions. Before I get people involved in creating listings, I'd like to know there is some reasonable level of interest within the DU Community. [/font color]

NOW, to focus on the DUers in need....

Click the DU name to see their Wishlist post. Please keep in mind that, even if you can't help financially (not all needs are financial), there are other ways to be supportive. Simple acknowledgment means THE WORLD; it takes a lot of courage to put yourself out there and ask out loud this way. As we work toward legislative changes to ease the needless suffering of so many, we also need to simultaneously come together and have the courage to ask, offer, give, receive, and pay it forward. Most of the Wishlist posts are a direct result of the lack of a social safety net and lack of jobs. You can contact these DUers directly via Wishadoo or here at DU with any questions. Some posts have convenient donate widgets embedded for you to see the progress of their individual fundraising needs.

BTW, I swear PayPal works differently for every single account. If you have the option to select "Personal" and then "other," that should eliminate any fees. But, in my experience, those options aren't always provided.

If there are other forums here at DU where this should be shared, would someone please do so? Thanks.


[font color="green"][font size="3"] There is one new DUer Wishlist post to share today:

chervilant: "I am 57 and was wrongfully terminated the day before our Christmas break. I am one month away from homelessness. I'm planning to get back in school this summer, but I need help to make it til then. I have been and will continue to look for ANY work, and if I get a job in time to negate this financial need, I'll return the money."

There is a PayPal button on her Wishlist post.


So many other DUers are still in dire need of our help and support: [/font size][/font color]


* rbrnmw: In addition to ongoing extreme financial stress, and being turned down for SSD, there is the added stress of her father's health. Please offer good vibes, well wishes and/or prayers regarding her father, and any other support you can offer regarding her family's situation.

[font color=red]Approximately $75 has been raised thus far.[/font]


* kookaburra: Caregivers in this country are suffering tremendously. Kookaburra is the perfect example of our broken system and distorted priorities as a nation. Click her name to learn more about her situation.
[/font]

[font color=red]Please see her Wishlist post for update.[/font color]


* VenusRising needs support with rent and bills. Many here offered moral support when her husband passed away suddenly three years ago. Please also see her recent DU thread for more information about her current situation.

[font color=red]VenusRising has received more donations but has a way to go. Her Wishlist post has a widget which shows the progress of her fundraiser.[/font]


* Another long-time DUer in good standing is asking for help. What he wants more than anything is to find an IT job but could use support in other ways now as well. He would prefer to not share his DU name but is indeed a member here.

[font color=red]This DUer has VERY PROMISING jobs leads thanks to suggestions by DUers!!!!! If you need a job or know of positions available, please see this OP.[/font]


* bakprkr , has posted the most recent request in the Wishlist. He is a vet, who has been struggling tremendously to avoid homelessness and needs transportation for employment (mass transit simply isn't available in many areas). His request is straightforward, and he's included a PayPal clickable icon. He has also permitted me to share his blog link, where you can follow his journey:

http://homelessvarmyvet.blogspot.com/

[font color=red]bakprkr also has received donations but has a way to go. His Wishlist post has a widget which shows the progress of his fundraiser, and his blog keeps us posted about his journey![/font]


* Deek's Wish You may remember deek's thread from April 2012, where she asked for votes to win a new wheelchair van for her daughter. DUers voted, but she didn't win. The engine on her van died and she needs a new one now, so she turned to Wishadoo! and DU for help.


* Silvershadow has a dream to start a non-profit organization for those who have Multiple Sclerosis and other similar neurological diseases.


* Akoto is a wonderful DUer I've interacted with behind the scenes; a very selfless young person, usually asking on behalf of others, but has a very real need for transportation.


* Mtnleo2 is asking for dental help for her niece, who is homeless.



[font color="green"][font size="3"]PLEASE ALSO: [/font color][/font size]

* Recommend this thread and keep it kicked for visibility;

* Please scan the Wishlist in general on a regular basis; some posts are simply asking for information. It's not always about money.

* ACKNOWLEDGE these courageous people who have made themselves vulnerable by asking for help. Please offer whatever support you can (information, advice, well wishes, financial or other support, etc.)

