<?xml version="1.0" encoding="UTF-8"?>
<rss version="2.0"
	xmlns:content="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/content/"
	xmlns:wfw="http://wellformedweb.org/CommentAPI/"
	xmlns:dc="http://purl.org/dc/elements/1.1/"
	xmlns:atom="http://www.w3.org/2005/Atom"
	xmlns:sy="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/syndication/"
	xmlns:slash="http://purl.org/rss/1.0/modules/slash/"
	>

<channel>
	<title>Renew Civilization</title>
	<atom:link href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/feed" rel="self" type="application/rss+xml" />
	<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org</link>
	<description>A Resource for State &#38; National Programs to Help the Needy</description>
	<lastBuildDate>Sat, 01 Oct 2011 21:24:40 +0000</lastBuildDate>
	<language>en</language>
	<sy:updatePeriod>hourly</sy:updatePeriod>
	<sy:updateFrequency>1</sy:updateFrequency>
	<generator>http://wordpress.org/?v=3.2.1</generator>
		<item>
		<title>Better Help with Personal Injury Attorney Long Island</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-help-with-personal-injury-attorney-long-island.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-help-with-personal-injury-attorney-long-island.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Aug 2011 06:15:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=429</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Are you in need of best attorney today that matters on injury cases?  Well, there is nothing to worry about, because right now you can have the best kind of attorney that you deserve with the best kind of personal injury attorney Long Island today.  This is one of the best that you can trust&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-help-with-personal-injury-attorney-long-island.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Are you in need of best attorney today that matters on injury cases?  Well, there is nothing to worry about, because right now you can have the best kind of attorney that you deserve with the best kind of <a href="http://www.personalinjuryaccidents.com/">personal injury attorney Long Island</a> today.  This is one of the best that you can trust and you can rely on, so you better see their kinds of services for you to see how best they can be to give help and assistance that really matters for your needs today.  If you have seen that there are so many different kinds of attorneys today, still it is much better that you rely on the best kind of attorney that has been trusted and known already for their best services that you can rely on as well today.</p>
<p>Now that you are facing with the kind of accusations, then it is much better to ask for the help and assistance of this kind of personal injury attorney Long Island so that you can ensure that you are in good hands that you can trust and you can rely on today.  With the many kinds of attorney that you can see around, still the best kind of personal injury attorney Long Island is just one of the best that you should try and see about today.  And you can assure that everything will be as best as you deserve to have right now.  This is truly the perfect kind of thing for you that you should always try to in order to assure of success that you desire towards your case today.  This is truly the best one that you should see and try about and there is no doubt that you can have only the needed justice that you ever wanted today.  Their group is made up of best attorney’s that is why there is no need to worry about today.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-help-with-personal-injury-attorney-long-island.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Atty. Evan Granowitz Defines Civil Law</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/atty-evan-granowitz-defines-civil-law.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/atty-evan-granowitz-defines-civil-law.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Aug 2011 17:22:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Uncategorized]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Law]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=426</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One of the youngest top minds in civil law and most sought-after for his successes in many civil litigations, Atty. Evan Granowitz has certainly proved Super Lawyers magazine right in putting his name in the Rising Stars list. Only the topmost 2.5% of successful and brilliant lawyers get to the list as nominated and voted&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/atty-evan-granowitz-defines-civil-law.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One of the youngest top minds in civil law and most sought-after for his successes in many civil litigations, Atty. <a href="http://evan-granowitz.info/">Evan Granowitz</a> has certainly proved Super Lawyers magazine right in putting his name in the Rising Stars list. Only the topmost 2.5% of successful and brilliant lawyers get to the list as nominated and voted by their peers.  And Granowitz has been on the list in Southern California for two years in a row – 2009 and 2010.   For someone who just graduated from the Boalt Hall Law School of the University of California in 2004, this is no mean feat. Seven years into the practice and he has already carved an enviable reputation, enough to merit him an Associate position in the prestigious Wolf Group law firm in LA.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>With a specialty in civil law that has already garnered for him several awards while still in law school, Atty. Evan Granowitz clarifies what civil law is to dispel any misconception among his clients.  Rooted on the nation’s civil code, civil law involves upholding the rights of people and organizations in a range of disputes that could occur in the following areas:</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Tort, a breach of civil duty resulting in harm to the other party, includes damages sustained from auto accidents, libel and slander, medical malpractice, product liability, and similar disputes.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Contracts, a legally enforceable agreement between parties can include rentals, business deals, partnerships, loans, purchases, insurances, marriage and relational agreements and similar deals.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Family, a sub-category of contracts where relationship agreements are involved, whether human, implied or explicit. Child custody issues are also handled in this area.</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<ul>
<li>Properties, under property law, includes all forms of real property ownership</li>
</ul>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>In any of these areas, violations or breaches and disputes arise that make civil lawyers busy on either the plaintiff or defendant side.  Atty. Evan Granowitz has shown his mettle in counseling or litigating on either side that has endeared him among his clients, enough to spread his reputation around to keep him and his Wolf Group busy without the need for personal advertisements common among young and upstart lawyers. And whether in the office or at home, Granowitz makes himself available and could also be reached through the Orange County Bar Association office where he has active membership.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/atty-evan-granowitz-defines-civil-law.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Government Assistance for Low Income Families</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/government-assistance-for-low-income-families.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/government-assistance-for-low-income-families.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 24 Jul 2011 18:44:49 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=420</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image by JoshLawton via Flickr People who do not have many of life’s simple luxuries should not be forced to live in poverty. There are government programs in place to help people with a number of things. They can offer housing, food, and medical support. Each program works differently. In addition, families have to be&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/government-assistance-for-low-income-families.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56058698@N00/115117877"><img class="aligncenter" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/54/115117877_23c700ed4c_m.jpg" alt="Romanian Family" /></a></p>
<p style="text-align: center;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/56058698@N00/115117877">JoshLawton</a> via Flickr</p>
</div>
<p>People who do not have many of life’s simple luxuries should not be forced to live in poverty. There are <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Welfare">government programs</a> in place to help people with a number of things. They can offer  housing, food, and medical support. Each program works differently. In  addition, families have to be approved through a verification to be  considered for assistance.</p>
<p>When you apply for government housing, you have to consider that many  other people are doing the same. It is best to apply early since it may  take a while before the state approves your application. To begin,  contact your local HUD department. You may be able to apply online  through the HUD website. Check for your state to see if an online  application is available. Have all the necessary information needed to  complete your application for government housing.</p>
<p>Individuals in charge care about their citizens. This is the same for any country and people like the <a href="http://www.kazakhembus.com/index.php?page=kazakhstan-president">Kazakhstan President</a>.  They provide assistance for people that are having a rough time. It is  the same in our American economy. Since it had fallen, programs like  SNAP and WIC are being used more than ever now. To apply for the SNAP or  WIC programs, visit your government website. Some applications,  however, cannot be done online and you will have to visit your state’s  government office to continue from there.</p>
<p>Government based medical programs are available for people that cannot afford <a href="http://www.buzzle.com/articles/low-income-health-insurance.html">health insurance</a>.  There are programs for low paid people, elderly, disabled and families.  Your eligibility is based on your criteria. Most low-income families  qualify for government health insurance.</p>
<div><a title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_c.png?x-id=d8a3efbe-6484-4f1d-9f69-c335039f3589" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/government-assistance-for-low-income-families.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How you can make your wife and mother become friends and not foes</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-you-can-make-your-wife-and-mother-become-friends-and-not-foes.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-you-can-make-your-wife-and-mother-become-friends-and-not-foes.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 13 Jul 2011 13:10:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affinity (law)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Husband]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mother-in-law]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=423</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image by Puntos de Vista via Flickr Agreed it is tough. But it is not impossible. Impossible is nothing, even in relationships. After all, we are influenced by what we think, perceive, value and feel. Relationships are often run on belief system. Beneath it is a logic that does not seem to accept it for&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-you-can-make-your-wife-and-mother-become-friends-and-not-foes.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="float: right; width: 194px; margin: 1em;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/65333304@N02/5965939971"><img style="border: none;" src="http://farm7.static.flickr.com/6027/5965939971_3826558d1d_m.jpg" alt="Reflejos" width="184" height="240" /></a></p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/65333304@N02/5965939971">Puntos de Vista</a> via Flickr</p>
</div>
<p>Agreed it is tough. But it is not impossible. Impossible is nothing, even in relationships. After all, we are influenced by what we think, perceive, value and feel. Relationships are often run on belief system. Beneath it is a logic that does not seem to accept it for some. Somehow they are not convinced about it. We are talking about the mother-in-law and daughter-in-law nexus. Minus the poor <a href="http://socyberty.com/relationships/how-to-make-good-relationship-with-your-mother-in-law/" target="_blank">husband</a>.</p>
<p>Why is there acrimony between them? The answer is simple. The wife wants the husband to be her property. Somehow the wife does not acknowledge that her husband’s mother is a ‘’mother’’ and not ‘’another woman’’.</p>
<p>Here’s where the husband has to use his prudence, tact, and communication skills. The husband needs to communicate this fact to his wife. There is a difference between being a son and a husband. The relationship between a son and a mother is not a romantic one. Rather it is more of an emotional bond. The relationship between a son and wife is a romantic one. It is a sexual one. It is an emotional one too.</p>
<p>So where does the wife have a problem? It is definitely the emotional bond part. The wife somehow feels that the husband has to take-away his emotional bank balance from his mothers account, and <a href="http://zhemagazine.wordpress.com/2011/07/22/counterfeit-relationship-emotions/" target="_blank">deposit</a> it into his wife’s account.</p>
<p>But then again, the emotional bond has a difference. The emotional bond between n a son and a mother is of gratitude, security, authority, respect, and love. So then, why still does the wife have a problem?</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=79bf7361-1256-4315-97eb-c1362ac836ab" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-you-can-make-your-wife-and-mother-become-friends-and-not-foes.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>3 Creative Ways to Put Me-Time into Your Family-Time</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/3-creative-ways-to-put-me-time-into-your-family-time.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/3-creative-ways-to-put-me-time-into-your-family-time.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Jun 2011 08:45:17 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Magic]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=413</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image by Gerry Slabaugh via Flickr It is possible to have me-time and family-time together? With the hectic lifestyle of many Americans, spending quality time with the family and finding time for yourself can be challenging. Well, what if you could do activities that provided both me-time and family-time. Here are 3 creative and fun&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/3-creative-ways-to-put-me-time-into-your-family-time.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; float: right; width: 250px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8780576@N05/3419975898"><img style="border: medium none;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3652/3419975898_972d182aba_m.jpg" alt="Family Portrait 26" width="240" height="160" /></a></p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/8780576@N05/3419975898">Gerry Slabaugh</a> via Flickr</p>
