Beit T'Shuvah

Beit T’Shuvah is a unique healing spiritual community that assists individuals and families seeking recovery from and prevention of addictive and behavioral disorders.

Athletes for a Cure

Prostate Cancer Foundation

Asian Pacific American Legal Center

Our mission is to advocate for civil rights, provide legal services and education and build coalitions to positively influence and impact Asian Pacific Americans and to create a more equitable and harmonious society. To accomplish our mission, we focus on four strategies: direct services, impact litigation, policy analysis and advocacy, and leadership development.

Armenian Relief Society of Western USA

non-profit, philanthropic women’s organization dedicated to community and cultural service

ARC

Providing activities and programs for people with disabilities

American Heart Society

American Heart Society - Learn and Live

DetermiNation - American Cancer Society

DetermiNation - American Cancer Society Endurance Event Program!

Alliance for Children's Rights

Alliance General Video from Alliance for Children's Rights on Vimeo.

ThinkCure

Hula Flash Mob!

http://youtu.be/zcwy1qsQ6sY

Community Council

The Painted Turtle, Enrich LA, and The Harmony Project were featured in this week's Community Council, a radio show that highlights local non-profits. Listen and learn about these incredible organizations!

The Harmony Project

The Harmony Project builds healthier lives and communities through music-based mentoring. Amazing!

Enrich LA

Enrich LA, non-profit organization that gets edible gardens in the public schools of LA.  Awesome!

Nadeshiko Return Home as Heroines

Check out the FIFA.com article on the welcome the Japanese women's soccer team received when they returned home. Spirits of the Japanese people are lifted by Nadeshiko's World Cup win!

Congratulations, Japan

Today, the world celebrated Japan's win in the Women's World Cup. Congratulations, Japan!

Every Bag Counts

Now through July 24th, Vons markets are holding the "Every Bag Counts" Food Drive to support local food banks. Ten dollars will purchase a pre-filled bag of groceries that will be delivered to food banks serving your local community. Bags include spaghetti, canned tomatoes, canned vegetables, toasted oats cereal, mac and cheese, peanut butter, instant mashed potatoes, and a can of tuna. Support the Every Bag Counts Food Drive and support your local food banks!

Carmageddon

If you don't live in LA, you may not know about Carmageddon. (As in the end of the world, but for cars.)

Carmageddon is upon us. Starting at midnight, the 405 will be closed for 10 miles in both directions.

Free GPS apps for your phone, $4 Jet Blue flights from Long Beach to Burbank, live updates and video. Plenty of services to help the people of LA.

Drivers beware. Carmageddon is here.

Beard Papas

Sometimes when I go home, my aunty and uncle bring Beard Papas to my grandparents house as a sweet dessert treat for all of us.

"It's the best cream puff," they say. Originated in Japan.

Recently, I found that there's a Beard Papas right in my neck of the woods. Sometimes when I shop at the Japanese market next door I stop in to Beard Papas to treat myself. 

Last night. That's exactly what I needed.

They were about to close and I slipped into the door right before they shut down for the night. "Are you still open? Do you have any left?" I asked.

The kind Beard Papa-rian told me there were a couple left - one chocolate cream puff and one doughnut vanilla puff. 

I was in a chocolate mood.

But I still ask, "which one do you recommend?" 

"I like the vanilla," the Beard Papa-rian responded.

Wrong answer. 

I think the Beard Papa-rian could tell that I was in a chocolate mood. Beard Papa-rian looked up, took a side look at the boss man, then looked at me and said, "I'll give you both."

"That'll be $1.99," he said out loud.

"Thank you." I responded real loud. 

Now that's exactly what I needed.

Forever Sharp

While doing my weekly shopping recently, I heard an announcement overhead about "receive a free knife at the produce department." Sure, I could use a new knife.

Of course, there was a catch.

I just had to watch a 5 minute presentation about the "Forever Sharp" knives.

Okay, for a free knife, I'll stay. No rush on a day off. And I could use a new knife.

So the woman presenting told me all of the wonderful things about the Forever Sharp. It stays sharp forever, she says over and over. She demonstrates how she cuts through wood, cuts a hammer. No kidding. Then she says, "see, still sharp."

Now, today (infomercial in person) she says, you can get not one, but TWO Forever Sharp knives for $40. Then, she continues, and we'll give you a free 3rd Forever Sharp knife so you can give it to a friend. You like that offer? How about a set of Forever Sharp steak knives to go along with it, plus 2 juicers. All for $40. That adds up to $150 worth of knives for just $40!

The best part? She asks, "Does anyone here own a Forever Sharp knife?"

"I do. I love it!" the woman right next to me says.

