We Have This HOPE

Thank you for your prayers! Please accept this artwork as a gift and remember from where our hope comes.   Hebrews 6:19  (Click on the image below to download your copy.)

If you are able, please give your love offering to the United Way Relief Fund. Every dollar counts! Click the link to give and for more information on recovery efforts:  https://www.unitedwayhouston.org/flood

THANK YOU,
Melly

Click on the image to follow the link to scribe.com and download your copy.

(c)2017, Melissa Garza-Allen

For personal use only.  Commercial use prohibited.   

For commercial license information, please contact sillybeeschickadees@gmail.com

PRESS RELEASE: AUGUST 27, 2017

UNITED WAY OF GREATER HOUSTON ESTABLISHES FLOOD RELIEF FUND AS HURRICANE HARVEY DEVASTATION GROWS

HOUSTON (Aug. 27,  2017) – Because of the devastating and widespread flooding already seen in the Greater Houston area from Hurricane Harvey, United Way of Greater Houston has established a Flood Relief Fund to help with the recovery needs of those most impacted. All monies raised by United Way’s Flood Relief Fund will be used to help with both immediate, basic needs and long-term recovery services such as case management and minor home repair.

“Our first priority will be safety, shelter and basic needs such as food and essentials for those affected,” said Anna M. Babin, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston. “Once the community is stabilized, then United Way will focus on long-term recovery efforts. Since this situation is still unfolding, we realize the needs will be great.”

As a leading community resource in times of disaster, United Way invests in first response efforts through its partnerships with organizations such as American Red Cross and Salvation Army. Babin explained that United Way of Greater Houston maintains a disaster reserve fund, which will be tapped for this storm effort, however because of the widespread devastation already seen, the needs of those impacted will far exceed existing resources.

Babin added that, following disastrous storm events like Hurricane Harvey, United Way serves as the convening organization to bring together non-profit and community partners as well as civic and government stakeholders from throughout the Greater Houston area to coordinate recovery efforts, both assessing the needs and providing support where it is needed most.

In addition, United Way operates 2-1-1 Texas / United Way HELPLINE which is the community’s key information source before, during and after a storm.  United Way’s 2-1-1 is the one call for those impacted who don’t know where to call, providing the most updated information on shelters, basic needs assistance and,once the flood waters subside, long-term recovery support.

“We know that damage from a storm of Harvey’s magnitude can be a major setback for individuals and families, especially the most vulnerable,” said Anna M. Babin, president and CEO of United Way of Greater Houston. “We also know that Houston is a very generous and caring community, so we are urging those who can help to please do so by contributing to the flood relief fund.”

To give to the United Way Flood Relief Fund, visit unitedwayhouston.org/flood or text UWFLOOD to 41444.

I'm Green with Excitement!

Hello, all my green chickadees! I just entered a design contest for reusable shopping bags at kroger.com and would reeeeeeeeelly appreciate it if you would take a look and vote for me. Most of the bags are made with clip art, but mine is from scratch!  If I win, you just may see my bag at a Kroger near you.  Annnnnnd, I could get some free groceries!

To vote for my design, click on the bag above--that's mine. Cute, right?  You can vote every day from now through May 21. Thank you kindly!






If you like my design, you can buy it on a bag, an apron, a mug or a water bottle by clicking on the Cafe Press logo above. Their bags are made of 100% cotton canvas and machine washable.  Plus, they don't have the Kroger logo on them, so you can carry them around everywhere and not look like a walking billboard! Cafe Press is giving $1 to the National Parks Conservation Assoc. for every item sold. I think that's pretty decent!

As if you Need a Reason to Wear Red!

This Friday is National Go Red for Women Day to raise awareness of women's heart disease and stroke. I did a Wear Red for Women post last year, so instead of repeating myself, I'll just remind you to wear red, spread the word, and check out the Go Red for Women website for great information on heart health.




P.S.  The Macy's Wear Red Sale benefiting the Go Red for Women campaign runs today through Sunday.  Wear red to any Macy's and get an extra 20% off!

Pretty in Pink Tops

Remember my post about shopping smart when you buy pink products? Well, I thought I would share a couple really cute ones that really do make a difference.

This top is just adorable. I saw this one live in person at an Ann Taylor store and almost got it, but I was on a timely mission to find an outfit for a gala at the eleventh hour. Isn’t it cute? The price is a bit high at $50, but 70% of it goes to The Breast Cancer Research Foundation. I think if you’re going to buy a pink top, buy this one and know that you just donated $35 to fight breast cancer!

On the other hand, Lacoste also has some awesome pink items, but these only offer 10% of your donation to BCRF. Still, they are super cute. Just consider that this pink croc polo, while totally awesome, is $85. That means only $8.50 of your purchase goes to breast cancer research. But, how cute would this be with jeans, flats and a string of pearls?

So, frilly and girly or classic and sporty? I think they’re both fabulous and are dying to be in my closet!

Shop Smart When You Shop Pink!

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month. It's an important time to stop and consider the effects of breast cancer on families and how we can all support those affected by it. My life has been touched by many amazing women afflicted with breast cancer. Many are survivors-- others fought bravely until their passing. I honor those who have battled breast cancer and pray that researchers will soon find a cure.  I'm sure you do, too, because my chickadees are good people!

