Fundraising with Coca Cola Products & My Coke Rewards

I love love love to volunteer at school with our kids.

I've been lucky enough to go out on a few field trips this year, and it's so fun to get to spend time with the kids and their classmates!

I wish I could do more, but life gets in the way of that....

One thing that we are able to do, however, to give back to our school, is the MyCokeRewards for schools program!

We don't drink a lot of pop at home (anymore) but we know a lot of folks who do, and we do buy cases of water, and some cases (Dasani) have codes on the bottom of their plastic packages!

Each Coca Cola rewards code varies in points from 3 points for the codes in the caps, to 10-25, depending on if you get the code from a 12 pack, a case, or one of those shrink wrapped packages of bottles from your local big big box store.

Every 3 points is the equivalent to a nickel!

Doesn't take long for all those codes to add up, and after entering those codes, you can go under 'CAUSES' in your MyCokeRewards account, find your cause, and viola!

DONATE!

1000 points is a quick $15.00 for your cause!

(Ours being our kiddos elementary school!)

Doesn't get much easier than that, does it? Well, I guess it can...

If you don't save your Coke Rewards codes, or don't want to enter them yourself, we'd love to add them to our collection along with our Box Tops for Education! 

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Liz Logelin Foundation - A Celebration

On March 24, 2008, little Madeline Elizabeth Logelin came into this world.

The next day, her mother left it.

From this impossibly tragic event, a community was born. A community of individuals, united in their desire to help and support Madeline and her father, Matt. This community formed the basis for what would become a worldwide charitable foundation:

The Liz Logelin Foundation – For the Love of Liz.

After the catastrophic loss of his wife, Matt Logelin coped by turning not only to his wonderfully supportive family and friends, but to the internet. He had already begun a casual blog to keep friends and family abreast of Liz’s pregnancy; within 2 weeks of her passing, that blog became what it is today: a place where Matt can share his joys and frustrations, challenges and heartbreaks; where concerned friends, new and old, can meet, talk, laugh, and cry with Matt; and most importantly, where other widows and widowers can offer – and be offered – support and friendship.

So strong and large was the community that spontaneously formed around Matt and Madeline, it seemed not only natural, but necessary to harness the strength of that network and turn it into something – something that could help ease the pain and lighten the load felt by widows and widowers everywhere.

And it all sprang from the Love of Liz.

Last Friday, September 17th, would have been Liz Logelin's 33rd birthday.
To celebrate, we joined our friends of the Liz Logelin Foundation at what is now an annual fundraiser...this year, aptly titled - Celebration of Hope -
And what a Celebration it was.


While much like last year - it was also very different...


Another gorgeous painting by Mark Rose - Have you EVER seen a more talented artist?
The Robot ~ In full working order...made a guest appearance...

And there were some pretty awesome items up for bid this year again...
Including - an electric scooter...

Poor Trish...She did not want to go home without that scooter...She got a little too excited for her own good however, and broke the cardinal rule of silent auctioning. She needs to practice up on her poker face!

She had dozens of blog posts written in her head about that scooter already - I know she did!

Such a bummer...Next year Trish! Next year!

There were so many other fabulous items - in the ballpark of 200 items...
And they were so so popular with everyone there!


And it was so fun to have my worlds collide at one, awesomesauce event...
My 'Minnesota Blogger Group' was meeting my 'Creepy Friends' Group -
And it couldn't have been more spectacular!

Trish, Me, Missy & Gina
(photo courtesy of Missy!)

Me, Cindy & Missy....

Trish, Missy, Molly & Laura

Last year, Jackie came...and this year -

We met Mark and baby Matthew.


And so many friends & supporters of the Liz Logelin Foundation came out...

The brainchildren behind the entire organization -

Matt ~

and Rachel ~

Rachel & I 'met' via cribsheet way back in the day...When Matt first dropped us a note over there...

Rachel emailed me offline saying 'What can we do?' - and I wondered...Will this guy think we are a complete bunch of quacks? Contacting him like this? Sending him our unused formula checks and all the unsolicited advice we could muster up?

Well, Rachel didn't care. She met this total random dude & his baby for lunch...

And now look...with the help of so many fantastic volunteers (Kris & Laurie & Nancy & Katie J. and Chris T. & Jen G. & Gina & Brooke & Danielle & Kate & Kelly Mc & so so many others...many who's names you'll see here...the countless hours they put in, making an event like this happen...

The donations: silent auction, live auction, online auction, straight up cash.

This foundation is really really making a difference...over 40 grants given out since it's inception.

