Spirit of Service
(From the Book: Spirit of Service: Your Daily Stimulus for Making a Difference by Harper Collins and featuring various authors)
Recently I came across the book Spirit of Service: Your Daily Stimulus for Making a Difference. I have always been interested in volunteering and trying to make a difference in the community and for the environment and this book offers 52 different ways to be of service whether it is through Money (donations); Energy (volunteer); Focus (to bring to the attention of others); Compassion (open your hearts to those in need); Support (be emotionally available; get involved and stand up for those without a voice); or Passage (join someone on their journey as a guide or mentor).
My mom (Sandy Folz) and I (Tracy Folz), will be preparing a sheet of paper with each week's Spirit of Service idea. These sheets will be available in the bookstore each Sunday. You may choose to do all of these, some of these or none of these. They are all just suggestions on ways that Unity of Sheboygan can reach out either in our own Spiritual Community or in the Sheboygan Community with love and support to those in need.
I hope that some of these ideas inspire you to reach out and help others or if you are in need of some love and support to reach out for help.
Blessings,
Tracy Folz and Sandy Folz
My mom (Sandy Folz) and I (Tracy Folz), will be preparing a sheet of paper with each week's Spirit of Service idea. These sheets will be available in the bookstore each Sunday. You may choose to do all of these, some of these or none of these. They are all just suggestions on ways that Unity of Sheboygan can reach out either in our own Spiritual Community or in the Sheboygan Community with love and support to those in need.
I hope that some of these ideas inspire you to reach out and help others or if you are in need of some love and support to reach out for help.
Blessings,
Tracy Folz and Sandy Folz
Spirit of Service
June 13, 2010
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
June 13, 2010
MONARCH BUTTERFLIES
We delight in the beauty of a butterfly, but rarely admit the changes it has gone through to achieve that beauty.
~Maya Angelou
The monarch butterfly migration is one of the most remarkable natural wonders in the world. Every fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the U.S. to Canada to their overwintering areas thousands of miles away. Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains travel to small groves of trees along the California coast; those east of the Rocky Mountains fly even further south to small patches of forest high in the mountains of Central Mexico. There they gather by the millions to wait out the winter and then return to their spring and summer breeding range.
This amazing life cycle is threatened by habitat loss not only at roosting sites but throughout the breeding range. Development, the use of pesticides and genetically modified agriculture, and frequent mowing of roadsides all destroy the habitat for milkweed and the other host plants monarchs rely upon for nectar and for breeding. To help Monarchs, you can participate in the waystation program sponsored by Monarch Watch, a national organization devoted to monarch research and conservation. To create a waystation in your yard or community garden, local park, schoolyard, vacant lot or even a roadside, all you need is a seed kit from Monarch Watch. The seeds are easy to plant, and once they're in the ground all you have to do is make sure they don't get mowed down or sprayed with pesticides. You can register your waystation with Project Monarch Watch and get a Monarch Waystation sign to mark it.
For more information and to get a waystation seed kit (there is a small fee), contact:
Monarch Watch
University of Kansas
1200 Sunnyside Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66045
888.824.4464
~Maya Angelou
The monarch butterfly migration is one of the most remarkable natural wonders in the world. Every fall, hundreds of millions of monarch butterflies migrate from the U.S. to Canada to their overwintering areas thousands of miles away. Monarchs west of the Rocky Mountains travel to small groves of trees along the California coast; those east of the Rocky Mountains fly even further south to small patches of forest high in the mountains of Central Mexico. There they gather by the millions to wait out the winter and then return to their spring and summer breeding range.
This amazing life cycle is threatened by habitat loss not only at roosting sites but throughout the breeding range. Development, the use of pesticides and genetically modified agriculture, and frequent mowing of roadsides all destroy the habitat for milkweed and the other host plants monarchs rely upon for nectar and for breeding. To help Monarchs, you can participate in the waystation program sponsored by Monarch Watch, a national organization devoted to monarch research and conservation. To create a waystation in your yard or community garden, local park, schoolyard, vacant lot or even a roadside, all you need is a seed kit from Monarch Watch. The seeds are easy to plant, and once they're in the ground all you have to do is make sure they don't get mowed down or sprayed with pesticides. You can register your waystation with Project Monarch Watch and get a Monarch Waystation sign to mark it.
