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WSU – Feed Haiti info – How you can help!

WSU 1 MILLION meal food packaging event!!!!!

Come help WSU and NumanaInc feed the starving in Haiti! The response of SE Kansas to the need to get food to the people of Haiti since the earthquake has been astounding. We have packaged and airlifted over 2,000,000 meals. Come be a part of helping us make that 3,000,000. February 5-7, WSU will be staging a 1 MILLION meal food packaging event at the Hughes Metroplex.

How can you help?

VOLUNTEER TO PACKAGE FOOD

PACKAGE FOOD – at http://www.Numanainc.com and select “volunteer” at the top of the home page. Follow instructions from there.

1) SIGN UP IN ADVANCE

Please assume that it will take you about ½ hour to get processed, so plan to arrive in advance of your packaging time.

If you are a member of a group (12-14 people) who would like to come and package together, sign up at Numanainc.com. Please plan to arrive ½ hour prior to your designated packaging time to get register and get prepared.  We cannot take a group to a table until ALL members are present!  Your clock to package begins when the last member of your party arrives.

2) JUST SHOW UP WHEN IT’S CONVENIENT FOR YOU – our packaging hours for this event are 8-8 Friday and Saturday (Feb. 5 & 6) 1-8 Sunday (Feb. 7)

Come to the main door of the Hughes Metroplex and our greeters will get you registered and prepared to Feed the Starving!

Please assume that it will take you about ½ hour to get processed. We will get you to a table as quickly as we can!

DONATE

DONATE – at http://www.Numanainc.com and select “donate” at the top of the home page. Follow instructions from there.

The food we are sending to Haiti costs 30 cents per meal to buy, package, ship and deliver. Numana partners with the Salvation Army and currently the U.S. Military to get food quickly to areas of need in Haiti.

1) BUY IT; PACKAGE IT; SEND IT – NEW FOR WSU EVENT!

You can sign up as a group or organization (10-14 people) and sponsor your own table. An average table can package between 10 & 12 boxes in an hour at a cost of $648 – $778. Your group donates the money and packages the food. You buy it, you package it, you send it!

2) SPONSOR A TABLE – NEW FOR WSU EVENT!

Would your business or organization like to sponsor a table at the WSU event? Your name, banner, poster will be posted on the table you sponsor for the duration of your sponsorship time. Volunteers who package at your table will be told the food they are packaging was provided by your organization.

1 hour = $1000

½ day (6 hours) = $6000

1 day (12 hours) = $12,000

WSU event (30 hours) = $30,000

3) CORPORATE SPONSOR – NEW FOR WSU EVENT!

Would your corporation, business, or organization like to partner with WSU on this event?

3 levels of partnership:

Event co-sponsor: $300,000 (the cost of 1 MILLION meals)

Platinum partnership: $100,000

Gold partnership: $50,000

Silver partnership: $25,000

Bronze partnership: $10,000

3) BUY MEALS

The chart below shows how many people your donation will feed:

100 people: $30.00
216 people (one box of food): $65.00
1,000 people: $300.00
2,000 people: $600.00
5,000 people: $1,500.00
7,128 people (one full pallet): $2,145.00
285,120 people (one full container): $85,536.00

GREEN SHIRT VOLUNTEER

GREEN SHIRT VOLUNTEER – sign up for 4 hour shifts at http://www.Numanainc.com. Plan to arrive ½ hour before your shift begins for preparation, orientation and assignment. In addition to regular shifts, we need set up and tear down teams. Set up will be Thursday (Feb. 4 from 1-8 at the Hughes Metroplex.

Training for new green shirts will be Thursday (Feb. 4) from 6-8 pm at the Hughes Metroplex.

If you are a new green shirt and cannot come to the Feb. 4 training, please arrive 1 hour prior to your start time for training.

Green shirts will be asked to purchase their t-shirts for $10

There are two groups you can sign up for:

1) Product management team – tasks listed below:

Runners: supply replacement product for assigned tables
Product Prep: unload product; fill bins; remove bags to trash can; must be able to lift 50 lbs.
Product Distribution: distribute product for runners via cart; remove filled boxes from tables; must be able to lift 50 lbs.
Loaders: load boxes to pallet, shrink wrap; take to truck; load; must be able to lift 50 lbs.

