The 2008 Twenty Five Days to Make a Difference Challenge

Happy December 1st! Today marks exactly one year of making a difference and a year that 25 Days to Make a Difference has been around! YAY!  I owe a HUGE THANK YOU to the people that have been through this year with me and have helped me so much. There are really way too many adults and kids and families to name. So THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!

This year, I’ve decided that I will do a good deed every day. I invited my younger sister Nina to help. She does a lot of good deeds, but last year, her keyboarding skills made it hard for her to blog about them. Now, she is really excited to post here this month. I’m excited too! Nina rocks.

Please think about doing small things to make a difference every day for the next twenty five days too. Leave a comment here or blog about what you do. The person or family who makes the most difference by December 25th will win a donation to the charity they choose. What’s more important is that people will get to read about all the great things other people do.

This year, we won’t be donating money to charities though. We really like focusing on service work more. So, Nina and I will be donating a month of service work and fundraising to the charity of my winner’s choice. We will also be tweeting about what we are thankful for every day this month. If you’d like, you can follow Nina and I on Twitter at @twentyfivedays. You can tweet about what you are grateful for every day too or what you are doing to make a small difference.

If you are a student, teacher, or school who would like to join in this fun, please consider joining Working Together 2 Make a Difference. This is a ning where classes can show what they are doing to make a difference. It would be really rewarding to see lots of schools doing good deeds and sharing it there. It could inspire other people too!

Today Nina is Thankful For:

My friend Emily. Emily is really nice to everyone. She cheers everyone up, especially me. Emily was in my kindergarten class. Now she is in third grade with me. I see her make lots of people happy every day. I tried to do a good deed today by helping Emily.

Today Laura is Thankful For:

Nina. She is really smart. Today, I helped her with her homework, and this made me feel glad. It makes me feel good that I can help her with something, especially math!

What are you thankful for today and how did you or someone else you know make a difference? Leave a comment and we will start keeping track of all the good things that happen in the next twenty five days.

Advertisement

Animals Are Our Pals

Over the last few years I’ve always had at least one pet. Biscuit my dog, Gabriel and Oliver my cats, or my fish.

I remember getting my dog, Biscuit. He was only four months old and was still soft. He was so small, small enough that I could hold him, if I wanted to. He slept all the way home, on my moms legs. I remember begging her to let us pet him.

And then there is Oliver, my cat. He was only three months old when we got him from the ASPCA. I got to keep him in my room for a week wile the dog got used to him. His paws were huge, his head was big and his body was TINY! But soooooo cute!

A few months later, I won a fish at the fair. Sushi lived for about a year and a month. Unfourtanately, my cat got at Sushi this summer and she dissapeared (EWWWWWWWWWWWW). I got another fish and that fish got sick, I should’ve known it was only $0.12 from a murcy tank. Now I have a spotted goldfish and his/her name is Spicy Tuna Roll.

As you can see, I love animals A TON! So, this month, I will be focusing on the ASPCA and the Ten Lives Club. I am going to do some research to find out how I can help these organizations best. I am also going to be focusing on a greyhound organization too but, I have to talk to Michelle Moore from the Compass House first. Michelle knows a lot about greyhounds because she has one and does volunteer work to help them all the time! Please keep reading to learn more about how I plan to help these organizations! I’d like to do some service work.

Also! Do you or your classmates know of an animal organization that YOU would like to support? If you do, please let me know! I will be saving my bottles again this month, and the person and class who does the most for an animal organization of your choice (or one of mine) will win a donation from me.

A Book Drive for My Library

Throughout the month of July, I have not kept up with my blog because I have been doing some really cool things during my summer break. I made fliers for the book drive a while ago. A friend and I passed half of them to half of my street and I did the other half with my little sister, Nina.

I am very excited about this, and I am so excited I can’t stop looking for books to donate. What is more exciting than that is that I have already received some calls from other people saying that they have books for me.

