LIVE UNITED Y’All!

By Kelly Thompson, Director of Engagement Initiatives

As the saying goes, “It is not a question of IF, but WHEN.” When disasters strike a community, a county, a state, a nation, we all hope and pray that some kind of preparedness plan is in place. Very often, there is a plan, but it turns out to be a partial or uncompleted plan for action.

As a community we’ve watched as many disasters have affected our community in the past two years: the windstorm, the ice storm, and the flood of August 4^th, 2009. As a world we watched in horror the naturally occurring events that affected our brothers and sisters in Haiti this year and in 2009 our neighbors in Indonesia.

In all of these instances we’ve asked ourselves, “What can I do to help?” and “What can I do to protect myself and my family?” These questions are important to ask and even more important to contemplate as a part of a preparedness plan.

At Metro United Way we’ve witnessed first hand the overwhelming outpouring of caring, and volunteer time given by those in our community to help those in extreme need. This past fall we welcomed over 500 volunteers who came to aid of those needing flood clean-up assistance; these responders, and those participating in previous disasters were instrumental in creating the rapid action required to get help to people as soon as possible.

What we’ve learned from these experiences is that we would like to formally create a list of “Ready-Responders” joining an elite list of volunteers who agree to heed the call of duty when a disaster strikes.

Are you interested in becoming a member of this special group? Chances are if you have responded to our calls for flood volunteers, or windstorm volunteers we’ve got your name, but we want to hear from you just in case!

You can drop us a email at the Volunteer Engagement Center at patty.belden@metrounitedway.org or stopping by our Metro United Way booth at the upcoming Emergency Preparedness Fair on Saturday, February 29^th from Noon until 4pm.

Louisville Emergency Preparedness Fair

Saturday, February 27, 2010

11:30 am  Kickoff with Mayor Jerry Abramson

12:00 – 4:00 pm

The Salvation Army Male Campus

911 South Brook Street.

Free Admission

Bring a canned good for Dare to Care Collection

Door Prizes  –  Children’s Activities   –   Food & Drink

Come learn what you can do to be better prepared  - as an individual, a family, a block or street, a neighborhood,  suburban city,  subdivision,  condo association, church group, Scout group, service group, etc.

Education for Everyone! Take advantage of these free trainings at the Fair:

• Family Emergency Planning
• Power Line Safety
• Generator Safety
• Making a 72-hour survival kit
• Document storage – what documents do you need and storage options
• Red Cross Training
• Heating and cooking without power
• Caring for Pets in an emergency

Are You Ready for an Emergency?

Do your have ready for yourself, your family & your neighbors:

• A 72-hour survival kit
• An Evacuation plan
• Food & water for emergencies
• A plan for no electricity
• Know your neighbors

Events, Volunteering Disaster, emergency, emergency preparedness, Haiti

“I’m starving!” How many times do we say this with out actually considering what it means to truly be starving? Better yet, how many times do we say this while we’re in the McDonald’s drive-thru waiting on our two all-beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, and onions on a sesame seed bun? Don’t forget the fries, diet coke, and yes, I think I will super-size!

My point is that most of us have not experienced true hunger. Most of us have not struggled to scrape together enough money each week to feed our family. Skipped our own meal to allow enough food for our kids. Picked food out of a dumpster or crossed our fingers that the diners we’re waiting on will accidentally leave their doggie-bag behind. That is starvation; hunger. It’s real and it’s all around us. According to Dare to Care Food Bank, “Over 175,000 people in Kentuckiana struggle daily to get the food they need to be healthy.” This number takes a minute to digest (no pun intended).

The good news is that there are organizations working to change this. Today I want to talk about Dare to Care Food Bank and the great work they are doing particularly with mobile pantries.

The traditional food bank model relies on neighborhood food pantries to get food to people needing help. Dare to Care provides the partner church or other nonprofit with food and they then distribute the food to those needing emergency food assistance.

Many families and individuals, however, need help but live in neighborhoods lacking these partner pantries. They may have other issues that also prevent them from accessing a traditional pantry.

The Dare to Care Mobile Pantry is a direct service to reach those in crisis who are struggling to access the help they need. With the Mobile Pantry program, Dare to Care brings the pantry to the neighborhood. Partnering with an agency that wants to help its neighborhood but doesn’t have the ability to operate a regular pantry, Dare to Care will schedule a time when it can deliver perishable and non-perishable food for immediate distribution. Dare to Care staff stay with the delivery truck to assist with the program.

