Tim Tebow Announces the Tebow CURE Hospital of the Philippines

Tim Tebow Announces the Tebow CURE Hospital of the Philippines from Tim Tebow on Vimeo.

NFL Quarterback, Tim Tebow, announces the Tebow CURE Hospital of the Philippines, the first project of the partnership between the Tim Tebow Foundation and CURE International. Learn more at cure.org/tebow or timtebowfoundation.org 

Jobless over the holidays? Tell Us Your Story

Ah, the holidays! A time for reindeer, mistletoe and over-eating. But the season isn't all comfort and joy. Gifts for family and friends, entertaining, travel--the costs pile up quickly, for all of us. And if you're one of the more than 13 million Americans who are unemployed-- especially if you're among the roughly 5.7 million who have been out of work for six months or more--even an ordinary Christmas celebration could blow your budget. We would like readers who had been jobless for a while to tell us about their experiences. We receive a flood of affecting, thought-provoking responses, which turned up on our website, www.begslist.org. Now we want to hear about how being unemployed is affecting your holiday celebrations this year. Among the things we want to know: • How are you cutting back or economizing for your holiday? Are you spending less on gifts? Staying home instead of traveling? • If you have children, how are they reacting to the situation? Do they understand? • Do the holidays come as a welcome period of rest and relaxation, or do they feel like just one more cause of stress? • What are some free or low-cost ways to celebrate that you've found and want to share? • Are there any upsides? Have you found that you've focused less on consumerism, and more on family and friends? • What are your resolutions for 2012? Be sure to tell us some basic details about yourself: your age, where you're from, how long you've been out of work, where you were working previously. And include any other information that gives us a sense of your situation and how you're getting by. Post a comment to this blog to share your experiences.

Secret Santa picks up 3 layaway bills

Kindness 'Restored faith in people'

PLAINFIELD TOWNSHIP, Mich. (WOOD) - Christmas came early for three people in West Michigan when a stranger picked up the tab on some presents.

It happened Monday night at the Big Kmart on the 4000 block of Plainfield Avenue in Plainfield Township. A woman, described only as "being in her 30s," walked up to the layaway desk, pushing a shopping cart full of toys she planned to donate.  

"This lady came up randomly and said, 'Can I, you know, pay off some people's layaway?'" said Dannell Goddard. Goddard works at Kmart in the layaway department. She told 24 Hour News 8 that when she first heard the request, she was a bit confused.  

"I was like, 'Well, are you trying to pick them up? 'Cause you can't pick them up if you don't have an ID," Goddard said. "And [the mystery woman] replied, 'Nope, I just want to help people.'"

The woman looked through several of the about 800 layaway contract tickets at the store. She randomly picked and paid the bill on three of them. She paid about $500 between all three of them and left a $10 balance on each of the accounts.

The woman's only requirement was that there were toys in the layaway orders.  

"It was really crazy the way she did it. She was so excited and so happy to do it," said Goddard. "She had a great heart, and I told her that I felt like she had a great heart, and she said she doesn't want to take appreciation for it. She just felt that she was blessed and she wanted to bless others."

One of the recipients of that kindness was Mary Chapin. She told 24 Hour News 8 the act of kindness "restored her faith in people."  

Chapin had put about $200 worth of toys on layaway for her son, David, Monday afternoon. She said she hoped she'd be able to pay off the balance by the week before Christmas.  

Then she got a call from Kmart that changed all that.  

"They said that someone had paid $180 on my layaway and there was only $10 left," said Chapin. "I thought it was a joke."  

Chapin wanted to say thank you, but the only clue to the woman's identity was a message on her receipt that read, "Happy Holiday from a friend."  

"I thank her. It's the best gift that I ever received, and it's the gift of believing in people," said Chapin. "And believing that there's good out there, 'cause you don't always see that."  

The entire layaway order was for 12-year-old David who has autism. Chapin told 24 Hour News 8 she was so excited she gave her son one of those toys, a brand new LEGO set.    

Chapin has her own name for her family's Secret Santa. She calls the woman "an angel" for her family. She said that angel gave her family a far bigger gift than the toys themselves.  

"Even though we're all in the same boat, nobody's thinking about anyone else, it's every man for himself," said Chapin. To have somebody come along behind, and just do something that's totally unnecessary but so appreciated, it just really made a difference."
--
The day after the story aired on 24 Hour News 8, another secret Santa went to the Plainfield Kmart and offered to pay off 13 more layaway bills -- to the tune of about $2,000.
It was the largest layaway payoff in the history of the store.

This Holiday Season (November through December), the Founder of Begslist pledges to donate 50% of all online donations received directly though our Begslist Donate Page to the following charities: American Cancer Society, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and Disabled American Veterans.

My Story

I know what it is like to go through hard times, so I thought i would tell everyone my story. Let everyone know that i know what there going through and im here for them.

How to Help The Less Fortunate During the Holidays

Introduction

If you are thinking about doing something to help those in need, the holidays are the perfect time to open your heart and wallet to give back. For advice and tips on how you can give back, see our page on How to Help The Less Fortunate During the Holidays.

Whether you celebrate Christmas, Hanukkah or Kwanzaa, the holidays can be a time to reflect on all of the things that you have to be thankful for (Friends, Family, Food, Work, etc). But it can also be a great opportunity to turn your attention to individuals and families who may, for one reason or another, not be as fortunate as you. Although the holidays can often be a hectic time, taking some time out to help those who are less fortunate can serve to remind you and your family of the true nature of the holidays. Here are some tips on giving back this holiday season.

One of the most popular ways to give back during the holiday season is to volunteer your time at a local soup kitchen, food bank or charity. The holidays are a particularly busy time for most charitable organizations and any amount of time, energy or expertise you can provide will be extremely appreciated.