A neighbor from two blocks over already gave me seven books, and I will be getting ten more today! That means I have 43 books in all! Also, my dad is going to find more books, and maybe I could get my sister to donate some of hers.

Also, Miss Theresa Gray told my mom about a site called Shelfari. It’s a very cool site where you can shaer your favorite books and even write reviews. Almost everyone in my family has joined. This is a link to my Shelfari page. I hope you will read, donate books, and join Shelfari too!

A New Month, A New Charity!

The first time I walked into my Public Library, I was really excited. They always have great displays outside. I could already smell the crisp paper inside each and every book, old or new.

When I first walked in, I could see books that were recommended inside a bin. I could see the check out register.

As I ventured to the kid’s section of the library, I saw people looking for movies, on the libraries computers and studying. Then I knew that I had hit the jackpot, BOOKS GALORE!

The whole back end of the Library was kids books. magazines, picture books, videos, tape books, chapter books and more. About every type of book you could think of was there.  Eventually, this became one of my favorite places to be.

Yesterday I called the library to ask if they take book donations. As many of you know, many libraries are in need of books or are underfunded. So, because I think that my library is really great, I want to turn my library into my charitiy for this month.

I think that it would be really cool if I started a book drive. For this month, I am going to turn my book drive into a neighborhood book drive. What I will do is make fliers requesting book donations and tommorrow I am going to distribute them on my neighboring streets. Later on, I will collect books with my sister using my wagon. Then, I’m going to donate them to my public library! If you know me and have books to donate, please let me know! You can also donate them to you OWN library–just call to see if they accept donations!

The person who donates the most books this month will win a twenty dollar donation to the charity of his or her choice! Please email me or leave a comment to let me know what you do to help libraries!

Thank You Skype!!!

This week I got a webcam in the mail from SKYPE. My webcam is awesome! THANK YOU SKYPE!!!

So today I want to write down some things about how I can use my webcam to make a difference.

1. I can do webchats with classrooms about small ways to make a difference
2. I can post a video on Artsnacks which is something I’ve been wanting to do for a long time
3. Spread awarness on the charity of the month by announcing it on my blog
4. Announce  the winners of blog contests
5. Monthly interviews with charity directors in skype. I like to interview the people who I work with during the month sometimes. My webcam will help me do this and see them at the same time!

 If you have any more ideas about what I can do to make a difference with SKYPE and my webcam tell me by leaving a comment!

Skype Chat With The Bloggers of 17 Chances to Help

 

The first thing I would like to write about today (or tonight) is my Skype chat with the bloggers at 17 chances to Make a Difference. Mrs. Hernandez invited me to be interviewed by her class. They were the same age as I am.

I thought that everyone was really nice. I was really excited to do this chat, and I am excited for the next skype chat I will have. Mrs. Hernandez said we might be able to Skype again. I felt bad because I was able to see the class but they couldn’t see me. They had a webcam, but we don’t have one yet. I’m hoping that next time we will.

I thought that the questions and anwsers they gave me were really different from anybody else’s. I think that the younger you are the more different your questions are because most adults ask the same things of me, but kids have different questions for kids. Mabey that’s just how I feel.

The kids from 17 Chances to Help asked me really great questions like what kind of music I like. They also said that I have an accent, because they are from Florida, and I am from New York, which was really funny.

I hope that I will get to talk with them again. I also hope you will visit their site because they are blogging about making a difference too!

Please Visit 17 Chances to Make a Difference

A few days ago I got a comment from Ari and Sarah from 17 Chances to Make a Difference. This is a blog that an entire class is keeping. I was really excited to learn that they did their blog off of my blog! I was also excited to see their blog because it is TOTALLY AWESOME!!!  Ari and Sarah are Jewish, and they are commanded to do good deeds make the world a better place. In Hebrew, this is called Mitzvot.

Please take some time today to go and visit their site, and bookmark it too to spread the word about the great things these kids are doing! Thank you so much for visiting my site Ari and Sarah! I will be visiting you all the time too. I’ve also added you to my blogroll.

