Why do I keep asking for help for Appalachia? #monkeydo

I shared this video back in January when I introduced you to the Monkey Do Project but I think it is important enough to share it again. Please watch it and see exactly why the people of Appalachia need our help to provide the basic needs for their families.

Monkey Do Project still needs help to provide backpacks filled with books and healthy snacks to children in Adams County, Ohio. These backpacks will be given to kids when they attend a health fair where they can get routine check ups and health screenings. For some of these kids this may be the only healthcare they receive this year. Please read this post on the Monkey Do Project website to find out exactly what is needed.

I want to give a huge shout out to SOYJOY for sending boxes of SOYJOY bars to include in these backpacks!

Read more about how SOYJOY helped Monkey Do Project.

That is the good news. The bad news is that requests for donations for this project have been rejected by several U.S. companies because they are using their charitable funds for projects overseas. Currently, Monkey Do Project has not raised enough funds to purchase the backpacks or the books to go in them. So how can YOU help?

1. Visit Pave the Path with Monkeys and make a $26 donation to help fund this project.
2. Determine who in your company or organization would be responsible for making a corporate donation and share this project with them. (There are benefits for being a corporate sponsor!)
3. SHARE information about this project on all of your social media outlets! The more voices we have spreading the word about this project the better chance we have of being heard by people who can fulfill these needs.
4. Like Monkey Do Project on Facebook and follow on Twitter for the latest updates on this project and others.

Note: All opinions presented in book and product reviews are my own. Opinions presented in posts authored by others reflect the view of the author only and not necessarily my view or opinion. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Amazon and Book Depository links are affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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How Can You Help With $26? #monkeydo

How much value do you place on $26? For some people that is a drop in the bucket. An amount so small that it might not be missed at all. For others $26 may mean the difference between paying all of the bills or only some of them. For yet another group $26 may be all the money they have for a week, two weeks, or even longer.

Could you give $26 to help a child?

The Monkey Do Project has many ways that $26 can help people in Appalachia, one of the poorest regions of the United States. Many of these projects are ongoing but there is one with a firm deadline. The organization needs 2000 people to donate $26 each by July 1 in order to meet their commitment to providing backpacks with a book, healthy snacks, and school supplies to children in Ohio. This is a need that cannot be met without help! Please visit Pave the Path with Monkeys to donate directly using PayPal.

I know that money is tight for a lot of us right now. If you can't donate, please help by spreading the word. We need to get this need in front of as many people as possible to be able to reach the goal of giving out 2000 backpacks to children who need them.

Note: All opinions presented in book and product reviews are my own. Opinions presented in posts authored by others reflect the view of the author only and not necessarily my view or opinion. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Amazon and Book Depository links are affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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Keeping Kids Healthy - Can you help? #monkeydo

Can you imagine living in a place where transportation is such an issue that you cannot get to a job? A job that you so desperately need to feed your family because the only food that your children might get in a week comes from the food programs at their school. A job that, if you are lucky, might provide some kind of basic health insurance so your kids can have a checkup or go to the doctor and get medication when they are sick. Unfortunately, this is what many people in the Appalachian region of the United States face each day.

There are so many children all over the United States who need so much care - food, clothing, shelter, and healthcare. Basics that many of us take for granted. I wish that I had a way to help each and everyone of these children but that feels overwhelming and impossible. All I can do is focus on one project at a time and for this project I'm asking for your help.

The Monkey Do Project was asked to help with the Children's Health Fairs (August 2013)  in Adams County, Ohio. These health fairs are put together by a number of social services organizations within Adams County and give children an opportunity to get routine health screenings before the start of the school year.

The Monkey Do Project has pledged 2,000 book bags for the event but cannot provide this without help from people and companies.

Here is what is needed:

• Corporate sponsors to partner with  for the book bags and books (pictures books and chapter books). Corporate sponsors will be listed on our The Monkey Do Project website as well as on any marketing materials for the event. Also, Monkey Do Project blogger ambassadors will do posts on the sponsors and link to their sites.
• Corporate sponsors to partner with to provide healthy snacks and small bottled waters to include in the bags. Unfortunately, many of these kids have little to nothing to eat when they are out of school.
• Personal Donations (any amount helps! Please put "Adams Co Health Fair" in the notes when donating)
• $20 gift cards (Visa or Mastercard) to use as giveaways to the kids for school supplies.

If you or your company can help out with the Children's Health Fairs in Adams County, Ohio, in any way please contact Monkey Do Project.

photo credit: Alex E. Proimos via photopin cc

Note: All opinions presented in book and product reviews are my own. Opinions presented in posts authored by others reflect the view of the author only and not necessarily my view or opinion. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Amazon and Book Depository links are affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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OTL: Monkey Do Project #monkeydo

During the Thanksgiving and Christmas season many of us reflect on what we have and how we can share the abundance that we have with others. Even if we do not see our lives as overflowing, during this time of year it seems that the spirit of generosity takes over as we appreciate the people and things in our lives and want to share that joy with others. But what happens when that season is over? While non-profit organizations certainly appreciate the outpouring of support and donations they receive during the holidays, their mission does not stop simply because a new year begins and we all get back into our regular routines. There are still needs to be met and people to help. Generous, joyful giving should be a year round occurrence.

Throughout this year I am going to be sharing with you each month about an organization that has become an inspiration for me. Monkey Do Project is based in Indiana and sends aid to the people of the Appalachian region here in the United States. So often when we think of extreme poverty we think of third world countries but really it is here in our own backyard as well. Please watch this video to see why it is so important that the people in this area get some help.

Monkey Do Project has several different initiatives going on at all times. Some are ongoing projects with no end in sight while other projects meet a specific need during a certain time frame. Please visit MonkeyDoProject.com to see all of the ways that you can help either by donating directly or by shopping in the Monkey Do Project Store.

Note: All opinions presented in book and product reviews are my own. Opinions presented in posts authored by others reflect the view of the author only and not necessarily my view or opinion. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Amazon and Book Depository links are affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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OTL: Help Skyo Help the Thirst Project with a Click #WRSkyoThirst

A hot shower is one of those things that I take for granted, forgetting that it would be a luxury to some people. Running water to wash dishes, filtered water from the refrigerator for drinking, and using the bathroom indoors are other important ways we are able to use clean water. I have a friend in Alaska who lives in a cabin with no running water but she has access to purchase clean water for their home.

According to The Thirst Project, almost one billion people do not have access to clean drinking water and proper sanitation. 4,400 children die every year from diseases caused by contaminated water and 80% of global diseases are water-borne. So what is the solution to this global problem? Providing communities with safe, clean drinking water by building community wells for as little as $5000 each.

Skyo is an online textbook company who is stepping up to help out. Right now you can contribute to The Thirst Project simply by liking Skyo on Facebook and following @GoSkyo on Twitter. For each like or follow Skyo receives in the month of December they will give $1 to The Thirst Project, up to $25000.

I love being able to support companies who give back and support the world community through these types of projects. Please check out Skyo on Facebook and Twitter and help them give the gift of clean water through The Thirst Project.

This is not a sponsored post. I'm just helping spread the word about an easy way to help a great cause!

Note: All opinions presented in book and product reviews are my own. Opinions presented in posts authored by others reflect the view of the author only and not necessarily my view or opinion. If a product was given to me for review, the source of that product is noted in the post. Amazon and Book Depository links are affiliate links and I do earn a small amount for each purchase. Other affiliate links will be noted in the post.

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