</div>
<p>It is possible to have me-time and family-time together? With the hectic lifestyle of many Americans, spending quality time with the family and finding time for yourself can be challenging. Well, what if you could do activities that provided both me-time and family-time. Here are 3 creative and fun ways you can put me-time into your family-time.</p>
<p>1. Read a Book &amp; Discuss Over Dinner.</p>
<p>Select a book that every reading member of your household can comprehend. Next, give each member their own copy of the book. Lastly, set a timeline of how many chapters should be read each week. At the end of each week, have a discussion over dinner where you and your family can share thoughts. Doing this will give you me-time when <a href="http://www.teachersandfamilies.com/open/summerread.html" target="_blank">reading</a> the book on your own and family-time when everyone gives their thoughts.</p>
<p>2. Create Family Scrapbooks</p>
<p>You can create a fun activity for you and your family with your family pictures. To get things organized, each family member could work on a theme such as birthday party or family vacation pictures. Each member would work on their own <a href="http://www.scrapbooksbydesign.net/how-to-make-a-scrapbook.html" target="_blank">scrapbook</a> providing me-time and after completion the whole family can review the scrapbooks together.</p>
<p>3. Do a One-Man Show</p>
<p>Have each member of your family individually work on a presentation for a one-man show. The presentation can be any talents such as playing an instrument or doing a magic trick. Set a date for when the shows will be performed. Each person will get me-time while working on their performance and family-time when the presentations are made.</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=e5ddf7b0-63a7-46b3-b4de-4d0f829084ff" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/3-creative-ways-to-put-me-time-into-your-family-time.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Relating Through Playing a Game</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/relating-through-playing-a-game.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/relating-through-playing-a-game.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 15 May 2011 12:11:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charity]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family and Relationships]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Programs]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Low-Income]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organizations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Politics & Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Society]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=380</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Card games are some of the best ways to see how another person works and thinks during a difficult situation. When a person does not have time to think much about what they &#8220;should&#8221; do, they have only time to act as they feel like acting. This is when their instincts come out, and when&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/relating-through-playing-a-game.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p style="text-align: justify;">Card games are some of the best ways to see how another person works and thinks during a difficult situation. When a person does not have time to think much about what they &#8220;should&#8221; do, they have only time to act as they feel like acting. This is when their instincts come out, and when you can tell how they really think. This is the perfect time to figure out how your friends and family respond to pressure.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">When you whip out the <a href="http://www.custompokertables.com/" target="_blank">professional poker tables</a>, everybody knows the game is on for real. When you get the felt beneath your fingers, the rules change a bit. While the official rules are still the same, the nature of the play itself changes. The real experience of the game is dependent on <a href="http://dictionary.sensagent.com/state-dependent+memory/en-en/">feeling</a> as though you&#8217;re really in a high stakes casino, possibly playing beside international spies, drug dealers and other people who might not take too kindly to you winning what they consider their money. When the action heats up like that, you start to know who you&#8217;re really dealing with on every side of the table.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">While it&#8217;s all fun and witty conversation, the undercurrent still involves an ample portion of pressure for everybody involved in the game. When it comes to finding the best hand, the old saying about <a href="http://www.tightpoker.com/poker_hands.html">every hand</a> being both a winner and a loser is revealed as completely true. So everyone begins to focus as much on bluffing and unnerving their opponents as on the actual cards themselves. Poker could be played all kinds of different ways, but the best players make more use of guile than actual cards.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/relating-through-playing-a-game.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Union of P&amp;G and Kroger to Support New USO “Honoring Our Heroes” Campaign</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/union-of-pg-and-kroger-to-support-new-uso-%e2%80%9chonoring-our-heroes%e2%80%9d-campaign.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/union-of-pg-and-kroger-to-support-new-uso-%e2%80%9chonoring-our-heroes%e2%80%9d-campaign.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 11 May 2011 16:55:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=370</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[About USO USO (United Service Organizations) is a non profit institute which is providing distinctive programs and innovative services to American troops and their families since 70 years. Through its 160 locations, it is performing its duties all over the world. Its work for the great cause has induced P&#038;G and Kroger to join hands&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/union-of-pg-and-kroger-to-support-new-uso-%e2%80%9chonoring-our-heroes%e2%80%9d-campaign.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><strong>About USO</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justified;">USO (United Service Organizations) is a non profit institute which is providing distinctive programs and innovative services to American troops and their families since 70 years. Through its 160 locations, it is performing its duties all over the world. Its work for the great cause has induced P&#038;G and Kroger to join hands and support USO. <a href=" http://www.multivu.com/players/English/49464-pg-kroger-honoring-our-heroes-uso-campaign/">New USO campaign by P&#038;G and Kroger to honor our heroes is</a> an initiative to help the American troops. USO endow with significant support to those who need the services most like frontward-organized troops and their families, injured soldiers and their families and the families of the fallen.</p>
<p><strong>Standpoint of USO’s President</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justified;">Sloan Gibson USO president said, “We work every day through proven, cost-effective programs and services to relieve the tremendous burden our men and women in uniform shoulder on behalf of our nation. That is why partnerships with corporations like Kroger and P&#038;G are so critical to our ongoing successes.”</p>
<p><strong>New USO “Honoring our Heroes” Campaign, P&#038;G and Kroger</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: justified;">P&#038;G have teamed up to support the new USO “Honoring Our Heroes” campaign. Kroger is the leading grocery retailer of America and has donated US$ 250,000. Lynn Marmer group vice president of Corporate Affairs for Kroger said, “The Kroger family is delighted to partner with P&#038;G and to support the USO and its many programs and services for our troops and their families, Our Honoring our Heroes program will help the USO assist even more men and women who serve our country.” Wish this passion and enthusiasm Kroger has started a year long initiative.</p>
<p>Perspective of P&#038;G’s CEO<br />
CEO of P&#038;G Bob McDonald said, “Our commitment to the military men and women who serve dates back to the Civil War where we supplied the Union Army with soap and candles. This commitment continues today with our dedicated Military team. Leveraging a strategic<br />
relationship with the USO enables us to connect our brands to American service members and their families while touching and improving their lives. We are excited to grow and develop this<br />
strategic relationship with the USO and our retail partners.”</p>
<p><OBJECT id="impID3f2859cb-1a26-42b7-9ff6-5cfa21b487d8" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" data="http://www.multivu.com/players/English/49464-pg-kroger-honoring-our-heroes-uso-campaign/flexSwf/3f2859cb-1a26-42b7-9ff6-5cfa21b487d8.512x384.swf" width="512" height="384"><PARAM NAME="movie" VALUE="http://www.multivu.com/players/English/49464-pg-kroger-honoring-our-heroes-uso-campaign/flexSwf/3f2859cb-1a26-42b7-9ff6-5cfa21b487d8.512x384.swf"><PARAM NAME="quality" VALUE=high><PARAM NAME="wmode" VALUE="transparent"><PARAM NAME="allowScriptAccess" VALUE="always"><PARAM NAME="allowFullScreen" VALUE="true"><a href="http://www.multivu.com/players/English/49464-pg-kroger-honoring-our-heroes-uso-campaign">Procter and Gamble Partners with Kroger to Support USO  To Help American Troops and their Families</a></OBJECT></p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/union-of-pg-and-kroger-to-support-new-uso-%e2%80%9chonoring-our-heroes%e2%80%9d-campaign.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Be Persistent When Looking for Help With Prescriptions</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/be-persistent-when-looking-for-help-with-prescriptions.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/be-persistent-when-looking-for-help-with-prescriptions.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 08 May 2011 16:56:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Human resources]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicine]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prescription drug]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=408</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[&#160; Image via Wikipedia &#160; It’s not always easy to get prescriptions filled, but help is out there. There are programs for residents of certain states (40 states) that offer to give prescription medicines to everyone, not just the poor.&#160; &#160; Some local governments offer prescription discounts if you buy a membership in a ‘medicine&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/be-persistent-when-looking-for-help-with-prescriptions.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="float: right; display: block; width: 310px; margin: 1em;"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ritalin-SR-20mg-1000x1000.jpg"><img style="border: none; display: block;" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/a9/Ritalin-SR-20mg-1000x1000.jpg/300px-Ritalin-SR-20mg-1000x1000.jpg" alt="Resized image of Ritalin-SR-20mg-full.png; squ..." width="300" height="300" /></a>&nbsp;</p>
<p class="zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Ritalin-SR-20mg-1000x1000.jpg">Wikipedia</a></p>
</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div>It’s not always easy to get prescriptions filled, but help is out there. There are programs for residents of certain states (40 states) that offer to give prescription medicines to everyone, not just the poor.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>Some local governments offer prescription discounts if you buy a membership in a ‘medicine club.’ It’s <a href="http://www.citizensforcivicrenewal.org/" target="_blank">worth the trouble</a> it takes to find out if this is offered in your state as people save 10-50% on prescription costs.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>The new $4 List is a great discount for most people as a lot of the most commonly prescribed medicines are on it. However, the $4 List does have a problem. A Portland, Ore. Woman was prescribed 150mg of a medicine once a day. No pharmacy had the dose and she found it to be expensive ($80).&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div><strong>Be Creative; Check the Doses&nbsp;</p>
<p></strong><strong> </strong></p>
</div>
<div>She finally asked the fourth pharmacist what she could do, since she needed the <a href="http://www.pparx.org/" target="_blank">medicine</a>. He advised her to go back to her doctor and ask for a new prescription; one where she takes six 25mg pills (in stock) at once, once a day, for a price of $20 (the lower dose was on the $4 list).&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>Another woman who’d just had major surgery couldn’t make her rent. She spoke to the hospital’s human resources manager, who had her fill out a form. In a couple of days, she heard from the HR manager &#8211; he had a check for the amount of her rent. It came from a private fund for people in bad financial situations due to medical problems.&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
</div>
<div>To get medicine help, be creative; try to think a little out of the box; ask everywhere.</div>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=4b21c3d3-f344-428d-bab4-9f5936d87077" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/be-persistent-when-looking-for-help-with-prescriptions.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Marketing Your Charity</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/marketing-your-charity.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/marketing-your-charity.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 01 May 2011 15:46:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charity]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=373</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Charities need money to operate. There&#8217;s no doubting that. Finding effective ways to market your charity could help you reach higher levels of success. A good marketing strategy, however, might need to use several techniques to reach all potential donors. Create a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy Whether you have experience with email campaigns, mailing postcards or&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/marketing-your-charity.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Charities need money to operate. There&#8217;s no doubting that. Finding effective ways to market your charity could help you reach higher levels of success. A good marketing strategy, however, might need to use several techniques to reach all potential donors.</p>