This innovative program has improved nutrition in areas of Kentuckiana where fresh produce and emergency food are otherwise inaccessible.” (This information was taken from the Dare to Care website, click here to learn more.

Since beginning my career with Metro United Way in July 2009, I have had the pleasure of volunteering at five Mobile Pantries. The experience has made me very thankful for the life that I have. Recipients line up early, sometimes before the truck arrives, with old grocery bags, laundry baskets, boxes, anything they can use to carry their food. One Tuesday in December, it must have been 20 degrees, I remember being cold in my thick winter coat, gloves, hat, and scarf. When I pulled up to the volunteer, a least a fifty people were already waiting. Many of them had small children and hardly any of them had coats. These people were willing to freeze to get a few bags of food. This is starvation.

Mobile Pantries are happening each month, click here to help or contact Mary Sullivan at mary.sullivan@metrounitedway.org.

Volunteers setting up at City View Park.

Advocacy, General, Volunteering dare to care, hunger

By Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

Not that kind of high silly…  No I am not talking about any Mick Jagger songs or Melvin Jackson lyrics. Nor am I referring to the euphoric high experienced by marathon runners and world class athletes. This blog is a few thoughts and words about another, far more altruistic high that is called the helper’s high.

It’s nothing new mind you. I would say that there is new research and old wisdom that each uphold the simple truth that those of us who are what I would call “dealers” are aware.

Simply put, it feels good to “get your good on.” And it not only feels good, but it also has been proven in the brain to lower the output of stress hormones, improve cardiovascular health, strengthen the immune system and extend life span. And unlike exercise, there’s evidence that the helper can actually get a small helper’s high even by simply recalling the helping or charitable acts long after they’re finished. Isn’t that a cool residual for doing good!

Think about it…the last time you felt needed, did something for someone else, helped a neighbor, volunteered a few hours or made a donation…you may have came away tired but also deeply refreshed. Proverbs 11:25 reads, “Those who refresh others are themselves refreshed.” Emerson also knew a thing or two about the helpers high as he wrote, “No man [or woman] can sincerely help another without helping himself.”

Lastly, have you seen the bus? This eye-catching bus is a big helper’s high we hope for our friends at TARC who have wrapped it up and are helping spread the LIVE UNITED message in our community. What do you say…wanna check in on the helper’s high? Ready to schedule a little time to do good and get on the bus –you know, we can’t do the work here at Metro United Way without you. It is your United Way and we have got some serious opportunity in our community and the world right now to lend a hand, give a dollar, help a neighbor, mentor a child….and the research shows we will be better for it!

When was the last time you felt the “helper’s high”? Do you think generosity plays a part in your personal or spiritual wellbeing? Are you ready to get your good on and get on the bus? What are your thoughts?

Giving, Health, Volunteering charitable benefits, helpers high, TARC

By Howard Mason

Although no longer affiliated with Metro United Way, the regular participants of the Social Change Book Club have decided to keep it going. This is the fourth incarnation of the book club since its initial meeting in July, 2006.

The Social Change Book Club is still open to everyone who is interested in understanding, participating, leading, or supporting social change. Each month we select a book and get together to discuss. Selections rotate among three themes: social changes, how we work with others to make change happen, and the inner qualities needed to bring change into the world.

People just show up if they are interested–no RSVP, commitment, etc. It is great when people have read the book, but that is not a requirement to come and discuss.

We got this going because there is a lot to learn about how to make social change happen and people who are interested in changing the world need opportunities to share stories and experience community with others who care.

We meet the third Monday of each month at 6:00 p.m.  Our home is Heine Bros. Coffee, 119 Chenoweth Lane, St Matthews. We are grateful for the invitation and hospitality.

Maya Angelou’s Letters to My Daughter, our February 15 book, is her first original collection of writing to be published in ten years–anecdotal vignettes drawn from a compelling life. She writes, “I gave birth to one child, a son, but I have thousands of daughters. You are Black and White, Jewish and Muslim, Asian, Spanish speaking, Native Americans and Aleut. You are fat and thin and pretty and plain, gay and straight, educated and unlettered, and I am speaking to you all. Here is my offering to you.”

Power and Love: A Theory and Practice of Social Change by Adam Kahane is our March 15 book. Kahane suggests that power, our desire to achieve our own purposes, and love, our desire to heal the whole, are complementary drives. Both are required to effect sustainable social innovation and change.