Donations for Compass House, the Pajama Project, and Project Linus

This week, several people made donations to causes that I really care about, and they emailed me to let me know. So, I wanted to pass this along to all of you.

First of all, I want to thank Leslie for running her Haiku contest this month online. I offered a $15 donation to one of the winners of her contest, and when the winner was announced, she donated this money to Compass House, in addition to two other donations! So, because of Leslie, Compass House received a $45 donation already, and it isn’t even March yet!

I also received a great email from someone who asked that they not be recognized on my blog. This person donated $50 to the Pajama Project! This is the same person who sent me the anonymous tip about the Pajama Program way back in December, which is why I chose to help this cause. Thank you!!!!!

And I have a lot of bottles in my garage right now. My neighbor, Mr. Jung, also has bottle receipts for me too. All of my bottle return money will be donated to Project Linus this month. I will be updating the total amount earned this weekend, after I return all of those bottles. I have to count them yet!

Announcing the Winners of the February 25 Day Challenge

This month, I helped the Pajama Project and Project Linus! There were a lot of surprises during this month’s challenge, but one of the nicest surprises was hearing from Erin from West Seneca! Erin is a teacher, and she collected some pajamas with her students! I just found out about this last week, and it made me really happy.

Erin is the individual winner of this month’s challenge! She will be able to pick any charity or cause, and we will be making a twenty dollar donation to it! Just let us know where you would like your donation to go, Erin.

Lindbergh Elementary School won the group prize for this month. I am going to talk with my principal, Mrs. Parsons, about where this twenty dollar donation can be sent. I want to say thank you to all of my friends and the teachers at school for helping with this. I also want to thank Mrs. Parsons, too. It was fun doing a pajama drive!

My mom has spoken with Mrs. Cardena from the Pajama Program about collecting the pjs and books. And I actually got to meet and work with Christene Lewandowski from Project Linus. What was REALLY cool was visiting Compass House this month and SEEING all of the blankets there that Project Linus has donated in the past! That was really neat.

In March, I am going to be supporting Compass House and Cheerful Givers. I am really excited about doing all of this. I have some ideas for new contests too and some neat prizes this month, so please keep reading. A new month is starting!

Getting Ready to Help Compass House and National Safe Places

A few days ago I went to Compass House to learn more about it before I support it next month. There I talked to Sylvia Nadler, Ellie Bocchino, Michelle Moore, and many other nice people! Compass House is a shelter for homeless kids or kids in crisis. Compass House believes that every kid deserves to have people in their lives who love, care and support them.

When a troubled kid goes to Compass house, they are assigned a case manager who handles their case without judging anything about what happened in the past. They are focused on their futures. The goal with Compass House is to make sure that every kid is safe at home and provide them with a Safe Place to stay when they need it. Compass House has an Emengency Shelter that is open 24/7. The Emergency Shelter is like a house and the average stay is 3-9 days. Compass House also has a Recource Center and that offers a lot of help to those who are ages 16-20. There is an emergency food pantry there and they keep all of the donations they get there too. Young people who are on their own can get food, furniture, clothes, and household items there.

If you are a young person and having trouble at home, are in danger, or are homeless, you can go to Compass House! The people there are all really nice. It is easy to get a ride there too. Just go to any TOPS or MARTINS market and tell someone you need a safe place. They will get you there safely. See the yellow sign at the top of this post? That is the symbol for National Safe Places! When you see it, you know you can go there for help.

You can also get on any Metro bus in our area and tell them you need a safe place. They will take you to Compass House too.

The most important thing to remember is that Compass House works with families to keep kids safe. Parents are always informed when their child shows up at Compass House and help is provided to make sure the child can return to a safe home. Children who are abused DO NOT have to return to homes that are not safe, though. Compass House does not tell any kid what to do. The kind people there help them make good choices that will keep them safe and help them live happier lives.

Thank you Sylvia, Ellie, Michelle, Scott, and everyone else who I met there last week. I had a great visit, and I am excited about helping you throughout March and the rest of the year too.  