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Non-Proft Organizations That Help Single Parents in Chicago

Being a single parent can be challenging both emotionally and financially. Single mothers and fathers are often solely responsible for providing food, shelter and clothes for their children, while also finding time to drive the kids to sports practice, help with homework and tuck them in at night. If you're a single parent struggling in the Chicago area, there are resources available.

The Courage Program

• The Courage Program reaches out to single women who are the sole caregiver of a child due to unplanned pregnancy, death of a spouse, or divorce. Since money can often be tight for a single parent, the organization helps women connect to available resources. The program scouts out affordable housing and can also help pair up roommates. Single moms can receive donations of baby food, diapers, warm clothes and other products given to the Courage Program. Courage also has a loan program that single parents can utilize for emergency expenses and pay back at an affordable rate. The program is also a great place for single parents to meet for emotional support.

HOW: Housing Opportunities for Women

• It can be difficult to find safe and affordable housing in an urban area, especially if you are a struggling single mom with kids to provide for. HOW is an organization designed to help women and children in the Chicago area fight homelessness. HOW not only places women and their kids in a residence, but also helps to provide job training for these moms. The group also has special programs for disabled single parents who can only work part-time or not at all due to a health condition. HOW also helps children living in low income, single parent households find positive activities to do after school or in the summer.

  
  

  CAWC: Connections for Abused Women and their Children

  • CAWC, Connections for Abused Women and Children, is helping women in the Chicago area to improve their situation after escaping from domestic violence. The organization provides shelter, health care assistance, and more for women and children striving for a violence-free life. CAWC gives counseling to the moms and kids to address the emotional aspects of domestic violence. CAWC is aware that domestic violence situations can cause substance abuse, poverty and physical injuries to both the battered parent and traumatized child. The agency helps single moms and their kids rebuild their lives and move past these challenges.

    CAWC is located at:

    1116 N. Kedzie, 5th Floor

    Chicago, IL 60647-7916

                773-489-9081     

Holiday Help For Domestic Abuse Victims

The advocacy group Healing Abuse Working for Change offers shelter and court advocacy for people, including many from Swampscott, who suffer domestic abuse.

This holiday season they are asking for donations for their clients so they can meet their needs and those of their children.

Swampscott police Det. Ted Delano, who works with victims of domestic violence, is promoting the HAWC's holiday program.

He says the advocacy group does a lot of good for people who, often, are scared and may not know where to turn.

This good includes maintaining a hotline for those in need, finding them emergency shelter, helping them file restraining orders or providing them counseling.

 

People who seek these services include a number of Swampscott people, more than some people might think, the detective said.

So far this year Swampscott police have responded to 139 reports of domestic disputes

Each time police respond the person who called for help gets a follow-up letter from the department that offers ways to help and among them is contact information for Healing Abuse, including their hotline number.

The 24-hour hotline is             1-978-744-6841      . They can also be reached via email at www.hawcdv.org. The main office is located at 27 Congress St, Salem MA. The office number is             978-744-8552      .

The executive director of the Healing Abuse group, Candace Waldron, said the organization responded to about 5,000 requests for help this year in the more than 20 towns and cities it serves.

And about 350 to 500 clients of Healing Abuse need material help this holiday season, whether it is for basic necessities such as food, shelter and heat or to buy their children gifts, she said.

The best way to help is to donate gift cards, Waldron said.

Below is information from a flier detailing ways to contribute to the HAWC Holiday Program.

Wish List for Parents:

•  Gift certificates to department stores, movie theaters, restaurants, drug stores, book stores, Walmart, Dunkin Donuts, Starbucks

•  Bath & Body products

•  Make up kits/cosmetic bags/ handbags

•  Disposable cameras, photo albums, picture frames

•  Bathrobes and slippers- all sizes

Wish List for Teens:

•  Gift certificates to music stores (Best Buy, Newbury Comics, iTunes)

•  Gift certificates to Target, Old Navy, Gap, Kohl’s, Barnes & Noble, Borders

•  Bath & Body products

•  Jewelry, hair accessories, make up kits

•  Electronics: iPod, gameboy, etc.

Wish List for Children:

•  Multicultural dolls: baby dolls, fashion dolls, doll strollers/cribs/clothes (Hannah Montana, Twilight themed, superhero toys)

•  Arts & crafts items

•  Educational toys/games

•  Cars, Trucks, Fire Engines

•  Linkin Logs, Legos, other building

blocks

•  Disney or children’s program DVDs

•  Sports equipment: basketballs, soccer balls, footballs, baseballs, team apparel

Empowerment is central to our operating philosophy at HAWC, and we respect the right of our clients to choose what is best for their families this holiday season and always.

We invite you to assist us by purchasing gift cards for our clients, so that they can prioritize their needs and choose accordingly.

A gift card is truly a gift, both of generosity and of empowerment.

Here is a list of frequently requested gift cards:

*Market Basket/Stop N Shop/Shaw’s*Target*Marshalls*TJ Maxx*Gas cards*Best Buy

Food Wish List:

•  Canned and Jarred Goods: Fruits, Vegetables, Sauces

•  Dry Storage: Rice, Pasta, Snacks

•  Any Holiday Themed goods: cranberry sauce, gravy, Thanksgiving or Holiday Baskets

All items must be new and unused; gifts with violent themes or graphics will not be accepted.

Gifts should NOT be wrapped, but wrapping supplies are welcome!

Gifts can be dropped off Monday through Friday from 10:00 am—4:00 pm at:

HAWC

27 Congress Street, Suite 204

Salem, MA 01970

            978-744-8552      

www.hawcdv.org