Week 8 - Shenango Valley Foundation

Week 8 is a somber donation in support of some children who have been through a horrific tragedy. In November of 2010, I got a message from an old coworker. I will never forget that message. I have omitted names for the privacy of the family. The message only said "T and his wife are dead." I called to hear the shocked voice of my friend telling me that one of our past co-workers had killed his wife and then himself. I remember the chill that went through me and subsequent shock when turning on the TV and listening to the news.

I don't care to write of the details, as it too sad. The overwhelming urge all of us who knew this person was to send as much love and support to the two little kids left behind as possible. To have both their parents ripped out of their lives in one terrible day is too hard for me to think about. As the mother of similar aged kids, I can't bear that loss to those children. A child's mother will always be their greatest protector in life, their advocate, their lifeline. Fortunately, these children have the support of grandparents, however their lives are forever marred by this senseless act.

This incident made a lot of us think hard about our lives and the people in them. This person was our co-worker and our friend. I remember sitting in his office, amidst piles of papers and notebooks strewn on the floor as he reviewed my data. To this day, I still have emails in my Outlook archive from him. Someone capable of murdering his wife in cold blood is quietly sitting in my inbox like a strange intruder from the past. We wondered whether there would be a funeral? Does a terrible final act define the entirety of a person's life? What do you say at the funeral of such a person? He blotted out the life of the mother of his children and in doing so, defined his entire existence as a murderer. He will not be remembered as a brilliant scientist or father or friend.

This donation will be made the the Shenango Valley Foundation who manages the fund for the children's education. Money seems inadequate in this situation, however these kids have a hard road in front of them and the fewer obstacles on that path, the better.

As some of you will notice, week 8 is late in coming. So stay tuned for week 9 in the next few days!

Week 7 - Homes for Our Troops

A home built in CT by http://www.homesforourtroops.org/

As soon as I found this organization, I knew it it would be part of my project. Homes For Our Troops builds completely accessible homes for severely disabled troops. Being the wife of a veteran myself, the stories on this website really pulled at my heartstrings. The military is good at taking care of the medical needs of these soldiers, but they completely fall down when it comes to helping them after their lives have been devastated by an injury. Often, they are left to come home to houses that they can't function in due to their newfound disabilities. There is a great need for this organization.

In CT, we have the support of Attorney General Richard Blumenthal, who stated so aptly, "We owe our military men and women unconditional support." He spoke at the completion ceremony for a house designed for a marine here in CT who suffered the loss of both legs while serving in Iraq.

Sgt. Jared Luce - Coventry, CT from http://www.homesforourtroops.org/

Homes for our Troops has built or remodeled houses in almost every state with the help of throusands of volunteers nationwide. These projects help provide freedom, mobility, and independence to those who have sacrificed those things for our country.

I highly encourage you to donate time, money or supplies to this organization. For more information, go to http://www.homesforourtroops.org/

And Happy and Belated Valentine's Day to all! <3

Week 6 - National Public Radio

 

I've been an avid NPR listener for about 15 years now and the Morning Edition theme song is what I wake up to most weekdays. My husband and I listen to NPR each morning and evening on our 40 minute commute to work. Although we get annoyed with what seems like near constant pledge drives, the drive this morning is what prompted me to make my donation to NPR for Week 6. (Getting entered to win an iPad helped too, although I have no idea what I would do with an iPad).

It is stories like this one about a  Female Afghan helicopter pilot that keep me riveted to the radio time and time again. This incredible women brings her 5 year old daughter with her in the cockpit of her helicopter. As the mother of a 5 year old, I can relate to this women. NPR has a way of bringing a stark human reality into it's stories and profiling some of the most interesting and brave people on the planet. I feel as if I get to live vicariously through the lives of people who live in places I may never see in my lifetime and this is a truly a gift.

Besides the world and regional news, music/movie reviews, and political stories, we are kept laughing by the comedy programs. Wait, Wait Don't Tell Me airs on the weekends and plays in the background to our weekend projects at home. My husband downloaded the pod casts of this program when he was deployed in Iraq.

One of my all time favorite articles was The Dog Who Loved to Suck on Toads a story which aired back in 2006 and had us in tears laughing on the way home from work. There is no better way to decompress after a long work day than to laugh so hard your stomach hurts. So thank you NPR!

For more information or to find your local stations, go to www.npr.org.

Remember your sweeties on Valentine's day next Tuesday! :-)

Week 5 - Chikumbuso Widows & Orphans Project

I love being able to support the efforts of people in my community. I met volunteers with the Chikumbuso project back in December at a craft fair. They happened to have the table next to ours and I was immediately drawn to the bright colors and beautiful designs of the purses and bags they were selling. Come to find out, these purses were created from discarded plastic shopping bags by widows in the of Ng'ombe compound in Lusaka, Zambia.

Bags made from recycled plastic grocery bags are a micro-industry for the Chikumbuso widows

The success stories of the Chikumbuso project are so compelling and I love the connection between a this New England community and the people of Zambia. The Project began in 2005 to help one widow feed and educate her 7 children. According to the Chikumbuso website, the AIDS crisis in Zambia has left 800,000 children orphaned. This is a staggering number to even wrap my head around. The project has now grown to accommodate 70 widows, 50 young adults, 20 grandmothers, and 300 school children.

Within the Chikumbuso compound, these women and children are offered a safe haven of love and opportunity. They are provided resources and knowledge to generate their own income and learn skills. Their children are given free education and their grandmothers are protected and provided for. The project has also started helping single mothers by teaching them sewing and cooking while providing safe daycare for their children.

"Remembrance of what has been done for you and doing it for others" is the Chikumbuso slogan

These women and children who would otherwise be extremely vulnerable in the slums are being given a new lease on life and hope for their own future as well as the future of their children. For more information or to donate to the Chikumbuso Widows & Orphans Project visit their website www.chikumbuso.com or find them on Facebook. Be sure sure to check out their beautiful purses and bags too.

My donation will be matched 100% by my company.

Happy February all!