October is also, unofficially, Pink Month! Pink ribbon gifts are everywhere, so when you're buying, make sure the vendor is actually supporting a major breast cancer nonprofit organization. Lots of companies capitalize on the pink ribbon craze and sell pink stuff claiming to support breast cancer research when they really don't. Your best defense against these meanies is to buy products directly from nonprofit organizations who are committed to fighting breast cancer such as Komen and American Cancer Society.

Now, THIS is an awesome find!

The Breast Cancer Research Foundation has a listing of companies like Sephora and Ann Taylor who sell pink items or have pink promotions and shows how much of their proceeds are actually donated to BCRF.  Their Shop Pink Guilt-Free Shopping list is divided into categories like beauty and electronics and also includes web links so you can find the products online or in stores.  Click on the catalog cover below to see the list. Think smart when you think pink!

Go Red for Women!

Tomorrow, Feb. 6th, is Go Red for Women Day sponsored by the American Heart Association. Go Red for Women is a national campaign to raise awareness for coronary heart disease and stroke among women. Click on the logo above for more information. They also have a Spanish site at www.goredcorazon.org.


Go to their Go Red for Women web site and sign up to access great heart health resources as well as Heart-Healthy Recipes complete with nutritional guides. This "featured" recipe, Berry Topped Pudding Pie, grabbed my attention big time! To quote Rachel Ray, "yummo!" Click on the photo above for the recipe.


Go Red for Women also has a great online boutique. Check out their goodies by clicking on the logo above. They have everything from jewelry and ties to cookbooks and Christmas ornaments.


Campbell's Soup asked fashion designer Nicole Miller to create three dresses for American Heart Month. Click on the logo above to vote online for your favorite dress and each vote through March 2 will generate $1 to the Go Red campaign. The winning dress will be worn by Jane Krakowski, of the hilarious tv show 30 Rock, at an American Heart Month event. Such a fun way to contribute with just one click!


Wear Red Sale at Macy's! Feb. 4-Feb. 8

Macy's is a national sponsor of Go Red for Women and in honor of the event, they're offering a 5-day sale! Wear red to any Macy's store and "get an extra 20% off most regular, sale and clearance purchases". Make sure you ask before you check out to make sure your purchase qualifies. Some name brands like Coach and Ed Hardy don't apply. They will also be selling Red Dress Pins for $2 and donating all proceeds to the American Heart Association's Go Red for Women movement.


Swarovski has a number of Go Red items on its website including this beautiful red dress brooch. They have pledged to donate $150,000 to the Go Red movement. Click the image above to go to their site, then type in "go red" to see all their red blingy yummies.

Don't forget to wear your red on Friday, it's a great day to show off those hot red pumps!

Angel Party- Part II

I am proud to announce that we collected 20 Barbies at the 2008 Angel Party! While we were considering the lucky recipient of our ginormous gift, my fellow Angel Party hostess Mary, contacted Spaulding for Children on a mutual friend's suggestion. Spaulding is a nonprofit agency that helps children with physical and emotional disabilities and those who have been abused or neglected. They have programs and resources for families in foster care, adoption and post-adoption stages. It just so happens that Spaulding has a room that parents (foster or adoptive) can visit to pick out gifts for their new family members to help the children feel comfortable in their homes. And get this, it's called the Angel Room! Serendipitous, wouldn't you say? What a fun discovery made possible by a gentle nudge from above! Mary and I were so excited when we dropped off the Barbies at the Spaulding office. The staff was gracious enough to let us check out the Angel Room (there were no clients there that day.) And they were so excited to see our Barbie dolls; we are all children at heart after all!


The great news is now we have a perfect partner to help get the Angel Party toys into precious little angel hands. Because they collect gifts for children and youths of all ages, we can choose a different theme every year as we normally like to do.

I know I can speak for Mary when I say we really wanted to find a recipient where our gifts could really make a difference and not an agency that gets thousands of gifts during the holidays. We are so blessed to have learned about the Angel Room because our gifts will serve a higher purpose for families in our community. Not only will they put a smile on a newly fostered or adopted child's face, but they will in a small way, help new parents make important bonds with their new family members.

Thank you, Spaulding and all the 2008 Angels! And to Barbie for being so cute!


P.S.- The snowflakes hanging from the ceiling in the snowman picture represent dollar donations Spaulding received during their Blizzard of Giving. They received so much money that they ran out of snowflakes!

You go and rock that vote, girl!

There is no doubt that this year's election will be historical. We could possibly be inaugurating the first African-American president; or, we could soon be swearing in the first female vice-president. Either way, this election will usher in a new day for minorities in politics. I must admit that I am not the most politically-minded person. It's embarrassing to say so, but it's the truth and I suspect I'm not alone. Months before an election, I've always known who I plan to vote for, but this year just may shake up my steadfast party vote. I don't know about you, but after those debates, I decided I need to do my own research. So, if you're like me, and need a bit of help sifting through all the "let me say that agains" and "across the aisles" and "Joe Plummers", without all the misinformation and false claims of voting history, let's do our homework so we won't be undecided as we stand in line. Click the logo below to connect to the League of Women Voters website and rock that vote, girl!

P.S. If Tina Fey was running for the presidency, this vote would be a piece of cake.