April Hiatus Explained + Support my Bro in his Marathon!

So April turned out to be one epic fail as far as my "12 Gifts" charity project was concerned. It's been a whirlwind few weeks for me, with an unexpected medical roadblock. Hence, this little side project (among others) has had to be placed on the back burner. 

Tomorrow, I undergo surgery for this medical issue. It's non-life threatening - a straightforward outpatient procedure. Nonetheless, it's certainly a reminder that I need to take care of myself first and foremost. If I'm not well, I can't possibly be in a position to help others.

 My game plan is to put this 12 Gifts project on hold through the end of May. I'll resume in June and simply double up on charities for 2 months to get back on track.

 As a side note, my amazing brother Jeff is running in the 2012 Rite Aid Cleveland Marathon this weekend as part of the American Cancer Society DetermiNation team. Meet Jeff (or, Heffe, as we in the fam affectionately dubbed him):

(He's breaking it down at my sister's wedding. And he'll probably punch me in the face for sharing this photo.)

I donated toward his fundraising campaign several weeks ago. His goal of $1,000 is only 70% met. If you have an extra $10 or $20 to spare, I'd immensely appreciate a donation to Jeff's cause.

3 of 12: The Gift of Water

My dear friend Monish brought March's organization to my attention: Charity Water.



It blows my mind that, although 70% of the earth's surface is water, a whopping 1 billion people to not have access to clean water. Water is something so basic. Something that we all probably take for granted each day because we're fortunate enough to have access to it whenever and wherever we want.

I wanted to sponsor a water project, but I don't have a spare $5,000 laying around. However, I did make a donation to a water project.

Just $20 can provide 1 person with access to clean water near their village.

Won't you consider making a donation?

Collecting supplies for Humane Society of Delaware County (until 2/28)

If you know me - whether in person, or from Twitter/Facebook/Instagram - you know that the love of my life is my sweet baby Hershey.

Okay, "baby" may be a gross exaggeration, as she is now 5 1/2 and a solid 80 pounds. But that little squirt is like a child to me.

I adopted her from the Franklin County Dog Shelter when she was just 10 weeks old and we've been inseparable ever since. She's seen me through grad school, marriage, divorce, and a slew of other emotional life changes. I don't know what I'd do without my girl. Which is why I elected to include an animal shelter as part of this project.

We are well into February and, in a strongly uncharacteristic move, I have done nothing to plan for my volunteer experience at the Humane Society of Delaware County.

Okay, that's kind of a lie. I spent enough time perusing their web site to learn that volunteers need to undergo an orientation - which I am MORE than happy to do, and which I fully intend to complete - but time is running short and I really want to be sure that I do something to support this organization in February.

So here's my plan:

From now until Feb. 28, I will collect supplies that can be delivered to HSDC. Key items they need include:

• Canned or soft dog food
• Cream cheese or peanut butter (pups love these as treats!)
• New/gently used leashes/collars
• Old towels/blankets/bed spreads
• Toys and kongs
• Cat litter

I will likely make a PetSmart run and stock up on some items to donate, but I'd welcome it if any of you want to contribute as well. I'll even come and pick it up from you so you don't need to go out of your way!

If you have a donation, please email me: CarolynLKent@gmail.com.

Rockin' the Hat

So when it comes to blogging, I'm an avid slacker. I fully intended to post this entry right after I received my gorgeous hat from Krochet Kids International... but yeah, I totes got lazy.

Nevertheless, here it is - long overdue!

Hooray, le hat is here!

Check out the adorbs tagging! And - a QR code? #swoon

Love the personal touch of the woman who stitched this hat.

Because I am a nerd of epic proportions and get inappropriately excited over QR codes, I simply HAD to scan to see where this bad boy would take me.

It's a web site that lists out profiles of all the women who make products for Krochet Kids. I was able to quickly find my lady and read a bit more about her. It made me feel all warm and fuzzy. Love, love, love!

Know what else I love?

MY HAT!

1 gift down, 11 to go!

