Days 29 through 33 - Fostering Hope

So today is the big 3-0 birthday...husband keeps asking me what I want and there really isn't anything (realistic) that I want or need, besides a dustbuster, very lame, I know. 

To tell you the truth, birthday celebrations aren't really what they used to be since Baby Boy came into the picture.  Last year I was preggo, and this year I have a six month old.  I don't see myself going out and getting crazy.  Baby Boy really is my favorite present after all.  I know that I am very blessed, and I try to count my blessings each day, knowing that there are so many who are not blessed.

I was reading a magazine at my parent's house several months ago and came across a really cool charity called "Fostering Hope."  Fostering Hope is a non-profit that provides goods and services to children residing in the foster care system in the Horry, Georgetown, Marion and Dillon counties of South Carolina. There are on average over 500 children within these counties that are in foster care due to abuse and or neglect.

Fostering Hope assists caseworkers and families by providing many of the basic items needed for the children.  They also have something called The Children’s Resource Center that is stocked with clothes, personal hygiene items, school supplies, toys, etc.

The goal of Fostering Hope is to ensure that each of these children is given new or nearly clothes, shoes, toys, hygiene items, and a duffle bag upon entering care. The children are permitted to go back quarterly to receive additional items at no cost to the foster families. The items are available at no charge to DSS or the children. For emergency assistance a case worker can contact the center and they provide a suitcase with age appropriate clothes and supplies that can be picked up within a few hours.

There is also have the Hope Fund which is for extracurricular activities such as music, dance, sports, etc. for children who are in long-term foster care. These activities are often the “little things” many of us take for granted that are not often available to children in foster care.

All items are provided to the foster families at no cost. Fostering Hope believes that by helping to support the foster families they can relieve some of the burden they assume when they welcome a child into their home and hearts...makes sense doesn't it? 

Fostering Hope relies solely on local contributions, both financial and in kind, to keep their facility open and operating, and they are very proud of “the closet."

Visit them at www.fosteringhopeinc.com and donate!

Days 26 - 28 - Bonefish & Tarpon Trust

Husband is obsessed...with fishing.  And his number one fishing obsession is Tarpon fishing.  There is "one time of year that Tarpon fishing is awesome" I am told, and during that time, you can find husband at his top secret Tarpon spot any chance he gets. 

So, yesterday and today's donation is in honor of husband - the Bonefish & Tarpon Trust.

Bonefish & Tarpon Trust. Our name pretty much underscores the goals we’re aiming to accomplish – ensuring healthy populations of bonefish, tarpon, and permit for the future. After eight years of existence, BTT is a leader in sponsoring and funding the research needed to accomplish our goals. Most of BTT’s work is done by volunteer efforts, with only a very small portion of funds used to fund administrative functions. The vast majority of our budget goes directly to supporting research and education.

Husband and his brother have a charter fishing company and are happy to take anyone who is interested Tarpon fishing...and any other fishing for that matter.  Visit them at http://carolinaguideservice.com.

Husband is very excited about our little man being able to fish with him when he is old enough...I just know little man will become obsessed just like his father.  Husband is already teaching him how to tie fly's...breaks my heart!

Days 14 through 25 - Jaiden's Place

I met Philicia Baugh-Smith last year while working on our company's Trident United Way employee giving campaign.  Philicia came to share her story, and how she benefited through Trident United Way's support of the Florence Crittenden Program.  

Located in downtown Charleston, Florence Crittenton Programs has been serving the entire state of South Carolina for 114 years. We provide education, counseling services, medical care, social support, and a safe haven for young pregnant and parenting mothers in need. After completing our program, our clients have the skills to become responsible parents and members of the community. We all benefit as they become self-sufficient, responsible mothers, and their babies grow up happy, healthy, loved, and safe.

While talking to Philicia, I learned of her plans to create a transitional home for homeless mothers with newborn babies.  Jaiden's Place was founded last year and aids in the transition "from circumstance to second chance."  Jaiden’s Place offers temporary housing for a maximum of 3 women with infants (six weeks old or younger at admittance) for a period of time no greater than nine months. In addition to housing, residents are provided with comprehensive services that include food, clothing, baby items, transportation, counseling, educational programs and life skills training services.

Counseling programs include individual and group therapy, parenting classes, finance management, health and nutrition education, stress reduction, Bible study, various arts and crafts projects and more. Volunteers and licensed professionals from the community conduct these programs.

In addition, GED Preparation Classes are offered, with instructional and study groups held several times per week. Mock testing and fees are paid for one test administration.

In home childcare is provided by volunteers as a service for mothers and a night attendant provides assistance and support to new mothers and infants.

Philicia is amazing...she is from New York, but grew up in Mount Pleasant.  She is a product of single parenting, poverty, and uncertainty. After living in a group home for unwed mothers for several months, Philicia gave birth to her first child at the age of 16. She made a promise to her son that his life would be more certain than hers. She began her educational journey by taking evening GED classes – with her son. Later she earned a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Springfield College, MA and a Master’s Degree in Science from Troy University, AL. A wife and mother of three, she is currently pursuing an Ed.D in Education from Liberty University. 

Over the years Philicia has been an advocate in the prevention of teen pregnancy – public speaking, mentoring, and blogging. Philicia’s vision for Jaiden’s Place awoke her in the middle of the night. For days she was plagued by one question, “Where do homeless mothers go after they give birth?” Having worked in homeless shelters, groups homes, and with foster children her answer was clear – Jaiden’s Place!