That means 40 families receiving a little bit of sunshine in an otherwise cloudy time...

This year, something a little different - was live music - by local fav Tim Mahoney -

He played...and people swooned...

Especially when he sang, lullabye style, to one of the newest of the creeplets...5 week old T...

"Don't stop believin', Hold on to that feeeeeelin"

and when people weren't swooning...they Rocked Out with the Robot!

And some of us...some of us just enjoyed an evening with people who make us so very very happy...while coming together for a great cause.

Matt & Tim Mahoney after the show -

It's gonna be hard to top this one...but I hope you'll join us next year to see us try! Huge kudos to the events team for an extremely fun, extremely well run and well put together event. You ladies did such an awesome job, and you should be very very proud.

I have been spread much too thin this year, and wasn't able to give of myself as I have in the past. But you know how I can continue to help, even if I am not cataloging dozens of auction items or stuffing 5k envelopes?

By skipping eating out one day a month...and offering up a few bucks to a very worthwhile charity...

Together - We CAN make a difference.

Giving Back...

So last month I had the honor and privelege of helping out with an awesome group of folks helping to raise both awareness and money to fight child hunger...

Together, we all pitched in and helped put on a pretty big charity rummage sale and even though the weather man's predictions were pretty far off, we managed to raise over $900 in just a few short hours.

At the end of those few short hours, my friends Jenn & Mike showed up, in the rain, to pick up the items that had been donated that hadn't sold - for use in a rummage sale that THEY would be holding to raise money for the Breast Cancer 3 Day walk - which Jenn is walking for the first time this year - (pregnant mind you!)

I'll be honest - when they showed up - I felt a little bad. It had been raining. We were wet. Items for sale were getting wet. Mike and Jenn had driven over an hour in the pouring rain with two young children, only to show up and within minutes of them being there, a dozen of us shoved donations into every possible nook and cranny of not one, but two separate vehicles. We waved buh-bye and sent them on their merry way...

I felt guilty that they would have to get this stuff home and figure out what to do with it for 3 weeks while getting ready for their own sale...

Last night - I received the following email from Jenn -

Darcie, I’ve been meaning to email you to give you an update on the garage sale but I haven’t had much energy after last week. We worked like mad people to get ready for the sale. The donations just kept coming, which was a good problem to have. As of Tuesday night, or Wed morning (1:30am) we weren’t sure how we were going to get everything in the garage before we tried to get a little sleep. We managed to shut the door but barely.
Wednesday was our best day by far. It was sunny and we sold a ton of the big stuff which was great. It rained off and on Thursday and Friday but we had sold enough stuff on Thursday that we could pull everything into the garage and still had room for people to move around.
We ended up raising $1100 which I think is amazing because we were giving things away. Most everything was priced at $0.25/.50 and up. We just priced everything to sell. On Friday we had bag day – Everything you could fit in a bag for $5.00.
The best part is we ended up helping out 3 other charities. All the baby and Maternity stuff went to a foundation that helps single mothers. The everyday clothing and shoes when to a group who is working to cloth Africa and the rest of the stuff is going to either the Goodwill, Salvation Army or to the Vets. So it felt great that this stuff just keeps on giving to other causes. Please share this info with your other bloggers and thank them again for everything they donated. We appreciated it so much.
Thank you again for setting everything up so we could get all those donations. Everything you do to help these causes is very inspiring.
We still need to find a date to get the families together. I hope all is well with you guys.
Jenn

I cannot tell you how much JOY it brings me to see people giving back. While I only donated one truck load of items to these sales (much to my husband's dismay I'm sure, as he would really love to see me move out about 10 truck loads of *stuff*) I still feel good about knowing that some of those items potentially raised money for a great causes...and if they happened to be one of the items that didn't sell - they still went to great use.

That, my friends, is what makes this all worthwhile!

Much love to the Minnesota Bloggers who helped organize the charity sale and donated not only their old treasures, but their time and talents as well.
xoxo

Cards for Cancer...Wrapping Up...

So I was going to wait until next week sometime to post more pics of cards for cancer - the kickin' project I am working on via spiritjump.org but I just could.not.wait to share this awesomesauce with you guys...
I mean, I figured I would have a few more pictures to share, a few more cards to deliver... but I had no idea...
I had high hopes for this project when I first got involved...

I didn't know exactly what we could do...but I knew that 'Together, We Can Make a Difference'

and boy oh boy oh boy was I right!

We already have over 300 cards! Can you believe it!?! I am soo thrilled about this!