<h3>Create a Comprehensive Marketing Strategy</h3>
<p>Whether you have experience with email campaigns, mailing postcards or going door to door to solicit donations for your charity, you will need a comprehensive strategy that allows you to make the most of every opportunity. Try creating a marketing strategy that uses several techniques in combination with each other.</p>
<p>For instance, you might include radio interviews, postcards and letters to attract more donations. You should make sure that each of your techniques approaches important subjects from the same perspective. If your emails and <a href="http://www.nextdayflyers.com/postcard-printing-marketing/">postcards</a> contain contradictory information (or even different logos), then your potential donors might become confused or worry that you are running a scam. That&#8217;s not going to help you or your cause.</p>
<h3>Keep Up the Momentum</h3>
<p>Once you get your campaign up and running, keep up the momentum by celebrating every victory. Set specific goals that you can reach along the way and let people know when you hit those marks. A simple note to remind donors of your ongoing efforts could convince them to contribute even more money. Once the campaign has concluded, celebrate your achievements but remind everyone that there is still work to be done.</p>
<p>Each year presents new <a href="http://cash-bandit.com/2011/03/17/boosting-charity-with-internet-marketing/">challenges</a> that charities need to overcome. Whether it&#8217;s a hiccup in the economy or cuts to federal funding, you need a strategy that can help you overcome any obstacle by encouraging donors to contribute.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/marketing-your-charity.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Great Salaries Available in Finance</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/great-salaries-available-in-finance.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/great-salaries-available-in-finance.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 19 Apr 2011 16:18:08 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business finance]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://www.civicrenewal.org/?p=384</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the economy rebounds from one of the worst financial disasters in American history, business finance continues to be a source of great paying jobs. Unfortunately, many kids enter college after high school without any idea of what they will do in the future. The idea that any degree will bring about a well paying&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/great-salaries-available-in-finance.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div style="text-align: justify;">
<div class="zemanta-img zemanta-action-dragged" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Wallstreet_-_A_New_Era.jpg"><img title="Wall Street" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/e/e1/Wallstreet_-_A_New_Era.jpg/300px-Wallstreet_-_A_New_Era.jpg" alt="Wall Street" width="300" height="225" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image via Wikipedia</p></div>
</div>
<p>As the economy rebounds from one of the worst financial disasters in American history, business finance continues to be a source of great paying jobs. Unfortunately, many kids enter college after high school without any idea of what they will do in the future. The idea that any degree will bring about a well paying job is indeed a falsehood. If your intention is to make a great salary after college, it&#8217;s a good idea to concentrate on business with an eye toward a career in finance.</p>
</div>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Before your hefty salary kicks in, <a title="payday loans" href="http://www.acecashexpress.com/payday-loans.aspx" target="_blank">payday loans</a> are a way to meet costs like textbooks. Once you obtain your degree, there are plenty of financially rewarding careers in business finance even if you aren&#8217;t looking to make the trip to Wall Street. For instance, there are investment banks and insurance companies nationwide that employ recent graduates to pour over financial news and filed financial statements. <a title="salaries" href="http://www.ehow.com/list_6143372_high-salary-business-careers.html" target="_blank">Salaries</a> can reach up into six figures for solid analysts. It could also be your responsibility to advise investment decisions and develop long lasting relationships with clients.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Of course, many of the best salaries are in sales. As a manager in <a title="sales" href="http://commercial-sales.jobs.net/" target="_blank">sales</a>, or as a top sales representative, you will earn a percentage of profits and transactions. On top of a base pay, sales managers also get great commission on sales and for hitting earnings targets. A sales manager leading a productive team of buyers will have no issue earning a satisfying six figure income.</p>
<p style="text-align: justify;">Make sure to research the entire career path and expected earnings of your chosen field. Median expected income should be in a satisfactory range.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px; text-align: justify;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b5330121-088d-46b4-9d41-340bb5ae048d" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/great-salaries-available-in-finance.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Help Change Lives in Your Area</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/help-change-lives-in-your-area.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/help-change-lives-in-your-area.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 05 Apr 2011 15:00:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Canada]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organization]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=334</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A local charity may be just what you need to change the way you see your life and activities. Charities are one of the most fulfilling opportunities available today. By offering your time, money, or other gifts, you may be able to change the life of other people who are less fortunate than you are.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/help-change-lives-in-your-area.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A local <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charity_%28practice%29">charity</a> may be just what you need to change the way you see your life and activities. Charities are one of the most fulfilling opportunities available today. By offering your time, money, or other gifts, you may be able to change the life of other people who are less fortunate than you are. However, most people want to feel a bond with the organization they work with before giving to the organization.</p>
<h3>Finding Your Charity</h3>
<p>To find a charity that can inspire you, consider a variety of organizations. You can use services such as <a href="http://www.411.ca/">Canada 411</a> to find local companies to consider. This service will provide you with a list of available charities, including the charity&#8217;s phone number, website, and location. Once you have a list of options, consider the following.</p>
<ul>
<li>What type of services does      the facility provide to those in need? Do these relate to you in any way?</li>
<li>Will you get to work with      people when <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteer">volunteering</a> your time? If so, be sure you are working with the type of people you want      to, such as children or the elderly.</li>
<li>What type of volunteer      opportunities does the facility offer? You may also want to call the      facility to find out if they actually need help.</li>
</ul>
<p>Before you invest your time or money into any organization, know about that organization and the work it does. How active is it? How much does it do for the local community? You may also want to ensure the organization is a recognized charity. Then, choose one or two that you relate to, for any reason. The right charity can add value to your life.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b47307a8-7ce8-480d-9b38-183c0380293a" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/help-change-lives-in-your-area.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Donating to the ASPCA</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/donating-to-the-aspca.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/donating-to-the-aspca.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 27 Mar 2011 12:23:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Low-Income Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pet]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=340</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in America in the mid-1800s by animal lover Henry Bergh. Since then, they have assisted countless pets, farm animals and wild animals who had been abused or could be subject to inhumane treatment. In addition to a number of other programs, they also work&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/donating-to-the-aspca.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals was founded in America in the mid-1800s by animal lover Henry Bergh. Since then, they have assisted countless pets, farm animals and wild animals who had been abused or could be subject to inhumane treatment. In addition to a number of other programs, they also work to help support and insist upon laws and regulations that will contribute to the humane treatment of animals. Visiting the website for the ASPCA supplies answers, suggestions and advice for a large number of situations involving the safe and ethical treatment of animals. Subjects such as found pets, orphaned wildlife animals and local strays are covered in their Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ) section.</span></p>
<p><span>If you would like to donate to the ASPCA, the simplest method is by giving cash. If, however, your resources are limited, you can also donate gently used items, pet food, or&#8211;best of all&#8211;your time. Working as a volunteer for the ASPCA will allow you to give back to the community at large while helping to ensure safe and ethical treatment for animals. If you have ever lost a pet, you understand how important they are to their owners. Working as a volunteer for animal shelters can provide you the means for helping abandoned pets find new homes, and helping lost pets find their original owners. Donating your time to activities sponsored by the ASPCA is ultimately fulfilling and rewarding, and many people continue to volunteer evenwhen they could afford to simply give money instead.</span></p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=2519b3d0-c27b-4216-8eb1-2d30de41df51" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/donating-to-the-aspca.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>March of Dimes Supports Moms and Babies</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/march-of-dimes-supports-moms-and-babies.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/march-of-dimes-supports-moms-and-babies.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 25 Mar 2011 12:23:02 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[March of Dimes]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=339</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The March of Dimes, formerly known as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, was founded in the 1930s by President Franklin Roosevelt. Because he suffered from polio, Roosevelt was highly invested in the fight against that disease, especially among children. Since then, the charity has evolved into the March of Dimes that most of us&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/march-of-dimes-supports-moms-and-babies.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>The March of Dimes, formerly known as the National Foundation for Infantile Paralysis, was founded in the 1930s by President Franklin Roosevelt. Because he suffered from polio, Roosevelt was highly invested in the fight against that disease, especially among children. Since then, the charity has evolved into the March of Dimes that most of us are aware of today, an organization that is focused on fighting birth defects by education and pre-natal care. With several fundraising events each year, this charity has contributed a huge sum of money toward its goal of ensuring healthier babies.</span></p>
<p><span>The March of Dimes also supplies money to research for child development, genetic issues and other pediatric concerns. Additionally, it has supported neonatal units for those babies who are born premature, sick, or with life-threatening defects. While the March of Dimes has come under fire for its use of animal testing, it insists that the tests are necessary to make progress toward their end goal of healthier human babies. Another criticism they have faced is for not disbanding after their original goal of ending polio and child paralysis had been met. However, infant health and mortality will also be a concern, and because the organization had such a great reputation for fundraising and raising awareness of issues, it is beneficial to American society that they have adopted a new cause, changed their name and continue to provide help where they are needed. Just as mothers and babies cannot be too healthy, the March of Dimes will probably never be obsolete.</span></p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a6ba8448-5987-4ad6-91be-6df3975547fb" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/march-of-dimes-supports-moms-and-babies.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Find Government Programs</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-find-government-programs.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-find-government-programs.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 21 Mar 2011 12:23:06 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[FAFSA]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=341</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you, like a great number of Americans, find yourself in need of assistance, you may be able to turn to a number of governmental programs designed to help those in need. Whether you have become disabled, widowed, orphaned, homeless, jobless or otherwise in dire straits, there are governmental assistance programs that you may be&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-find-government-programs.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>If you, like a great number of Americans, find yourself in need of assistance, you may be able to turn to a number of governmental programs designed to help those in need. Whether you have become disabled, widowed, orphaned, homeless, jobless or otherwise in dire straits, there are governmental assistance programs that you may be able to qualify for. The first step in searching for government programs is to identify your specific need. </span><span>If, for example, you are a single mother and struggling to make ends meet, you should check with your local department of human services to apply for the food stamp program, WIC, Aid for Families with Dependent Children (AFDC), child care and even cash assistance. If you have become disabled or are experiencing medical problems and cannot work or pay your health-related expenses, you should inquire at your nearest Social Security office. Even if you don&#8217;t qualify for SSI benefits, you may be able to find out more about job training for employment that you can do.</span></p>