If you would like to receive news of the Social Change Book Club, send an email to socialchangebookclub@gmail.com

General, Volunteering Book Club, Community, gathering, learning, Social Change

By Kelly Thompson

What do I know about teenagers these days? My answer is… practically nothing. I don’t have kids of my own, at least not yet, but I do know that when I was a teen I viewed the world very differently than I do today. Some teen experiences I can relate to are ever-present: the in and out clothing fads, the obsession with pizza, and the crazy hairstyles. Today’s teen may not share exactly the same clothing fads (can anyone say shoulder pads?), pizza, and hairstyles, but the parallels are clearly there.

Beyond those similarities however, today’s teen represents a free-for-all of differences: the texting, the Facebooking, Twittering, iPhones, iPods, Twilight, and oh, did I mention texting? I admit, I am pretty clueless, so, why did I invite two lovely young women to join our team as guest bloggers over the next few months? Simple, I want to know what they have to say, and maybe teach me and others about their dreams for our community and how they view their role in advancing the common good for us all. And maybe while they are here they can teach me how to text more than two words in less than five minutes.

Later this month you will meet Emily and Maddie Calzi, or as I like to call them, the Calzi Gals. They will be spending the next month or so with us here at Metro United Way volunteering their time to promote school readiness, basic needs, advocacy, and so much more. You might even catch a glimpse of them as our very own “Teen Video Reporters”, capturing the stories of community volunteers in action.

Are you ready to learn and see a different community-view from these young folks? Personally, I want to know what really engages them in community volunteering, and what their hopes and dreams are for a better world. I am sure that I will learn all that and more!

Are you a teen reading this blog? We would love to hear your thoughts on what volunteering means to you and what your hopes and dreams are for our regional community too!

Advocacy, Volunteering iPhone, iPod, Twilight

By Kate McNatt

Metro United Way wants to thank all the kind folks at General Electric, who just donated 4,600 portable space heaters to people in need during these cold winter months. Metro United Way will be the leader in distributing the space heaters, and the Salvation Army, a Metro United Way agency, is going to serve as the distribution site.

There are two opportunities to get involved (see below).  Volunteers will be handling boxes of heaters and should be able to lift up to 36 lbs.  Boxes may be dusty or dirty so please dress accordingly.  If you can help, please call Patty Belden at 502-292-6152 or email patty.belden@metrounitedway.org.  As always, thanks for your support!

Thursday January 14th – Distribution to Agencies

Location: Salvation Army

6709 Preston Highway

Louisville, KY 40219

Shift A: 1:00pm – 3:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift B: 3:00pm – 5:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift C: 5:00pm – 7:00pm         Volunteers Needed = 6

Friday January 15^th – Distribution to Agencies

Location: Salvation Army

6709 Preston Highway

Louisville, KY 40219

Shift A:  8:00am – 10:00am      Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift B: 10:00am – 12:00pm     Volunteers Needed = 6

Shift C: 12:00pm – 2:00pm       Volunteers Needed = 6

Events, General, Volunteering Community, Live United, making a difference, opportunity, Volunteer

By David Caldwell

I’ve never been a big fan of New Year’s resolutions. I always figured that if you really want to make a change in your life you should just do it – don’t wait for a “special” day to make it happen. That changed for me last year.

Since college I’ve been a non-smoker…sort of. I’ve always been that guy who might have a pack of cigarettes in his truck while he tells you he doesn’t smoke. I know how horrible the habit is for your health – I saw the black lung in science class too. I know how addictive the practice is – my dad smoked for 30 plus years. None of that ever stopped me from “kinda” smoking. I justified it to myself because I wasn’t a “real” smoker. I just smoked when I drank, or was really stressed, or it was Tuesday – you know, just a little. I was the familiar stranger in the smokers’ circle.

As the ball drops this year, I’ll be kissing my sweetheart with smoke-free breath, and celebrating 365 days without a cigarette. My goal is a lot more years of the same, but for now I’ll celebrate the first one.

So what are you resolving to do this year? If you haven’t quite decided, let me make a suggestion. Make a resolution to make a difference in the life of a child.

You could donate some books to the child care center down the street. You could volunteer to teach an art activity at your child’s school. You could find a way to be a role model for the kids across town and across the street that need a few more caring adults in their lives. You could write a check to your favorite child focused agency. You could call your legislator and tell them to make children more of a priority when they make decisions.

Think about all you’ll have to celebrate after a year of working to improve the life of a child. If you want to give, advocate, or volunteer, you can visit our website. If you want a few more ideas or some help in making your resolution a reality, let me know. Have a wonderful holiday, and ring in the New Year in a meaningful way!

