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Kindness Challenge Update

My Kindness Challenge was a success and over 450 pair of mens, womens, and childrens socks were gifted at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission’s annual Thanksgiving dinner on 11-25-09. Seventy-two stocking hats were also given out.

I would like to thank all of those who assisted in collecting these and in helping tie each pair of socks with beautiful ribbons. Each pair carried the message; You are a part of God’s plan. Walk in His grace.

A seven-year-old boy, Blaze Trumble, had over 600 blankets and coats that he and his family had collected for the homeless. This was Blaze’s second year of donating his time and effort toward doing this wonderful work for other people. I can’t help but stop and think that if only a few other young people would follow Blaze’s example of humanitarianism, what a wonderful world this would be. Blaze has his own website at www.blazeswish.com. I might add, 11-25-09, was his 7th birthday!

Small Steps in Speech

This non-profit organization is in memory and in honor of Staff Sgt Marc J. Small who was killed in action in February of 2009 while serving his country in Afghanistan.

Small Steps In Speech is a non-profit organization that assists children with speech and language disorders. It is a means to help fund the progress towards their speech and language goals. We are looking for both donations to continue our efforts in helping children with their communication as well as accepting nominations on who is most deserving to receive this grant. Our goal is to give children the chance to better express themselves in the world in which we live. With your help, you can change the life of not only a child but also their family.

Kindness Challenge Update

A fellow speech/language therapist, Jill Gertz, joined in my Kindness Challenge and today, 10-29-09, presented me with 157 pair of mens, womens, childrens socks! NOW ISN’T THAT WONDERFUL! She collected them at her private speech practice as well as from her Sunday School Class.

The socks will be gifted along with stocking hats, stuffed animals, and more at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission’s Thanksgiving Dinner on Wed., November 25th. THERE’S ALWAYS ROOM FOR MORE. You know how to get in touch with me. Just DO IT!

The world is a generous place ~ and those who can, need to give.

Kindness Challenge Update

Here is the latest in my Kindness Challenge of socks, etc. that will be gifted to the men, women, children, in our Las Vegas Valley after they enjoy their Thanksgiving Dinner on Thanksgiving Eve, Nov. 25 at the Las Vegas Rescue Mission. My husband, Tim, and I have been collecting socks over the past year and we have given many away through the Central Christian Church pantry as the need arises ~ however, we have many left to give and Thanksgiving is the time we have set as our Kindness Challenge for 2009 becomes a reality.

Many of the men who come to the Rescue Mission are Veterans who happen to be homeless. That seems like an oxymoron to me. It should NOT be so ~ but it is. Socks for these men and their families are important but even more critical is the message we send as we gift them with a simple pair of socks. Perhaps the ribbons and card placed on each and every pair of adult socks says it all: “You are part of God’s plan. Walk in His grace.”

To those of you who have contributed, thank you. To those of you who want to be a part of this Kindness Challenge there is still time. Get in touch with me ~ you know how.

Here are my latest stats: (everything is NEW)

Mens 246

Womens 82

Childrens 81

Boys (older) 12

Adult stocking hats 46

children’s stocking
hats 12

women’s caps 14

stuffed animals 20

bubbles 12 very large bottles

Kindness Challenge Update

A Kindness Challenge Update ~ my special speech therapy friend Jill and members of her Sunday School class have collected 150 pair of girls and boys socks for my Kindness Challenge. These, plus over 400 other pairs are being tied with ribbon and a prayer verse. They will be handed out at the LV Mission on Thanksgiving Day during their annual Thanksgiving Day Dinner. We have gathered men’s, women’s, children’s socks, stocking caps, stuffed animals, and sundries.

We’d love to have YOU be a part. Respond back on this site, through my E mail, on Facebook or by phone at 702-435-8748. Don’t wait ~ you’ll feel great!

The Astronaut Pharmacist!

A pharmacist would have been a very handy person to have as a mission specialist on any Apollo mission, at least that’s what My Tim thought back in the days of the Apollo space era. Perhaps everyone wanted to be an astronaut after the flurry of the moon landing on July 20, 1969. Imagine 40 years ago. Maybe everyone wanted to be an astronaut in the late ’60′s and early ’70′s but not everyone applied to be an astronaut. My husband, Tim, a pharmacist, DID!

Applying to be an astronaut is not an easy task. Attaining the paperwork, filling it out, getting it notarized, medical checkups and clearance, background checks, finger prints, and sheriff cards, financial statements, references, etc., etc., etc. were all part of the packet. Tim pursued it with zest and dreams sprinkled with stardust and soon became a full fledged astronaut in waiting.

During the years of waiting our family visited: The Smithsonian National Air and Space Museum in Washington D.C., NASA, Johnson Space Center Cape Canaveral, Kennedy Space Center, and any rocket or space site between the Atlantic and the Pacific.

When Tim Harrington, R.PH. turned 55 years of age, he received a letter from NASA that they regretted informing him that his applicaiton for admission into the astronaut program was not longer applicable. It was not a sad day for Tim or our family, however, it was a proud day. Tim was our Astronaut Pharmacist. He didn’t have to go to the moon to prove his value here on earth. He didn’t have to plant a flag in rock or conduct experiments in floating labs.
Tim served his country in the United States Air Force and he flies a flag on every holiday in the front of our home. He saved the lives of many by filling their prescriptions and consulting with their medical concerns. He distributes food at a food bank at our church pantry and he serves meals to the homeless on holidays. Tim buys school supplies for children who would not outwise have them and anytime he gets the chance he speaks about space and the men and women who pioneered it.
The ones who were lucky to go to the stars and see them up close. The ones who went faster and further than any other people on earth.

I say to my Astronaut Pharmacist, yes, those men and women who were selected to be astronauts did go further and fast and they saw the stars up closer but they are no nearer to the honor of a man than my Tim.

Kindness Challenge Update

I attended a Rotary Club meeting with Rotarian, Chris Steely, who introduced me and presented the Kindness Challenge of socks for the homeless in Las Vegas.
Many of the men’s, women’s, and children’s socks have been gifted to families who come to the Central Christian Church’s pantry and they are soooo appreciated. The Rotarian’s are a wonderful organization and give generously to the community.

Kindness Challenge Update

The students of Del Sol High School rock. Here’s the most recent sock count

men’s = 391 pair
women’s = 84 pair
children’s = 103 pair

ALSO, I will be attending a Las Vegas Rotary luncheon next week. I think there will be great things from the Rotarians. If YOU belong to a group or organization who would like to be part of this Kindness Challenge please give me an E mail or a call at 702-435-8748. I’ll be happy to pick the box, bag, or pair up at your location.

Kindness Challenge Update

A Kindness Challenge Update is definitely in order. As of this date, May 20, 2009, the following number of socks have been collected:

men’s 358
women’s 50
children’s 69

~Do The Wave~

To date, many of these socks have been distributed to homeless people through the Central Christian Food Pantry and the Las Vegas Rescue Mission.

I recently saw the movie, “The Sololist,” with Jamie Foxx and Robert Downey Jr. I didn’t realize that this movie was going to be about our nation’s homeless. What awakened me throughout “The Sololist” was NOT how we can cure or that those who are homeless even want to be cured ~ what I did glean was that kindness and friendship are universal in their power to heal.

Please join me in my Kindness Challenge Movement and send a pair, package, box, or truckload of socks. Be a part of this very simple act of kindness.

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