Ft Myers Charities | News And Notes 10/27/2015

Ft Myers Charities News and Notes

Support your local Fort Myers Food Bank

Fort Myers area upcoming charitable events

Goodwill Industries of Southwest Florida is asking for donations of NEW stuffed teddy bears to decorate the "Very Beary Christmas" tree, to be auctioned off at the 9th Annual Festival of Trees.  Goodwill will be accepting bears through November 20.
For more info call 239-995-2106 (ext. 2213)

The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida needs to provide about 10,000 turkeys and chickens for families in need. The community can help by donating frozen holiday birds or making a financial contribution. This year, it will cost the food bank about $14 to purchase and distribute each holiday bird through its network partner agencies. - See more at: http://www.harrychapinfoodbank.org/blog/recent-posts/holiday-bird-drive-now-through-friday-november-20#sthash.1pJ5O7ky.dpuf

The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida needs to provide about 10,000 turkeys and chickens for families in need. The community can help by donating frozen holiday birds or making a financial contribution. This year, it will cost the food bank about $14 to purchase and distribute each holiday bird through its network partner agencies. The Harry Chapin Food Bank of Southwest Florida needs to provide about 10,000 turkeys and chickens for families in need. The community can help by donating frozen holiday birds or making a financial contribution. This year, it will cost the food bank about $14 to purchase and distribute each holiday bird through its network partner agencies.

Blossoms For Birds
When: Now through Friday, November 20, 11480 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907

When: Now through Friday, November 20, 11480 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907 - See more at: http://www.harrychapinfoodbank.org/blog/category/events#sthash.XZL9s16A.dpuf

When: Now through Friday, November 20, 11480 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907Description: Fort Myers Floral Design will again be offering a bouquet of flowers to those that stop by and donate a turkey to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. You can drop off during hours of operations: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thank you for helping our neighbors in need!
- See more at: http://www.harrychapinfoodbank.org/blog/category/events#sthash.WkJ2Kzd4.dpuf

When: Now through Friday, November 20, 11480 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907Description: Fort Myers Floral Design will again be offering a bouquet of flowers to those that stop by and donate a turkey to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. You can drop off during hours of operations: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Thank you for helping our neighbors in need!
- See more at: http://www.harrychapinfoodbank.org/blog/category/events#sthash.WkJ2Kzd4.dpufWhen: Now through Friday, November 20, 11480 S Cleveland Ave, Fort Myers, FL 33907

Description: Fort Myers Floral Design will again be offering a bouquet of flowers to those that stop by and donate a turkey to the Harry Chapin Food Bank. 

You can drop off during hours of operations: 8:30 a.m. to 6 p.m.

 SW Florida food banks struggle to keep food on their shelves!

Please give generously!!!

Know a business, group, or individual that deserves recognition for their service to the community? Email me at rickthomas@ftmyersmarketing.com

Rick Thomas, Social media/SEO Consultant in Ft Myers Florida, Writer, interested in making a positive difference in my community including but not limited to: regional search engine marketing for small businesses in Ft Myers Florida. Local Google Ranking Improved for both companies and charities.

Ft Myers Chaities News And Notes October 2015

Fort Myers Charities News and Notes

 More often than not, when an individual or group of individuals, make a  conscious decision to do something to help others, or their community, they will do so anonymously or at least as quietly as possible.  That can make it rather difficult to gather information for this blog while it is still "actual" news.  With this in mind I have worked hard over the past several years to build a network of sources of information regarding groups, businesses, and individuals that serve as an example of what serving your community looks like.  Many thanks to the friends, family, and connections that keep my inbox overflowing like a fountain of hope and positivism! 

Fort Myers area upcoming charitable events

 Salty Sam’s 10th annual Pirate Festival is happening this weekend. The festival will be held from Friday, Oct. 9 to Sunday, Oct. 11 on Old San Carlos Boulevard, Fort Myers Beach. It is a charity event to benefit the Guardian ad Litem Foundation – 20th Judicial Circuit, Greater Fort Myers Beach Friends of the Arts, Bay Oaks Recreation Center and Ostego Bay Foundation Marine Science Center.  Fun for the whole family!