For more information and to get a waystation seed kit (there is a small fee), contact:
Monarch Watch
University of Kansas
1200 Sunnyside Avenue
Lawrence, KS 66045
888.824.4464
Spirit of Service
June 6, 2010
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
June 6, 2010
SUPPORT OUR TROOPS
The soldier above all prays for peace, for it is the soldier who must suffer and bear the deepest wounds and scars of war.
~General Douglas MacArthur
While some may disagree with the politics that have embroiled our country in wars, the fact remains that our men and women in the armed services are facing danger daily in alien lands far from home. Many are lonely and without contacts. They receive no letters or packages from loved ones. Perhaps you have thought about showing our troops some support but you didn't know how. Adopt a Platoon can help you do so.
Founded in 1998 by a mother wose son was stationed in Bosnia, AdoptaPlatoon is a volunteer organization dedicated to ensuring that soldiers are not forgotten. This organization sends more than 30,000 letters and cards to our troops every month. They also mail care packages with baby wipes, socks, hygiene items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, candy, cookies, beef jerky, sunscreen and other comfort supplies that improve the morale of our troops serving far from home. You may not know that soldiers must purchase these items themselves at a PX, and that can be challenging when they are deployed in the Iraqi desert or the wilds of Afghanistan. In 2007, AdoptaPlatoon supported more than 175,000 service members. The organization also supports chaplains, field hospitals and morale tents.
How you can help:
Contact AdoptaPlatoon at http://www.adoptaplatoon.org or P.O. Box 5038, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5038. You can adopt a troop by promising to send one letter and care package a month or get involved in bringing holiday cheer.
Make a difference today!
~General Douglas MacArthur
While some may disagree with the politics that have embroiled our country in wars, the fact remains that our men and women in the armed services are facing danger daily in alien lands far from home. Many are lonely and without contacts. They receive no letters or packages from loved ones. Perhaps you have thought about showing our troops some support but you didn't know how. Adopt a Platoon can help you do so.
Founded in 1998 by a mother wose son was stationed in Bosnia, AdoptaPlatoon is a volunteer organization dedicated to ensuring that soldiers are not forgotten. This organization sends more than 30,000 letters and cards to our troops every month. They also mail care packages with baby wipes, socks, hygiene items, toothpaste, toothbrushes, candy, cookies, beef jerky, sunscreen and other comfort supplies that improve the morale of our troops serving far from home. You may not know that soldiers must purchase these items themselves at a PX, and that can be challenging when they are deployed in the Iraqi desert or the wilds of Afghanistan. In 2007, AdoptaPlatoon supported more than 175,000 service members. The organization also supports chaplains, field hospitals and morale tents.
How you can help:
Contact AdoptaPlatoon at http://www.adoptaplatoon.org or P.O. Box 5038, Hagerstown, MD 21741-5038. You can adopt a troop by promising to send one letter and care package a month or get involved in bringing holiday cheer.
Make a difference today!
Spirit of Service
May 30, 2010
INTERVIEW A VETERAN
The men and women who have served their country in the armed forces have a great deal to tell us about the reality of war and service, if only we would ask. The Veterans History Project of the Library of Congress works with volunteer interviewers to collect, preserve, and make accessible the personal accounts of military veterans of all generations. Thousands of these oral histories and the documents and photos that often go with them have already been donated. Many more remain to be collected. In particular, the World War II veterans are dying away. Volunteer interviewers are urgently needed to capture the memories of the “Greatest Generation”.
Volunteering to interview a veteran is easy. The Library of Congress has created a helpful field kit that gives you simple guidelines for conducting the interview. Record the veteran’s story on audio or video or help write a memoir; follow the guidelines to gather photos, letters, diaries, and other documents to accompany the story if they exist. When you’re done, submit the material to the Library of Congress, where it will become part of the permanent collections. The whole process usually takes only a couple of hours, and there is no charge for the interview kit.
Who can you interview? Many volunteers start with members of their own family - and many report being startled and moved by war stories they never heard before. Beyond your family, local veterans service groups, retirement communities, and other community groups are good places to start. Most veterans are grateful to have their chance to record their memories for their families and their friends, and future generations.
