DonorsChoose.org & The Good Causes Continue

Friends, (Romans, Countrymen?):

I just created a Giving Page at DonorsChoose.org, to help support low-income classrooms on DonorsChoose.org.  And I'm inviting you to help support it!

DonorsChoose.org is an online charity connecting individuals, like you, to classrooms in need.  The average public school teacher spends $500 - $700 on classroom supplies out of his/her own pocket, and students still go without critical supplies they need to learn.  So this website is great, because teachers can post requests, like books, microscopes, art supplies, even field trips to the zoo, and you can help fund them.

You can visit my Giving Page, http://www.donorschoose.org/taf-gp/282183, to make a donation.  Thanks in advance for your support!

Sincerely,

Tara

Salmonella Outbreak and Pets

The peanut product recall seems to have taken on a life of it’s own. It’s not just peanut butter–the list wanders all over the place from brownie and donut products to salad dressings and pet food and treats. The FDA says that the risk of animals contracting salmonellosis is minimal, yet you should check the pet food products on the lengthy recall list to avoid any unnecessary risk.

Signs that your pet may have salmonella:

• Dogs and cats that become ill from salmonella generally will have diarrhea that may contain blood or mucus.
• Affected animals may seem more tired than usual, and may have a fever or vomit.
• Some cats do not have diarrhea, but will have a decreased appetite, fever, and excess salivation.
• Some dogs or cats may have Salmonella but may not appear to be sick. Well animals can be carriers and infect other animals or humans.

If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, contact your veterinarian.

Below is the list of “recalling firms” of pet food products. Check out the FDA list for links to the specific products and more information like UPC Code Number, lot descriptions, packaging size, etc.

Aggieville USA, Mountain Grove, MO
American Nutrition, Inc.
Carolina Prime
Carolina Prime Pet
Farm Style
Grreat Choice
Happy Tails
Healthy Hide
Healthy-hide Deli-wrap
Hill Country Fare
Integrity
Mill Creek
Next Gen Pet Products
Northwest Royal
Premium
Salix
Shoppers Valu
Springfield Prize
Vita Bone Flavors
Vita Snacks
Western Family Biscuits
Western Trade Group, Inc.
Yeaster

Also note that there is risk to humans from handling contaminated pet food products. To prevent foodborne illness when handling pet foods and treats, wash hands with hot water and soap before and after handling pet foods and treats and wash pet food bowls and utensils with hot water and soap after each use.

Again, if you believe your pet may be experiencing symptoms of salmonella, please bring your pet to your local veterinarian as soon as possible.

Operation Christmas Child

Operation Christmas Child brings joy and hope to children in desperate situations around the world through gift-filled shoe boxes. Since 1993, more than 61 million shoe boxes have been packed, shipped, and delivered across the globe. People of all ages can be involved in this simple, hands-on missions project while focusing on the meaning of Christmas.

I've done this myself for many years. It's very rewarding, fun and helps a kid have some fun on Christmas where they would normally just view it as "another day." Please do it up! Even dollar store items can make a kid's whole year! - Tara

National Collection Week is November 17-24.

How to Pack a Shoe Box

1. SHOE BOX

PRINT THESE INSTRUCTIONS AND LABELS
Click to download.

Use an empty shoe box (standard size, please) or a small plastic container. You can wrap the box (lid separately), but wrapping is not required. Most importantly, pray for the child who will receive your gift.

2. BOY OR GIRL?

Determine whether your gift will be for a boy or a girl, and the child’s age category: 2-4, 5-9, or 10-14. Print out the appropriate boy/girl label by downloading the artwork to the right. Mark the correct age category on the label, and tape the label to the top of your box.

3. FILL WITH GIFTS

Fill the box with a variety of gifts that will bring delight to a child. Use the gift ideas provided on the bottom of this page.

4. INCLUDE YOUR DONATION

Please donate $7 or more for each shoe box you prepare to help cover shipping and other project costs. You can give online by using our EZGIVE option, or you can write a check to Samaritan’s Purse (note “OCC” on memo line) and place it in an envelope on top of the gift items inside your box. If you or your family are preparing more than one shoe box, please make one combined donation.

5. DROP OFF

Place a rubber band around each closed shoe box and drop off at the Collection Center nearest you during our collection week November 17 - 24.

For locations and hours of collection visit our Drop-Off Locations page where you can find the nearest place to take your shoe box by entering your ZIP Code or you can call 1-800-353-5949.

You can also send your shoe box gift to:
Samaritan’s Purse
Operation Christmas Child
801 Bamboo Road
Boone, NC 28607

GIFT IDEAS

TOYS
small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES
pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS
toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER
Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

A PERSONAL NOTE
In a separate envelope, you may enclose a note to the child and a photo of yourself or your family. (If you include your name and address, the child may write back.)