2) Floor management team – tasks listed below:

Registration: greet and sign in volunteers; manage crowds
Hostess: greet volunteers; distribute aprons and hairnets; assist staging coordinator
Staging Coordinators: prioritize and manage timely rotation of volunteers; assist traffic control
Traffic Control and scheduling: maintain table scheduling and rotation; maintain green shirt schedule
Table Seating: escort groups to table; liaison between table coordinators and traffic control; give shift-ending warnings
Table Coordinators: oversee packaging table; educate volunteers in packaging procedures; communicate with floaters and runners; clean up table and surrounding area; prepare and re-stock table
Floaters: replace table coordinators for breaks; assist table coordinators

GREEN SHIRT TIMES:

Set up: Thursday (Feb. 4)

Shift 1: 1 – 4pm

Shift 2: 4 – 8pm

Friday (Feb. 5)

Set up: 7am – 9am

Shift 1: 8am – 12pm

Shift 2: 12 – 4pm

Shift 3: 4 – 8pm

Prep shift: 7 – 9pm

Saturday (Feb. 6)

Set up: 7am – 9am

Shift 1: 8am – 12pm

Shift 2: 12 – 4pm

Shift 3: 4 – 8pm

Prep shift: 7 – 9pm

Sunday (Feb. 7)

Set up: 12 – 2pm

Shift 1: 1 – 5

Shift 2: 5 – 9pm (includes 1 hour of tear down)

Tear down crew: 8 – 10pm

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SE Kansas for Haiti! Packaging meals at Kansas Coliseum!

I am SO proud of my adopted state! In less that one month people in SE Kansas have packaged over 1,300,000 meals for Haiti. Over 500,000 meals have already been packaged today at the KS Coliseum!!! That’s a one day best! We need to package another 500,000 to meet our weekend goal of 1,000,000! Please come take part! We can do this!

The estimate is the people of Haiti will need food for at least the next 3 months and 10 days after the devastating earthquake they are still pulling people alive from the rubble.

If you don’t have time to package food, please visit the Numana website at http://www.numanainc.com to donate. Meals cost 30 cents each and every donation helps us continue or efforts to feed the starving!

Way to go Kansas!

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FOOD PACKAGING EVENT FOR HAITI – Jan. 15 & 16, 2010 El Dorado Kansas Civic Center

As many of you know on Dec. 29 & 30, I, along with my children, students, friends, my daughter’s youth group and about 1000 other Kansans took part in a food packaging event at the El Dorado Civic Center to feed hungry children in Haiti.  In under 48 hours we packaged over 285,000 meals That food is on its way but won’t reach Haiti until mid-February.  After yesterday’s devastating earthquake, that is too late!

So, Numana Inc. is sponsoring another food packaging event this weekend at the El Dorado Civic Center and the food will be airlifted to Haiti. There are two ways you can help. Both involve going to the http://www.Numanainc.com website. There you can volunteer to help package the food, a nutritious mix of rice, soy, dried veggies and a vitamin/mineral tablet designed to meet the nutrition needs of starving people or you can donate money to buy food. Packaging times are in 2 hour shifts from noon to 10 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 8 p.m. Saturday.

One question that has arisen is whether or not international aid organizations have the infrastructure and capacity to meet critical needs. The Salvation Army, Numana’s partner in food delivery already has an established network, on the ground to get food to people immediately.

In times of crisis, we all want to know what we can do to help. In this case, our donations and time will directly, tangibly, and immediately impact hungry people impacted by this natural disaster. Join me in helping hungry people in Haiti!  Stay tuned for further information on this and developing events to support the people of Haiti!

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‘Tis the Season!: Help Numana Feed Hungry Children in Haiti

I’m returning to some roots today with this blog post. Shortly after starting this blog in March, 2009 I decided I wanted to focus on opportunities to “make a difference”. Today I write about an event in El Dorado, Kansas that will take place from 9 a.m. until 8 p.m. December 29 and 30, 2009. The objective is to pack 285,125 meals for hungry children in Haiti. Numana, Incorporated, the organization behind this effort is hoping for enough meals to fill a 40 foot shipping container. Headed by President and CEO, Rick McNary, Numana, an international hunger relief organization, is a non-profit 501(c)(3) public charity founded in August, 2008. The meals we pack in El Dorado will be distributed by the Salvation Army to feed children in Haitian schools.

The meals contain soy protein, freeze-dried veggies, rice and a vitamin/mineral supplement targeted to the immune systems of malnourished children. Ingredients are measured, weighed, sealed, boxed and prepared for shipment.

My daughter Alyssa and I went to a practice packing event several weeks ago and we had a blast! We worked alongside volunteers from age 8 to 80. The environment was light hearted, positive, supportive, and fun for all ages. There’s nothing like hanging out with people energized about making a difference, especially at this time of year!