To learn more and get a free kit for interviews, contact:
Veterans History Project/ Library of Congress/ 101 Independence Avenue SE/ Washington, DC 20540-4615
888.371.5848
www.loc.gov/vets
Spirit Service
May 23, 2010
Plant a Row for the Hungry
May 23, 2010
Plant a Row for the Hungry
As you're standing knee-deep in tomatoes and zucchini in your vegetable garden, wondering how you can possibly use all of that abundance, remember that one in ten households in America experiences hunger or the risk of hunger daily.
The simplest way to share is to donate your harvest directly to a local food bank, soup kitchen or service organization. The Plant a Row for the Hungry Program, founded and sponsored by the Garden Writers Association Foundation, counts on the fact that there are more than 70 million enthusiastic home gardeners in the United States. If every one of those gardeners volunteered to plant just one extra row of vegetables and get it to a local food organization, the impact on reducing hunger would be huge. Agencies could take the money they budget for fresh produce and spend it elsewhere-and hungry people would get delicious fresh vegetables to add to their diets.
To learn how you can grow a row, contact:
Garden Writers Association Foundation
10210 Leatherleaf Court
Manassas, VA 20111
877.492.2727
http://www.gardenwriters.org
Or visit a shelter, food pantry or Salvation Army program in the Sheboygan area and ask if they would like donations.
SHARE YOUR ABUNDANCE!
The simplest way to share is to donate your harvest directly to a local food bank, soup kitchen or service organization. The Plant a Row for the Hungry Program, founded and sponsored by the Garden Writers Association Foundation, counts on the fact that there are more than 70 million enthusiastic home gardeners in the United States. If every one of those gardeners volunteered to plant just one extra row of vegetables and get it to a local food organization, the impact on reducing hunger would be huge. Agencies could take the money they budget for fresh produce and spend it elsewhere-and hungry people would get delicious fresh vegetables to add to their diets.
To learn how you can grow a row, contact:
Garden Writers Association Foundation
10210 Leatherleaf Court
Manassas, VA 20111
877.492.2727
http://www.gardenwriters.org
Or visit a shelter, food pantry or Salvation Army program in the Sheboygan area and ask if they would like donations.
SHARE YOUR ABUNDANCE!
Spirit of Service
May 16, 2010
The Meaning of "Enough"
Meeting the Basic Needs of Everyone
"If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results."
~John Dixon
Our culture depends on our buying into the idea that, amidst plenty, we don't have enough. This "scarcity myth"-the idea that we don't have enough money, time, energy and stuff, has weakened our nation. Most of us are blind to true hardship.
The truth is, we have more than we think, while others have less than we can imagine. Today, remind yourself and others to give "enough" to those who rarely get their basic needs met.
Choose a shelter in your area such as a safe house for abused women and children or the local Salvation Army shelter. Call and ask what they need for the people they help. Boxed or canned food? Soap, deoderant, toothpaste? Shoelaces, toothbrushes? Could you start a donation box at work and have your co-workers help you meet these needs?
Ask your workplace to become a member of the National Coalition of the Homelss. This group provides the homeless people with shelter, food and opportunities to work. Membership rates are tied to an organization's annual budget and can start as low as $65 per year. For more information, go to: http://www.nationalhomeless.org.
You have more than enough!
May 16, 2010
The Meaning of "Enough"
Meeting the Basic Needs of Everyone
"If you focus on results, you will never change. If you focus on change, you will get results."
~John Dixon
Our culture depends on our buying into the idea that, amidst plenty, we don't have enough. This "scarcity myth"-the idea that we don't have enough money, time, energy and stuff, has weakened our nation. Most of us are blind to true hardship.
The truth is, we have more than we think, while others have less than we can imagine. Today, remind yourself and others to give "enough" to those who rarely get their basic needs met.
Choose a shelter in your area such as a safe house for abused women and children or the local Salvation Army shelter. Call and ask what they need for the people they help. Boxed or canned food? Soap, deoderant, toothpaste? Shoelaces, toothbrushes? Could you start a donation box at work and have your co-workers help you meet these needs?
Ask your workplace to become a member of the National Coalition of the Homelss. This group provides the homeless people with shelter, food and opportunities to work. Membership rates are tied to an organization's annual budget and can start as low as $65 per year. For more information, go to: http://www.nationalhomeless.org.
You have more than enough!
