Showing posts with label Run for the Love of Dove. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Run for the Love of Dove. Show all posts

Sunday, July 7, 2013

Filling My Summer Love Bucket


If you have the time, you must give it away.
That is the statement that floats around in my head, trying to stick to something.
And up until I've been content to fill my weekends with beautiful volunteering and I will continue to do the same.  But in addition to the weekends, I now have 5 additional weekend days to do some good in our community.  Though I plan to do as much as possible to heart the organization of my heart, Fences for Fido, I would like to spread my sparkle out a little more.

Since goals and lists help me stay focused, I have made my Summer Sparkle List. 
Is your favorite organization on the list?  Want to join me in the fun?  Please do!

1. Fences for Fido-

The truest form of pure love,
delivered every weekend to families all around the Northwest. 
Need I say more?
I love them and plan to help out even more...
it's an honor to spend my time with people who live to care for dogs. 
There's nothing better in my book. 
Maybe it's time you joined me?

2. Dove Lewis Emergency Animal Hospital


Run for the Love of Dove~ June 9th~
So, this one I've actually completed, but I figured that it deserved a place on my list any way.  Technically, it was during my summer vacation so it counts.  Plus, Dove Lewis is one of my favs and I plan on helping at other events this summer. 



Salem Harvest-  Sign up for a harvest or two! Then, use my portion of fruit to preserve and give it away to people around me.  ooooo....it would be fabulous if it was apples!  I can smell the applesauce already.

"With more than 3,000 registered volunteers, Salem Harvest is one of the largest all-volunteer harvesting organizations in the state. The non-profit, grassroots organization connects farmers and backyard growers with volunteer pickers to harvest fruits and vegetables that would otherwise go to waste. The group was established in January 2010 and is currently managed by a six-member steering committee." http://www.salemharvest.org/index.php

**Side Note:
Murphy- this list would be typed much faster without you licking me the entire time. Geesh!

3. Chelsea Hicks Foundation-
Helping kids?!  This sounds like a fun way to work with kids through my summer months. 
Hospital Helpers
Chelsea’s Closet visits Randall Children’s Hospital at Legacy Emanuel and Doernbecher Children’s Hospital. Volunteers help with set up and clean up, help children select costumes and accessories, and assist with crafts, snacks and the costume parade. You may volunteer as often as your schedule allows.

4. Oregon Food Bank: Food Repack
"You might be surprised to learn that about 1,500 volunteers visit Oregon Food Bank each week! Food repack volunteers help with the most fundamental part of our mission – getting food to the people who need it most. Many donations need sorting, repacking, labeling or additional processing before they are ready to be sent to hunger-relief agencies. That's where you come in! Help us prepare food to be distributed through our network to hungry families." Oregon Food Bank

5. Portland Fruit Tree Project: Harvest Party
"Portland Fruit Tree Project is a grass-roots non-profit organization that provides a community-based solution to a critical and growing need in Portland and beyond: Access to healthy food. By empowering neighbors to share in the harvest and care of urban fruit trees, we are preventing waste, building community knowledge and resources, and creating sustainable, cost-free ways to obtain healthy, locally-grown food. Because money doesn’t grow on trees… but fruit does!"
Portland Fruit Tree Project

This one might be a great birthday party for me!  I love a party with a purpose.
Check these projects out and then join me in filling your love bucket up too.

Thursday, June 13, 2013

Run Dove Run!

Ah Sunday morning...my favorite morning, especially on a bright, sunny, yet chilly Portland day.
I love it when my biggest decision of the day is whether to start the day with coffee or a mimosa.
Of course, at 7:30 all I really want is coffee...but maybe a mimosa after cheering on hundreds of runners.

Volunteering fills my heart with joy and I enjoy going someplace new and meeting like minded people devoted to making our community a better place.  The goal was to raise money for Dove Lewis' Stray and Wildlife program.  And raise money they did...$37,000 to help animals in desperate need.  Oh how I love that!


Another thing that I love, is my dear friend who show up to run in support of something that I love.  That day, while waiting for my volunteer instructions, I looked over and saw Scott, registering for the race!  Thank you Scott!  Definitely my favorite runner of the day...maybe next time I can coax a few my of my runner friends to join.  I don't run, but I'm a really good cheerer on-er. hehe
After getting some needed instructions on how to handle the people that we encounter at the road blocks, I headed out to my spot...in the middle of the industrial zone.

At first this spot may seem a little rundown...but then look at it again. 
There is beauty is everything. 
In fact, how cool is it that the graffiti says "dogs"?! 
Okay, I'm not sure if that's what it really says, but that's what it says to me.
Every thing is about dogs.


With my coffee in hand and the sunshine in my face, I was able to handle all of the people that I had to break the bad news to...















Almost every conversation was like this,
"Good Morning! (smile) I'm the bad news barer today...
yes, the road is closed, but only until about 10 am."
99% of the people were tolerating the news, and were understanding...
1% was rude and abrasive...
but I've dealt with rude and abrasive a lot in my life and I've learned that,
1) they just want to yell,
2) they want to be heard while yelling, and
3) a smile and an understanding look is the best defense, always.

The rude and abrasive make me giggle as they leave and the guy that day, gave me a story to tell all day long.  He was mad because he just went to church and now he can't get the bleep-bleep home.  How dare we not bleep-bleep-bleep let him get the bleep home, right the bleep now! hehe...I think he missed the message at church that day.
But nothing, nothing could take my focus away from cheering on the runners...
oh and their humans too. (Go Scott!) 
Enjoy all of the paws running to help Dove! It makes my heart happy and I hope yours too!
 It's a family affair!  I love it!
 Go Tri-pod!! Whoop! Whoop!
 Gotta love the focus on the pup!
That's what it's really about anyway.





I call this a PERFECT morning!
Beautiful weather, loving hearts, and happy smiling pups faces...
Thank you Dove Lewis for letting me join the fun,
and I can't wait for the next volunteer opportunity.