SheSue Experience

Choirs are made up of either a pair of women or a small group. They sing in hospitals, hospices, nursing homes and private homes. The choirs practice at least twice a month. The music they sing is up to the family or caregiver depending on musical taste, spiritual direction or physical capacity. Songs include rounds, chants, lullabies, hymns, spirituals and classical choral music.

To become a member, you need to be female, be able to carry a tune and be able to commit to a minimum of six months. According to Munger, the main criterion for membership is, “feeling a shiver down your back at hearing about the Choir”.

Since then, Project Linus has grown with chapters in nearly every state in the United States with over 3 million blankets given out. Blankets can be quilted, knit, crocheted, sewn or tied. They can be any size, made for children going through trauma from ages 0-18. The website offers free patterns for blankets if you need a place to start. Don’t know how to quilt or knit, you can also donate supplies.

Now there is an entire community who works toward passing it forward. It’s called We, the World. Through their website, you can set up a program that is designed to assist people in some way. They will hook you up with 99 other people to assist you with your project and help you put your program into existence.

Not sure what you want to do? That’s what the mentor program is for. You can sign up for a 30 minute private mentor chat. You will be asked to answer some questions beforehand so that the mentor will have a better idea of what you want to accomplish and what skills you want to use.

Are you an artist? Perhaps you can teach art classes or create works of art to donate. Just think of how much beauty you could spread around if 99 other artists also gave their time or work. No idea what to do, no worries. They have lots of ideas and stories from those who have developed successful programs. The program doesn’t have to be some huge Red Cross program. The whole pass it forward idea stemmed from one person doing one kind act.

Once you have a program under your belt, you can mentor others to do the same; passing it forward once again. Not only do you help the less fortunate, but you pass on your ideas to someone else to develop yet another program.

After Hurricane Katrina, I wanted to jump in my car and run to the rescue. Natural disasters seem to tug at the heart of many. You can’t even imagine losing everything you own. You wonder how these victims survive. Without lots of volunteers, they probably wouldn’t. That’s where you come in. You can help and you don’t even have to leave your home.

Katrina’s Angels is one of many non-profit agencies that offer assistance to victim’s of natural disasters, but their organization is primarily run off a website. Here are some of the positions you can do from home:

1. Community Angel – Search the Internet, type emails, enter data, make contacts with your community looking for resources for the website. In the case of a natural disaster in your area, you may help find local businesses who are willing to donate items.

2. Community Coordinator – Coordinate volunteers in your area. Identify agencies and resources in your community who can help after a disaster. Find places that have water, food, ice, shelter, tarps, and medical care. You may work with the survivors of a disaster, matching them to the resources they need.

3. Fund Raising Angels – Non-profits are always in need of fund raising. Katrina’s Angels relies on the generosity of others to keep going. Start a fund raising effort on the Internet or find a fun way to generate funds.

4. Grant Writer Angels – Research companies that offer funds to victims of natural disasters. Interview with the companies, secure information about the company and write grant proposals for the grant writing team at Katrina’s Angels.

5. Media Angels – Looking for creative types: writers, journalists, graphic designers. You may write press releases, articles, create web pieces, create press packets for the media, write for the blog, design fliers or posters.

6. Resource Angels – Develop lists of resources for survivors such as food, clothing or utilities. Enter these resource listings into the web based library.

7. Technology Angels – If you have web development experience, you can provide your expertise in developing the website and keeping it up and running.

When families find themselves rushing to the hospital with a child in need, they often leave with nothing but the shirt on their back. They arrive at the Ronald McDonald house with nothing. This is where you can help by creating a “Home Away from Home” box for them. These boxes can contain toiletries (shampoo, toothpaste, conditioner, etc), toothbrushes, a notepad, pens/pencils, stationary, kleenex, gum, individually wrapped snacks (granola bars, cookies, etc), water, playing cards, book of word games, or other small items. The box doesn’t have to be huge, the size of a shoe box is fine. If you are creative, you might decorate the box.

I like that there is no commitment. You do not have to do this every week or month. You can choose to send one or twenty cards. How crafty are you feeling today? This is a great excuse to break out those stickers or colored markers. Your card can be store bought, but wouldn’t it be more fun to be crafty. I just sent out three cards. I used the folding iris technique to make covers for my cards and just wrote a springy poem inside.