Spirit of Service
May 9, 2010
Calculate Your Family's Carbon Footprint,
Then Set Goals to Reduce It.
May 9, 2010
Calculate Your Family's Carbon Footprint,
Then Set Goals to Reduce It.
"Nothing could be worse than fear that one had given up too soon, and left one unexpended effort that might have saved the world"
~Jane Addams
Most of us have no idea how simple choices we make daily impact the environment.
Everyone has a "carbon footprint". That's the measure of the carbon dioxide and other greenhouse gases that you emit, directly and indirectly through your daily choices and actions. The good news is, you can do something about it. In the process, your family will learn more about our planet's ecosystem and how individual choices matter.
Use the Nature Conservancy's online carbon footprint calculator at: http://www.natureconservancy.org Then read their tips for reducing your family's carbon footprint. Once you have a clearer picture of the resources you consume, you will be in a better position to cut back on waste. Set goals and monthly targets to reduce your footprint numbers.
Learn about international climate change treaties and U.S. policy at:
http://www.epa.gov/climatechange/policy/index.html
Learn about reducing carbon emissions with cleaner energy at: http://www.wecansolveit.org
Help save Mother Earth today!
Spirit of Service
May 2, 2010
(An excerpt from the book, "Spirit of Service"
Take Your Medicine:
Patient Assistance Medication Programs
May 2, 2010
(An excerpt from the book, "Spirit of Service"
Take Your Medicine:
Patient Assistance Medication Programs
"Love is a medicine for the sickness of the world; a prescription often given, too rarely taken"
~Author Unknown
With one sixth of our nation uninsured and another 24 percent under-insured, an illness can cause catastrophic hardship to a family. Did you know that more than half the adults surveyed in 2009 cut back on healthcare spending during the previous twelve months because of cost concerns? Of the people surveyed, 21 percent did not fill drug prescriptions and 15 percent skipped doses or cut their pills in half.
This is tragic, especially since many drug companies and nonprofit organizations offer assistance programs to help people who can't afford their prescriptions get the drugs they need at little or no cost. One biotech company has found that only one-third of those qualifying for its program of free medication actually participate. This may be because navigating their way to free or inexpensive medication is beyond the grasp of many people dealing with infirmity, advancing age, or serious health challenges. Help and support are available if you know where to turn. It can save a life!
If you know someone who needs medication but can't afford it, support them by enrolling them in one of these programs:
RxAssist (http://www.rxassist.org) 401.729.3284 provides information about patient-
assistance programs.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (http://wwwpparx.org) 888.477.2669 gives
general and specific information on drug programs.
Together RxAccess (http://www.togetherrxaccess.com) 800.444.4106 provides a
discount drug card many pharmacies accept. It is for legal U.S. residents without
public or private prescription coverage. This card is free and provides 25 to 40 percent
discounts on more than 300 drugs.
Can you help someone today?
~Author Unknown
With one sixth of our nation uninsured and another 24 percent under-insured, an illness can cause catastrophic hardship to a family. Did you know that more than half the adults surveyed in 2009 cut back on healthcare spending during the previous twelve months because of cost concerns? Of the people surveyed, 21 percent did not fill drug prescriptions and 15 percent skipped doses or cut their pills in half.
This is tragic, especially since many drug companies and nonprofit organizations offer assistance programs to help people who can't afford their prescriptions get the drugs they need at little or no cost. One biotech company has found that only one-third of those qualifying for its program of free medication actually participate. This may be because navigating their way to free or inexpensive medication is beyond the grasp of many people dealing with infirmity, advancing age, or serious health challenges. Help and support are available if you know where to turn. It can save a life!
If you know someone who needs medication but can't afford it, support them by enrolling them in one of these programs:
RxAssist (http://www.rxassist.org) 401.729.3284 provides information about patient-
assistance programs.
Partnership for Prescription Assistance (http://wwwpparx.org) 888.477.2669 gives
general and specific information on drug programs.
Together RxAccess (http://www.togetherrxaccess.com) 800.444.4106 provides a
discount drug card many pharmacies accept. It is for legal U.S. residents without
public or private prescription coverage. This card is free and provides 25 to 40 percent
discounts on more than 300 drugs.
Can you help someone today?
