98: Here Kitty, Kitty, Panda, Elephant, Giraffe, Rhino

National Zoo Lovers Day was gorgeous here in NEO, so I chose the Cleveland Zoological Society for today's Donations by the Dozen. I haven't been in many many years, but I feel like most zoos are tending toward creating better habitats and lives for their animals. I do love the idea of seeing animals I could otherwise only see in pictures, though I do go on my online video binges of them occasionally. I mean, who doesn't want to see those red pandas playing - or otters - or pretty much anything, actually.

CZS's black rhino program seems to be doing well with another pregnancy. Hear that, April, somebody's having a baby? Another feature I am living about zoos and aquariums is the event expansion. Kids can try out things like a slumber party or checkout Boo at the Zoo, and adults can attend various events like date nights or behind the scenes specials. The Rain Forest at the Cleveland Zoo offers warmth and variety in the winter too. 

CZS offers a variety of ways to help fund the safety and happiness of these myriad species, too. Tickets, store purchases and traditional zoo fun help. Donations and event support are crucial. One of the coolest support systems offered is adopting an animal, which helps our zoo and animals in the wild. 

The Zoo and Zoo Society are proud supporters of 50 conservation projects in 30 countries. On the list of adoptees, you will see that many (but not all) of the species can be found right here at your Zoo. By participating in the Adopt an Animal program, you can be proud to know you have enriched the lives of the Zoo’s animals while connecting to important work being done in the wild. - See more at: https://www.clevelandzoosociety.org/donate/adopt-an-animal#sthash.DpgCULik.dpuf

The level of your donation offers various features/benefits as you can see from the adopt an ocelot page. https://www.clevelandzoosociety.org/donate/adopt-an-animal/ocelot. I know from experiences that zoo veterinarians also actively support each other and help animals in distress with the expertise other vets or zoos may need. If you want a break from April's live feed, check out some of the animals at CZS or a zoo near you. So many wonders. Speaking of which, ever wonder what happens with leftover Christmas trees?

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity

97: WHO Wants us to Talk about Depression and Anxiety and We Should

Each year for World Health Day, begun 97 years ago today, the World Health Organization presents a theme to promote world health, and this year that theme is depression. The WHO site has excellent resources for talking about depression as well as resources for those wanting to know more or get help. However, I still needed a nonprofit for today's Donations by the Dozen. To to support World Health Day and depression, I chose the Anxiety and Depression Association of America (ADAA).

ADAA is an international nonprofit dedicated to the prevention, treatment, & cure of anxiety and depression related disorders through education, practice, & research. www.adaa.org offers free educational info & resources; Find-a-Therapist database of local treatment providers as well as telemental health services; webinars, blog posts, podcasts & videos; support groups , self-tests & more. ADAA does not provide psychiatric, psychological, or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. (https://healthunlocked.com/anxiety-depression-support/about)

I highly suggest the ADAA site for information whether it is understanding more, getting inspired by other's stories, finding help, or managing and finding success in life, regardless of whether you want to know more for yourself or for helping a friend or loved one. The ADAA also offers many resources and also offers information on specific areas like Panic Disorders, Agoraphobia, Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and more. The Free ADAA Online Support Group offers an anonymous peer to peer support site: https://healthunlocked.com/anxiety-depression-support/about, which is anonymous if you choose but also has an administrator.

A key page I would also recommend reviews and list Mental Health Apps, https://www.adaa.org/finding-help/mobile-apps. Some of these, like PTSD Coach, I have explored and reviewed as they were on the approved list of apps for the RAINN.org hotline. Some of the apps I have researched are geared toward the military or transitioning military but still contain valuable help and personal assistance for civilians. These apps can be extraordinary in many ways, and I cannot extol their benefits enough. Though not on the list, I also suggest the Stigma app, which I cannot rate highly enough.

I hope today brings you happiness and an extra dose of hope, whether you have depression or know someone with it. Happy Anniversary to the World Health organization and thanks for supporting those with depression and anxiety.

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity

96: Sleeping or Stargazing, Dark Skies are Best

With the Lyrid meteor shower imminent, I had astronomy on my mind. I loved looking through my telescope, even though I am surrounded my more light pollution than I would like. I used to be a member of the International Dark-Sky Association. Dark-Sky does many things like certifying  "places around the world that recognize and promote excellent stewardship of the night sky through responsible lighting and public education." (http://darksky.org) My favorite and one of the most effective things Dark-Sky assists with is fixture design and use to promote and protect the viewable skies. They work with both light fixture designers/manufacturers and with areas using them to promote eco-friendly "outdoor lighting fixtures that minimize glare, reduce light trespass, and don’t pollute the night sky." (http://darksky.org) This may seem irrelevant to people who don't enjoy stargazing or astronomy, but it seriously helps everyone, even if the goal is sleeping better and not looking at the stars and planets. I notice the impact and changes in the cities near me over time as I drive at night, and  I can still tell the difference even if I am walking to the mailbox in the dark. I broke my telescope a few years ago and lost track of many things, but I am glad to see Dark-Sky making such difference and look forward to what I do get to see in our skies. 

