Dictionary Project Update: Some Delivered, but Still a Great Need

There we were. Standing in the library of John F. Kennedy elementary school in Ferndale when all of the sudden...massive amounts of 3rd graders come at us.

This only means one thing: we reached our goal of being able to provide dictionaries to every third grader in the Ferndale school district!

Last Wednesday, the gals from the Operation: Kid Equip (OKE) female blogger collaboration and Menachem, the co-founder and brains behind OKE came together to deliver dictionaries to our first school.

The experience was nothing short of amazing. The principal announced us and explained to the children that we were sharing our passion for writing with them by giving them a great tool - a dictionary.

The children crowded around us, each getting up to receive a dictionary of their very own. We received many thanks, but the cutest of all were all the HUGS we received. Once seated again, the students thumbed through the book, which was easy to navigate for a 3rd grader and they all quickly found other nuggets of wisdom in the book such as sign language and the longest word known to man. I showed a little girl how I sign my name and encouraged her to learn how to sign her own name and then look up words in the dictionary and figure out how to sign those. Here she is signing away:

Following the distribution, the principal asked the students how receiving a dictionary made them feel inside and the students were quick to raise their hands to share: excited, happy and LOVED. To think a simple act of giving away a dictionary could make a child feel loved was the best feeling ever. We all departed feeling pretty darn good about ourselves.

The need train doesn't stop here though. We still need to distribute many more dictionaries to area children. And our next stop is Hazel Park, an Oakland County city that has been hit very hard by the economy.

To those asking "Why Oakland County and not Detroit proper?" listen up:
Oakland County is often noted as one of the "richest" counties in the state. However, that really isn't true these days -- not in Michigan's economy especially. However, because of this notion, many times children in Oakland County are overlooked. As OKE's research has shown, many school districts have gone up dramatically in the past few years with the school's free and reduced lunch program, which generally is an indicator of the need. One district in dire need is Hazel Park, which has recently surpassed Pontiac's need.

Helping out is simple. For a $20 donation, you can supply eight third graders with dictionaries.

1. Click here to make a PayPal donation.

2. Mail a check to:
Operation: Kid Equip
P.O. Box 364
Royal Oak, MI 48068-0364
*Write Dictionary Project in the memo line*

3. Contact menachem[at]operationkidequip.org to make a credit card or other form of payment.

So on this Martin Luther King Day as we reflect on how our country has progressed through the years, let us also reflect on something very important he said many years ago:

Life's most persistent and urgent question is, 'What are you doing for others?'

Special props to the other Detroit-area bloggers making this possible: Erin Rose of Positive Detroit, Becks Davis of Detroit Moxie, Nikki Stephan of Creativity, Love, Happiness & All That Falls Between and Jennifer Wright of Looking Glass Lane. If you'd like to join the collaboration, contact Erin at positivedetroit[at]gmail.com.

Thanks to Becks Davis of Detroit Moxie for the adorable photo in the middle of the girl with the dictionary.

Help Operation: Kid Equip Empower Local Students

I'm proud to let you all know that I've partnered with some rad female bloggers from the Detroit area to spread the word and raise money for a really neat program.

The program is with Positive Detroit and Operation: Kid Equip, a metro Detroit organization looking to help provide 25% of Oakland County Schools with dictionaries for third graders.

With the assistance of Operation: Kid Equip and its participation with The Dictionary Project, we will work to distribute dictionaries specifically written for third graders who are at the dividing line between learning to read and reading to learn.

Erin Rose of Positive Detroit, Becks Davis of Detroit Moxie, Nikki Stephan of Creativity, Love, Happiness & All That Falls Between , Jennifer Wright of Looking Glass Lane are the other rockin' bloggers participating in this. The initiative is important to all of us because we want to help give the same opportunities to local students as we were given in our writing classes as children. And, we want to encourage local students to become better writers.

Through March 15, 2010, we're working to raise money to provide approx. 2,700 third graders in Oakland County with new dictionaries. To give you an idea of the impact you can make, for a $20 donation, you can supply at least 8 third graders with dictionaries.

Also, an anonymous donor has graciously offered to match donations, dictionary-for-dictionary, up to the first 100 dictionaries. Just think, your donation today can double the amount of children that are being served tomorrow!

Literacy and writing are two things I feel very passionate about when it comes to children. I vividly remember having a giant blue Webster dictionary on our bookshelf as a kid. I would often use it to play a game...I'd flip through the pages, land on one, stick my finger on a word and read about the word and its meaning. I learned something new every time I played! I plan to teach my children the same game with the hopes that one day, they too will understand the power of words.