Now this woman practically sold the knife to me. Throughout the presentation she seconded the presenters demonstration. She said, "I don't even use my knife in the kitchen. I keep it outside. I use it to cut the hose!" 

At the end of the presentation, I decide I should invest the $40 in a set of lots of knives that I'll never have to sharpen again.

And I ask the woman next to me who is a firm believer in this product, "So this is a really good set of knives, right?"

"Oh yes, she says. I'm getting this set as a wedding present for someone."

Sold.

Now here's the real question. I told this Forever Sharp story to two friends (only two) and the first question both of them asked me, "Was this woman a plant? She was a plant," they told me. 

I didn't think so. But maybe she was. So was this nice woman an act of service, as I thought? Or was she an act of service to the Forever Sharp company.

You decide. 

Support From Home Blend

Stop by The Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf and purchase a "Support From Home" blend. All Support From Home blends purchased by shoppers are sent to our troops overseas. Send them Support From Home!

First Descents

First Descents: Shattering the illusion that cancer makes people fragile.

Relay for Life

Relay for Life.

Teens2Teens

Teens2Teens, an organization started by teenager Krissi Fjagenbaum, that provides gently worn clothing to teens in one of the country's poorest areas: North Carolina's Appalachian Mountains. 

Chef cooks up comfort food for kids

NASA's Shuttle Program

Tomorrow, July 8th, marks the last launch of the 30-year-old NASA Shuttle Program. Watch the video above to hear Lorna Onizuka, widow of Challenger astronaut Ellison Onizuka, reflect on the U.S. Shuttle Program. Read more.

Therapy Oriented Tricycle (TOT Trikes)

The Pioneers TOT (Therapy Oriented Tricycle) Trike is a modified safe tricycle designed for children with special needs (ages 2½ to 7 years) to help improve their strength and enhance their physical therapies while allowing them the thrill of playing and interacting with other children.  The TOT Trike is specially designed for children who have weak leg muscles, but are able to use the pedals.

The trikes are assembled by an all-volunteer project team and are provided free of charge.  The Crossroads Chapter donates approximately 80 trikes per year, which translates into a $400,000 value since the beginning of the program, as it costs the chapter about $200 to build each trike.

Pioneers

From the Pioneers Website:

Pioneers is a network of volunteers who effect immediate, tangible change in local communities, in partnership with their sponsors.A hundred years means hundreds of Pioneers projects — everything from helping the disabled to fostering literacy. We even supply health kits in the event of a natural disaster. Founded in 1911 as the Telephone Pioneers of America, Pioneers has grown to be the largest industry-related volunteer organization in the world.

We’re a dedicated, diverse network of current and retired telecommunications employees across the US and Canada. Our Pioneers network has steadily grown through our grassroots efforts to spread our mission of service — country to country, city to city, neighbor to neighbor.

Homeward Deployed

Often the first casualty of war is family. Homeward Deployed helps.

Camp Ronald McDonald

Check out Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a fellow Southern California medical-specialty camping facility!

AbilityFirst

Check out AbilityFirst, serving children and adults with special needs!

Boot Camp Buddy - Service Highlight!

By kPod, 365 Days of Service, Sacramento/Michigan Chapter

A few weeks ago, I signed up for a "Boot Camp" class.  A friend from my volleyball team had taken it the session before, and from knowing her, I assessed us to be in similar physical condition... fit enough to play sports like volleyball, but not exactly "top athlete" material.  She said it was tough, she was sore, but she survived.  So, I signed up for the class which is 8 weeks, twice a week.  Which means, I have to drag myself to this class 16 times.  At the first class, I caught my eye on two girls who I judged to be "similar" to myself.  Unfortunately, I haven't seen those two girls since, and instead I'm in a class of people who are not only much more athletic, but most of them have already done this class for one round through...


So, today (class #4... 12 more to go!), we were running "to the first stop sign and back", twice.  Running is REALLY the thing that gets me.  My legs are short, and I just plain hate running, unless there's a bear chasing me. And I'm slow.  On lap #2, I'm halfway TO the stop sign, passing most of the group on their way BACK.  And suddenly, one girl turns around, and joins me.  "I hate running alone!" she said, as she jogged along side me.  "I hate running!" I answered back.  And she introduced herself.  I wish I remembered her name, but I was focused on continuing to move one foot in front of the other at a "slow jog" pace.  She finished out the remainder of the lap with me, and I thanked her again for joining me!  What made it even better is that usually, I lapse into a "walk" somewhere along the way, at least briefly.  With my cheerful running buddy by my side, I finished the whole two laps without a single pause.  Thank you, new friend, for motivating me to keep on moving!