Just a few weeks to register for the United Way’s Campaign Kickoff Breakfast on Oct. 28 at Harborside Event Center in Fort Myers to benefit the United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades and Okeechobee Counties.  For more information visit United Way of Lee, Hendry, Glades, and Okeechobee Counties ...

 SW Florida food banks struggle to keep food on their shelves!

Please give generously!!!

Know a business, group, or individual that deserves recognition for their service to the community? Email me at rickthomas@ftmyersmarketing.com

Rick Thomas, Social media/SEO Consultant in Ft Myers Florida, Writer, interested in making a positive difference in my community including but not limited to: regional search engine marketing for small businesses in Ft Myers Florida. Local Google Ranking Improved for both companies and charities. 501c3 non profit promotion done pro bono.

 Fort Myers Charities

Earth Day 2015

 Food For Thought:

Charities and organizations that act as "watchdogs" of the environment have several things in common, and tend to relate well to many of the same things.  The individual that takes pride, and derives esteem from making individual lives better, will more often than not experience the same level/type of satisfaction from trying to protect the Earth from mismanagement and pollutants.  They will speak the same stylistically,  and have a very similar list of values.  I would suggest that this mindset, and an appreciation of those specific values, is something parents can and should be teaching their children.

 Keep Lee County, Florida Beautiful!

With this in mind ...

Earth Day is a great day to get the kids involved, and show them what it feels like to make a difference!

Earth Day was still a fairly new thing when my niece was in her early, elementary years.  I had a friend who had two children her age, and we got them together often enough that all of our relationships solidified into true friendship.  One day my buddy told me he was taking his kids out to pick up trash on Earth Day and invited my niece and I to tag along.  It didn't sound like a big deal one way or the other to me, but, I agreed to go .... even though

I had barely even heard of Earth Day, and wasn't particularly interested!

I was in for a real surprise!  My buddy (Tommy) and his kids picked us up in his International Travelall with an unopened box of 30 gallon trash bags, and a picnic basket his wife had packed with lunch for the kids and us.  He decided he wanted to go to a place where the local teenagers liked to go at night and park/hangout.  We both knew the place because a few short years earlier we hung out there too.

As soon as we arrived we were all taken by the enourmous amount of trash lying on the ground, in the bushes, and in the road itself.  I had been there many times, but, was always focused on the spectacular view of the Potomac river, and not the trash that lay all around my feet.  We were all kind of taken aback by the enormity of the undertaking at hand.  Tommy had a plan ... everyone was going to fill up two trash bags with as much as they could fit into the bags.  We drug them back to the Travellall, and then each of us did another two bags ... rinse and repeat!

We then each took one bag and were responsible for diferent kinds of trash ... i.e.

Paper

Glass

Metal

Styrofoam and Rubber

Plastic

After that round we each retraced our steps with a focus on "attention to detail."  Now there was little enough left in the area we were working that we were able to notice the little things that had escaped our attention  the first couple of times around.  

The end result was truly amazing!!!

We were standing in the grass looking at a beautiful view of the Potomac with out a speck of trash visible, something that seemed ridiculous to expect just two hours before!  The kids could not believe the difference their efforts had made, and in such a short time.  They had begun to understand and appreciate what giving back .... what making the world a better place, can do to make you feel good about yourself!  They were proud of the work they had done, and the end result.  It became one of their favorite nthings to do on a Saturday afternoon, and they asked to do it fairly often.  Furthermore, they now take their kids out to do the same thing!

Giving your time to make the world a better place is the kind of experience that becomes a treasured memory.

We speak often of those times, and they are amongst our most cherished memories.  If you have an interest in creating an opportunity for similar experiences for your kids visit the ...

Keep Lee County Beautiful website
http://klcb.org/


Rick Thomas, Social media/SEO Consultant in Ft Myers Florida, Writer, interested in making a positive difference in my community including but not limited to: regional search engine marketing for small businesses in Ft Myers Florida. Local Google Ranking Improved for both companies and charities. 501c3 non profit promotion done pro bono.

Charity News And Notes March 2015

SW Florida residents, businesses, and organizations again are doing amazing things to improve the lives of their neighbors.  Working independently and in concert they continue to make a difference in their community.  Many heartfelt thanks to those that have a passion for making a positive difference.

