Doctors Without Borders

One of the organization that I have been blown away by time after time is Doctors Without Borders (also known as MSF, Medicins Sans Frontieres). 

This incredible group works in over 60 different countries assisting people in need. In seven weeks, Doctors Without Borders treated over 3,000 malnourished children in Sudan. They rushed to aid flood victims in Nigeria and are still working tirelessly to assist individuals in Haiti. In Sri Lanka, the group is rehabilitating people with spinal cord injuries. 

Recruiting both medical and non-medical aid workers, the group provides its volunteers with incredible benefits such as round-trip transportation, room and board in the country where the project is taking place, a salary and per diem (in the currency of the country the project takes place in), insurance (life, medical, emergency evacuation, disability), letters of support for student loan deferrment, payment of interest on student loans during and 6 months after the assignment, and much more. Doctors Without Borders reaches out not only to the individuals in the countries it serves, but also goes to great lengths to make certain that volunteers are provided for as well.

I Dare You

The Girl Effect

This simple yet incredibly powerful short film is the hallmark of a growing campaign around the globe. After you watch the film, head to www.girleffect.org and check out the incredible work this campaign is inspiring!

Random Acts of Kindness: The Inspiration For This Blog

Throughout my life, my parents have served as examples of who I wanted to become. They tirelessly helped those in need and put others before themselves every single time the opportunity arose. They encouraged their children to go out and change the world for the better, whether the contributions were great or small.

I remember watching these two people changing the world for the better while the world looked on. While they gave all they could, I was also watching people who did not. I saw those who found volunteering to be a waste of their precious time. I saw people who used donations as a simple tax write-off. I watched this and I made the decision to try to live my life the way my parents always have. In fact, it was my parents who showed me the story of The Starfish to begin with. Their encouragement and compassion has always inspired me.

One memory that has always stuck with me is one from a time when I was about 4 or 5 years old. It was a cold night when my mother, father, brother and I were headed into a restaurant to eat. Outside, we saw a homeless man leaning against the wall asking for money for food. Instead of waving him off or simply handing him a dollar, my parents invited him to come and sit down to eat with us. Although he was surprised at the offer, he agreed and joined us. We were so busy listening to him tell amusing stories that I never noticed my father slip out. After a few minutes he returned carrying a bag, which I thought nothing of at the time. After we finished our meal, the man thanked my parents for about the hundredth time and we headed out the door. Outside, my father handed him the bag which contained a winter coat. I will never forget the look on the man's face...His eyes welled with tears and he thanked my parents over and over. My parents just smiled. Without another word we got into our car and went home. We never saw the man again and my parents never mentioned what they had done for him. It was something that came naturally to them. Someone was in need and they did what they were supposed to do, they helped him. Although it was a small act of kindness, I have never forgotten it. Today anytime I feel like giving up, when I get frustrated about being one person and feel as though I will never make a big enough impact, I remember the look on the man's face when my father handed him the coat. Like magic, a new kind of confidence and energy comes back to me. I remember that it doesn't take an enormous gesture to make a difference. It takes one little act of compassion and love at a time. Sometimes the biggest changes come from quietly and humbly serving others. It simply takes perseverance, dedication and a willingness to be an agent of change.

My hope for all of you is that you go out and change this world for the better in any way that you can. Remember that no action is too small. Remember that there are children out there who are watching you too, be they your nieces, nephews, sons, daughters, or even neighbors. Remember that what they see in you will someday impact their decisions on the kind of people they want to become. My hope is that you will show them how to be the kind of people who dedicate their lives to helping...one starfish at a time...

Random Acts of Kindness in Action: 1

Sometimes we get so caught up in our own lives that it takes witnessing a small act of kindness towards another to remind us to be the people we want to be. 

Hearts United For Animals

Hearts United for Animals (HUA) is a national no-kill shelter which has rescued over 4,000 dogs from puppy mills across the country. Although predominantly focusing upon dogs, this group also houses some cats who would otherwise be put down or abandoned. The 65-acre farm is covered with trees and grass and has enormous dog yards where the animals are allowed to run and play. Giving them medical treatment, training, and socialization, many of the dogs are able to be adopted by loving families across the country through the Jet Set Dogs Program which transports them to new homes. Approximately 300 animals are housed on the farm at a given time. All of the animals are fixed and are put on healthcare. With specific volunteers dedicated to a set number of dogs, special attention is given to each animal and prospective adopters are given information on the dogs' personalities, likes and dislikes.