DO NOT INCLUDE:
Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

NEED LABELS?
Click to download.

SHOE BOX LABELS

Click on the image here for printable artwork of the labels and a donation form. If you are not using our online EZGIVE option, fill out the form and include it in your box with your donation to receive a tax receipt. (Gifts are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.)

National Collection Week is November 17-24, 2008.

Operation Christmas Child operates hundreds of collection centers across the country. These centers will be open during the week of November 17-24. If you need information on drop-off locations, have any questions or want to know what the purpose of this organization is, please visit the Operation Christmas Child website!

A Quick Voter Guide - Voting Today And Being Prepared!

Here is a quick voter guide to help you be prepared for today...

Step One - Know where you need to go to vote, it may not be where you think. The easiest and fastest way to find out where you will need to go, is to check out GoVote.org - Voting Made Easy. They even provide the telephone number of your local election office in case you have any questions. This is an excellent resource.

*Some states require a voter to provide identification (such as a drivers license). Here is a map from CNN that shows whether or not you will need to provide identification.

Step Two - Know the issues. Don't just listen to campaign commercials, and stump speeches. There are many sites that can help you understand where the candidates stand on the issues that are important to you. Here are just a few...

The Vote Gopher allows you to search just about any political issue, and see where the candidates stand.

ExpertVoter.org is a great spot to get video answers to what each candidate's policies are on the issues.

Here is the VoteMatch Quiz - you can take that matches your views on the issues with a candidate.

Another informative site is America.gov

Each of the candidates have websites that give detailed information on their policies.

Here is Barack Obama on The Issues

Here is John McCain on The Issues

Taxes - The Obama sight also has a tax calculator that tells you how much you will save on your taxes with with both candidates. You should check it out. Just enter your income, and it calculates your savings.

CandidAnswers 2008 - Is a guide to where the candidates stand on environmental issues.

Step Three - Know what ballot initiatives you will be asked to vote on in your state. Here is a the Ballot Initiative Strategy Center you can click the state you are voting in, and get information on the ballot initiatives you will be asked to vote on.

Step Four - Be prepared for long lines. Not everyone will be waiting in long lines to vote, but many will be. Your best bet is to be prepared.

- Bring a folding chair (if possible bring one for someone else to).

- Don't forget an umbrella if there is a chance of rain, and a heavy coat or blanket if you live in the cold states.

- Bring water, hot chocolate, or coffee and some snacks.

- Go in the middle of the day if possible.

Lastly...

Just in case you run into any problems at your polling place, bring your cell phone and this number for Election Protection - 1-866-OUR-VOTE or (1-866-687-8683)

You can also use your phone to call friends and family, and make sure they have voted.

12 Tips to Stretch a Tank of Gas

We can conserve gas with some car maintenance steps. For example, we can get 6 to 20 percent higher mpg with a properly tuned engine. Keeping a mileage record will tell us when our gas mileage is slipping, which is a signal for a tune-up.

Here are 12 more tips for how to stretch a tank of gas.

1. You can easily take care of a few items without going to a service station. One of them is the air filter. A clogged air filter leaves your engine gasping for breath and means you’re probably running with a “rich” mixture, that is, more gas and less air. Many department and auto stores carry air filters, and they are simple to change. A clogged air filter can cost you 1 mpg. Replace your air filter regularly.

2. Dirty oil cuts back engine efficiency, so make sure your oil is changed according to the car manufacturer’s recommended schedule. You can change your own, and buying your own oil is much cheaper. There’s a drain plug under your engine that will come out readily with a wrench. Have a bucket ready to catch the dirty oil, and remember to dispose of it safely.

3. If your fan belt is too tight, your engine is working too hard and wasting gas. The belt should give a little to finger pressure when the engine is not running. if it doesn’t, you can easily adjust the tension with a wrench.

4. Badly worn spark plugs can cost you as much as 2 mpg. This is probably a job for a trained technician.

5. The car has been a way of life for most Americans. There are alternatives. These include mass transit, bike paths, and carpools.

6. Heavier cars are more costly to run. A reduction of 200 pounds in automotive weight typically improves fuel economy by nearly 5 percent.

7. Use the air conditioner in your car as little as possible. It uses a lot of gas. Roll down the windows and get some fresh air!

8. Using cruise control can save gas. If you drive on the open road often, staying at a constant speed will save fuel.

9. If you are taking a trip, start early in the day while traffic is light. Plan to stop for meals at times when traffic is heavy.

