March of Dimes and Huggies - what do they have in common?

Get Involved with Every Little Bottom

A recent study, commissioned by Huggies and led by Dr. Cybele Raver of NYU, showed 1 in 3 moms in our country struggles to provide diapers for her baby. These moms often have to cut back on basic things like food and utilities. Can you help?

EveryLittleBottom.com offers several ideas — here are some:

• Spread the word. In your community center, at your children's school, your place of worship, on Facebook or Twitter, let people know about the urgent need many moms face.
• Donate to a local diaper drive. Use the ZIP code finder on EveryLittleBottom.com, to locate organizations in your area that accept diapers. Many have wish lists (through Amazon) that make it easier to know what products will be most helpful.
• Attend community events. There are more than 1,500 local events, like diaper drives. Find one in your area at EveryLittleBottom.com.






What is Diaper Need? Diaper need is the struggle to provide babies with an essential need - diapers. Some mothers face having to clean out and reuse soiled diapers or have to choose between diapers and other basic needs like food. HUGGIES® recently conducted a study that found 1 in 3 American moms have had to face this choice.

Babies suffer without clean, dry diapers

Diaper need means babies are kept in wet, dirty diapers for extended period. They sometimes must wear diapers that have been cleaned out and put back on*. As a result, they are more likely to experience signs of irritation and discomfort, cry more, and suffer from worse diaper rash.

Imagine everything it takes to be a mom. Now imagine it without diapers.

Moms struggling against diaper need are more likely to miss work or school, stay home when they need to go out, or keep their babies out of daycare — which usually requires a full day's supply of disposable diapers*. Without enough diapers for routine changes, moms feel distressed* and find parenting even more difficult.

We can all make a difference

Together, we can help more babies have enough diapers. HUGGIES® created Every Little Bottom to help fight diaper need but we need your help.





http://www.huggies.com/en-US/promotions


This was events in my own area!


Sam's Club

The Every Little Bottom program aims to help needy families that struggle to provide diapers for their babies. For every package of specially marked HUGGIES® diapers and wipes purchased at Sam’s Club from 10/1-12/31, the HUGGIES® brand will donate one diaper to a diaper bank. Sam’s Club® has decided to help even more by hosting diaper donation drives in all Sam’s Club locations. Look for the diaper donation bins at Sam’s Club October 1-31, 2010. Donate an unopened pack of diapers (any brand, any size) and the HUGGIES® brand will distribute them to families in need.

Location: 10690 BEACH BLVD, FL, JACKSONVILLE, 32246
Date: October 1 – October 31, 2010
Phone: (904)928-0017

Sam's Club

The Every Little Bottom program aims to help needy families that struggle to provide diapers for their babies. For every package of specially marked HUGGIES® diapers and wipes purchased at Sam’s Club from 10/1-12/31, the HUGGIES® brand will donate one diaper to a diaper bank. Sam’s Club® has decided to help even more by hosting diaper donation drives in all Sam’s Club locations. Look for the diaper donation bins at Sam’s Club October 1-31, 2010. Donate an unopened pack of diapers (any brand, any size) and the HUGGIES® brand will distribute them to families in need.

Location: 6373 YOUNGERMAN CIR, FL, JACKSONVILLE, 32244
Date: October 1 – October 31, 2010
Phone: (904)573-9702

December 5, 2010

International Volunteer Day

The International Volunteer Day (IVD) provides an opportunity for volunteer-involving organizations and individual volunteers to work together on projects and campaigns promoting their contributions to economic and social development at local, national, and international levels. IVD was established by the United Nations General Assembly through Resolution 40/212 on December 17th, 1985.



IVD offers an opportunity for volunteer organizations and individual volunteers to make visible their contributions - at local, national and international levels - to the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Over the years, rallies, parades, community volunteering projects, environmental awareness, free medical care and advocacy campaigns have all featured prominently on IVD.

The United Nations Volunteers (UNV) programme has made volunteering for one or more of the MDGs its theme for IVD 2010, reminding people around the world of the difference that they can make. It will be an opportunity to highlight and showcase just how volunteerism is contributing to achieving the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs).

Meeting the MDGs will require the engagement of millions of people through volunteer action. Through an online community, (www.facebook.com/unvolunteers), Share the Story is inviting you to join the global discussion about how volunteerism can tip the balance towards meeting the MDGs. The deadline for meeting the Goals is 2015. Already, volunteers are contributing their expertise; communities are taking action to improve their lives; and decision makers are increasingly realizing the value of volunteerism. These stories don’t make the news, but they are changing the world. For more information on UNV's IVD campaign, please visit Share the Story.

