Prescription Used Eyeglass Donations For Guatemala

The Gary family is taking up a collection of used unwanted prescription eyeglasses for the men, women and children of Guatemala. The Gary family has gone to Guatemala for the past 2 summers bringing these much needed eyeglasses to the people there. If you have any used eyeglasses which you no longer wear, please mail them to the address below. An idea to pass along to you is to take a small box and hold onto it while asking any friends/family if they have eyeglasses for donation. Once you have filled the box, then please mail it to the address below.

The folks of Guatemala are in crucial need of our help. I understand that many of the children lack proper education and perform under average in academics because of their poor eyesight.

Mail Eyeglasses to:
Lorraine Jara (BK2HK)
P.O. Box 131397
Ann Arbor, Michigan 48113-1397

We will also be accepting drug store reading glasses and prescription used sunglasses.

The people of Guatemala need our help! Thank you!!!

Kind Acts In Action : Labyrinth Consultants, Inc. Brings BK2HK To Florida In Support Of CCMI

Kimberly Becker of Labyrinth Consultants, Inc. is from Ft. Myers, Florida and she had asked me how she and her coworkers could bring “Be Kind to Humankind Week” into their area to help with the many wonderful things that their organization does to help others. This year they would specifically like to help collect food and other needed goods for the folks at Community Cooperative Ministries Incorporated (CCMI).

CCMI is the umbrella agency that serves multiple organizations in downtown Fort Myers, including The Soup Kitchen, Meals on Wheels and Faith in Action. Labyrinth Consultants will have a number of locations to drop off items during the week. Canned goods, non-perishable foods, toiletries, and monetary donations are all accepted.

Links:
Labyrinth Consultants
CCMI

Downloads:
Press Release for the event
Download the Event Poster – PDF | JPG
Download the Event Flyer – PDF | JPG

Poster and Flyer Design by: Bryan Chaikin
bryan@dofgdesign.com

I would like to express my thanks and gratitude to Kim and Labyrinth Consultants, Inc., you guys are awesome! We wish you luck with your week!

Update: The efforts taken up for donations for the CCMI totaled $1,500.00 and 900 lbs. of food in ONE WEEK!!! Great job!!

Drop Off Locations and Events:

The Island Store – http://www.captivaislandstore.com
11500 Andy Rosse Lane
Captiva Island, FL
239-472-2374
August 25 – 31
9am – 6pm

Roadhouse Cafe – http://www.roadhousecafefl.com
15660 San Carlos Blvd # 36
Fort Myers, FL 33908
(239) 415-4375
August 25 – 31
5pm – Close (9pm)

Urgent Care Center of SW FL – http://www.urgentcareswfl.com
Free Cholesterol and Blood Sugar Screenings by appointment
1708 Cape Coral Parkway, West – Suite 2
Cape Coral, FL 33914
(239)-333-3333
or
1021 Arcos Ave, Suite 105
Estero, FL 33928
(239)-333-CARE

Kind Acts In Action : Try To Do Something For Someone Else On Your Birthday

My husband and I have been trying something new for a couple of years now. On our birthdays, we make a point to do something for someone else. We have tried to break the tradition of celebrating this day as our own. Instead we try to recognize the world around us and give back as a celebration of life. There are little things we do from making a small donation to the causes we believe in to being extra nice to strangers on the street this day. As new parents to be we will be starting this tradition in our new family and wanted to pass it on to others that may also agree its a good idea.

Peace and Love from Los Angeles, California!

Tiffiny and Brian’s new baby son Jack was born!! Welcome to the World! See some pictures on our Flickr page.

Kind Acts In Action : The Gary Family Goes To Guatemala Part 2

This is an update to The Gary Family Goes to Guatemala Part 1

The Gary family and the other team members recently returned from a week-long mission trip to San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala. Here is a follow-up of some of the things they experienced, written by Shelli Gary.

“San Juan Sacatepéquez is a beautiful town located in the Guatemalan highlands. There is a town center where daily open markets take place, selling fruits and vegetables, fabric and beautiful flowers that are grown throughout the city. It was interesting to see the hustle and bustle of commerce taking place with the amazingly colorful background of the local Mayan clothing and culture.

We stayed at a church located right in town. Pastor Santos, his family and the people were so welcoming and showed us so much love and hospitality. The genuine affection we were given was heart touching. It is something I will never forget.