<p><span>It is important to know that there are governmental assistance programs for many other areas of need. For instance, those who are interested in attending college should fill out the FAFSA, Federal Applicaton for Student Aid. Using that form, you can apply for several different educational grants and loans. If you are a homeowner and having trouble making your mortgage payments, there are also programs to help you refinance and get caught back up without the danger of losing your home. If you take the time to do a little searching and ask around, you will find the programs that offer the help you need.</span></p>
<div><span><br />
</span></div>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=78f7a392-958e-4409-a887-a74b90d00fd8" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-find-government-programs.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Programs for Disaster Assistance</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/programs-for-disaster-assistance.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/programs-for-disaster-assistance.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Mar 2011 12:32:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Emergency management]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Federal Emergency Management Agency]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salvation Army]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=342</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are times when weather or other disasters may cripple a community, causing havoc for businesses and residents alike. If your community has recently experienced a disaster, it is important to understand that there are many different federal and state governmental disaster relief programs that can help. You may find yourself without a home, a&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/programs-for-disaster-assistance.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>There are times when weather or other disasters may cripple a community, causing havoc for businesses and residents alike. If your community has recently experienced a disaster, it is important to understand that there are many different federal and state governmental disaster relief programs that can help. You may find yourself without a home, a job, or any means of supporting yourself or your family. You may also find yourself unable to begin putting your life back together. That&#8217;s where disaster relief assistance can help.</span></p>
<p><span>One of the most important considerations in a disaster is knowing whether to stay where you are, or to evacuate for a safer location. Local authorities will usually make announcements concerning the advisability of evacuating via radio or television programs. You should also know how and where to obtain emergency food and water immediately following a disaster. The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) can offer advice in this area, as well as many others. There are precautions that you can take, especially if you live in an area prone to tornadoes, floods or other natural disasters. Keeping homeowner&#8217;s insurance information like policies, contact and account numbers online or in a safe deposit box can speed up the wait on insurance claims. You should also have lists of family members, any health issues or allergies and a pre-determined spot to meet up in case you are separated in a disaster. If your home is uninhabitable, you should seek shelter by contacting FEMA, the Red Cross, or the Salvation Army. Branches of each of these organizations are located throughout the country.</span></p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=21077d0b-bcd7-43f7-85eb-b41f773c302c" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/programs-for-disaster-assistance.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>History of the Salvation Army</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/history-of-the-salvation-army.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/history-of-the-salvation-army.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 07 Mar 2011 12:22:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ireland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salvation Army]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=338</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When most people think of the Salvation Army, either a thrift store or a red donation kettle is the first thing that comes to mind. Many Americans do not understand what the Salvation Army is as an organization, including its history, beliefs and practices. The Salvation Army began in the United Kingdom in the late 1800s&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/history-of-the-salvation-army.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>When most people think of the Salvation Army, either a thrift store or a red donation kettle is the first thing that comes to mind. Many Americans do not understand what the Salvation Army is as an organization, including its history, beliefs and practices. The Salvation Army began in the United Kingdom in the late 1800s as a Christian volunteer group. The original structure of the organization was very like the military with uniforms and ranks, from soldiers all the way up to generals. Shortly before the turn of the century, the Salvation Army had spread to other countries, including the United States, Ireland and Australia. Members of the Salvation Army were dedicated toward helping the poor, the destitute, and other &#8221;undesirables.&#8221; By the early 1900s, the Salvation Army had distinguished itself in America as a source of disaster relief, working in areas that experienced tornadoes, floods and earthquakes. In fact, they were among the first and most active organizations on scene following the September 11, 2001 attacks on the World Trade Center buildings. </span></p>
<p><span>The Salvation Army is now a huge organization operating in countries all over the world. In addition to thrift stores in which they sell donated items, the Salvation Army also generates revenue during the holiday season with &#8221;bell ringers,&#8221; volunteers who stand outside of many stores, ringing bells and collecting the spare change of passersby. While the Salvation Army continues to work towards helping the disadvantaged, they also adhere to a number of Christian values that are not completely accepted by the U.S. government, including their stance on abortion, homosexuality and euthanasia. They are, however, continuing to provide relief where ever disaster strikes and contribute large amounts of money toward re-education and training the poor for job skills. </span></p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=47725d6f-aa30-460b-ad5c-1654527c0582" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/history-of-the-salvation-army.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Family Bonding Through Volunteering</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-bonding-through-volunteering.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-bonding-through-volunteering.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 05 Mar 2011 09:55:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soup kitchen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volunteer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=319</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Volunteering is many things to many people. Some people volunteer to gain skills, others volunteer to add it to their resumes. Often, people volunteer as families to create better bonds. Volunteers may be specifically trained in the areas they work in such as firefighters or may be used on an as needed basis. There are&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-bonding-through-volunteering.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Volunteering is many things to many people. Some people <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Volunteering">volunteer to gain skills,</a> others volunteer to add it to their resumes. Often, people volunteer as families to create better bonds. Volunteers may be specifically trained in the areas they work in such as firefighters or may be used on an as needed basis.</p>
<p>There are many different activities families can do to volunteer and strengthen their family bond. It is all about spending time together as a family and maybe learning something about each other you did not know. It feels good to volunteer and even better to volunteer together as a family unit. It will probably be surprising to families the conversations they will have and the humor they will share while volunteering. There are all sorts of volunteer and donation opportunities available to families like the wonderful charity <a href="http://www.jerseysmarts.com/2009/01/12/donated-my-truck-to-kars-4-kids/">Kars for Kids</a>.</p>
<p>Families can volunteer at their local soup kitchen. At a soup kitchen people may prepare the food, serve the food or clean up the food. Volunteers may also solicit donations or distribute information about the soup kitchen.</p>
<p>There are many outside opportunities for families to participate in. Many parks need cleaning up and many elderly people need their lawns tended.</p>
<p>Families can also join together to make a worthwhile donation to a charity or help a charity obtain donations. Organizations such as Kars for Kids send kids to camp each year and make a difference in their lives. They help children address all sorts of issues in their lives such as educational, family or social issues. Families can help solicit donations or educate others as to what Kars for Kids does. Families can even save their extra change to purchase an older car or truck to donate to an organization such as this.</p>
<p>Families can volunteer at local churches as well. They can contact the ministerial alliance in their community to explore what churches would benefit from help.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=7d94c880-aae5-41c8-b134-52c573d51792" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-bonding-through-volunteering.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Best Charities for Giving</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/best-charities-for-giving.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/best-charities-for-giving.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Mar 2011 12:22:53 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salk Institute for Biological Studies]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=337</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Nearly everyone is aware that charitable contributions to qualifying organizations can be deducted from one&#8217;s taxable income for the purposes of figuring federal income tax. What you may not be aware of is that there are charities for nearly every situation, including those that are affiliated with specific religions. Finding a charity that you feel&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/best-charities-for-giving.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span>Nearly everyone is aware that charitable contributions to qualifying organizations can be deducted from one&#8217;s taxable income for the purposes of figuring federal income tax. What you may not be aware of is that there are charities for nearly every situation, including those that are affiliated with specific religions. Finding a charity that you feel comfortable supporting takes only a little time and research, and your contributions can do much to help improve the lives of others.</span></p>
<p><span>A large number of charities deal with adverse health effects such as AIDS, cancer, Parkinson&#8217;s disease and muscular dystrophy. If you have any family members who have experienced these or other health problems, you may want to focus your charitable contributions toward Bailey House, the Cancer Research Institute, or the Muscular Dystrophy Association. If you prefer a more general health-related charity, the Salk Institute for Biological Studies may be the answer you are looking for.</span></p>
<p><span>If you would prefer to donate to a charity that helps with social issues like human rights, world hunger or literacy, you can check out the Global Hunger Project or the Human Rights Watch. There are also several other good charities that deal with specific social issues like torture victims, homelessness and disabled persons. Likewise, you can also find charities that are aligned with or sponsored by specific religious organizations. The American Jewish Committee works for global Jewish advocacy, while the Christian Foundation for Children and Aging helps to remove barriers for both young people and the elderly. When choosing a charity to receive your donation, be sure to investigate it fully. Review their disclosures for the percentage of their donations that finds its way into the hands of the needy, as that is unquestionably the most important consideration.</span></p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=13afd4a0-7eaa-4e6d-b100-b2be285f0c3c" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/best-charities-for-giving.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Family Housing Projects on the Rise</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-housing-projects-on-the-rise.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-housing-projects-on-the-rise.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 16:51:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Low-Income Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Affordable housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Family]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Public housing]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=309</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With many people losing their jobs and unable to stay in their homes, there has recently been a surge of shelters dedicated to family housing. This is a shelter that does not aim to help individual people by giving them a single bed, but aims to keep displaced families together. While most emergency shelters focus&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-housing-projects-on-the-rise.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With many people losing their jobs and unable to stay in their homes, there has recently been a surge of shelters dedicated to family housing. This is a shelter that does not aim to help individual people by giving them a single bed, but aims to keep displaced families together. While most emergency shelters focus on helping unaccompanied adults, there are now plenty of transitional housing programs that allow families to stay anywhere from a few months to two years as they create a realistic budget, learn to manage their money, and save for a home of their own. Several charities also offer permanent affordable housing for struggling families.</p>