But this year’s IVD is also significant for another reason. It marks the launch of the tenth anniversary of the 2001 International Year of Volunteers (IYV+10), which also coincides with the European Year of Volunteering. IYV+10 will be an opportunity for people all around the world to join a global effort to reinvigorate the spirit of volunteerism.

Apart from mobilising thousands of volunteers every year, UNV works closely with partners and governments to establish national volunteer programmes to create structures that foster and sustain local volunteerism in countries. Through the Online Volunteering service volunteers can take action for sustainable human development by supporting the activities of development organizations over the Internet. Every day thousands of people are volunteering, online or on-site, contributing to peace and development and working to achieve the MDGs.

Plan Now to Celebrate

National Wear Red Day 2011






Heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women, taking the life of 1 in 3 women each year. This means women just like you - mothers, sisters, friends - are dying at the rate of one per minute.

National Wear Red Day is Friday, February 4, 2011. Make It Your Mission to save lives. Together we can make a difference.


Why celebrate National Wear Red Day® ? Because heart disease is still the No. 1 killer of women. Because there are so many women who still don't know what you know -that heart disease kills. And because we need to keep funding research that helps save the lives of the women we love.

There are many ways to show your support - from simply wearing red to helping organize an event at your workplace, school or local organization or just with family and friends.

You can also fundraise with our easy-to-use Wear Red Day fundraising tool. To get started:
1. Create Your Own Fundraising Page: Start Now!
2. Choose the profile that fits you
3. Answer a few questions
4. Done! Now you have a fundraising page that you can share through Facebook , twitter, Linked In and more. Or you can embed the form on your blog or Web site.
Download our Wear Red Day Action Kit now

Can't fundraise? No problem. You can still access everything you need to raise awareness.
• Download free resources
• Find event ideas for Wear Red Day
• See Where The Money Goes
• Find a Local Event


Be sure to become a fan of Go Red For Women on our Facebook fan page so you can get the latest updates on National Wear Red Day.

Jennie Garth, Go Red For Women Spokesperson and Heart Health Advocate
"I lost my father to heart disease many years ago. I have made it my mission to fight heart disease in women. Make It Your Mission too. Wear Red, spread the word and raise funds to fight this preventable disease. Together we can help stop heart disease in our lifetime". - Jennie



National Wear Red Day is Feb. 4, 2011


Now is the time to start getting ready for National Wear Red Day 2011. Begin by setting up a fundraising page as an individual or group, or for your school or workplace. You can also search for and contribute to the fundraising page of someone you know. Donations support medical research, awareness, education, and community programs to help women live longer heart-healthy lives. Last year, more than 17,000 companies went RED - will your company be one of them this year?




http://www.goredforwomen.org/wearredday/

Northeast Florida Community Hospice

Get to Know Your Community Hospice

Individually and as a community, there is so much we can do to improve the quality of life for those with life-limiting illnesses. Each of us can experience comfort, well-being and meaning as we approach the end of life. And your Community Hospice can help.

For 30 years, Community Hospice of Northeast Florida has provided specialized end-of-life care for adults and children with all types of life-limiting illnesses, along with a wide variety of support services for family members. Our focus is on providing comfort, maintaining the dignity of the individual, and improving quality of life.














We had a great time making the baskets for Hospice so that Hospice care families had the best Thanksgiving meal with all the fixins! Above are just some of the results that will be delivered to the families! Enjoy!




Thanksgiving is a time to spend with family and loved ones to reflect and be thankful for things we sometime take for granted, for example, our health. Some families are not as fortunate and require the assistance of Hospice of Northeast Florida to care for a family member with a terminal illness. Bank of America - Merrill Lynch would like to help patients and their families this Thanksgiving by offering them a wonderful gift basket filled with everything needed to create a delicious meal.

We invite you as an individual or team to create a Thanksgiving basket for one of these families to enjoy. To add a little fun toward the effort, all baskets will be displayed in the each lobby to be judged by our employees.

Best Overall
Most Creative
Most Gobble Gobble (team made this style basket)



Happy to know that some of the families will have some of the stress taken away with the wonderful support and volunteers who made all the great and creative baskets!

Thanks for volunteering your time!

Honoring our Vets - November 11, 2010

What is Veterans Day:

Veterans Day is an annual United States holiday honoring military veterans. A federal holiday, it is observed on November 11. It is also celebrated as Armistice Day or Remembrance Day in other parts of the world, falling on November 11, the anniversary of the signing of the Armistice that ended World War I. (Major hostilities of World War I were formally ended at the 11th hour of the 11th day of the 11th month of 1918 with the German signing of the Armistice.)