Chaught Making a Difference (and much much more)

Laura R. is from Australia but lives in Japan. She works at an international pre-school and she has also been reading my blog too. This week Laura sent me a big box of things including notebooks for my sister and I, two pencils, origami paper and a whole lot of card making supplies like stamps and paper and stickers. I was really surprised! The label on the delivery box was really cool, too, because it was written in Japanese.

These card making supplies are going to be put to good use too! On Monday, I had a short meeting with our friend Kristen and one of the great ladies who runs Suneel’s Light. Her name is Cheryl. They are planning a huge card-making event and a lot of kids are going to be taking part in it, including me! We will be making cards to send as thank you gifts to those who make donations to Suneel’s Light. I am really excited that they asked me to help out. I am planning to donate a lot of what Laura sent to use at this event.

Thank you SO MUCH Laura! I was really surprised by your generosity. I want you to know that I plan to pay it forward too!

I also heard from a teacher named Erin this week. She teaches in West Seneca, and she has been collecting pajamas for the Pajama Project this month! I was so excited to hear about this. I plan to write a lot  more about this as soon as I talk with her and find out more about the work that she has done!

There are only a few more days left of this 25 Day Challenge! If you have done ANYTHING to make a difference for The Pajama Project or Project Linus this month, please let me know. Those who make the most difference this month can win a donation to the charity of their own choice!

Ways to Win Free Cards or a Charitable Donation

Already, I have several people entered in my first weekly giveaway contest. You can win too, by doing ONE thing to help spread awareness of my blog. Find out what you can do here. Those of you who have voted for me on the Bloggers Choice Awards you are automatically entered!! Voting is open until almost the end of the year, and I have been in a tight race for first place, so I really appreciate all of your votes!

Tomorrow, I am starting my pajama drive at my school to support the Pajama Program. I would like to say THANK YOU TO MY PRINCIPAL MRS.PARSONS for helping me. THANK YOU VERY MUCH TO EVERYONE WHO HAS BEEN ENTERED IN THIS WEEK’S CHALLENGE TOO!

Also! I am still collecting bottles this month! So far, I know that our neighbors, the Jungs, and my Aunt Kate and Uncle John have bottles for me. All of my bottle money this month will be donated to Project Linus!

Remember that there are chapters of the Pajama Project and Project Linus all over the place, and whether you support the Buffalo chapters with me or your own local chapter in some way, please let me know! You could win this month’s 25 Day Challenge!

Your Turn to Make a Difference: Win the February 25 Days to Make a Difference Contest!

This month, I am helping to support our local chapters of The Pajama Project and Project Linus! There is a lot that you can do to support your local chapters as well!

If you live in my area, you can organize a pajama and book drive, or fundraise and donate money directly to their organizations, or even simply SPREAD AWARENESS! Mrs. Cardena said that because her chapter of the Pajama Project is so new and the demand for pajamas is so high, she really needs to get the word out in our area about what she is trying to do! This is a great service project for groups, families, and even just one person!

If you don’t live in my area, there are local chapters of the Pajama Project just about everywhere! You can help your local chapter out too and still be entered to win a prize in my challenge.

This works the same way with Project Linus! You can help our local chapter by making and donating handmade blankets for babies, children, and teenagers. You can also make a donation directly to their organization! And there are chapters of Project Linus all over the USA!

The individual who makes the most difference for one of these organizations in February will win a $20 donation to any charity of your choice!

The group that makes the most difference for one of these organizations will also win an additional $20 donation to a charity of their choice!

I will also link to you on my site and list you on my sidebar too, so everyone who visits this page can see how you are making a difference too!

If you want to join in this 25 day challenge, please email me or leave a comment on this site so I know this!