Children are the key to our future -but how can they succeed without the ability to read and write? A dictionary is the perfect educational tool to start our children on a path toward success.

Here is how you can help the organization:

1. Click here to make a PayPal donation for $100, $50, $20 or $10

2. Mail a check to:
Operation: Kid Equip
PO Box 364
Royal Oak, MI 48068-0364
Be sure to write Dictionary Project in the memo line.

3. Contact menachem@operationkidequip.org to make a credit card or other form of payment outside of PayPal.

4. If you would like to join the female bloggers collaboration, contact Erin Rose at positivedetroit@gmail.com.

About Operation: Kid Equip
As an all-volunteer 501(c)(3) nonprofit community benefit organization, we realize that to break the cycle of poverty and hopelessness, we have to meet some very basic, yet overlooked needs. Operation: Kid Equip acts as a conduit for collecting and distributing tangible educational and school supplies to school-aged children. Operation: Kid Equip effects long term improvement in the community by providing at-risk kids with the core necessities they need to prosper in school and in life. Visit our website at www.operationkidequip.org

About The Dictionary Project
The Dictionary Project is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. The goal of this program is to assist all students in completing the school year as good writers, active readers and creative thinkers by providing students with their own personal dictionary. The dictionaries are a gift to each student to use at school and at home for years to come.

Reminder: We All Have a Place in this World

I came across the story below through our clipping service for Panera and it struck a chord with me. Originally published in The Fenton Press, the story serves as a reminder to all of us that we can find our own life's meaning through action to others in many different ways.

Homeless man puts me in my place
by Julia Zaher The Fenton Press
Friday June 27, 2008

Each Sunday evening when Panera Bread in Fenton closes, I pick up all the unsold bread and baked goods, which the company donates each night to various nonprofit organizations.

On Mondays, my first stop is at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church on the east side of Flint, where the food is used for the Saturday soup kitchen. I've seen a lot of little miracles since I began volunteering at the soup kitchen. One of the most memorable occurred during Memorial Day weekend.

I picked up the bread as usual Sunday but because of the holiday, no one was at the church Monday to receive it. Everything had to stay in the back of my Jeep until Tuesday.

On Monday afternoon, a neighbor asked me if she could get a ride to her friend's house just north of downtown Flint, where we live in a historic apartment building.

We stopped at a drugstore on the way, and she bought me a bottle of water to thank me for the ride since I wouldn't take gasoline money.

I dropped her off and headed back downtown. Driving down Saginaw Street near the University of Michigan, I saw a man picking through a garbage can. He opened a discarded food bag looking for something to eat. I circled the block to catch up with him and rolled down my window.

"You need some food, man?" I asked.

"Yeah," he said.

"Meet me at the back of my truck," I told him.

(My dad likely is having a fit as he reads this. Trust me. When you work with street people, you learn who you can approach and when it's best to keep moving.)

I parked, got out and popped the back door to dig into the Panera stash for him. He was an older black man with no front teeth. I could smell the alcohol on his breath.

"You saw me looking in that trash can?" he said as he started to cry.

"Yes. Look, if you need food, don't be ashamed. You just need a little help. I can help you," I said.

He threw his arms around me, hugged me and sobbed for several minutes.

"It's okay. You just need a little help," I said. "What can I give you? Cookies? Bagels?"

"I don't eat no bagels. Can you give me some cookies? I need sugar."

I loaded him up with cookies and baked goods.

"I just got out of jail, and I ain't got no money, no place to go," he said, still crying.

He carried a plastic bag with his worldly belongings.

"Look at me," I said. "What's your name?"

"Charles."

"Charles, I'm Julia," I said.

"Julia? That's my sister's name. Someone told me that God loved me, and here you are. You saw me eating from that garbage can. How did you find me?," he asked.

"I just saw you, Charles. And you looked hungry, and I have this food. I knew I could help you just for today."

He hugged me. I gave him the still unopened bottle of water.

"Can you get into one of these men's shelters?" I asked.

"I can't get in today because I've been drinking, and they'll know. They won't let me in," he said.

"I know. But you can eat this sugar. Let the sugar calm you and don't drink, okay? And then tomorrow, get into a place. Now, Charles, look at me: no more booze. Just the sugar, okay?"

"Okay," he agreed.

Just then, two other men came walking along who recognized Charles. They were volunteers from a local men's shelter, arriving just in time to pick up where I left off. I left Charles with cookies and the bottle of water from my neighbor.