The Harry Chapin Food Bank has surpassed the halfway mark toward meeting it's goal of raising $5.1 million to use in it's fight against hunger.  The public campaign to complete that goal was recently announced to more than 200 guests at their warehouse. A key focus in this years campaign will be to increase their capacity to distribute the food to the families and individuals that need it.  They currently distribute through a network of 150 nonprofit agencies in SW Florida that distribute that food to over 30,000 people per month.

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The Greater Fort Myers Chamber of Commerce Women in Business raised over $4,000 at its Annual Dessert Auction recently.  Proceeds are given to the Women in Business Scholarship Fund.

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The American Cancer Society wants to "Paint the town purple!"  Businesses and organizations are invited to become involved in the Relay For Life Movement which raises money for cancer research, education, prevention,  and critical services for families and individuals currently battling cancer.

Businesses, schools and organizations which fundraise at least $100 and send in their "purple picture" to the "Paint The Town Purple" campaign are entered into the competition with a chance to win some great publicity and exposure.

For more ways to participate, enter the relay race, volunteer, or learn more check out ...

relayforlife.org

or call ...

239-936-1113





Rick Thomas, Social media/SEO Consultant in Ft Myers Florida, Writer, interested in making a positive difference in my community including but not limited to: regional search engine marketing for small businesses in Ft Myers Florida. Local Google Ranking Improved for both companies and charities. 501c3 non profit promotion done pro bono.

Susan G. Komen Southwest Florida Race For The Cure 2015

Volunteers Needed

 The Susan G. Komen 9th Annual Race For The Cure begins next Saturday at 8:00 a.m..  Over 6000 participants are expected to be on hand to raise money to fight cancer on both the local and national level.  75% of the money raised stays right here in SW Florida to screen, inform, educate,and  help families who are battling cancer right now.  The other 25% is used to help fund "groundbreaking international breast cancer research."  Susan G. Komen donates more to this type of research than any other non-governmental organization in the world.

There is a tremendous need for volunteers on Saturday to assist in such things as passing out water to participants in the race, helping in the survivors tent, and more.  For more information on how to volunteer and help a great cause call 239-498-0016.

Rick Thomas, Social media/SEO Consultant in Ft Myers Florida, Writer, interested in making a positive difference in my community including but not limited to: regional search engine marketing for small businesses in Ft Myers Florida. Local Google Ranking Improved for both companies and charities. 501c3 non profit promotion done pro bono.

Ft Myers Charities News And Notes February 2015

Apologies are in order for falling behind in my posting lately.    As my personal business has increased, and my  family responsibilities have demanded more of my time it has become increasingly difficult to devote the needed time to keep all of my blogs current.  For the most part that is ok, however, in the case of this blog it is decidedly not ok!  For a number of reasons that I will not list here this blog is quite important to me!

I have a remarkable number of good sources of information regarding SW Florida's charitable organizations and those who work so hard to keep them moving forward.  Much news of interest to those involved in this informal community comes my way on a semi-regular basis, and it pains me to not be able to find the time to post it here.

I am re-commiting myself to making this blog a top level priority once again!

Here are a few of the items that have come across my desk recently ...

Happy 10th anniversary to The Calendar Girls Florida Dance Team!  This group actively supports many local charities and is well known for their focus on providing guide dogs for veterans "our primary charity is Paws for Patriots™ – a part of the Southeastern Guide Dog School of Palmetto, Florida. This organization trains guide dogs for our visually-impaired veterans."

http://www.calendargirlsflorida.com/who-we-are/

The 12th Annual Cattle Barons Ball raised over $320,000 to help local families that have members fighting cancer.

Bonita Springs Utilities raised over $500 and 534 pounds of food which was donated to the Bonita Springs Assistance office.

Members of The Village Church and residents of The Shell Point Retirment Community worked together on two food drives that raised nearly $7500 and over 2200 pounds of food!

Rick Thomas, Social media/SEO Consultant in Ft Myers Florida, Writer, interested in making a positive difference in my community including but not limited to: regional search engine marketing for small businesses in Ft Myers Florida. Local Google Ranking Improved for both companies and charities. 501c3 non profit promotion done pro bono.