<p>As with emergency shelters and other housing programs geared towards single adults, family housing projects make it their goal to not just give a roof and food to a family, but to give them the tools they need to once again control their own lives. Two main ways that shelters do this is through counseling and education.</p>
<p>The counseling offered by a charity for displaced families can range from emotional support to financial classes and advice. Counselors work to address any issues in a counselee’s life preventing them from moving on. In most cases, this definitely means offering some financial structure and guidelines on how to manage spending, prepare for unforeseen expenses, and budget and save enough funds for housing, groceries, and other necessary household items and expenses.</p>
<p>Family housing shelters also usually have the need to address a level of emotional upheaval as well, as many families in these shelters are coming from a previously put-together or stable lifestyle. These residents can suffer extreme emotional distress at their present circumstances. Addressing any tension or emotional problems in children who find themselves at a shelter with their parents is usually necessary as well, as many children suffer from the instability and insecurity of homelessness, as well as the possibility of anger and distrust of their parent because of the change.  As the economic changes continue across the states, the need for charitable organizations to help and support these families will grow.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=93bf10c0-04e5-4c3e-b06a-1d43482c9995" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/family-housing-projects-on-the-rise.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Prepaid Cell Phone Experiment</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-prepaid-cell-phone-experiment.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-prepaid-cell-phone-experiment.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 23 Feb 2011 09:51:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homelessness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=235</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are good ideas and then there are relevant and socially changing ideas. There are plenty of people with good ideas, but finding the idea that is socially relevant is not always easy. When Rosemary, Willy, and Robert met at an internship program at BBH New York, they never thought they would do something special,&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-prepaid-cell-phone-experiment.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are good ideas and then there are relevant and socially changing ideas. There are plenty of people with good ideas, but finding the idea that is socially relevant is not always easy. When Rosemary, Willy, and Robert met at an internship program at BBH New York, they never thought they would do something special, but that is exactly what happened.</p>
<p>The three of them were given just one objective “do something good.” And they decided to turn that good into a project to help the homeless. The problem was that soup kitchens, clothing drives, and shelters were all relevant but present. They would be bringing nothing new to the table, and fresh was the order of the day because their second directive was “do something good…famously.”</p>
<p>So they thought about the homeless and decided that they could make their stories heard. After all, the homeless were the lost and voiceless population in the United States. People cared, but not enough to listen. These three people equipped four homeless men with <a href="http://www.mycricket.com">prepaid cell phones</a> and gave them access to a Twitter account.</p>
<p>Not only did it give these gentlemen a voice, but it gave them access to tell their story 24 hours a day. It also gave those interested in hearing, which would grow exponentially as the project went on, a chance to hear them 24 hours a day from their phone.</p>
<p>These men shed light, not just on the feeling of being homeless, but the work involved in surviving the streets. It gave those listening a perspective that being homeless can happen to anyone. It’s part of what makes it such a scary epidemic.</p>
<p>The three interns set out to do good and to do it famously and they were able to accomplish both. They gave the voiceless a voice and it meant something to them and the people listening.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=8f24094c-c6f8-44bd-bbaa-1b09f82f7636" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-prepaid-cell-phone-experiment.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Heart of the Homeless Shelter</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-heart-of-the-homeless-shelter.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-heart-of-the-homeless-shelter.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 16 Feb 2011 16:51:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless shelter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homelessness]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=308</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[During the blizzard that recently shut down Chicago and most of the Midwest, Chicago charities were scrambling to find the city’s homeless and give them a place to stay out of the storm. Without such support, many of the homeless would probably have died in the extreme temperatures and wind. Charitable organizations like homeless shelters&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-heart-of-the-homeless-shelter.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 160px"><a href="http://www.daylife.com/image/02QRaov9h7bNo?utm_source=zemanta&amp;utm_medium=p&amp;utm_content=02QRaov9h7bNo&amp;utm_campaign=z1"><img title="DALLAS - JUNE 15:  Coulet Johnson, age 9, hugs..." src="http://cache.daylife.com/imageserve/02QRaov9h7bNo/150x100.jpg" alt="DALLAS - JUNE 15:  Coulet Johnson, age 9, hugs..." width="150" height="100" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by Getty Images via @daylife</p></div>
</div>
<p>During the blizzard that recently shut down Chicago and most of the Midwest, Chicago charities were scrambling to find the city’s homeless and give them a place to stay out of the storm. Without such support, many of the homeless would probably have died in the extreme temperatures and wind. Charitable organizations like homeless shelters make it their goal to always be there for the homeless, offering them a way to get back on their feet. Here are several ways that homeless shelters all over America reach out to the homeless.</p>
<p>Housing and meals. The most basic level of care given at every homeless shelter is providing a bed and at least one meal for the residents. While some programs are more advanced and can involve a waiting list, plenty of homeless shelters simply open their doors on a first-come first-serve basis every day.</p>
<p>Reaching goals. Many homeless shelters involve some sort of structure for its residents besides curfew and mealtime, including a list of chores required of each resident in order to remain in the program, but more importantly helping residents work towards goals of employment and stability so that they can move on and get a fresh start on their life. Many shelters have the rule that residents must simply be looking for a job, not necessarily getting one.</p>
<p>Basic First Aid. Several homeless shelters also have a nurse on duty to look into minor cuts or scrapes, and to judge when a person needs to see a physician. The goal is to provide people with the help and care they need, and to make sure that they are in as good a health as they can be while they are staying at the shelter.</p>
<p>The goal of a homeless shelter is not only to provide a bed and a meal for whoever needs one, but to invest personally into the lives of these people. By giving them a place to stay, workers hope to encourage them and give them to opportunity they need to rise out of homelessness and become a confident and active member of society.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=4ada8f61-3acc-4166-9b47-5b89d2d1fdd0" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-heart-of-the-homeless-shelter.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Helping the Needy Through Holding an Auction</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/helping-the-needy-through-holding-an-auction.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/helping-the-needy-through-holding-an-auction.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 12 Feb 2011 07:45:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopping]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=229</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are all kinds of ways in which you can help the needy. One of them is through a non-profit organization designed for that purpose. These kinds of organizations need money, though, or they aren&#8217;t going to be able to do anything to help anyone. They may even have to close their doors if they&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/helping-the-needy-through-holding-an-auction.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>There are all kinds of ways in which you can help the needy. One of them is through a non-profit organization designed for that purpose. These kinds of organizations need money, though, or they aren&#8217;t going to be able to do anything to help anyone. They may even have to close their doors if they can&#8217;t get enough donations or they don&#8217;t have enough support. Don&#8217;t let that happen to your organization. Instead, hold an auction so that you&#8217;re able to raise more money to help others. As for what you should have at your auction, you want to cover various price points and all kinds of different niches. Also, consider taking donations and selling refreshments, for a couple more income streams.<br />
Go around to local businesses, and explain what you&#8217;re doing. Ask those businesses to donate to your auction. They&#8217;ll get free advertising that way, and they&#8217;ll also get a tax write off. Both of those are good things for a business, and you can get a lot of your local companies on board. Ask about things like cars and golf cars, as well as novelties like season tickets, autographed memorabilia, and <a href="http://www.custompokertables.com/">poker tables</a>. You can also try for vacation packages, because those are popular with quite a few people. For smaller items, gift baskets and gift cards to local businesses are good choices. So are tickets to sporting events.<br />
Be sure that you advertise the auction and set it up in plenty of time, so that you can get more people to come to it. If you don&#8217;t advertise it well and/or you don&#8217;t make sure that you give people enough time to plan for it, you won&#8217;t see the volume of people you need in order to have a good auction and bring in a lot of money.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=44b9f004-905d-4d65-be74-1a4df4c8e881" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/helping-the-needy-through-holding-an-auction.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Examining Different Food Bank Organizations</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/examining-different-food-bank-organizations.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/examining-different-food-bank-organizations.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 10 Feb 2011 16:51:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food bank]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Illinois]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=307</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are wondering about the differences in food pantries, here is a quick break down of what distinguishes food pantries from each other. Government food banks and food pantries. Government food pantries may be the most well-known food pantries in your area, as they are run and funded by the local government. This is&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/examining-different-food-bank-organizations.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you are wondering about the differences in food pantries, here is a quick break down of what distinguishes food pantries from each other.</p>
<p>Government food banks and food pantries. Government food pantries may be the most well-known food pantries in your area, as they are run and funded by the local government. This is because government workers and social workers are more likely to refer people to the food pantry they are most familiar with. This doesn’t always mean that a government food pantry is always the best option, however. Sometimes, as is the case the with Dupage County Food Pantry in Illinois, more referrals can sometimes overload a food pantry and give them less ability to help every person as they would want to. Call your local food pantry to see what they are currently in need of if you would like to fill a need.</p>
<p>Private Food Pantries. Private food pantries are not generally affiliated with any organization or government, but are privately begun and operated. They can be started by a single person or by a church or other group. One of the most interesting thing about private food banks is that their lack of publicity can give them a better ability to serve the people that come to them. FISH Food Pantry in Downers Grove, Illinois, is well-known to the locals in its area, but not well-known in the larger region. This allows the pantry to give larger portions of food to those who come to be served.</p>
<p>Feeding America. A special organization to note is Feeding America. While it is an organization not started by the government, it is well known across the states for its network of excellent food pantries. One source records that over three-fourths of all food pantries in the United States belong to this organization. This support offered by the organization helps food pantries get the supplies they need, as well as helps them organize themselves and reach the people around them. If you are looking for a food pantry in your area, this may be a good starting point.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=77fdf8a2-792a-4128-bb05-aab8111a34f2" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/examining-different-food-bank-organizations.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Make Giving a Part of your Life</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-make-giving-a-part-of-your-life.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-make-giving-a-part-of-your-life.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 08 Feb 2011 16:51:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless shelter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pantry]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=306</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Giving can be one of those things that everyone knows they should do, but most don’t really want to give, and others simply do not know how to make it a habit. If you want to foster an attitude of generosity, here are three ways you can train yourself to give. Go through your pantry.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-make-giving-a-part-of-your-life.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Giving can be one of those things that everyone knows they should do, but most don’t really want to give, and others simply do not know how to make it a habit. If you want to foster an attitude of generosity, here are three ways you can train yourself to give.</p>