On the way home, a sob caught in my throat. Panera Bread supplied the bread. My neighbor supplied the water and the reason to leave the house right at that time. God supplied Charles to remind me that I have a place in this world.

And on that day, it mattered that I was in my place.

Do What Dr. Phil Says: Give Blood to The Red Cross!

Blood is in low supply. Many of us know this. And we all would like to give except for many (myself included), it can be a very horrifying experience.

After getting several calls from the American Red Cross (including a scary message of Dr. Phil shouting), I caved in when I saw a flier in my building for a blood drive. A timely blog post from my dear friend Erin reiterated the importance of donating to me... And since I had no reasonable excuse since the blood drive was to be held in the Ren Cen where I work, I decided to sign up.

Although I did some work with the Central Michigan Chapter of the Red Cross during college, it was my wonderful husband who motivated me to get the balls to donate in the first place. (because "it's the right thing to do," according to him.) So, the other day I took his advice and grabbed my iPod and did my civil duty. Thank goodness for the blood flow music including happy songs like "Penny Lane" by The Beatles, the Grateful Dead's redition of "Wake Up Little Susie" and "All This Beauty" by The Weepies. These songs made me forget about the blood that was draining from me as I lay there.

I have B- blood, which is the second most rare blood types (behind AB-). I often think, what if I needed blood and there wasn't any of my type left in this world? What would happen? I can only receive O- and B-. That's it. So, if there weren't donors, I potentially could be royally screwed.

Although the experience sucked (rude nurses with no bedside manner, small juice boxes and practically laying on top of the others donating), I did it. And for that, I am proud. And I'll do it again.

Here's something interesting to read if you know your type (you all should!):

TYPES DISTRIBUTION RATIOS
O + / 1 person in 3 / 38.4% of the population
O - / 1 person in 15 / 7.7% of the population
A + / 1 person in 3 / 32.3% of the population
A - / 1 person in 16 / 6.5% of the population
B + /1 person in 12 / 9.4% of the population
B - / 1 person in 67 / 1.7% of the population
AB + / 1 person in 29 / 3.2% of the population
AB - / 1 person in 167 / 0.7% of the population

I'm the 1 in 67. At least I'm unique, but then again, when it comes to blood, I wouldn't call those lucky odds.

The other numbers that make it all worth while...

39,000 - number of pints of blood needed in America each day

900 - number of donors needed everyday in southeastern Michigan alone

6 - times a year you can donate

3 - lives you can save

2 - number of seconds that passes before someone in America needs blood

1 - number of people it takes to make a difference!

Hunting 101: Learn to Appreciate the Meaning Behind the Kill

I grew up in a family of outdoorsman that live for hunting -- whether its bow or rifle season or a perfect summer morning fit for bass fishing.

For the longest time, I never understood the principle behind it all. As a pro-animal rights lover, I always thought, "Why hurt Bambi and his cute family?"

Through the years, I've watched my dad and brothers pack up their camo and bright orange garb, freeze dried food and tents as they gear up to head north to the wilderness for one of their annual hunting trips during deer season.

"Why do you look forward to these trips so much?" I always used to think. "To go freeze in the cold, not shower for days on end and experience the 1800's by surviving without plumbing? No thanks. Not for me."

Regardless, they would always return from those trips with beards on their faces, stories to tell and bonds in their hearts -- whether there was a deer in tow or not. There was something about the nature in those woods that brought a peace to them that a suburban lifestyle just couldn’t bring.

As a young girl, I was absolutely mortified whenever my friends would come over and would see a dead deer being gutted in my garage. Oh, the nightmares that must have caused! However, looking back, I am grateful to have been exposed to the entire hunting process and through my observations (even the gruesome ones), I've begun to understand what draws people into the "sport."

I've learned hunting is all in what pair of eyes you choose to look at it with. Many people will be blind to the concept and will never give up their opposition to killing Bambi, or using guns at all, while others may choose to open their eyes and realize that destroying a deer’s reproductive abilities or relying soley on our cars for population control is really no less wasteful than just tossing fresh produce into a landfill (especially since the deer's meat will no longer be of use).

According to research, deer cause $250 million in landscaping damage and deer-related collisions injure 29,000 people and kill 1.5 million deer each year.

Nonetheless, deer should not be looked at as God's curse to man. They really are beautiful creatures that I believe have been put on this earth for many reasons -- one of them being food.

Speaking of deer as a source of food, right in line with the trend of low fat, natural and organic food -- venison tops the list in my mind as far as meat goes. It would be a great benefit to hunters everywhere if we were to simply re-label "deer meat" as free-range, grass-fed, organic, locally produced and harvested, sustainable, low-impact, humanely slaughtered meat. That way, perhaps people would continue to take their blinders off.