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity

95: Speak Your Silence Helps Speak Their Silence

Today I bring you one of my very favorite nonprofits: Speak Your Silence and their campaign, The Stitch.  Matt Pipkin, the Founder, was sexually abused as a child and, not atypically,  waited many years to share his story with his family and seek counseling. Matt's counselor helped him so much, he founded Speak Your Silence to raise funds to "make in-person, one-on-one counseling accessible for those personally affected by child sexual abuse anywhere in the US, regardless of financial means. To date, approximately 125 individuals in over thirty states have received counseling through our program." (https://speakyoursilence.org)
The Stitch is one way Speak Your Silence funds counseling. "We are partnered with BPA Health to offer a world-class counseling program comprised of a nationwide network of highly credentialed and qualified professional counselors. This partnership makes it possible for anyone directly affected by child sexual abuse to access in-person, one-on-one counseling anywhere in the US." (https://speakyoursilence.org) 

In the Speak Your Silence Shop, you can show support and buy The Stitch Kit, or you can buy awesome products that have already been stitched. The kit is matchbox-sized and contains a needle and the special orange thread, so you can stitch your symbolic voice frequency onto  shirts, shoes, scarves, ties, and pretty much anything. How many times you can use one kit depends on how you sew and and how you want your "voice" to appear. I know I sewed at least four things from one kit and had some left. The kit also contains a cling sticker for you to place somewhere and information cards, in case you need reminding we should hashtag #TheStitch and make The Stitch as famous as possible (my column, my opinion, but you know I'm right). Thanks to Matt's support with a discount, I was able to give The Stitch to people attending the annual Caring Points Picnic (benefiting abused children through the CARE Center at Akron Children's Hospital) last year. 

In the pictures I attached today, you can see I used it on my medal for the picnic last year, and I put it on Nessie's collar so people would ask me about it - plus, she supports and participates in so much of my philanthropic efforts. I love when I wear something with The Stitch and can tell people about it's symbolic elegance and how much it helps make a difference. My zigzag looks a little off, but since my initials are MMM, I decided to really make it my voice by making my initials the stitch. 
I love how Speak Your Silence created this beautiful, symbolic action where we can all speak the silence of abused children, whether we were one, know one, or want to help one. I really appreciate that The Stitch Kit is affordable, but if you can do more, there are more ways to support the efforts of providing counseling to children in need, https://speakyoursilence.org/#section-donate. 
If you want to speak a silence and need someone to mention when you wear The Stitch, you can speak mine. 

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity

94: Mines - Addressing Those Unintended Consequences

April 4th is the International day for Mine Awareness and Assistance in Mine Action, and to help with those issues, our Donations by the Dozen today goes to MAG Amercia,

Landmines and unexploded ordnance (UXO) – the bombs, rockets, missiles, mortars and grenades that did not explode when they were used and still pose a risk of detonation – kill and injure thousands of men, women and children every year. . . .They also trap people in danger and poverty, preventing them from using their land. People affected by conflict have no choice but to live with this daily risk.  (http://www.magamerica.org/the-issues/)

 Mag America does more than find and disarm dangerous devices. They educate, refurbish/rebuild schools, clear tree paths, provide emergency response, train and employ locals affected by mines, and advocate internationally for policy. The video link today is longer, though MAG America has short PSAs and more on their YouTube page as well. "This is a full version of the new MAG film, Surviving the Peace, produced in collaboration with MediaStorm. This is a film about devastation and hope. It follows the devastation of one family, whose lives were tragically altered by UXO and MAG's fight to remove the landmines and unexploded ordnance to give families in so many countries a chance for a better future." (This is a full version of the new MAG film, Surviving the Peace, produced in collaboration with MediaStorm. This is a film about devastation and hope. It follows the devastation of one family, whose lives were tragically altered by UXO and MAG's fight to remove the landmines and unexploded ordnance to give families in so many countries a chance for a better future" (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZrgUdWhbC7c)

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity

93: April Around Here Means Spring and Spring Offers Hope

April brings us Child Abuse Prevention Month, and I am on my way to a child abuse event. TodayI chose Starbright Foundation for Donations by the Dozen to refocus on child trafficking and abuse. Starbright Foundation works with government and law enforcement to rescue trafficked and other children living in abusive or dangerous situations and to act as advocates on their behalves. I chose Starbright today, because they focus on a larger variety of issues affecting children in abusive environments, including cult, sex trafficking, child pornography, and exploitation.

Starbright has established a “safe house” which provides maximum safety for endangered children with plans for more to come, as environments for healing. We provide hope through crisis counseling, trauma therapy and education of those in the house and the public outside. We offer new beginnings through specialized care for victims of cultic, clergy, incest, mental, physical and sexual abuses; as well as comfort for their families. The standard of care will be personalized to the needs of each individual. We will promote awareness in the community on the escalating crimes of child abuse, sex trafficking, pornography and exploitation, which cause human suffering within our communities our nation and the world. We will be encouraging monetary, volunteer, and community assistance support through their time, talents, and treasures which are all graciously accepted. We strive to be the beacon of light for those children that are in need of love that doesn’t hurt and trust that won’t be broken.(https://starbrightfoundation.org/mission-purpose/)

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity

92: Team Cole - "Unite Against Cancer Help Team Cole Win the Day"

Today's fabulous nonprofit, Team Cole, seeks to create community support to inspire hope in children with cancer. "Cole Hexum beat cancer. He wants to help other kids do the same. That’s the mission of Team Cole: to win the day against cancer in those suffering from it." (http://www.teamcole.org) Team Cole helps organize fundraisers for other families and creates opportunities for local celebrities to visit. Though Cole faced a severely aggressive cancer at age 7,  Stage 4 Burkitt's Leukemia, he rallied himself to continue playing sports and and live his life his way during chemotherapy.

 "During his battle, Cole drew strength from his friends, family, and the community rallying behind him, cheering him on every step of the way. Having now defeated cancer, he set a new goal – to help other cancer victims by giving them the same unwavering support he had gotten." (http://www.teamcole.org)

Cheers to Cole, to Team Cole, and to the support teams out there inspiring others, and cheers to  the very special first birthday of my godson, who is also named Cole. 

You can find the Donations by the Dozen posts here on google,

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Our email is DonationsByTheDozen@gmail.com.

Thanks and cheers to charity