So, if you have time to give (you can sign up for two hour shifts or stay longer), My daughter Alyssa, my son Stefan, some of my Wichita State University students and I be there full time both days; if you would like to purchase some meals (we currently have donations to cover 152,500 meals ((about 53% of our goal))at 30 cents per meal), or if you just want to learn more about Numana, visit their website at: http://www.numanainc.com or call Rick McNary at (877)452-5445 for more information. To volunteer, click on the volunteer button at the top of the home page. To donate, click on the donate button.

Want to spread the cheer of the season to hungry children in Haiti? Bring your family, friends, youth group, church group, office mates, etc. and join us in this high energy, “make a difference” event!

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Tom’s Shoes

Ok, my daughter and I just jumped off the cliff on this one. For her birthday this month and Mommy’s Day (for me) we decided to buy each other Tom’s shoes.  Yea, I know, supporting a reality TV star. But here’s the deal! You buy a pair of shoes from Tom’s and they give a child somewhere in the world a pair of shoes. They’ve already donated over 140,000 pairs to children in Argentina, Ethiopia and South Africa since 2006 and plan to delivery over 300,000 in 2009. SERIOUSLY! This is the real deal! Shoes range in price from $34 to $49 for “tiny toms”, $44 to $98 for women’s shoes – that’s what Alyssa and I got – women also have a boot option and $44 to $65 for men’s shoes. Alyssa and I see three side effects of a Tom’s purchases : 1) you get a pair of cool, trendy shoes, 2) you get to “make a difference” for a child somewhere who gets a pair of shoes, 3) the shoes are reasonably priced. Pick the side effect that works for you. Alyssa and I are big on #2 and #3.  Need more encouragement, watch the video on Tom’s site about shoe delivery.  We’ll let you know what we think when we get out Tom’s! In the meantime, if you’re curious, visit http://www.tomsshoes.com. They even have a special Mother’s Day shoe designed by Tom’s mom! Alyssa and I are feeling pretty good about ourselves today – and that’s a nice side of a shoe purchase.

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June 1 – update on Tom’s shoes.  I got my shoes a couple weeks ago and I have to say they are the MOST COMFORTABLE shoes I think I’ve ever worn. Still waiting on my daughter’s painted ones, but already know we’re going to order more.  A great cause AND comfortable shoes! You can’t beat that! Check out http://www.tomsshoes.com!

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See the movie Earth –

If you haven’t seen the new Disney movie Earth, I highly recommend it. Not only that, if you see it within the first week of release (before April 29), Disney has promised to plant a tree for each ticket purchased. Clear references to melting ice caps and climate changes make the need to protect our planet obvious. It’s an incredibly beautiful movie and very artfully done.  I was in awe most of the time.  The beauty and grandeur of our planet is both humbling and compelling. Enjoy!

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10 cool “make a difference sites”

Ok, my task today on my 31 days to a better blog course is to create a list blog (ok, this was my job two days ago, but I’m a bit behind).

Here ya go! This is my Making a Difference opportunities starter list.

1) General do nice things – feel good site – full of ideas: http://www.dailychallenge.org

2) Supports a variety of make a difference project through sponsors – you just have to click and others donate! www.GreaterGood.com

Think locally – Wichita Based:

1) Wichita teen Kyle Hicks website – Kyle needs a bone marrow transplant to manage a rare and painful skin condition http://www.cotaforkyleh.com/

2) Support Ryan Schartz as he pursues his performing dream – help him with his off-Broadway gig! Very cool! http://ryanschartz.vpweb.com

Think globally – outside Wichita:

1) Foundation supporting Toronto hospital for sick kids http://www.sickkidsfoundation.com

2) The hunger site: http://www.thehungersite.com

3) The breast cancer prevention: http://thebreastcancersite.com

4) The child health site: http://thechildhealthsite.com

5) The literacy promotion site: http://theliteracysite.com

6) The rainforest site: http://therainforestsite.com

7) The animal rescue support site: http://theanimalrescuesite.com

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Wichita teen needs your help!

I became aware of Kyle Hicks several months ago. I have still not had the pleasure to meet him. This Wichita teen has a rare inherited disease of the fibrils that hold the layers of skin together called Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB). Kyle’s condition results in blisters over much of his body. Each day, Kyle must clean, cover with fresh Vaseline, gauze and bandage the blistered areas of his body, usually from his shoulders to his toes.  It takes over two hours to soak off old bandages and put on new ones to prevent infections.