My inspiration for writing this entry came to me today when I came across an enlightening column, by one of my favorite local journalists --John Schneider of the Lansing State Journal. The story he uncovered focuses on a group who hunters who assist with local hunger issues... one more way to understand the "thrill of the hunt," all the while providing hungry and needy people with healthy sustenance.

Schneider: Sportsman aims to bring in more game for charity in '08

WILLIAMSTON, MI - There's no telling how many car wrecks it prevented, but there's no doubt the local Sportsmen Against Hunger campaign fed a lot of people.

The last of the various deer seasons - late archery and doe hunting on private land - ended Tuesday, and the numbers are in: Local hunters produced about 10,000 venison meals for the needy in this area.

That's a big leap from last year, when Thomas Cullimore of Williamston, the force behind the effort, delivered the meat from five deer - three of which he killed himself - plus half a moose to the Williamston Area Food Bank.

"I can't believe it," said the retired Cullimore, who, since early November, has logged countless hours on the meat wagon, schlepping carcasses donated by hunters to the processor, then retrieving boxes of 100-percent pure ground venison and delivering it to people who feed the local hungry.

And what did Cullimore get out of it?
One-hundred percent pure happiness.

"The joy I get out of doing this ...," he said. "I'm hooked."

Close to home Cullimore, a one-man distribution system, dispensed the venison burger - ideally suited to dishes like chili, spaghetti sauce and sloppy joes - to the Williamston and Haslett food banks, the Salvation Army, and St. Vincent DePaul.

He got a chance to talk to some of the folks who ate it, and the reviews were all positive.

Here's how Cullimore came up with the 10,000-meals figure: The average
deer, he found, yields 35 pounds of boneless venison - 140 quarter-pound meals.


Hunters donated 63 deer, which adds up to 8,820 servings. A 250-pound elk padded the yield.


Safari Club International, which sponsors similar programs in other areas, paid all the processing fees. Cullimore is a member of the board of Safari Club's Lansing chapter.

Cullimore, an avid hunter himself, lives on a 77-acre farm. Although his meat-distribution duties cut into his hunting time, he still managed this year to kill four deer, three of which he donated.

By the way, it's a sign of the time in Michigan that 10,000 donated venison meals weren't enough. "I was getting requests from other kitchens," Cullimore said.

Now, he's REALLY inspired. His goal for 2008: 200 deer. That adds up to ... lets' see ... about 28,000 healthy meals.

My moral from reading this article: Maybe I don't understand all aspects of hunting entirely, but I do respect my family members and I do understand and have a passion for quality food. In the future, if I ever go hungry, I know my family would be there for me and I wouldn't turn my nose up to any food -- even if it ends up being Bambi's daddy.

Taking Time to Give Back During the Holidays

Christmas is fast approaching.

As we all know, the holidays are designated to giving that extends far beyond wrapped gifts under the tree. It’s a season where we *should* reach a hand out to help those who are less fortunate in an attempt to make their holidays a little brighter.

If you want to make that kind of contribution and brighten someone's day locally — it's not tough. One of the most obvious things out there are the Salvation Army bell ringers who have recently taken up their annual vigil in front of all major stores. When you come out of the store with bags full of gifts, make sure to drop your change or a few bills into the red kettle. If you want to go above and beyond, take a turn at ringing that bell yourself by calling your local Salvation Army or for those in southeast Michigan, visit the Salvation Army Eastern Michigan Web site. It's cold and tiring to stand out there, but for the (few) people that take the time to drop a few cents in and smile at the ringer, it's worth it.

If you are in Michigan and hate the cold, another great nonprofit organization that needs help around the holidays is United Way. Check out your local United Way Web site for volunteer events such as delivering gifts or food to the elderly or sorting children's toys for those in need. Click here for volunteer opportunities with UW of SE Mich. Many of the events only require a few hours of time.

Another thing to consider while out shopping is gifts that "give back." I am hoping to write a blog entry in the next few days about such items... But one gift that gives back that I've come across and am smitten with is by Macys.com and is part of the “Path to Peace” collection of Rwandan baskets (see photo above). These have been created in partnership with four Rwandan widows’ organizations. They truly are beautiful pieces of hand-woven artwork that puts sustainable income into the hands of the weavers, helping to change their lives. Each design symbolizes its own thing, whether friendship, unity or peace.

Shop smart, think of others and remember what the holidays are truly about - giving back in some way.