I mean, seriously...look at these!

This bunch here? These were dropped off at my house by LeAnn ~ Remember her? Her brother has been battling cancer for the last few years...She organized a group at her house last Friday to create cards, and create cards they did! Just a couple shy of 100! WOW!



Thank you LeAnn and the Ladies of Barbara Lane - they are soo perfect!
And then, just a couple of days later - I came home to find this stash on my counter...my awesome friend & neighbor, her daughter and a friend whipped out these creations...(yes, we neighbors let ourselves into each others homes on occassion...)

And just today, a beautiful gal named Snow, who contacted me via this here blog and facebook - (ah, the power of social media) drove here from Wisconsin, folks...to drop off another 84 cards! EIGHTY FOUR~! A. MAZING!

There are store bought and hand made - pictures made by kids, beautiful messages written by adults for adults, by kids for kids, by kids for adults...by adults for kids...

kindness knows no bounds...

I'd be lying if I said this was no big deal...it is. It's HUGE!
Wouldn't one of these cards make YOUR day?

These cards aren't even for me, but they sure made my day!

In addition to the cards you see above - There are also so BEAUTIFUL creations still coming our way via Sam over at All Sam's Idea... Check out her stuff here!

Also, Laura and the ladies from the Star Tribune who brought over our first big batch of cards shown here, are creating more cards this week, and with those, come another dozen cards made with love by Laura and Mallory from Mallory's Mishmash World.

This one here is one of my favs that Sam did...

And look at this beauty!

There are a few more cards that I am waiting to get my hands on - those are coming for sure this Friday...and there are a few more of you that wanted in on this but haven't yet connected with me to get me the cards...Can you still contribute a card or two or twenty?
Can we get to 500 cards by April 10th? Can we do it? YES. WE. CAN!

In Our Own Backyard...

If you know me...(and if you're coming here, you prolly do because I don't get a lot of random strangers coming around here except to sell me half price shoes, pharmaceuticals, and something in Chinese or Japanese that I can't ever read...but they keep proposing via comments) you know that I am always looking to make my world, our world, a better place.

Not just a better place for me and my family...but for those around us. Right here in our own backyards.

That is why I am thrilled to share with you Child Hunger Ends Here - via my friend Molly over at The Snyder 5. Molly has been chosen as just one of 14 blog correspondents in the good old US of A to bring awareness to, and help lessen, the burden of childhood hunger. You can read more about Child Hunger Ends Here, by clicking here....
Of course, as awesome as Molly is...she can't do this alone!
(seriously, check out her 500 pound declutter challenge! Unless you are my husband - then please don't check it out - I'm trying babe! Really I am! Molly is kicking some serious arse in the decluttering department!)

Anyway - I am thrilled to be included among a rad group of Minnesota Bloggers (and non-bloggers!) who are going to be able to help make a difference in the lives of hungry little kids. Hungry little local kids. I mean, we have 'food issues' in our house - but they aren't because we don't HAVE the food, or a few bucks to buy food, our issues are because no one wants to eat what I make. I cannot imagine my babies being hungry because we were didn't have enough. Sadly, it's the case in more homes in our own backyards than we care to acknowledge.

Just like the Cards for Cancer project I am currently doing with spiritjump.org - this is an easy way to do some good - with literally minimal effort on my part. Not that I wouldn't help out if there WAS more effort involved on my part - but doesn't this make it a no-brainer situation when you don't have to do anything too complicated? Don't you just LOVE it when people make it easy for you to help? I DO!! I DO!!
So, what can you do to help out that involves minimal effort but will have a HUGE impact? Well, that's easy...
You can donate some non-perishable food, purchase foods of a certain brand when you are out doing your regular shopping, make a monetary donation, donate things you were looking to get rid of anyway to the rummage sale that will take place on May 22nd in St. Paul, Minnesota...
What other ideas do you have? Leave me a comment or head over to The Snyder 5 and visit Molly!
You won't be sorry!

Cards 4 Cancer - Let's make a difference!

I'm a busy person... aren't we all?
There just aren't enough hours in the day to get it all done...and I for one am always wanting to do more.

Whether you are a wife, a mother, a husband, a father. An employee or a boss. A friend, a daughter, a sister, a brother....volunteer...
The truth of the matter is, there is just never enough time to get it all done. That's the reason I'm always looking for little things that I can do with minimal effort that can make a difference. A little difference, or a big difference, doesn't matter. Just a difference.