With a place of rescue named after her daughter (Jaiden Zanijah Lavern Smith), Philicia's personal mission is clear - To break the cycle of homelessness, single parenting, and teen pregnancy- starting with self. 

Day 13 - Nationwide Boston Terrier Rescue, Inc.

So a couple of days ago I dedicated my post to Marley, our firstborn son.

As I mentioned, Marley is 12-years-old and has bone cancer...so sad. I donated $1 to the Charleston Animal Society in his honor.

So, it's only fair to make a donation in honor of Marley's younger brother, Griffon.

Griffon is our 4-year-old Boston Terrier who was "rescued" from a pet store in Conway, S.C. by my mother-in-law...what a wonderful gift!

Griffon is the funniest dog I have ever been around, and his ears are the biggest I have ever seen. I swear, he was born with the same size ears he still wears today...yet his body was so small he fit in the palm of my hand.

Griffon now is obsessed with licking my child's face after he finishes up his sweet potato dinner. Rostan thinks that he is hysterical...he is a wonderful babysitter.

When Griffon was around a year old and we were living in Charleston, he escaped one morning out the front door as husband was leaving for work.

Not sure if you have seen a terrier on the loose, but they tuck their butts in and truck it as fast as they can in the opposite direction of the person yelling and chasing them.

Griffon ran straight across the street, without looking both ways, and into the neighbor's yard. Just as he was running up to their front door, one of the neighbors was opening it and walking out on her way to work. She didn't even see the mad boston terrier fly into her house at the same time she was coming out. So, she wondered what husband was doing as ran towards her.

He tried to explain what just happened, but at the same time she heard her roommate scream in the back bedroom "What the *@#$?" Griffon tucked and trucked straight into her roommate's bedroom and flew onto the bed.

Needless to say, we didn't know our neighbors and certainly weren't invited over for supper club after that.

So, in honor of our little "boston terrorist," I am donating $1 to the Nationwide Boston Terrier Rescue, Inc.

Day 12 - 'Haiti: Aid Still Required'

While I had another charity in mind for today, I just realized that it is the one-year anniversary of the tragic Haiti earthquake. While doing some research, I came across the following website: http://aidstillrequired.org/haiti

On January 12th, 2010 a 7.0 magnitude earthquake struck just off the coast of Port-au-Prince, Haiti, killing 230,000 and injuring millions more. Today, only 3% of the rubble has been removed, over a million people are still living under tarps and tents (highly subject to all kinds of violence and sexual assault), and cholera is spreading. Clearly, aid is still required!

Last year after the earthquake, I worked on a project at work that raised money (around $33,000) to donate a water treatment system to Haiti through Water Missions International. I will never forget the photos that I received right after the earthquake with the bodies scattered along the roads...very horrific.

Instead of just donating $1 today, I am going to donate $2 - $1 to 'Haiti: Aid Still Required' and $1 to Water Missions International.

I pray for those in Haiti who have been touched by this awful tragedy, and I pray that your lives will improve drastically in the coming days, weeks and months...may the world remember last year's earthquake and be inspired enough to again donate anything they can to aid in your recovery.

Day 11 - Charleston Animal Society

Before falling asleep last night I was reading the book You Had Me at Woof by Julie Klam. The book is about a woman who, when in her thirties and single, adopted a Boston Terrier named Otto and became a dog hero, fostering, donating and loving them from them on.

I came across a great quote in the book that reminded me of why I started doing this...

“Service is the rent we pay for being. It is the very purpose of life, and not something you do in your spare time.” Marian Wright Edelman

Service is the rent we pay for being, its something that we do because we need to, because we have a purpose and the ability to do so.

We have two loving dogs - Marley, a 12-year-old black lab pound puppy that husband adopted when he was in college, and Griffon, a 4-year-old boston terrier that husband's mother "adopted" from a pet store for us.

They are our original children, and we wouldn't know life without them. Unfortunately, Marley has bone cancer and a very large tumor growing on his front leg. We are not sure how much longer he will be with us, but until then, we will spoil him rotten and love him madly.

So, today's donation is in honor of our "firstborn son" Marley. I am donating $1 to the Charleston Animal Society, the very place that Marley was adopted in the Fall of 1998.

We love you Marley!

Day 1 - WINGS for Kids

To start out the year, I decided to choose a program that is near and dear to my heart...WINGS for Kids. Since it is already the 10th day of the year, I am going to donate $10 to account for days one through ten.

I volunteered as an after school tutor for three years at Memminger Elementary School in downtown Charleston as part of the WINGS program and LOVED it. This program is amazing, and the results are visible to anyone who observes these kids for just one afternoon.

The program has a website, www.wingsforkids.org,
which has a ton of info about the program and how you can help.

Last year when I was tutoring a first grade class, one of my students began to notice that I was getting large in the belly area. She asked if I was pregnant, and I told her and the rest of the class that yes, I was having a baby in August.

She continued to ask me every Monday if I had delivered the baby yet...I told her no, I still have a very large belly, and its getting bigger and bigger each week, and that it would be a couple more months before he was due.

Another one of my students asked if she could be the godmother. Another asked if she could name him. I told her that I was open to suggestions on the name front, and she came up with the perfect name she said. I asked "What is it?" She said, "Antwon!" I told her I would have to talk to husband, but that I would relay her name suggestion.

Needless to say, we didn't go with her suggestion, but she was so sweet to help me decide on names. I loved my time at Memminger, and if anyone is looking for a fun volunteer experience in Charleston, I would definitely suggest calling WINGS!