Give Back in a Flash: NYC Cocktails for the Men in Blue!

If you've been in New York City, you've seen the Men in Blue out cleaning the city streets--but did you know that the Doe Fund helps these gentlemen go from homelessness to self-sufficiency by supporting the Men in Blue every step of the way? The Doe Fund provides housing, education, job skills, job placement services and more for the men you see keeping the city beautiful everyday.

So here's your chance to give back to the Doe Fund!  

Come out on February 24th to Plug Uglies in Gramercy for the Friends of Doe Happy Hour Event! The cover is a ridiculously low $10 per person and for that you get so much in return. Aside from giving money to a great cause, you'll get drink specials from Plug Uglies and free food prepared by the Doe Fund's very own Culinary Arts program. There's also a chance you could win some great prizes in the raffle!

When: February 24, 2011 from 6:00-9:00 pm

Where: Plug Uglies at 3rd Ave between 20th and 21st Streets

Cover: $10 per person

How to: RSVP on facebook by clicking here.

Grab some friends or colleagues and head over to a happy hour that really gives back by helping homeless men in need!  

Can giving back get any easier?

Enjoy!

xo Jessica

P.S.  Can't make the Happy Hour Event but still want to help out the Doe Fund? Or maybe you're so inspired by the great things this organization does (I am!) that you want to become more involved? There are a great many volunteer opportunities through Doe including tutoring, mentoring, and helping to prepare the Men in Blue for job interviews through Doe's mock interview program. Click here to find out how you can volunteer today.

Give Back in a Flash: Donate a Pint, do-gooders!

Mark your calendars, do-gooders!

On January 25th, the Knights of Columbus are hosting a blood drive sponsored by the American Red Cross in honor of Veterans!  The winter storms have created a shortage of blood in many states, but there's something that you can do about it--give blood.  Giving blood saves lives and takes less than 15 minutes.  In fact, one pint of blood can save as many as 3 lives.  Talk about giving back easy!

Check out the Red Cross website to determine your eligibility and then make an appointment at the Knights of Columbus Blood Drive today.

When: Tuesday, January 25th, 1 pm to 6:15 pm
Where: Parish Center, Church of St. Thomas the Apostle, 872 Farmington Ave., W.H.
For an appointment: Call the Red Cross at 800-733-2767 or Michael DeConti at 860-232-1319

Give a little, save a life!

xo Jessica

P.S.  Just a caveat, I do not support the American Red Cross policy, as mandated by the FDA, of discrimination based on sexual orientation.  I think the organization does great work to help so many people, but hope to see a major change in policy regarding blood donation for men who have sex with men.  For a good article outlining why the current policy places the Red Cross in a scientific "time warp," click here.

Give Back in a Flash: Hockey Night for Hands on Hartford!

Dear do-gooders,

Hands on Hartford is doing a fundraiser with the Connecticut Whale Hockey team.  Come out to the game on January 28, 2011 at the XL Center in Hartford.  Tickets are $12 and a whopping $5 out of every ticket goes directly to Hands on Hartford to help homeless individuals and many more.  Hands on Hartford is by far one of my favorite organizations in the Hartford Metropolitan area.  They do amazing work every day to help others!

Date: January 28th
Time: 7 pm gametime but doors open at 6 pm
Tickets: $12
Available at: Hands on Hartford Main Office at 330 Main Street
Contact: Tricia Hyacinth at thyacinth@handsonhartford.org or 860-728-3201 x 2006

Giving back really doesn't get easier than this!

See you at the game do-gooders!

xo Jessica

Give good health, do-gooders!

Dearest do-gooders,

As many of you know, I am surrounded by doctors and those soon-to-be so it's no surprise that, at some point, I would have at least one medical-related giving back post. The wait is now over!  My sister sent me information about this great cause which is so easy to support! The program is called WorldScopes and it's funded by the American Medical Association. Basically, WorldScopes sends stethoscopes all over the world to needy clinics who are in desperate need of even the most basic medical equipment.

Ways to Help WorldScopes!

1. Send your new or gently used stethoscopes directly to WorldScopes using this address label!
2. Organize a stethoscope drive! Got 20 scopes or more? The AMA will pay your shipping!
3. Donate tax deductible funds so that WorldScopes can buy new stethoscopes.  Every dollar donated goes to purchasing stethoscopes as all administrative costs are paid by the AMA!

I'm big on organizing drives because they seem hard but are really very easy to do! If you want to organize a drive, you can use my DIY drive guide, however, WorldScopes has made it even easier by providing a step-by-step stethoscope specific giving guide (say that five times fast) to organizing your own drive.  WorldScopes provides email scripts for your mass emails, fact sheets, testimonials, and even posters and postcards! In fact, WorldScopes provides email templates specific to physicians, medical students, or the general public. WorldScopes makes it remarkably easy to organize your own stethoscope drive.  You'll be amazed at how little effort this will take for such a huge payoff because WorldScopes does so much of the work for you!

So, you want to organize a stethoscope drive? Head over to Worldscopes and download some fact sheets, figure our where you're going to put your collection box, pick your audience and download an audience-specific email script, send out a mass email, email Worldscopes to get your free posters and post cards, and get started!

Looking for a local place to pick up a new stethoscope to donate?  Try the UCONN Health Center Co-op in Farmington right off of Farmington Avenue. You can also purchase stethoscopes in a range of prices and qualities from Amazon. My pick (with guidance from someone who actually knows how to use one) is the 3M Littmann 2454 Lightweight Stethoscope (which comes in a variety of colors) for $45 including free shipping at Amazon.com. This stethoscope is a bargain since it's from a very reliable brand which makes high-end stethoscopes. If you're ordering online, simply send the scope directly to WorldScopes by clicking here for the address.

Giving good health really is easy!

Happy giving, do-gooders!

xo Jessica

Give Back in a Flash: Take a really meaningful lunch break in downtown Hartford!

Hands on Hartford, one of my favorite local organizations has a new program going where doing something extra meaningful during your lunch break is so, so easy.  Any Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday, you and your colleagues can serve a Community Meal at MANNA, Hands on Hartford's soup kitchen, in downtown Hartford!

What you'll be doing: pouring drinks, plating desserts, putting food on trays, or serving the trays in the dining room.

Commitment time:  11:45-1:00 pm any Wednesday, Thursday, or Friday of your choice (including tomorrow)!

Where:  MANNA at Hands on Hartford, 45 Church Street in the Parish House of Christ Church Cathedral, Hartford, CT

Who to call: Kim Dirschka at Hands on Hartford at 860-728-3201 ext. 2021

Doing something good for others doesn't get much easier than this.  Can you spare a lunch break to help out someone less fortunate this month?

xo Jessica

P.S.  Don't have time to stop by to serve lunch?  How about dropping off some much needed items listed in the Community Meals Wish List?  No donation is too small!