In just a mere 7-10 business days, I will be the proud owner of The Thomas!

Thank you all for weighing in on which hat I should purchase from Krochet Kids International. Ultimately, it came down to the ear flaps. I've never owned a hat with ear flaps before and the idea was simply too novel to pass up!

Most importantly, though... I've made a contribution to help someone and their family rise above poverty. And that feels pretty damn good!

Won't you consider buying just one item to support Krochet Kids? (Psst, they now have hoodies!)

Pic of me in The Thomas to follow once I have it in my possession... :-)

January: Krochet Kids International... need your vote!

Yo, peeps. I need your vote on this one!

In January, I will be supporting Krochet Kids International. This organization partners with poverty-stricken families in developing nations to teach them how to crochet. The crocheted products are then sold online and the proceeds go back to the local community (currently, products made in Uganda and Peru are being sold online).

Check out this overview. It's pretty awesome what they're doing!

Krochet Kids intl: Meet Betty from Krochet Kids intl. on Vimeo.


I need your help with this one! 

Below are images of the different hats that are available for online purchase. Which one should I snag? Cast your vote by leaving a comment on this entry.

The Thomas

The Bella

The 5207.5

The Betty

The Helm

The Eisley

The Hodge Podge

The Riley

And, thank you for participating in this month's charitable giving effort!

The Significance of 12

With the dawn of a new year, we are all given an opportunity to reflect upon what we'd like to achieve in the months ahead. It's a chance to start anew and make commitments that will better our lives.

One thing I'd like to commit to is giving back to the community on a more consistent basis. I haven't found a particular cause that is especially close to my heart... so I took a quick survey of my Twitter and Facebook networks to gather 12 charitable causes that were important to my friends and acquaintances.

Why 12?

Well, logically, there are 12 months in a year. If I give myself one charity a month to try, that feels like the right balance between a healthy variety of charitable experimentation... without getting in over my head with commitments I can't fulfill.

Further, if you consider the meaning of 12 within the biblical context, 12 is a perfect number, often signifying perfection of government. When I think about how I govern my own life, I strive to live as (imperfectly) perfect as I can (being a flawed human soul, after all). What better way to inch closer to perfection than to devote one's talents to the betterment of other lives in need?

So... here's my lineup for The 12 Gifts of 2012:

1. Krochet Kids International. *soft spot here, since I crochet* This organization uses crocheted products as a vehicle for social change, striving to lift developing nations out of poverty.
2. Humane Society of Delaware County. Offers rescue and adoption services for neglected or unwanted animals. *cue Sarah MacLachlan*
3. Charity Water. Bringing clean and safe drinking water to people in developing nations.
4. Alzheimer's Association. Works on a global, national and local level to enhance care and support for all those affected by Alzheimer's and related dimentias. 
5. Sam Bish Foundation. The foundation works closely with contacts at Nationwide Children's Hospital to plan events for the families of children that have been diagnosed with cancer.
6. American Heart Association. Heart disease is the #1 killer in America and it doesn't have a gender bias... yet it doesn't get nearly the attention and funding as breast cancer research.
7. Heinzerling Foundation. Provides an environment that enriches the development, education and quality of life of individuals with severe or profound developmental disabilities.
8. Christine Wilson Foundation. On April 13, 2003, Christine lost her life tragically in a house fire near The Ohio State University campus. The charity's mission is to provide annual scholarships to incoming freshmen planning to attend Bishop Watterson High School.
9. Faith Mission. Provides shelter, food and clothing, while helping individuals with access to longer term solutions such as housing, employment assistance, etc.
10. Compassion.com. Sponsor a child!
11. Ohio CASA-GAL. This organization is made up of advocates for abused, neglected & dependent children in the court system. 
12. Mid-Ohio Food Bank. Dedicated to feeding hungry people in Central and Eastern Ohio by collecting and distributing emergency food and groceries.

Interested in helping me out along the way? Simply follow me on Twitter. I'll be posting updates there and here!