<p>Go through your pantry. Remember that time you bought too many cans of green beans? They are still on your shelf after a month or two. Instead of wasting space in your pantry, put them in a box and donate them to your local food shelter. Not only will you be clearing out your pantry, but you will be benefiting the hungry in your area.</p>
<p>Grab some extra food at the store. Next time you are in the pasta aisle or next to the canned vegetables, grab a few extra boxes of spaghetti or cans of soup and drop them off at a homeless shelter on your way home. While it isn’t a whole lot, it is certainly a start and will definitely make a difference, not only to the people you are helping when you give, but for yourself as you become more giving-focused.</p>
<p>Donate all your change. Nickels and dimes are one of those things that you don’t really think about, but which add up after a while. Making a habit of never spending your change but always donating it can mean you are giving a significant amount and may be one of the easiest ways to start giving without making it a big deal.</p>
<p>However, budgeting in monthly amounts to your favorite charity is the most influential and life-changing way to start fostering generosity in your own heart and around you. When giving is hard, you remember it and it impacts you, remind you to not just give financially in a charity, but to emotionally and personally invest in its success and efforts. Change isn’t made by impersonal checks, but through personal connections and support. By supporting our less fortunate brothers and sisters, we can create a stronger society and a better place.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=eb3c3608-2190-4e4b-b6e0-143e92d866ec" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-make-giving-a-part-of-your-life.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Soup Kitchens as a Pathway to Change</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/soup-kitchens-as-a-pathway-to-change.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/soup-kitchens-as-a-pathway-to-change.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 03 Feb 2011 16:51:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Great Depression]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salvation Army]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soup kitchen]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=305</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The first record of a soup kitchen in the united states is reportedly in 1802, run by the humane society in New York City. A resurgence of soup kitchens began over a hundred years later in the 1930’s because of the Great Depression, with another surge in the 1980’s. Today, hundreds of soup kitchens fill&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/soup-kitchens-as-a-pathway-to-change.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The first record of a soup kitchen in the united states is reportedly in 1802, run by the humane society in New York City. A resurgence of soup kitchens began over a hundred years later in the 1930’s because of the Great Depression, with another surge in the 1980’s. Today, hundreds of soup kitchens fill United States cities, trying to battle hunger from coast to coast. Most soup kitchens will gladly take your volunteer help, and you would benefit from the experience as well.</p>
<p>The first thing to know about working in a soup kitchen is that there are a wide variety of people who are served there. While some people will be regulars, others will be there at their own surprise and discouragement. The optimism and joy of some of the people who eat there is one of the most incredible things you can witness, and will rather encourage you instead of you encouraging them. Volunteering at a soup kitchen will show you how you can approach those in need with an attitude of service and brotherhood, and without an attitude of superiority or benevolence.</p>
<p>To find a soup kitchen near you, look up charities in your city and call local organizations such as the Salvation Army. Even if they do not have a local soup kitchen in your area, they will be able to direct you to one. When working at a soup kitchen, you can work behind the counter as a cook, or as a server, or even as a cleaner, wiping down counters. Some people simply sit and talk with those visiting, wanting to know more about their lives. Of course, one of the best ways to support your local charity is by raising money or donating funds so that they can keep serving those who are hungry and even improve or stretch their influence. Making a habit of serving and thinking of those in need is one of the best things you can do, for yourself and for your country. Find a soup kitchen near you to see how you can get involved.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=bb451c2e-55f7-4c69-931d-a2c589f8dfb7" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/soup-kitchens-as-a-pathway-to-change.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Trick or Treat for the Hungry Prepares Shelters for Winter</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/trick-or-treat-for-the-hungry-prepares-shelters-for-winter.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/trick-or-treat-for-the-hungry-prepares-shelters-for-winter.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 01 Feb 2011 16:51:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Holidays]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shelters]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=304</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Last October, more trick or treaters went out for a better cause than lots of candy. People all over the nation when door to door on Halloween collecting dry food goods for local food shelters, as well as occasionally collecting pennies for food shelters&#8217; Thanksgiving dinner, an idea started at least two years ago. Some&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/trick-or-treat-for-the-hungry-prepares-shelters-for-winter.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Last October, more trick or treaters went out for a better cause than lots of candy. People all over the nation when door to door on Halloween collecting dry food goods for local food shelters, as well as occasionally collecting pennies for food shelters&#8217; Thanksgiving dinner, an idea started at least two years ago. Some participants earlier walked the neighborhoods telling house owners that they would be coming by looking for food on Halloween.</p>
<p>While not a new idea, it seemed to have taken off this year with dozens of students from schools and universities coast to coast participating. Some students enjoyed the idea as an easy and fun way to serve—they still dressed up in their Halloween costumes, they just collected pantry goods, not candy. “It’s like have the opportunity to keep being a kid,” One girl reported, “I used to love dressing up for Halloween, but I felt like I was too old once I got in college. Now I can have fun on Halloween, and help out a local charity at the same time.” Other participants simply went door to door in groups.</p>
<p>Another student commented on the practicality of this sort of service; “Many people would be willing to give some food to a shelter, they just don’t know where one is or they get too busy to stop by,” he pointed out,  “Us going door to door says ‘hey we are right here, looking to help. All you have to do is hand it to us, and we’ll take it to the shelter for you.’”</p>
<p>Food pantries and shelters benefited from the extra boost of support, as they prepared for the winter and aimed to provide a Thanksgiving meal for everyone that was in need. As a trend that is sure to be picking up steam, be looking for these good-hearted trick or treaters next year, or find a way to join in on a team. Together, we can make Halloween not only a good time of fun and candy, but also a time to bless those around us who are in need of food.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=bac43699-9a0f-4a92-8092-a84619d8c183" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/trick-or-treat-for-the-hungry-prepares-shelters-for-winter.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Guide to Reducing Poverty</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/guide-to-reducing-poverty.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/guide-to-reducing-poverty.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 29 Jan 2011 08:39:41 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=294</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Millions of Americans are homeless and even more go hungry. Many programs are set up to help these people, but needs still aren&#8217;t met. Reducing poverty requires a multi-level approach working to both provide short-term help and a long term boast to get people out of poverty. A short-term solution to reducing poverty is to&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/guide-to-reducing-poverty.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Millions of Americans are homeless and even more go hungry. Many programs are set up to help these people, but needs still aren&#8217;t met. Reducing poverty requires a multi-level approach working to both provide short-term help and a long term boast to get people out of poverty.</p>
<p>A short-term solution to reducing poverty is to provide aid programs to help needy families. These families focus on the individual needs of different families and make sure families have basic necessities. The programs are almost always funded by the federal government and run by states. The food stamp program is an example of one of these programs. Americans that are at or below the poverty line are eligible for food stamps. This allows them to use a card preloaded with funds at the grocery store to buy food each month. The amount each family gets varies by the size of the family and the amount the family makes per year. Section 8 housing provides housing help for families and individuals and is another federally funded program run by the states. These aid programs are only a short-term solution though, families depend on the programs for help rather than being self sufficient.</p>
<p>To really reduce poverty, the cycle must be broken. Often people living in poverty grew up in poor households. One of the best ways to break this cycle is to provide education to individuals. Education to learn a trade to get a better job is a great way to help break the cycle. Other types of education focus on teaching money managing and budgeting skills. Through education, people can get better jobs and make more money improving their situation drastically.</p>
<p>Poverty is a huge problem in America that doesn&#8217;t have an easy solution. Reducing poverty requires a long-term commitment through educational programs. However, in the short-term programs are needed to meet the basic necessities of poor Americans.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=8bd91c91-9052-4b20-9f78-6525a1a4cf96" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/guide-to-reducing-poverty.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Ways to Reduce Poverty</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/ways-to-reduce-poverty.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/ways-to-reduce-poverty.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 27 Jan 2011 08:39:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=293</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Poverty is a serious problem in America that effects the well-being of adults and children. Without the means to pay for basic necessities and to provide a stable lifestyle, these Americans live a marginal life. Poverty also tends to happen in circles. If the parents are poor, more than likely the children will be poor,&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/ways-to-reduce-poverty.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Poverty is a serious problem in America that effects the well-being of adults and children. Without the means to pay for basic necessities and to provide a stable lifestyle, these Americans live a marginal life. Poverty also tends to happen in circles. If the parents are poor, more than likely the children will be poor, so breaking that cycle by helping the parents can potentially affect generations to follow. The problem of poverty is complex and requires several different methods to fight back.</p>
<p>Aid programs are one way to help reduce poverty, but they are not a long term solution. They are like a band aid that helps the people get through and provide, but don&#8217;t help in the long run. People often might become dependent on these types of programs. The federal government and state governments have several aid programs to help poor citizens. The food stamp programs provides money for applicants to spend on food. Section 8 housing helps pay for housing while other programs help with energy assistance. These programs are vital to the well-being of many Americans.</p>
<p>A better long-term solution is to empower poor resident through education. Education can either be directed toward teaching  a new skill like loan and grants given to students that couldn&#8217;t otherwise afford to go to school. Or, education programs can be aimed at teaching people about the right way to budget money and how to make the most of money. This type of education is a more feasible way to break the poverty cycle and is a much better long term solution to reducing poverty in this country.</p>
<p>Poverty is a complex problem in America with more than one solution. Two ways to reduce poverty in this country are by providing aid programs to help citizens with immediate needs and by providing educational programs to break the poverty cycle.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=e48e6fe3-f596-48f9-9651-470a36961be5" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/ways-to-reduce-poverty.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Modern Volunteering</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/modern-volunteering.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/modern-volunteering.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 26 Jan 2011 14:01:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Invention]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volunteers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=219</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Have you ever wanted to donate to a great cause, but didn&#8217;t feel like you had enough money to make a difference? With the advent of microgiving, volunteer opportunities open up. In fact, with microgiving or crowd sourcing, you can find a great project that needs volunteers. With everything from charities to people looking for&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/modern-volunteering.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Have you ever wanted to donate to a great cause, but didn&#8217;t feel like you had enough money to make a difference? With the advent of microgiving, volunteer opportunities open up. In fact, with microgiving or crowd sourcing, you can find a great project that needs volunteers. With everything from charities to people looking for help with the funding for their new business or invention, you can help out a variety of people with only a small amount of money.</p>