(Like the 7 on the 7th with the Liz Logelin Foundation) Seriously - it all adds up and really truly does make a difference!

I was soo thrilled when I came across something that fit the bill I'm always looking for...only, in this case. I have, with your help, the ability to make a HUGE difference. WE ALL DO! What is this remarkable opportunity you ask? Well, it's cards 4 cancer! As taken from their website
'On April 10th 2010 Spirit Jump along with Bloggers Unite and its sponsors are pleased to bring you our First Annual Cards 4 Cancer Day. Battling cancer can be one of the most difficult and loneliest experiences a person can go through. With cancer touching so many lives around the world it’s time to let them know they are not alone. Our mission is to provide hope and comfort to the many men, women and children who are involved in this battle. With your help Spirit Jump hopes to collectively deliver over 100,000 cards.'

You don't have to personally know someone is who is battling cancer. Haven't we all been touched in one way or another at some point in our lives by that nasty beast called Cancer? Whether you or someone you know has lost a loved one - cancer is far too widespread.
Over the years I've seen far too many people lose their fight. It's not fair.

I am soo excited about cards 4 cancer. You know how excited you get when someone leaves a nice comment on your blog? What? You don't have a blog? You have one but no one ever leaves you comments? (Shame on them!)

Well, what about that card you got in the mail telling you to have a nice day and it's NOT EVEN YOUR BIRTHDAY! Yeah...THAT feeling!
Together - We can make a difference!
We get to put together cards for people right here in the Twin Cities Metro area currently battling the Big C.
The hospital I choose was the University of Minnesota Amplatz Children's Hospital.

If you'd like to 'officially' join my team
click HERE and my team name is 'Together - We can make a difference'
(at least I think it is-I'm still getting everything together!)

If you don't want to officially join my team but feel like you could produce a couple of dozen cards to brighten someone's day - please feel free to drop me an email at darciegust (at ) yahoo (dot) com or leave me a comment. Maybe you've got kids (or run a daycare or teach in a classroom) and the kids love to make little art projects? I know my two do!
How about a get well soon picture drawn by your favorite young un?

Cards do not need to be fancy or store bought (though they can be if you want them to be!) but should convey a simple, positive message to someone who is battling cancer.
_____________
Some tips from the website as to what you might include in your cards:
*** Some people have been asking for advice on what to write in their cards. While the messages are important please remember that its your time, thought and compassion that really makes the difference. With that said here are some tips on writing messages in your cards:
1- Try to stay away from “Get Well”. Unfortunately some of the recipients of your cards will not get well and this message, while a positive one, can be hard for some. Because we do not know specifically who will receive your cards its a good idea to stay away from any type of “Get Well” messages.
2- “Thinking of You” “Wishing You Well” “You Are In Our Thoughts” “Encouraging You Through Your Battle’ etc…are all great messages to include in your cards.
3- Uplifting quotes are always great
4- Drawings without any message at all work too.
5-Try to stay gender and age neutral as you do not know who will be receiving your cards. However, if you know you are delivering to a childrens center, woman’s center etc….you can be more specific.
The cards may be signed however the person making the card feels most comfortable. The cards may be in an envelope or not but if you do place them in an envelope we suggest leaving the envelope unsealed in case the staff needs to look at the cards before they deliver them. Also all cards should have spiritjump.org somewhere on the card so that those who receive the cards will know where to go should they wish to receive more support.
_______________________
So...What do you say?
Who's in?

Together - we can make a difference!

If you are interested in learning more - ask me...or click here to visit the cards 4 cancer blog!

Last night was A-MAZING!

How many times have you heard THAT? Or wish you did??
I've been hearing it over and over and over again today. No joke...dozens and dozens of times.
What was so special about last night?

The better question is...What wasn't?

Last night, Thanks to Marketing and Planning Extraordinaire Missy from The Marketing Mama, 40 'local' Minnesota Bloggers got together for what can only be called an AMAZING NIGHT!

We started off with mingling and dining at Houlihans - It was fantastic -

But even more fantastic...the people. The forty local bloggers. Forty different walks of life.
Converging on one space...for a common cause...
Just who are these forty different bloggers?

You can see the official attendee list here - go ahead - check them out - you won't regret it!
There are some AMAZING folks among us!

It's so funny, driving over to the restaurant I didn't even have a single pang of nervousness. I think being friends with Matt Logelin will do that to a person - I have met some AMAZING people via Matt and his awesome foundation - the Liz Logelin Foundation.

