About a month ago, I got an email from Sharon at Big Dog Taekwon-Do but it wasn’t about fighting.

Er, it was about fighting; but not about the kind you would think.  It was about fighting cancer.  Cancer has taken far too many people from me, and it is on my short list of things I actually hate.  This is the part that really got me:

I have this crazy idea that someday my grandchildren will have to come and ask me what cancer was much like my kids have no concept of polio. If we all work together and we all give a little, maybe that dream can come true. I for one would love to live in a cancer-free world. I hope you’ll help us.

They are holding a Cancer Research Fundraiser for the Van Andel Institute with a silent auction, pledge donations for students to participate in sparring and kicking activities (sweet!!), music, food, and a way to make donations on-line too if folks can’t make it, or don’t live here.  Even better, they guarantee that 100% of all funds raised will go directly into the cancer research labs here in Grand Rapids.

The event is called “Fight 4 a Cure” and it is Friday, September 9 from 6:30 to 9:00 PM at Big Dog Taekwon-Do 6504 28th Street, Suite L.  You can check out their Facebook page more information and to see the auction items.

I know this isn’t a ‘kids’ event; but if I may channel my inner Whitney Houston and belt out “I believe that children are our future”…  OK I have a really bad voice, so I won’t.  But:  curing cancer is a game changer; for us and for them. Can you help?

Yup - that's my actual backyard.

Today is the Great American Backyard Campout! I think this is fantastic, because it brings back memories of camping in our neighbor’s back yard.  We didn’t have fancy, lightweight North Face tents or sleeping bags that could protect us from sub zero temperatures.  We had a huge, canvas, heavy tent with poles about as big as tree trunks.  We had Snoopy sleeping bags.

We had fun playing Truth, Dare, Double Dare, Promise or Repeat; holding terribly giggly seances, and telling secrets.  It didn’t occur to us that our parents were probably listening the entire time – in our minds, we were completely independent.  Except when we had to go to the bathroom.  Or get a snack.

It is a little chilly tonight here in Grand Rapids for yard camping, but that’s OK.  The National Wildlife Federation would just like you to get outside and camp sometime this summer.  Even if it is just in your backyard.  You can register your camp out on the website, and get camping tips too.

I brag about Big Binder readers because no matter what I ask, (put together a basket for a family at Christmas, donate to the ACCESS/Grace Hunger Walk, hang out with me at a Twitter Party for Child Hunger Ends Here, donate to the Diaper Drive…) someone ALWAYS steps up to help.

The “13 Food For Families” drive is running right now, and whatever is donated will be distributed through ACCESS food pantries. Can you make a donation sometime between now and Monday when it ends?

This food drive is not going very well AT ALL.

Their goal is 200,000 pounds of food, and they aren’t anywhere near that number. You can make a huge difference by dropping off a canned or non-perishable item at one of the participating stores.  Here is a list of the most needed items.

Even if you are going ‘up North’ because it is finally summer vacation, check the drop-off store list.  There are a ton of stores participating from South Haven to Ludington.

There is even a treat involved! The Food For Families Ice Cream Social will be Monday, June 13 from 5-6:30 in the WZZM parking lot with free ice cream from Country Fresh.  What an AWESOME WAY TO GET YOUR KIDS INVOLVED!

I know you are wonderful. I am counting on you!

Looking for great frugal and free community events? Maybe some free, outdoor music concerts? How about Summer Reading Programs or Vacation Bible Schools? Or just make it easy on yourself and sign up for free Big Binder email updates, follow me on twitter, or become a fan on Facebook.

Do you remember when we sent “Leaf” place mats to our friends who moved to Texas? Apparently, it worked!  The prospect of spending another year away from Grand Rapids was unbearable to them.  They are moving back this month, and we are can’t wait to give them big hugs when they get home!

We shipped the place mats at The UPS Store and I have some good news from that front, too.  I’m sure you are familiar with Toys For Tots, but there is another program you might not know about.  The UPS Store has teamed up with the Marine Toys For Tots Foundation to promote  The Toys For Tots Literacy Program; which provides books to children in poverty – year round.  Since 2008, more than $1.6 million has been donated to help with this initiative.

As an early childhood advocate, I love to talk about the importance of language acquisition, and how early experiences affect the brain architecture which lays the foundation for learning throughout life.  Rather than rambling on about synapses and neurons, I’ll show you a great little party Sarah’s Deals and I had to celebrate this program.

First, Maybelle designed the invitations.

Then we went to The UPS Store to make copies. While we were there, the kids checked out the Post Office Boxes, shipping boxes, giant packages of packing peanuts, and looked longingly at the huge rolls of bubble wrap.

Making copies is easy! Especially when the owner helps you.

We stuck the invitations in everyone’s back pack at school.

Then it was time to rock and roll.

And there ain’t no party like party at The UPS Store.

We had some fine spring picks to read.

