Archive for the ‘Projects’ Category

    CECO

    Tuesday, October 25th, 2011

    Change Through Giving members made a financial donation to CECO (The Conductive Education Center of Orlando). The mission of CECO is to combine physical and social educational methods to meet the needs of motor disabled children, to enable them to maximize their individual potential of functionality and independence in a safe, caring, group environment. A fellow CTG member has been involved with CECO, and when she recommended we take a look, we agreed it is an extremely worthwhile organization to support.

    If you would like to learn more about CECO visit their website at www.CECFL.org or call 407-671-4687. You too can help make independence a reality for children with motor disabilities! CECO is a 501(c) 3 Tax Exempt Charitable Organization.

    Supporting our Furry Friends!

    Monday, September 19th, 2011

    The ladies of Change Through Giving have decided to support our furry friends this month! We’re collecting items for the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) of Central Florida  for our September Change Project. Please see below for a list of items the shelters needs, and let us know on our facebook page if you would like to contribute.

    SPCA of Central Florida Wish List:
    Listed below are items we can always use in our shelters.  And please remember, the need for monetary donations is ongoing and helps support our many programs and services.
    Sorry, for health and safety reasons, we are unable to accept opened bags of pet food, medications, or used toys or pet beds.

    • Science Diet dry dog and puppy food (for shelter animals)
    • Science Diet dry cat and kitten food (for shelter animals)
      • Please note, for animals living in a communal environment, a consistent diet is important to their health and well-being.  Your donation will supplement our ongoing feeding program with Science Diet.
    • Other brands of dry food – 10 to 12 pound bags only
    • Canned dog, cat, puppy, and kitten food
    • Laundry detergent (liquid or powder)
    • Bleach
    • Distilled Water
    • Bath towels (new and gently used)
    • Office supplies (Pens, Post-its, Copy Paper, Paper Clips, Staples, etc…)
    • Pet carriers/crates (any size)
    • Rubbermaid cotton mop heads
    • 75 ft. or longer garden hoses
    • Spray Nozzles with screw on heads for garden hoses
    • Dog and cat treats
    • Grooming tools/shampoo for animals
    • Heating Pads

    For more information about SPCA of Central Florida, visit their website.

    Life-Saving Moment Inspires August Change Project

    Tuesday, August 30th, 2011

    Our August project was inspired by an event witnessed by one of our own Change Through Giving members. A friend’s young child, 15 months old at the time, was realized to be missing. Upon searching for the baby, she was found in a nearby pond. CTG member, Julia, rushed to the baby’s side and began CPR, while another mother called 911 and stayed on the phone. Thankfully, the young girl was rescued in time. She was very lucky. For some, the situation is not as forgiving.

    This inspired the members of CTG to make a donation to The ISR Community of Caring. Infant Swimming Resource (ISR) is designed to teach children from six months of age how to survive in the water. If they can crawl, they can float. This skill has saved many children over the years and may be one of the most valuable lessons for any child.

    ISR Community of Caring was set up to insure that no family is turned away from the opportunity to give this life-saving lesson to their child. They have helped, on average, 100 families per year that may not have had this opportunity without the assistance of the charity.

    We are happy to be a part of this process, so that no family should have to bear the tragedy of an infant drowning.

    For more information on ISR Community of Caring, visit their website.

     

    Christmas Jars!

    Friday, August 26th, 2011

    CTG OK chapter member Sharon recommended the Christmas Jars book to us earlier this year, and she encouraged us to take on the task of starting a Christmas jar of our own. The idea was inspired by the simple daily gesture of collecting spare change to give to someone in need; all in an effort to Change Through Giving member's Christmas jar with change and the Christmas Jars bookmake a difference in someone’s life. The effort is an opportunity to keep everyone in the house focused on donating on a regular basis to make an impact on an individual in need. The fact that it is encouraged to “pay it forward” is another benefit. All in all, it’s an opportunity to take action that will have an impact on someone else and hopefully spread the word about giving and compassion.

    So what is a Christmas Jar?

    Very simply, it’s any type of jar you want or have on hand that you can put your spare change in throughout the year. At the end of the year (at Christmas time), you anonymously give the jar to someone you know that is need. It can be a neighbor that lost his job, a co-worker with health issues, a friend that has fallen on hard times or a complete stranger. Hopefully when they are back on their feet, they will use your jar to start a Christmas jar of their own.

    CTG members recently pledged to start their own Christmas jars. Although we’re a little late in the year, we are excited about the challenge and opportunity!

    Will you pledge to give away a Christmas Jar this year? Leave a comment and let us know.

    We love the idea of the Christmas Jar! Not only is it a great opportunity to do something to make a difference in someone’s life, but it’s also an opportunity to get the rest of your family involved with making a difference. It’s a small commitment that can make a big impact, and it’s something the whole family can participate in.

    Join us by starting your Christmas jar today!

    To get a copy of the Christmas Jars book, or to learn more about the inspiration of Christmas Jars, visit the official web site.

    Christmas in July

    Wednesday, July 27th, 2011

    Christmas in July isn’t an official holiday, but CTG members beat the summer heat with fun and festivities tChange Through Giving's Christmas in July Party treeo celebrate this “unofficial holiday” on July 25. We were invited to a member’s home were we enjoyed cool refreshments, great food and a special gift exchange. We sat around the Christmas tree and opened gifts that were purchased from organizations that “give back.” This is a great way to give gifts with special meaning, and have a fun night with our fellow CTG ladies. No need to wait 365 days between Christmases!