For much of his life, there has been no treatment EB. However recently, Dr. John Wagner and his team at the University of Minnesota Fairview Clinic have pioneered treatment to develop the anchoring fibrils missing in Kyle’s skin.  The treatment requires a bone marrow transplant.  Kyle was accepted into Dr. Wagner’s program in April 2008 and a perfect bone marrow donor match was found early in the summer of 2008.  To get this surgery, Kyle needs to raise $500,000 dollars, of which over $230,000 have already been raised.

To learn more about Kyle who writes poetry and keeps a weekly blog on his website, his condition, and to donate to his transplant fund, please visit his website at http://www.cotaforkyleh.com/

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Making a difference one mouse click at a time!

Greater Good Network – You click; site sponsors contribute to worthwhile causes

 

            I appreciate the opportunity to make a difference by doing something simple and easy.  The GreaterGood Network, www.GreaterGood.com, couldn’t be simpler or easier. According to their website, “100% of the funds generated through the GreaterGood Network pass through GreaterGood.org to partner charities”. The network offers a number of free opportunities to make a difference as well as the chance to purchase a variety of reasonably priced free-trade and women-made items from a number of countries. Items include bath and body products, jewelry, organic clothing and accessories. I found some awesome shoes, watches, head scarves, wind chimes.

            To make a free contribution, all I have to do is click a button (or multiple buttons) on their website.  You click; sponsors donate.  I signed up for daily email reminders.  I click every morning to: stop hunger, fight breast cancer by providing mammograms for women, provide basic health care to children, encourage literacy by providing books to children, protect the rainforest and provide food and care for rescue animals. Pick what interests you. 

            If you’d like to learn about specific projects, visit:

The hunger site: http://www.thehungersite.com

The breast cancer prevention: http://thebreastcancersite.com

The child health site: http://thechildhealthsite.com

The literacy promotion site: http://theliteracysite.com

The rainforest site: http://therainforestsite.com

The animal rescue support site: http://theanimalrescuesite.com

Click for free or buy interesting items.  The GreaterGood Network is a win-win.

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Pay it Backward Day is April 4

April 4 is Pay it Backward Day. In Toronto, the plan is to start a coffee line at Second Cup where you buy a “cup a Joe” for the person behind you.  It’s a fundraiser for the SickKids Foundation. Established in 1972, the SickKids Foundation is a non-governmental granting agency that promotes child health in Canada. Since its inception, SickKids have awarded over $500 million to The Hospital for Sick Children and over $60 million (an average of $4 million annually) to researchers across Canada.

Second Cup will donate 50% of every “pay back” cup of coffee to the foundation. Yea, yea, yea, you might argue, to paraphrase one blogger, that this is just another opportunity for a bunch of yuppie, expensive coffee lovers to spend a lot of money on a cup of coffee and feel good about themselves without making much positive impact.

Ok, I understand your point, but I have two responses: 1) every little bit helps – if 500 people show up (and that would beat last year’s world record, a secondary goal) and buy a cup of coffee for an average of $5, that’s $2500 with $1250 going to SickKids, not counting on the spot donors and remote donors via upstream video. It’s not a fortune, but it is valuable support for a worthwhile foundation. 2) Maybe a fortune isn’t raised, but for the people who take part, it’s also a community building moment. People support strangers who together support a good cause, thereby making everyone involved feel part of something good, encouraging them to feel good about themselves and helping someone else feel good, because you bought them coffee.  And there’s live music to entertain those standing in line and onlookers. It’s kind of a party really. The world gets a little smaller.  The community gets a little stronger. Everyone has a positive experience.

With all the day-to-day sniping and snarking we encounter, it just makes sense to do something positive, consciously, and it’s OK to feel good about that. Sure, Pay it Backward Day won’t solve all the problems the SickKid Foundation addresses, but, it will help a lot of people connect with one another for a good cause, create positive energy, and allow people to be more mindful, if just for the time it takes to drink a cup of coffee, that they are part of something bigger, a community, where they might not know everyone, but where they can engage in common action to make their lives and those of others better. And they get to drink coffee while listening to music in the bargain. Not a bad deal from where I’m sitting.

Pay it Backward Day in Toronto is a great model. I hope it picks up in other communities as well! Some folks are talking about green events while others recount over 140 Starbuck’s customers who “paid it backward” in 2006. The possibilities are endless.

By the way, if you want to know more about the SickKids Foundation, here’s their web address: http://www.sickkidsfoundation.com or on twitter @sickkids. You can also find Pay it Backward Day on twitter using the hashtag #pibTO or at: http://www.dailychallenge.org/events/payitbackward.

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