We took over 500 pairs of eyeglasses that had been donated from individuals and the Lion’s Club, with strengths that had been read and labeled by optometrists. On Sunday, Pastor Santos told the people of the church that we would be distributing the glasses on Monday morning and that everyone was welcome and to invite neighbors that may need glasses. We were not prepared for the hundreds of people that started lining up for glasses hours before we began. There is such a huge need there. Here in the United States, if you need glasses you go to the eye doctor, have an exam and order your glasses. In the Mayan villages, there are no eye doctors and even if a person was able to get a ride into Guatemala City, they would not have the money to pay for the eye exam, let alone the eyeglasses, which we were told cost 2 months salary. It’s an injustice that is not fair, and yet it is how it is. So for our team to be in a position to fit the people for a pair of eyeglasses that would greatly improve their daily life was overwhelming and also a joy that is indescribable. There are so many stories of the people who we saw that day, many elderly and never having seen clearly before. They were so grateful and humbled to know that the glasses were brought for them. It gave them hope. The faces of the children who found glasses will forever be etched in my mind. One little girl ran to each of us, hugging us tightly with a huge smile on her face when we finally found the perfect pair for her. With another little girl, we needed to fit her with 2 different pair of glasses, one for her to see better distance and one for her to use for reading. You could tell that her poor vision had caused learning disabilities in her, as she did not know how to read the numbers on a wall calendar. So we asked her how many fingers we were holding up from a distance, and she enthusiastically told us. A little boy who came in squinting, left proudly with his new glasses that he showed to his friends who gathered around him on the street to see. God is so good!

We also taught a prenatal and postnatal care class along with family nutrition. We had taken enough vitamins for 300 people to receive a yearly supply. We decided it best to hand out little bags with a one month supply to each person, letting Pastor Santos continue to distribute the rest on a monthly basis. What we discovered were grateful people who were very interested in any information we could give to them about nutrition and living in a more healthful way. The vitamins will aid in their overall health, and help in ways that we take for granted in our society.

We held a children’s fair that was attended by over 250 people! It was so much fun! We had a drama story, songs, a parachute, jump ropes and we made balloon animals! Even the parents that had brought their children joined in on making the balloon animals, laughing and having a great time. The Mayan children are beautiful and so precious! We had the opportunity to also teach dental hygiene and as the children left the fair, they got a treat bag with a toothbrush, toothpaste and a small book (we also had a packaged snack in the bag – and yes, chocolate sandwich cookies don’t really go with dental hygiene, but hey, it was a “treat” bag, and they had a toothbrush that they now know how to use!)

Another highlight was when we visited a school where we were able to take and donate sporting equipment and 50 lbs. of Spanish books. What a blessing this was to the school! Then our team got to visit the classrooms of the students and teach the colors in English, while they taught us the colors in Spanish.

One of the highlights for us was to spend an afternoon cooking together with the Mayan women in a Mayan kitchen – everything is cooked over a wooden fire and open flame! We taught them how to make chili (something they had never eaten before, but we could find the ingredients at the market to make) and spaghetti. They cooked a traditional celebration soup for us that was delicious!

The week was amazing and has ignited something in my heart. I know we will be returning if God is willing. We fell even more in love with the Mayan people, their genuine love and concern for each other, their sense of family and friendship, and their faith. We have been changed.

Shelli Gary

If you would like to see some pictures of this trip, then head over to my Flickr page.

Kind Acts In Action : The Gary Family Goes to Guatemala Part 1

On June 14, a team of nine from Connexions Church in Dexter, MI, will be headed to San Juan Sacatepéquez, Guatemala on a mission trip to serve the needs of the people in the community. Among the team will be the Gary Family, who will be returning to Guatemala for their second time in less than a year.

“Last year we were in the Mayan Highlands in Santa Apolonia. The town was beautiful, and full of the traditional Mayan culture, that has not changed much over the years. The women and young girls still wear the traditional Mayan Huipals and Cortes (hand woven and multi-colored tops and wrap skirts). We served in a church by hosting a children’s fair and Vacation Bible School for more than 250 children! But, it was the Mayan people who captured our hearts and we fell in love with them. The Mayans are very warm and beautiful people, and very family oriented. It is not uncommon to see older siblings carrying their younger brothers and sisters around on their hip, or grandfathers carrying their grandchildren around on their shoulders. The family unit is very strong in the Mayan culture. But we also witnessed much need. There is great need for health education and medical and dental services, and the illiteracy rate is 64%, one of the highest in Central America.