<p>There are many people today who have great ideas for businesses or inventions, but don&#8217;t feel like they are able to do much about it. Sometimes, these endeavors are very expensive. Starting a business, for example, can take a lot of money up front. If you have an idea for an invention, you may find that the supplies that you need are more expensive than you anticipated. This is where companies like microgiving.com can help out.</p>
<p>With microgiving.com, you are able to specify how much money you will need to get your project up and running. Once this is specified, other people, called donors, are able to donate to your project. This can help you get the money that you need to get your project or invention off the ground. Not only do these new businesses help those who are opening them, they also help stimulate the economy, which in turn, helps everyone in the country.</p>
<p>The more popular that microgiving becomes, the more great businesses and inventions will be created. On top of that, many times those who receive help go on to help others, as well. This creates a cycle of giving. This means there are more givers, more chances to give, and more <a href="http://www.microgiving.com/">volunteer opportunities</a>. As these opportunities become available, there are more people willing to take help. As microgiving becomes more popular, the world becomes a more charitable place.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=f00839e0-7c85-4e7a-8195-fdaffd8d5588" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/modern-volunteering.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Reducing Poverty through Education</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/reducing-poverty-through-education.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/reducing-poverty-through-education.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 25 Jan 2011 08:36:40 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Scholarship]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=283</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Poverty does not have to be an endless cycle for families. The children of impoverished families have more opportunities than ever to work towards a brighter future through education. There are numerous scholarships to aid students from needy families to open up their future and the wealth of job possibilities available to college-educated individuals. U.S.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/reducing-poverty-through-education.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Poverty does not have to be an endless cycle for families. The children of impoverished families have more opportunities than ever to work towards a brighter future through education. There are numerous scholarships to aid students from needy families to open up their future and the wealth of job possibilities available to college-educated individuals.</p>
<ul>
<li>U.S. Department of Health and Human Services - http://bhpr.hrsa.gov/dsa/sds.htm</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The Health Resources and Services Administration offers scholarships to disadvantaged students who want to work in a health profession. The website lists a variety of health professions that the scholarships cover.</p>
<ul>
<li>Rural Assistance Center - http://www.raconline.org/funding/funding_type_details.php?type=Scholarships</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The RAC offers many different national, regional and state scholarships based on need. This site offers links to the various scholarships as well as a short description of the specifications for the award.</p>
<ul>
<li>FinAid - http://www.finaid.org/otheraid/majors.phtml</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">FinAid has a search engine for students to look up scholarships based on their preferred course of study. Students can use this search to find a scholarship tailored to their interests.</p>
<ul>
<li>American Indian College Fund - http://www.collegefund.org/</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The American Indian College fund proves scholarships for American Indian students and also raises awareness for their tribal colleges. They have about 6,000 scholarships to give away per year, so it is worth looking into for American Indian students.</p>
<ul>
<li>Hispanic Scholarship Fund - http://www.hsf.net/</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Geared towards scholarships for Hispanic American students, the HSF has a number of different awards to benefit students. The HSF is a long-standing scholarship and grant program with the ultimate goal of raising high school and college retention rates for Latino students. See their website for more information and how to apply for these scholarships.</p>
<p>Reducing poverty begins with education. By offering scholarships to help low income families send their children to college, these programs help instill a sense of pride through education. Educated people are more successful in the job market and can shape their own futures and the future of their family.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=02055010-aced-4821-a9b2-7fc005d6b414" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/reducing-poverty-through-education.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How to Reduce Poverty</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-reduce-poverty.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-reduce-poverty.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 22 Jan 2011 08:36:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=282</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Poverty is a huge problem in America and across the glove. Millions of people are too poor to pay for food and proper shelter. People even starve to death because they cannot afford to buy food. Reducing poverty requires a multi-level approach, including education, aid and providing loans. In the United States, several aid programs&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-reduce-poverty.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Poverty is a huge problem in America and across the glove. Millions of people are too poor to pay for food and proper shelter. People even starve to death because they cannot afford to buy food. Reducing poverty requires a multi-level approach, including education, aid and providing loans.</p>
<p>In the United States, several aid programs are set up to help poor people pay for food, housing and utilities. These programs are almost always federally funded but run the state. The food stamp program gives citizens that qualify based on income money to spend each month at the grocery store, ensuring access to food. Section 8 housing provides a roof over the heads of people at risk for being homeless. Other temporary aid programs usually run by private charities help with immediate needs in this country. Food pantries and food banks give food to people who live in the area. Homeless shelters give homeless people a place to sleep out of harsh weather conditions. This type of aid is necessary to keep Americans from extreme poverty.</p>
<p>While these aid programs keep Americans afloat, they don&#8217;t break the cycle of poverty or help someone get out of poverty. It&#8217;s important to have educational programs as well that teach citizens a new trade or skill to increase job prospects and that also teach about money managing and budgeting, and running a household on a small budget.</p>
<p>In third world countries, the aid programs are often run by other countries because the home country is too poor to provide these programs. The U.N. has several such programs that provide these countries and citizens with food and refuge camps that give them a place to live, but in tents which isn&#8217;t ideal.</p>
<p>Poverty must be addressed by both aid and educational programs. That&#8217;s the only way poverty will be reduced and maybe one day no one will go hungry or homeless.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b70e62b7-b7c4-4c11-966c-00b984fc9df2" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-reduce-poverty.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Federal Programs to Help the Needy</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/federal-programs-to-help-the-needy.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/federal-programs-to-help-the-needy.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 20 Jan 2011 08:36:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=281</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Millions of Americans live below the poverty level making paying for basic necessities a struggle for these families. The federal government has programs, often administered by the state by financed by the federal government, to help these families obtain food, housing and sometimes living money. Every state has a food stamp program that&#8217;s federally funded. The food&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/federal-programs-to-help-the-needy.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Millions of Americans live below the poverty level making paying for basic necessities a struggle for these families. The federal government has programs, often administered by the state by financed by the federal government, to help these families obtain food, housing and sometimes living money.</p>
<p>Every state has a food stamp program that&#8217;s federally funded. The food stamp program gives money to eligible residents. Residents qualify for a certain amount of food stamps based on income and if they have other assets. The stamps are loaded on to a card and can be spent at almost any grocery store. This program is crucial to the millions of Americans that struggle to feed themselves every day. Without food stamps, many of these families would go hungry. The application process varies a little by state but basically requires applying and then following up to answer questions about possessions, income and bills.</p>
<p>Another vital need that some Americans have trouble fulfilling is proper housing. Many people are either homeless or living in unsuitable housing. Through Section 8 housing, these Americans can get some or all of their rent paid for. Sometimes, section 8 housing involves living in a group of homes, but other times the housing is dispersed around the city and the applicant can find the place to use the voucher. Section 8 housing is based on income, but usually also has a wait list that can be years long.</p>
<p>Paying utility bills like electricity and heating are difficult for some. Federally-funded programs give citizens money towards these bills. These programs usually have offices in each city.</p>
<p>Needy Americans struggle to provide for their families and need outside resources to survive. For them, programs like the food stamp program, section 8 housing and energy assistance are a life line and the only way to get by.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=bf1bff06-1d3e-48da-b1b2-7210a1f11fbd" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/federal-programs-to-help-the-needy.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Role of Charities in Communities</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-role-of-charities-in-communities.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-role-of-charities-in-communities.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 18 Jan 2011 08:36:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Salvation Army]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=280</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Charities and not-for-profit organizations are an integral part of any community. Without these groups, need persons, disable persons and others would fall between the cracks and wouldn&#8217;t be able to function in some cases. Charities are set up to focus on a variety of different needs within a community. Some of the charities are local&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-role-of-charities-in-communities.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Charities and not-for-profit organizations are an integral part of any community. Without these groups, need persons, disable persons and others would fall between the cracks and wouldn&#8217;t be able to function in some cases. Charities are set up to focus on a variety of different needs within a community.</p>
<p>Some of the charities are local chapters of larger nationwide organizations. These groups often do their own fundraising and plan activities, but get leadership guidance from the the national group. Some examples include the United Way, Salvation Army and Goodwill. All of these function nationwide but in local communities are set up to help local people. The advantage of being part of a larger organization is having the guidance and the name recognition that often goes along with these groups.</p>
<p>Another group that works in local communities are local religious group, like churches. Churches have historically been the main source of community based help and can help people that don&#8217;t belong to the church. The Catholic church is especially none for these services and is behind many of the local non-for-profit hospitals. These churches help by giving needy people money and food.</p>
<p>Some non-secular groups also operate in local towns. These groups are not connected to a nationwide group but serve the community. Sometimes they are small non-profits that meet a small goal like providing care packages to sick children in the hospital, and other times they are large groups like a food pantry that serves a large community. These groups depend on local donations to operate and for fundraising. They are a huge presence in the community. They exclusively serve a local area or boundary.</p>