Officer Erin from the Kentwood Police Department was our Guest Reader!

This was a party, of course. With a free book for every single one of our restless party-goers. They tore into the snacks before we could get them displayed in an attractive, party-like fashion.

 

A.P. treated some kids to another story.

Then, my kids made their own donation to the Toys For Tots Literacy Program.  It was a really nice way to end this great little gathering!

This project has been compensated as part of a social shopper insights study for Collective Bias #ToyforTotsLiteracy. All opinions are my own.

Photo credit: ECIC

Yesterday, I went with the Great Start Parent Coalition to the Star Power Rally.  It’s in Lansing, and we took a bus.  As you know, we’ve gone to this for several years. My kids look forward to it, because they are enthusiastic about speaking with our lawmakers and advocating for early childhood programs.

HA!

They like it because they get to see their buddies, and there are donuts on the bus.

This year was a little different.  First, we formed a parade that marched from Lugnuts Stadium (waving Whitecaps banners.  Hee hee!) down to the steps of the State Capitol.  We met with our new State Representative, Brandon Dillon.  We talked to our new Senator, Dave Hildenbrand.  And also, I was chosen out of 9000 people to receive the “Fierce Heart award for Outstanding Advocacy”.

I got a call last week telling me I had won – which was slightly overwhelming because I didn’t even know I had been nominated.  Some of the reasons you guys would know about – like helping with the Family Fun Day or posting diaper deals to encourage folks to donate to the Diaper Drive.  Some of the reasons you won’t, and I am going to keep it that way. If I can use Big Binder to help advocate I won’t hesitate.  But I won’t use it as a way to showcase behind the scenes, get your hands dirty volunteer work I do for the youngest members of our community because I don’t want to exploit anything for personal gain.  I don’t like it when other people do it; and also, I think it irritates God.

I hesitated to even write this post but had enough encouragement that I decided to do it.  I am so thankful for anyone who has taken action because of something I have written about.  YOU share this with me.  I am proud that someone from Grand Rapids was chosen for this award.  It was my pleasure to represent all of us yesterday.

Humbled does not adequately describe it.  Grateful that my children and husband could be with me yesterday at the Capitol is an understatement.  Blown away that both my State Rep and Senator know me personally and were excited for me doesn’t begin to explain it.  Just this once; I am at a loss for words so I will let you read the press release:  Kent County parent wins statewide Fierce Heart award.

On the Capitol steps. The bright yellow t-shirt was mandatory.

What if someone REALLY rich said they would give you 1.7% of their tax return?

How much would that be? A couple thousand dollars? That seems totally reasonable – after all, they’re rich – they can afford it! They’ll never miss that money; but it could be a game changer in your life.

The average tax refund is $3000. To some people, ‘average’ seems REALLY rich.  What if you gave away 1.7% of you tax return?  How much would that be?  If you are average…

…it would be fifty dollars.

• Fifty dollars would buy 263 pounds of food at the Feeding America West Michigan food bank.

• Fifty dollars would buy 138 diapers for the Great Start Parent Coalition Diaper Drive.

• Fifty dollars would help the Help Access/GRACE hunger walk get that much closer to their goal of $200,000.

• Fifty dollars would buy 50 sack lunches for Kids Food Basket.

• Fifty dollars would help UCOM burn their mortgage, and spend that money feeding people instead.

Be a game changer.

You won’t even miss the money.

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When I was in first grade, I signed up for Brownies.  My troop leader had us over once a week, where we would sit around and eat Oreos.   Seriously; that’s all we did. After a few months of this, my Mom decided she had had it.

She filled out some forms, and we marched downtown to Dancers Fashions where they sold all of the scouting handbooks and badges and whatnot; and Troop 93 was born.

Troop 93 rocked.  We did service projects, and went to camp, and had little Brownie jack-knives.  My Mom was an awesome leader and the only cookies we ate were at Girl Scout Cookie Time.

It is Girl Scout Cookie Time now.  But unlike the pre-internet days of my youth, people want what that want, and they want it now.  So the smart people at Girl Scouts have come up with a way for you to get Girl Scout Cookies when you need them.  I can see this being especially useful when you have placed an order with your favorite little Girl Scout, but simply cannot wait for the boxes of deliciousness to arrive.

Let me introduce you to my good friend, the Cookie Locator.  Type in your zip code (go ahead, try it!) and it will tell you the location of the nearest Girl Scout Cookie Booth.  I think they should have called it the Cookie-Matic 2000, but you know what? No one asked me.

I am OK with that.  The important thing is that you know this weekend kicks off Cookie Sales with sales outside of businesses Saturday, March 19 and Sunday, March 20.    Forget about March Madness – with the Cookie-Matic 2000 Cookie Locator you have all the excitement you need.

I was, in fact, given Girl Scout cookies to nourish and inspire the writing of this post.  All opinions are my own.