The holiday is commonly printed as Veteran's Day or Veterans' Day in calendars and advertisements. While these spellings are grammatically acceptable, the United States government has declared that the attributive (no apostrophe) rather than the possessive case is the official spelling.[1]
Happenings around the North Florida Area:

Veterans Day is this week and around town military families are being honored in a variety of ways.

Tuesday, November 9 is Armed Forces Night at the Cummer Museum in Riverside from 4-8PM. This is a family celebration of Veterans and active/retired Military with live music and art making activities featuring The Art of War exhibition. Activities and programming are sponsored by Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida.

There will be a Veterans Day Parade on Thursday, November 11, 2010 at11:01 a.m. in Downtown Jacksonville. The parade will begin on Water Street at Pearl Street near the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. It will follow Water Street, make a left turn on Newnan Street and then right on Bay Street. The parade will continue on Bay Street to Gator Bowl Boulevard and end in front of EverBank Field in Lot E. Bleacher seating will be available on Water Street in front of the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts, Water Street at Hogan Street, the intersection of Laura Street and Independent Drive, on Bay Street in front of Maxwell House, and on Gator Bowl Boulevard at A. Philip Randolph Street.


Sports Authority is offering a 15% Veterans’ Day Military Discount for any active or retired military personnel with ID. Good November 11 only.


All military personnel eat free on Veterans’ Day at Applebee’s Simply show proof of service such as: U.S. Uniform Services Identification Card, U.S. Uniform Services Retired Identification Card, Current Leave and Earnings Statement (LES), Photograph in uniform, Wearing uniform, or Veterans Organization Card (i.e., American Legion and VFW)


Golden Corral offers its Military Appreciation Monday Free "Thank You" Dinner on November 15, 2010 from 5-9PM. The free meal is a special "thank you tribute" to any person who has ever served or is currently serving in the United States Military. Golden Corral, together with guests, will collect money for the Disabled American Veterans organization. There are six Golden Corral locations in the Jacksonville area.


If you know a veteran or active duty military person, offer to take them to lunch, the parade or shopping. It's a small way to say "Thank you" to those who serve us.


Bank of America supports U.S. service members and their families on Veterans Day and is honored as a top military-friendly employer

In addition to partnering with Mission Serve, the bank regularly partners with organizations serving military members and their families, including:

Operation Homefront, which provides emergency assistance and morale to troops, families and wounded personnel when they return home.

Habitat for Humanity, which builds homes for returning servicemen and women
National Disability Institute, which offers returning veterans assistance with free tax preparation and access to other services and benefits.

United Services Organization, which provides morale-building and recreational services to U.S. military members.

This Veterans Day, Mission Serve, part of the nonprofit ServiceNation coalition, will hold volunteer activities across the United States, including Bank of America signature projects in New York, San Antonio, Los Angeles, Phoenix and Norfolk.

Two great days of two wonderful causes!

Morning Walk at the Jacksonville Zoo for Step Out - Diabetes and USO Show for the Veterans to support Hospice Care! We had a great time at both events! I was walking in honor of my mother and mother in-law who both have and had diabetes. And I was volunteering at the USO show to support all those that have served our country including my father, brother, uncles, nephew and nieces.

Enjoy!

Today is National Start! November 3, 2010

The First Coast Start! Heart Walk is helping America become healthier! Today is National Start! Eating Healthy Day and you can join with millions across our nation to take a giant step towards healthier nutrition and a healthier lifestyle.
Celebrate your commitment to a healthy lifestyle!

• Chose to bring a healthy bag lunch or select a healthy item from your lunch menu.
• Take your My Life Check health assessment and receive helpful information to take your first steps to better heart health!
• Speak up and tell five of your friends about National Start! Eating Healthy Day and your personal commitment to healthy nutrition choices.
• Download the Start! Holiday Healthy Eating Guide that features delicious, healthy holiday recipes, tips on how to stay healthy while at work and information on Start! online tools to help you maintain a healthy lifestyle.


With the holidays right around the corner, we encourage you to commit to making heart healthy nutrition choices for you and your family, begining today, November 3rd. Let's Start! today to build a healthier community!


Sincerely,
The 2010 First Coast Start! Heart Walk Team





Did You Know?

Sugar-sweetened beverages are the No. 1 source of added sugars in Americans’ diets. Aim for no more than 450 calories from sugar-sweetened beverages a week (based on a 2000-calorie diet).

Connect With AHA!

Join others who are passionate about fighting cardiovascular disease and stroke - go to our Facebook page American Heart Association - First Coast Market or Follow us on Twitter at AHAFirstCoast!




Try to walk everyday! You will be amazed at how you feel and once you do this for about a month you will not want to stop you will feel better and believe it or not you are helping your heart!

Take baby steps just get up and move!

Happy Walk = Happy Hearts!