When we head back to Guatemala next week, we will be taking lots of supplies with us to help meet these needs. Our team has been blessed by so many individuals and organizations with donations. The Dexter Lion’s Club and other individuals have donated over 500 pairs of used eyeglasses that we will be taking! Local Optometrists in the Dexter area have been reading the strengths and coding the glasses for us, so that we will be able to give simple eye exams to help the people pick out a pair of glasses that will help them see more clearly. In the Mayan communities, it is very difficult to have access to eyeglasses, and most go without. The cost of a pair of eyeglasses is worth 2 months salary to most, in addition to the cost of transportation to get into Guatemala City and the cost to see an Optometrist. These will be a big blessing to the people!

A local Rotary Club, who has in interest in Literacy, has donated 50 lbs. of Spanish children’s books! The collection of books includes both fiction and non-fiction and will be a huge blessing to the teachers and students of a school in San Juan Sacatepéquez! We are excited to spend a morning at the school and offer a brief geography lesson about Michigan and teach a bit of English (numbers and colors) with the students.

We will also have the great opportunity to teach dental hygiene to a group of 100 children and 40 teens. Thanks to the generosity of local dentists and many individuals, we are taking dental hygiene kits for these children and for their parents. Many people have been dropping off small tubes of toothpaste and toothbrushes for us to make these kits and we are very thankful. I don’t know if people realize how their small act of generosity and sharing will make such a huge difference in the life of another individual.

We had a request by the church who is hosting our team, to teach about pre-natal and post-natal care along with family nutrition. We have a nurse on our team who will be teaching basic nutrition and personal care, and we will also participate in a group question and answer time. Remember, many of the women cannot read and have little or no access to medical care, other than the community midwife. It will be a very special time, as we also learn more about the lives of Mayan women. There is a local senior center here where women have been knitting baby hats for us to take. We will be giving these to expecting mothers. We are also taking prenatal vitamins to share, that will greatly improve the health of the pregnant mother and her baby. The infant mortality rate is an alarming 50% in some of the Mayan communities.

Our team will be staying in the church that is hosting us, sleeping on the cement floor in sleeping bags. I hear it is the rainy season in June and a bit chilly in the highlands (we will be at a 5,000 ft. elevation). We will eat fresh corn tortillas everyday and the local women will be cooking for our team – it will be delicious! Our boys will have the opportunity to make friends with others their age, and to practice their Spanish. Our team will also have two translators with us who are from Mexico City. They will be an invaluable bridge for our team, not only in the communication, but in bridging the cultural differences.

So many people have made this trip possible for our team with their kindness and generosity. I thank God everyday for this opportunity and know that with Him, all things are possible!”

Shelli Gary

Go to my Flickr page to see photos from the trip last year.

For donation inquiries please contact Shelli at shellig@chartermi.net

Kind Acts In Action : Meijer Does It Again!

A big thank you to Meijer Department Store in Scio Twp. Michigan….

The Meijer Department Store on Jackson Road in Scio Township was once again super generous by donating a $250.00 gift card to the Ann Arbor, Robert J. Delonis Homeless Shelter. This is the 2nd year in a row that Meijer has been so wonderful! The money which they donated will help so many people. Please do not forget your home towns homeless shelters. Donations are always appreciated. Thank You again and Merry Christmas.

Kind Acts In Action : The Loneliest Road

Below is an email sent to HappyNews by one of its readers.

Hello Happy News, I love your site.

I wanted to let you know about a special little girl named Taylor and her dad, who’s biking across the country to help save her life. It would mean a lot if you could help spread the word about Taylor, her Dad, and their cause. Taylor’s story is below, and you can learn more about Taylor, her dad, and the other childeren and dads at www.loneliestroad.org.

Taylor is a vibrant, blue-eyed, funny two-year old girl who loves to dance, loves princesses, and loves playing with her older brothers. Taylor has a devastating pediatric cancer called Neuroblastoma. She is stage 4-High Risk. She has been incredibly strong in her fight against this disease, enduring 7 rounds of chemo before age two. She is now being treated at Sloan Kettering in NYC because the local doctors have done all they can with their resources.