I just knew this would be the same sort of thing...
Besides, after chatting via Twitter and Facebook and reading many of these bloggers ahead of time...it felt like we were old friends already, even though most of us had never met in person!

Kellyn of Fritz Factz -

& Kim from I want a minivan (with me) ~

Missy talking with Norman ~ 1 of the 2 brave men who joined in our festivities!

Liz and Carrie - Carrie designs blog books - something that I am currently doing for myself...hmmmm...so tempting to have her do it for me -

And oh, Trish...She is sooo sweet...and you really must go and read HER blog post about this amazing event...it gave me goose bumps to read her entry and her pictures...this is one talented woman!

Jen of Prior Fat Girl - who incidentally has one of the most. remarkable. stories. EVER! showing off the swag that was provided us courtesy of Red Gold Tomatoes and Annie's Homegrown -

Suzi from Pink Vanilla Cupcakes, Kellyn of Fritz Factz, Julie of Varitable Fount & Elizabeth from Hazelden's Recovery Blog

From there we headed over to Feed My Starving Children in Eagan to help package food for the hungry. More specifically, on this night, for Haiti. (Please remember my friend Joanna who is currently serving on a mission trip in Haiti & if you are so inclined, say a prayer for her and those whom she is helping!)

We listened to Adam talk about Omar...and how Feed My Starving Children has saved his life.

Amazing facts...for just .17 you can feed a child a meal. What else can a person get for .17?

Certainly not much.

This is one place your money really goes far.

We were determined to get to work...We got our instructions...They turned up the music...and we got busy...we scooped, we sealed, we boxed. We talked. We sang. We danced. All while making a difference for someone else.
Actually, on this particular night, for 38 someone elses. Together, along with a bunch of other fantastic volunteers, we packaged 64 boxes of food during our 'shift'. Enough food to feed 38 children for an entire year. Read Trish's post to see just exactly what that means...

I know for me, when my friend Joanna posted on her Facebook page just hours before we were going to head out to Feed My Starving Children - it really helped to make an impact on my heart knowing what my evening had in store - Joanna wrote from Haiti ~

We are just getting a meal ready for our overnight patients at our "clinic" we are making the FMSC food. It is so great to have this to feed them. All of my friends that are packing this week, keep up the great work. You are saving lives. Loving you all from Haiti.

Beth hard at work -

{And here's a funny story about Beth here...And I hope I don't offend her...but I'm so embarrassed I could just...oh I don' t know. So I was pretty excited to meet all of these folks, many of these bloggers who, as I mentioned...have felt like they were my girlfriends for ages...One of them...being Beth. Beth of Anti-Supermom. Not Beth of Beth Blair. And while I'm sure that the latter of the two Beths could become a good friend of mine too...She and I haven't emailed back and forth, commented on each others blogs, and so on and so forth. No wonder she didn't hug me when I was all like - BETH! HELLO! It's MEEEEEE! We talk via email of what to do with all those novelty pencils our kids get & where to host a birthday party for kids...
**cough** oops.
I was thinking...well, you don't look EXACTLY like your pictures...but you do have dark hair...
Damn name tags...it's hard to read them without staring at people's breasts ya know???
Seriously...so embarrassing.
Thanks to Jen at Recovering Procrastinator for pointing this out to me and telling me I had my links mislabeled! Ugh. I might never have known!}

Ok...back to the night...
Kim and I said when this thing was scheduled that we'd sport hair nets together - and we did!

And then we posed with Kay from Cribsheet - Cribsheet is what connected me to many, many bloggers in the first place!

May and Kay of Cribsheet -

And then I took a snapshot (thanks Missy!) with one of my other favorite Star Tribune writers...Kara from Kablog!

Jen from Recovering Procrastinator

Me and Liz from Random Thoughts from a Luthern Geek

There were soo many amazing people here tonight - I'd love to link up every single person and I'm sorry for those of you I'm not - but please please please use the MckLinky at the end of this post and put YOUR blog post about last night in so everyone can read YOUR stories, your words as well!

Trish has connections (HA HA!) and Fox 9 came out - I'm told there was a snippet on the 10pm news but I wasn't home in time to see it -

Thanks again Missy for organizing an AMAZING event! A-MAZING!



The whole group. The whole AMAZING group. I am so honored to have been a part of this event...and I look forward to new found friendships...including playdates with our kids and GASP...CHILDCARE SWAP! YEEEEEEEEEEESSSSSSSSSS!

For a slide show of pictures from last night...click this link...I think...

Did you join us last night and blog about it today? Please link up your post so that people can read about YOUR amazing night last night!