Spirit of Service for
Sunday, April 24, 2010
(An excerpt from the book, "Spirit of Service")
Enveloped in Love
Prayer Shawl & Prayer Quilt Ministry
"Shawls wrap, enfold, comfort, cover, give solace, mother, hug, shelter, and beautify. Those who have received these shawls have been uplifted and affirmed, as if given wings to fly above their troubles". Janet Bristow, cofounder, the Prayer Shawl Ministry.
What would it mean to surround someone who is ill, grieving or in need, with love and caring? What about sharing with a loved one in the joy of marriage or birth of a child? We often think of sending loving and supportive energy; this can be accomplished in a very tangible way by sharing a Prayer Shawl or Prayer Quilt you have created with your own hands and imbued with your prayers.
The Prayer Shawl/Prayer Quilt Ministry teaches you to fold compassion and love of knitting, crocheting or quilting into a spiritual practice that touches people needing comfort as well as those engaged in joyful celebration. The recipient may be a stranger to you or someone you know and love. You pray for blessings for the recipient of your gift through every stitch in the shawl or quilt's creation. Upon completion of your project, offer a final blessing and thoughts of love before donating it.
Help Unity of Sheboygan begin a Prayer Shawl/Prayer Quilt Ministry by making and donating a shawl or lap quilt. Completed shawls and quilts will then be shared with our members and friends who are in need of spiritual uplifting and a tangible reminder of our constant love and prayers. Whether your gift goes to someone in a nursing home, hospice, hospital, to ease sorrow in a troubled time, or to celebrate a happy occassion, it will become a cherished gift.
For instructions on making a knitted or crocheted shawl, visit website: http://www.shawlministry.com. For instructions on making a lap quilt or quilted prayer shawl, see Tracy in the bookstore or contact her at tjzlof@hotmail.com. There will also be some Prayer Shawl books coming into our bookstore in the next week or so.
If knitting isn't "your thing", think of how else you could support someone in need. Could you share a diner creation or baked goods with someone, or simply send a card with a loving thought? Try an act of kindness today.
What would it mean to surround someone who is ill, grieving or in need, with love and caring? What about sharing with a loved one in the joy of marriage or birth of a child? We often think of sending loving and supportive energy; this can be accomplished in a very tangible way by sharing a Prayer Shawl or Prayer Quilt you have created with your own hands and imbued with your prayers.
The Prayer Shawl/Prayer Quilt Ministry teaches you to fold compassion and love of knitting, crocheting or quilting into a spiritual practice that touches people needing comfort as well as those engaged in joyful celebration. The recipient may be a stranger to you or someone you know and love. You pray for blessings for the recipient of your gift through every stitch in the shawl or quilt's creation. Upon completion of your project, offer a final blessing and thoughts of love before donating it.
Help Unity of Sheboygan begin a Prayer Shawl/Prayer Quilt Ministry by making and donating a shawl or lap quilt. Completed shawls and quilts will then be shared with our members and friends who are in need of spiritual uplifting and a tangible reminder of our constant love and prayers. Whether your gift goes to someone in a nursing home, hospice, hospital, to ease sorrow in a troubled time, or to celebrate a happy occassion, it will become a cherished gift.
For instructions on making a knitted or crocheted shawl, visit website: http://www.shawlministry.com. For instructions on making a lap quilt or quilted prayer shawl, see Tracy in the bookstore or contact her at tjzlof@hotmail.com. There will also be some Prayer Shawl books coming into our bookstore in the next week or so.
If knitting isn't "your thing", think of how else you could support someone in need. Could you share a diner creation or baked goods with someone, or simply send a card with a loving thought? Try an act of kindness today.
Upcoming Spirit of Service:
May 9, 2010: Carbon Footprint (Calculate your family's carbon footprint, then set goals to reduce it.
May 16, 2010: Meaning of "enough" (Meeting the basic needs of everyone)
May 23, 2010: Plant a row for the hungry (Your garden can help feed the community)
May 30, 2010: Interview a Veteran (Record the memories of a Veteran for the Library of Congress)
May 9, 2010: Carbon Footprint (Calculate your family's carbon footprint, then set goals to reduce it.
May 16, 2010: Meaning of "enough" (Meeting the basic needs of everyone)
May 23, 2010: Plant a row for the hungry (Your garden can help feed the community)
May 30, 2010: Interview a Veteran (Record the memories of a Veteran for the Library of Congress)