In New York, there is a new treatment against the disease that could be manufactured, but the funding is currently unavailable. The survival rate for high-risk neuroblastoma is a grim 30% with a 50% relapse rate. This new treatment gives much hope to the families being treated there, but they needed to come up with a way to fund it. Taylor’s dad, along with other dads have taken it upon themselves to raise the funds. On Monday, September 10th they began the long trek across our country on their bicycles in a campaign they are calling “The Loneliest Road.” They will travel mostly along US Rte. 50, against the elements, and fatigue. It is an echo of what their children are going through each and every day. They hope to raise much needed awareness for this devastating and often “silent” cancer, as well as raise the funds for the new treatment.

Thanks for your time, I appreciate any help you can provided.

Sincerely,
Michael Waisley
Ashburn, VA

Visit The Loneliest Road.

Related Articles:
http://www.deseretnews.com
http://www.thekansascitychannel.com
http://www.mmdnewswire.com

Kind Acts In Action : Promoting Peace And Helping The Less Fortunate

Below is a small article written by our friend Tiffany Wright:

My husband and I like to try out different places to live. In the past five years we have been promoting random acts of kindness in three different states, Illinois, Arizona and California. We have seen the difference of living in a city to the extreme of living in the desert. What we have learned is, across America, one thing is the same – We need to make this land the best it can be by acknowledging your neighbor and speaking kind words. By promoting peace in our communities, by doing little things like holding the door open for the person behind you. By saying please and thank you, by letting someone go in front of you, by putting others first.

One major issue that America struggles with all over is homelessness. Lend a hand out to the homeless people in your city. You can literally go on the streets and hand out food, make eye contact, they are humans and need to know humankind does care. If you’re more comfortable, go to a homeless shelter and speak to the director that can give you recommendations on how you can help.

In your day to day life at work, try extra hard to smile every chance you get. Remember the names of the people you see if you work in customer service. Create a peaceful environment around you to promote kind acts in your community. We all have the power within us to unite as humankind and create a peaceful world to live amongst each other and for our children to grow old in…

We’re not perfect, and we’ll never have a perfect day. But, we can try!

Kind Acts In Action : DINET

When I was 27, my life as I knew it was stripped away from me. I went from being a totally healthy, active, vivacious young woman to being completely bedridden all in one day. Doctor after doctor were puzzled by my strange symptoms, which were numerous and debilitating.

It took eight months for me to be diagnosed with Postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome. It took a year for me to be able to work again, and then it was only a part time, sit-down job. A ridiculously high heart rate and bottoming out blood pressure left me out of breath and seeing-stars-dizzy whenever I stood up for any length of time. I was lucky though; some people with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome are wheel chair bound and can’t stand up at all.

It has now been eight years since I was originally diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, an often unheard of disorder characterized by dysfunction of the autonomic nervous system, the part of the body that is involved in the control of automatic functions such as breathing, temperature, heart rate and blood pressure. I have healed greatly in the last eight years, and I know that I am blessed to be able to go for walks or just stand up to hug my husband and son when they come in the door. I feel as if I’ve been given a second lease on life, and I’ve spent the last four years running a nonprofit organization dedicated to helping others who have been diagnosed with postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome.

Because the disorder is not well known, funding is in short supply. If there is anyone out there who can help me, I’d greatly appreciate it. [See donation information below]

Thank you,
Michelle Sawicki

Donations are tax deductible and can be made:
Online at www.dinet.org
Mailed to:
DINET
PO Box 55
Brooklyn, MI 49230

Kind Acts In Action : Shopping Spree Courtesy Of Meijer Department Store, Ann Arbor Michigan!

Meijer Department Store on Jackson Road in Scio Township, Michigan, was gracious and generous enough to award “Be Kind to Humankind Week” a $250.00 Gift Certificate to be spent for items needed at the Robert J. Delonis Center for the Homeless, Washtenaw County!!! Debbie Locke-Daniel, Executive Director of the Ypsilanti Area Convention and Visitors Bureau went on a fabulous shopping spree with the gift certificate in hand and purchased a wide variety of wonderfully warm and cozy outer wear for the homeless.

It was a great day and a very rewarding one too! Debbie spent $250.09, almost to the penny of the gift certificate!! What a terrific job Debbie! There certainly are going to be a lot of very warm folks out there this winter thanks to your help!!!

Click here to view more pictures!

With Kindest Regards,
Lorraine Jara/Promoter