Photo Credit: maxxtraffic

Advocacy, Giving, Volunteering Children, Live United, making a difference, opportunity, Volunteer

To volunteer is to freely give of your time to others, a pretty obvious concept to grasp. I find it hard to come up with an example of when that statement isn’t, at least in part, true. Even if you are volunteering because you “have-to” or if you are volunteering because you think it looks good on your resume, you can’t avoid the fact that you are sharing (for free!) your time and your talent.

Of course, most of the people I come in contact with in my role as the Volunteer Engagement Center director don’t fall into the categories of “have-tos” or “resume-builders”. The volunteers I know give of their time and talent for more reasons than I can account for in this very short blog. Some of the reasons why they are called to volunteer are related to their passion, gratefulness, good feelings they get when they are helping, and their desire to be a part of positive change. 

Hurray for them, I say. Bravo!  However, I have one beef with these benevolent beings, these angels among us: they don’t like to brag about themselves or take credit for the work they do…ever.

Oh, I can understand, it can be hard to talk about yourself, and your friends might get really annoyed when you go on and on about how wonderful you are, but you have got to get OVER it.  Saying things like: “I don’t do it for the notoriety or the attention” or “I don’t want a special acknowledgement for my efforts” are understandably noble postures, and are much more preferable to saying “I am so awesome, they ought to erect a statue in my honor”. You get the point.

All I am saying is, if you don’t brag a little or share a story or two about the time you provide as a volunteer, how are you going convince non-volunteers to volunteer? Telling stories about your volunteering can be compelling, and down right entertaining. It may be just the right motivation someone needs to get out there and start volunteering on their own.

Next time, I will be sharing some FlipVideo footage of some volunteer stories. In the meantime, here is a link to some great volunteer stories: http://www.networkforgood.org/volunteer/volunteerstories.aspx

Advocacy, General, Giving, Volunteering recruitment, stories

By Kelly Hutchinson, Donor Relationship Manager

I will admit that I love how Hank can bellow….Are you ready for some FOOTBALL? And, I am. I am ready and excited about the hiring of Coach Charlie Strong for the University of Louisville so I will attribute this seemingly football inspired United Way blog to this fact. The recent press conference introducing the new Coach won me over when he shared his heart and emotion over the joy of attaining his career dream of a head coaching position and the opportunity to lead a program. It was so easy to feel his sincerity when he spoke and now it will be even easier to pull for his success both on the field and in the community.

It continues to be an exciting time of year in NFL football also as the Indianapolis Colts and the Cincinnati Bengals continue to rack up the W’s. While these two teams are perhaps the closest we have in our region to a home NFL team, it doesn’t matter whether you are a Colts fan or on the “Who-Dey” train right now, the NFL is deserving of recognition for the longstanding partnership and support of the United Way movement. Did you know that for 35 years, thispartnership has been a shining example of the tangible good that can be leveraged into a powerful vehicle for real change in people’s lives and the community?  Check out how the NFL LIVES UNITED and see if you can find one of your team’s favorite players too!

Yes, Tis the season for football and also for giving thanks and sharing. The words THANK YOU are two of the most powerful words you can speak, share and that you can hear. Thank you for helping make our community a better place to live and work.  If you gave in your campaign at work for United Way, thank you for caring and sharing to help change the lives of those who pass by you every day. The change we strive to create at Metro United Way doesn’t happen without you. Don’t just take my word for it….take a quick look at our recent field trip. It was a LIVE UNITED thank you tour. Check it out and you will see how we surprised a few loyal donors while they were working. I think you can imagine their surprise and you can also see the strong feelings created with an in-person and heartfelt thank you.

Advocacy, Events, General, Giving, Volunteering Charlie Strong, Common good, community change, Football, Live United, Louisville, NFL, passion, thank you, United Way

I have been out of the blogosphere for a while, hit with a terrible case of writer’s block that has lasted months. What on earth can I write about that hasn’t already been blogged over the past months? As the director of the Volunteer Engagement Center at Metro United Way, I should have these enlightened pearls of wisdom to share related to volunteerism, to service, to making a difference, but nothing I come up seems new or fresh.

I am frustrated. It is time to get out of my own head and look outward for inspiration, when I finally reach this point, as I often do; I never have to look far for it. Everyday, I hear the stories of our volunteers…why they give their time, their inspiration, their commitment to a cause.

I am capturing those stories on video now, with my new Flipvideo camera. Sometimes, words cannot express the feeling of giving, the look of dedication, and the sound of caring.

I hope you enjoy meeting Mike and Michele, two of our local volunteers who helped with our recent flood cleanup efforts.

Volunteering Flood volunteers