KAYCIE

Those animals who were too traumatized by their previous living conditions, are older and not likely to be adopted, and those with disabilities too great for adoption are kept on the farm to live out the rest of their lives in a loving and nurturing environment through the Sanctuary Sweethearts program.The Sanctuary Sweethearts are cared for through donations provided to the organization.

KID ROCK

The dogs have been placed in 45 states and Canada and was honored by the Smithsonian Institute for the technology used in the Jet Set Dogs program. Educational programs such as the Spay/Neuter Program and anti-puppy mill effort are used to inform and assist the public in caring for animals and limiting the number of dogs who end up in shelters and abusive situations. As the group is based in Nebraska, the organization assists with vet care for families in the Midwest who cannot pay for surgeries or treatment for their animals.

WALLY

In honor of a shepherd mix named Tia who was severely beaten by her owners with a baseball bat and was rescued by HUA, Tia's Place was created. This refuge is a safe haven for dogs who were severely abused by their owners before being rescued by the organization.

SPRITE

From volunteers to come and play with the animals to monetary donations that will be placed towards the cost of caring for the animals, educational programs, and vet care for families who cannot afford it, help is always embraced by HUA. For more information about adopting or assisting the group, please visit www.hua.org.

City Gate

If you are looking for an organization which does incredible work for youth and is one of the most fun-filled places to volunteer, City Gate is the group for you. This amazing non-profit was founded in October of 2001 in Washington, DC by Dr. Lynn Bergfalk in order to assist disadvantaged or disenfranchised members of the DC community. The group specifically focuses attention upon assisting children and youth, homelessness and poverty, and immigrant and international populations. In their own words, City Gate's goal is "To help folks on the margins of our society gain access to benefits of the larger community. And, second, to swing that gate both ways, and provide opportunity for those in the mainstream to understand the experience of the marginalized. Swinging the gate both directions recognizes that we all are fellow travelers in the journey of life. Whatever our personal circumstances may be, the blessing of reciprocity will enrich every person as we give and receive from each other." The group assists in numerous ways with afterschool programs, science clubs, summer camps, ESL classes, family literacy programs, and much more.

One such program is The Caterpillar Preschool. This is a multicultural language school for children between the ages of 2 1/2 and 5 years old. Children spend 2, 3 or 5 days a week in either the Spanish or French immersion room where they learn through play to become fluent in a foreign language. The opportunity allows children to become fluent in another language while their brains are developing, giving them a head start from an early age. 

City Gate provides grocery assistance, special holiday events, and a clothing closet for families in need at various locations around the District. 

Family literacy and adult literacy classes are also provided by the organization. GED Preparatory classes and the Adult Education for Careers provide a space for furthering career opportunities in a safe and healthy environment. 

Summer camps and after-school groups allow children to spend time in a safe and nurturing environment filled with educational opportunities and healthy snacks. Tutoring programs and homework help from caring volunteers ensure that children are keeping up with work and are staying at the appropriate grade level while boosting confidence and advancing scores on standardized testing. 

Although all of these programs are incredibly beneficial and necessary, my favorite program is the Urban HANDS alternative break program. HANDS, standing for Helping Another in Need by Demonstrating Servitutde, is an incredible program which children from the summer and after-school programs are paired with volunteers for service projects. The programs vary in length from a day to a week and are filled with fun and games for the children, while teaching the importance of volunteer work. In the evenings, children watch movies, eat healthy snacks, and play games. During the day, they are sent to assist with volunteer projects ranging from physical labor projects to working with organizations to fight poverty and homelessness. Ranging in age from about two to ten years of age, the children I worked with spent the evening playing board games and watching the movie Hook only to rise bright and early to take part in a Help the Homeless Walkathon. Teaching these children from a young age the importance of giving and serving others, the program created a great sense of pride for the children and helped to inspire volunteers to set an even greater example for the children they worked with.

City Gate is one of my favorite groups in DC and I highly recommend getting involved in any way you can. From monetary donations to serving the community the way the children in Urban HANDS do, this non-profit does more than help those in need. It reaffirms every reason why one volunteers in the first place. For more information about this group, please visit http://city-gate.org or contact Dr. Bergfalk at 202-237-1799.