To Kick Off A New Month

This month I am supporting the Pajama Program and Project Linus!!!!! The Pajama Program donates pajamas and books to local homeless shelters and other organizations that care for children in need. Our local Pajama Program is run by a woman named Ann Cardena. She just started our local chapter in OCTOBER OF 2007! She would really like help spreading awareness of the Pajama Program too! Even though Mrs. Cardena started out helping just four area organizations in need, she told me that in order to keep up, they need about 850 pair of pajamas per month!

Those who run Project Linus make blankets to donate to children who are very sick, homeless, or who have been abused. We have been talking with Christene Lewandowski from our local chapter, and she has given me some ideas for helping to support them!

I am supporting the Pajama Program at school by holding a pajama drive and asking everyone in my school to donate NEW pajamas that will fit babies, children, and teenagers. They can also donate NEW BOOKS. My principal, Mrs. Parsons, has been a really big help to me as I get ready to do this. Thank you, Mrs. Parsons!

Also, my daddy is supporting  the Pajama Program by also holding a pajama drive at his office too!! I am supporting Project Linus by going to Make a Blanket Day at a local firehall to make tied blankets all day on February 16. I AM REALLY PUMPED UP ABOUT THIS!!! I will also be holding another bottle drive this month and will be donating the money to the Pajama Project and Project Linus. SO PLEASE CONTINUE TO DONATE YOUR BOTTLES TO ME!

REMEMBER, I am holding a  contest this month for you to win handmade, blank Valentine cards. The contest is about spreading awareness of my blog, because when I get more readers, the charities I am trying to help get more support too! If you link to my blog, blog about my blog, put my badge on your blog, Twitter about me, or vote for me in the Blogger’s Choice Awards, you will be entered to win my handmade cards on February 7th! You can also do my MEME below. Just answer the questions here or on your own blog (and link back to me, please)! Make sure to leave me a comment or email me to let me know how you are spreading awareness of my blog, and you can win!

1. Did you have a special blanket when you were a kid (or now if you are a kid)? Explain what you liked about it.

A: Yes, I do have a special blanket. I call it Blankie ( it’s capitalized because that’s it’s name) and I’ve had it since I was a baby. I still sleep with it and love it very much!

2. What is your favorite pair of pajamas like?

A. My favorite pair of pajamas have colorful, fuzzy and striped bottoms and a light blue top. I like them because they keep me warm and they are comfy.

3. What is your favorite book(s)?

A. I would have to say Esperenza Rising and The Paper Bag Princess. Both of these books are filled with adventure and they both have strong characters who are girls! I like this!

Now, copy the questions and answer them below. Or answer them in your own blog! That’s all you have to do to be in the drawing to win the cards I’ve made!

My First Weekly Giveaway Contest!!

Valentine Card Giveaway for Spreading Awareness of my Blog!!!

 This month one of my goals is that I wanted to increase awarness of my blog, readers and subscribers. I think that a subscriber is someone who comes every day or whenever I post. I can see when people are subscribed because they show up on my WordPress Dashboard from places like Google Reader. Having subscribers means having more regular readers. This is my goal because the more readers the better I make a difference. Just like the saying “The more the merrier!”

In order to spread awarness of my blog I am doing a Valentine Card giveaway contest!! On February 7th, I am planning to give away 5 handmade, blank Valentine Cards to 5 different winners! You only have to do ONE of these things in order to be entered to win:

• Write a post encouraging your readers to visit my site and link to me.
• Ask five people that you know (or more) to visit my site and show them how to get here. They need to leave a comment to let me know you sent them!
• Post my blog badge on the sidebar of your blog.
• Take part in a MEME that I will put up tomorrow and link back to me.
• Vote for me at the Blogger’s Choice Awards!! I’m currently tied for first place!! Please help me to win for sure!! The more votes I get, the more people come see my site!
• Twitter about me, like Dr. Mani and his friends did in the beginning! This really helped me a lot. Most of my first readers came from Twitter!

When you do any one of these things, just leave me a comment to let me know! I will be drawing five winners on February 7th and mailing the Valentines out that same night! You will have them in time for Valentine’s Day!! This is what they look like: