A Mini Boost: Goodies for Firefighters

Dear Doing Good Community,

If you happen to be in Los Angeles, it might be a nice thing to bring some dinner or treats to the fire station in your area. Anything you might think would help and keep energized these hard working people who battle fires and save lives.

If you live out of town you could do something nice long distance, like call up and ask if they would like pizza delivered? No?

Here is the website for Los Angeles County Fire Department: here.

Doing Good: The Core of American Culture

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2bGUeDnqPY

With the passing of Teddy Kennedy I started to think about American culture. More specifically, that fundamental element of the American identity that seeks out a better world for all of humanity. At times, we Americans have found ourselves entrenched in wars or confronted for our mistakes, but their remains this uncontrollable urge to press forward. This American thirst for progress is so strong because our government started from such heroic sentiment, " We hold these truths to be self evident, that all men are created equal..."

Some might point out the blatant inequality and injustice that has happen and does happen, but what of progress? Changes have occurred and progress is fought for everyday. Robert Kennedy said it best, "Some men see things as they are and say why. I dream things that never were and say why not."

Awesome text of speech that Teddy Kennedy gave at Bobby's funeral here.

Video of Ted Kennedy's Eulogy of Robert Kennedy here.

Making It Home: Family By Family

I met another Sara doing good way out in the desert. While getting to know her I found out that for quite a long time she was on the board for Compass, a homelessness nonprofit in San Francisco. Sara liked being an advocate for homeless families, some of whom had been so for years. She also started to notice that there was a gap in services provided to these families. Although Compass worked tirelessly to arrange good housing, they did not provide it furnished. So Sara and her cadre of fellow volunteers started the nonprofit "Making It Home" and began sifting through the free section of Craigslist and their networks to obtain furniture, one family at a time. They borrowed storage space from a volunteer's husband and negotiated trucks to move the furniture in. They hustled and have now helped many families have a couch to sit on and a bed to sleep in.

Just like Sara's organization, many nonprofits really do start out with a few people and a need. Keeping an organization small means that sometimes they can address issues faster with greater accuracy. Support a small local nonprofit and see some big changes in your neighborhood.

If you would like to donate your time, resources, or arrange for furniture that can be picked up in San Francisco contact Sara Lemke-Von Ammon @ makingithomesf@gmail.com.