[font color=blue]* Share Wishadoo! with others (online and in person)...your friends, loved ones, neighbors, co-workers, other networks and organizations; after all, the more who gather...[/font color]


*** IF I HAVE NEGLECTED TO INCLUDE ANY DUERS' WISHLIST POSTS, PLEASE CONTACT ME!!! ***



[center][font color=green]* * * * *
ABOUT WISHADOO!: Anyone is welcome to use the tools at Wishadoo, so long as the Terms of Service are adhered to (basically "play nice" and don't lie). This includes creating posts in the Wishlist, a "craigslist of compassion." Most of us are struggling with one thing or another, and as you'll see, there are many categories in the Wishlist to cover a variety of issues/needs.

Wishadoo! is a comprehensive portal providing tools, resources and inspiration to connect, help/be helped, and cultivate compassion, cooperation and authentic community in myriad ways, online and in our own "backyards." Wishadoo!'s tools have been designed to integrate and be of service to all sectors of community: individuals, neighborhoods, schools, organizations and businesses.

The Wishlist is where we can ask, offer, give, receive and pay it forward. If you create a Wishlist post, let me know your DU name, and I can start to do weekly or biweekly threads such as this to highlight DUers' needs and offerings.

Any contributions to Wishadoo! itself go toward the cost of maintaining the site, NOT toward any Wishlist posts. That takes place one on one, between Wishadoo! members. If you are able to help with costs to keep the site going, I'd appreciate your generosity tremendously and will be forever indebted.
http://www.wishadoo.org/support-wishadoo/

MANY, MANY thanks to those who have already
helped support Wishadoo! in various ways! [/center]

March 2, 2013

Shop for Good (help and be helped)

Yeah, yeah, it's me again, with my Pollyanna-Ass Self (my new nickname).

If you aren't familiar with the Wishadoo|Helper a DUer posts here at DU, please see my journal.

As more people need a helping hand financially due to the lack of social safety nets (and jobs), the DU Community has a harder and harder time coming together to help everyone.

It's brutal out there.

It's why I ask you to also invite your other friends, relatives, neighbors and communities -- online and off -- to please join us at Wishadoo! After all, the more who gather, the more we can do to come together and help one another in various ways, ways we can't yet imagine, especially given the stress so many are under to just get through each day.

There are already new Wishlist posts to share here and I'll be creating a new OP soon, but I wanted to introduce another way we can possibly help others financially, while simultaneously providing more exposure for our entrepreneurs and creatives here at DU.



In an attempt to make this process of helping one another FUN instead of so laborious and draining as it can be after a while, especially when we see the ongoing needs, what about having AUCTIONS? Evidently this was done previously to help DUers who were devastated after Katrina, with great success (I was here then but don't remember this).

Wishadoo!'s Marketplace is set up much like ebay, with "buy now" and "auction" options. One DUer has already offered her tie-dye creations and more to be auctioned to raise money for DUer Wishlist posts. Another has offered a signed book. Yet another has offered to contribute a horseback riding class to this effort.

There are brilliant people here at DU. What are some outside-the-box ideas that could generate a lot of attention for auction within the DU community? Lunch with a beloved DU member, perhaps?

Do you have a product/service/creation to offer for auction or to sell? If you are someone who is in dire need financially, it doesn't have to benefit a Wishlist post; you could simply use Wishadoo!'s Marketplace as another outlet to offer your products to the general public to raise money for yourself.

[font color=blue]Also, did you know there is a DU MARKETPLACE? There is. Check it out as another place to share your creations/offerings with DUers. There are lots of different offerings there, including real estate. Do check it out. [/font]

We can work together in more creative ways to help fellow DU members -- and others -- in need, and maybe help ourselves in the process. Again, if you're part of a local community or another close-knit online community, the same tools at Wishadoo! can be used to help other communities' members as well.

Let me know what you think and if you'd like to be a part of the Wishadoo!'s Marketplace!, or if you have brilliant auction ideas.

As always, please K&R to keep this visible for others to see. Thanks.