10. Don’t let your car idle for a long time to warm it up. Also, don’t let your car idle for more than a minute after it is warmed up—this idling wastes more gas than restarting your car.

11. Do not rev the engine and then quickly shut your car off. This wastes gas. It also pumps raw gasoline into the cylinder walls. This can wash away a film of oil that protects the cylinders and will increase engine wear.

12. Check your tires. Your owner’s manual has important information on your tires, including the correct air pressure that should be in them. Underinflation of your tires can cost you as much as 1 mpg. Radial tires have 50 percent less road resistance, so they give you 3 to 19 percent better mpg.

Make Election Day a Federal Holiday!

Target: President Bush

Sponsored by: Care2

The health of democracy depends on the participation of all its people - for every voice to be heard and every vote counted. But right now, the United States is failing in that responsibility. In 2006, only 41.3 percent of the total eligible voters turned out to vote.

Studies show that the #1 reason people fail to vote is because of difficulty in getting to the polls. The federal government requires that employers grant employees the ability to vote on Election Day, but that's clearly not enough. If we take democracy seriously, then Election Day needs to be a holiday, so that everyone has the chance to do their civic duty.

Voting is the most fundamental obligation of our democracy, and it's worth dedicating a day to it. Urge the President to protect the American democracy by making Election Day a federal holiday!

Sign the petition!

Help The Gulf Coast Recover From Hurricane Gustav! - A Message From The Oxafam President

This blog will not be updated very often this month and possibly a bit of next month. Tara is in the process of preparing her boyfriend for driving school, moving, and getting her cats adjusted to their new home at her mothers house in anticipation of being more permanently on the road as a truck driver. Please stay tuned and thank you for the support!

Dear Readers,

Hurricane Gustav struck the Gulf Coast yesterday, damaging fragile communities still recovering from Hurricane Katrina.

Over 2 million people have evacuated the region. Effective government efforts helped save lives, and the damage was less intense in some major metropolitan areas than many feared—but at-risk, low-lying communities are flooded, roofs are torn off, crops are destroyed, and residents face major challenges in rebuilding their lives.

Our staff is already on the ground. We have been there since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, working closely with 25 organizations in Mississippi and Louisiana, and we will continue to help our local partners provide relief supplies, volunteer labor, and rebuilding assistance. The need is great.

Please donate now and help Gulf Coast residents recover from this disaster.

Gustav took a direct path through vulnerable communities that Oxfam has supported since Hurricanes Katrina and Rita, and where rebuilding efforts are still not even halfway finished.

Homes, businesses, community centers, and churches have been damaged in coastal communities, both by high winds and flooding. Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal has called Gustav "a serious storm that has caused major damage."

We just got word from Peg Case, director of TRAC, Oxfam's partner organization in Houma, LA. Houma was directly in the path of the storm, and TRAC is focusing on coordinating the efforts of 30-40 relief organizations—a critical role to ensure an effective response.

Peg is still waiting to hear whether her house is safe, and she expressed concern for bayou communities hit by the storm surge. "We know there's water in there," she told us. "How high, we don't know."

Hurricanes Katrina and Rita have left people significantly more vulnerable to this hurricane. Many are still living in trailers or mobile homes. Their homes are halfway rebuilt, their savings exhausted, and most are unable to purchase insurance. Seniors, poor people, people who are disabled, and immigrants are particularly vulnerable.

Your donation will help more people return to their homes and their lives more quickly.

We will be monitoring the situation as it progresses in the coming days and ensuring your support goes directly to where it's most needed. Stay tuned to www.oxfamamerica.org for the latest updates.

Thank you so much for your generous support at this critical time.

Sincerely,


Raymond C. Offenheiser
President
Oxfam America

Take Action! An Introduction..

Hey all!

I'm Tara. This blog has a purpose in life. Actually, it has many purposes. It all depends on which day you check in. =)

This blog will consist of action alerts... Petitions for you to sign to change the world, ways to help people in need without more than a click, and ways to change your life to improve the quality of it.

Truth be told, much of the content I'll feature here won't be written by me. That's probably a good thing as my own writing tends to get a bit cryptic at times. If you're interested in me (for gods know what reason), I've provided a few different ways to contact me at the bottom of this post.

Bookmark this blog! Check in often. There might be a life-saving alternative or cause for you to check in on. As always...Slainte! ;-)

- Tara

Add me on:

Bebo
Bolt
Care2
Facebook
MySpace
MyYearbook
Neopets

A good first way to start helping people...


SocialVibe provides the opportunity to help through your social networking profiles (MySpace, Facebook, etc..) You choose your charity, you choose your sponsor(s) and they donate money to your charity...Just for displaying a badge like this. =) Give it a shot! Click the image above.