<p>Local not-for-profits are a key to any community. Without these local groups, many populations would be under served and wouldn&#8217;t be able to function properly.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a656da69-5e6a-4ea6-9bd8-7847a7afef87" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-role-of-charities-in-communities.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Generous CEOs Give Back</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/generous-ceos-give-back.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/generous-ceos-give-back.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 16 Jan 2011 10:27:16 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=212</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia You cannot help but admire someone who has built a business empire and made millions of dollars. Their ingenuity and risk taking are to be admired, but it is even more admirable when you see these top business leaders share their wealth. People like Bill Gates, Warren Buffett, Mark Zuckerberg, and Blake&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/generous-ceos-give-back.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Warren_Buffett_KU_Visit.jpg"><img title="Warren Buffett speaking to a group of students..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/5/51/Warren_Buffett_KU_Visit.jpg/300px-Warren_Buffett_KU_Visit.jpg" alt="Warren Buffett speaking to a group of students..." width="300" height="366" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Warren_Buffett_KU_Visit.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>You cannot help but admire someone who has built a business empire and made millions of dollars. Their ingenuity and risk taking are to be admired, but it is even more admirable when you see these top business leaders share their wealth. People like Bill Gates, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Warren_Buffett">Warren Buffett</a>, Mark Zuckerberg, and Blake Mycoskie are generous CEOs who have become more famous for how much they give back rather than how much they are worth.</p>
<p>Bill Gates may not be the richest man in the world any longer, but in 2010 he remains the most generous. Heisranked second on Forbes&#8217; list of the wealthiest people in the world, worth an estimated $53 billion, andhas made it clear he feels he has an obligation to give back. Gates, who has made his money from Microsoft, has put pressure on other wealthy people to contribute to charities as well. His foundation has given billions to efforts to improve education in the U.S. and fight the spread of infectious diseases around the world.</p>
<p>Warren Buffet is another of the generous CEOs with a strong social conscience. Inspired by Gates challenge to give back, Buffet contributed $1.6 billion in stock to the Gates Foundation last year. This brings the total of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Donation">donations</a> from Buffet to the foundation to almost $8 billion. Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has also committed to giving away more than a billion dollars; his cause is educational reform.</p>
<p>Blake Mycoskie, the founder of <a href="http://www.sojones.com/urban-clothing/toms-shoes/">Toms Shoes</a>, has found a way to combine daily business with his philanthropic work. Every time he sells a pair of shoes, he donates another pair of Toms Shoes to a child somewhere in the world living in poverty. Sales of the shoes, which are modelled after the alpargataa slip shoes worn in Argentina, are approaching the half-million mark, which means that over 400,000 Toms Shoes have been given to kids across the world who did not have proper footwear.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=1e8451a6-2574-4595-af96-a406ab2e7c1f" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/generous-ceos-give-back.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Charities That Help the Needy</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/charities-that-help-the-needy.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/charities-that-help-the-needy.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 15 Jan 2011 08:36:30 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food bank]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=279</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Needy families often need outside help to provide for the family. Government programs are set up to help these families, but sometimes that help isn&#8217;t enough. Charities also help these families and make sure that all their needs are met. The United Way funds programs in cities that help the needy. The United Way also&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/charities-that-help-the-needy.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Needy families often need outside help to provide for the family. Government programs are set up to help these families, but sometimes that help isn&#8217;t enough. Charities also help these families and make sure that all their needs are met.</p>
<p>The United Way funds programs in cities that help the needy. The United Way also directly overseas programs to help families. These programs help families that don&#8217;t get enough help from the government, can&#8217;t get help from the government or have a one-time need. The United Way helps with heating assistance in many families. These programs are designed to help families that don&#8217;t qualify for government heating help. The United Way also gives grants to other organizations in the community that work with needy families.</p>
<p>Food banks and pantries run through both secular and non-secular charities greatly help families. In this country, thousands of children go hungry every day. These families can go to these food pantries. Often, families just need to show an ID and live in the service area to qualify for help from the food pantry. The food pantries are usually open once a week or once a week and offer boxed and dried goods and in some cases fresh foods.</p>
<p>Needy families can get help with child care through after-school programs run at schools, sometimes by outside charities. Other organizations also help provide a safe place for children like the Boys and Girls Club. Programs like Big Brothers, Big Sisters give children a positive role model to do weekly or monthly activities.</p>
<p>The needs of families are wide and the charities working to help these families are also diverse. The charities often rely only on donations and grants to provide services. Many times these organizations work under strict budgets and don&#8217;t have much money to spare.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=3abbd082-d51e-438a-b9e9-8f7da5ae2d8f" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/charities-that-help-the-needy.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Organizations Helping to Reduce Poverty</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/organizations-helping-to-reduce-poverty.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/organizations-helping-to-reduce-poverty.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 13 Jan 2011 08:33:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=269</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Poverty is a serious problem in this country. Children grow up hungry from only eating on meal a day. Adults skip health care because of no coverage. Breaking the cycle of poverty is especially difficult. Children that come from homes in the poverty level are more likely to be poor adults. Several nonprofit, government and&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/organizations-helping-to-reduce-poverty.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Poverty is a serious problem in this country. Children grow up hungry from only eating on meal a day. Adults skip health care because of no coverage. Breaking the cycle of poverty is especially difficult. Children that come from homes in the poverty level are more likely to be poor adults. Several nonprofit, government and educational organizations work to reduce poverty and break these cycles.</p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Getting out of poverty isn&#8217;t a matter of getting free food, money and rent. While programs exist to help families with these needs, long term help is needed. The programs that help with short term needs include food stamps, section 8 housing and welfare. These programs are designed to help families temporarily while they look for ways to be self sustainable. Sometimes people do take advantage of the programs and use them as a permanent solution, but agencies are on the look out for this type of behavior and sometimes limit how long someone can receive services while unemployed.</p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Organizations making huge strides to cut the number of people living at or below the poverty level in this country are organizations that work to provide education to adults and children. Some programs work to teach skills to these groups so that they can go out and get a job, or a better paying job. Other programs, like student loans, allow people to attend school despite financial problems. Sometimes counties and cities have programs that teach people in poverty basic budgeting and financial skills to further success.</p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Other ways to address poverty in this country include making more jobs and making better paying jobs. If a person works a minimum wage job, paying bills and making a living is difficult. Creating good paying jobs is the easiest way to improve poverty rates.</p>
<p>Millions of Americans live in poverty. Because of organizations and groups working to help, these people don&#8217;t have to stay poor.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5386b92f-c7c8-46a4-8b3e-5e48fdc46db4" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/organizations-helping-to-reduce-poverty.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Give Me Shelter</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/give-me-shelter.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/give-me-shelter.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 11 Jan 2011 08:33:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York City]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=268</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Housing issues continue to be one of the worst problems facing the country due to the recession. Families struggling to pay bills face eviction and aid resources can be difficult to find and make sense of. The following are some programs helping with the housing crisis and trying to keep families sheltered through the financial&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/give-me-shelter.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Housing issues continue to be one of the worst problems facing the country due to the recession. Families struggling to pay bills face eviction and aid resources can be difficult to find and make sense of. The following are some programs helping with the housing crisis and trying to keep families sheltered through the financial storm.</p>
<ul>
<li>U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">HUD is the first place to look for housing help. This is a national program to help needy families or individuals with their housing issues. Their website offers quick and easy search options no matter what your housing situation may be. They have counselors available to dispense advice about avoiding foreclosure as well as grant applications and information about rental assistance.</p>
<ul>
<li>Coalition for the Homeless</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>Based in New York City, the Coalition for the Homeless is doing everything in their power to keep people off the streets and offer help if it&#8217;s too late. They offer an Eviction Prevention program that gives grants to help families pay rent and stay in their homes. It is their mission to keep people in their houses to prevent homelessness in New York City.</p>
<ul>
<li>Rural Rental Assistance Program</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">For families and individuals living in rural area that need help, check out the Rural Rental Assistance Program. This program is for low-income families and can help with rent or home-improvement projects by providing loans and grants.</p>
<ul>
<li>Private Rental Assistance Programs</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">Another option for rental assistance is to look for a private program. Search by the state to find programs that are funded by local groups or individuals to help needy community members keep their homes during times of crisis.</p>
<p>All of these programs are excellent places to begin the search for financial help for low-income families to keep and maintain their homes. Keeping families in their homes is an important step in the fight against unemployment and poverty.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=7d93d3df-5f81-4f94-880c-79f7bb10d662" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/give-me-shelter.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>State Programs to Help the Needy</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/state-programs-to-help-the-needy.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/state-programs-to-help-the-needy.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 08 Jan 2011 08:33:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=267</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Disabled persons and people in poverty or having tough times often need outside help. Every state offers help to needy residents. Many of these programs are federally funded, but state operated such as the food stamp program. Residents usually just need to present documentation of financial situation and identification to apply. The food stamps program&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/state-programs-to-help-the-needy.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Disabled persons and people in poverty or having tough times often need outside help. Every state offers help to needy residents. Many of these programs are federally funded, but state operated such as the food stamp program. Residents usually just need to present documentation of financial situation and identification to apply.</p>
<p>The food stamps program gives a monthly allotment of money to use to buy groceries at participating retailers. The money is loaded on a debit card that a user swipes at the cash register. Every state varies on the specifics of qualifying food stamps, but qualification is always based on the federal poverty line. The federal government publishes a chart with the amount of money a household can earn to be at poverty level.</p>
<p>Every state also has programs to help disabled citizens. Citizens can apply for special handicap passes with a doctor&#8217;s note at license branches. These citizens qualify for federal aid like health care and money for being disabled. States usually offer some health facilities through local governments and agencies to help disabled people.</p>
<p>Some states offer health care to residents that are poor or uninsured. These programs aren&#8217;t offered in every state and have restrictions. The program is different than the federal medicare and medicaid programs for eligible citizens. To qualify for the state programs, citizens don&#8217;t have to be pregnant or disabled. The states currently offering health care are limited because the programs are expensive to run.</p>
<p>Most states offer budgeting and financial programs to help needy persons learn to budget better and to make more money. These programs are designed to make residents self sufficient and to raise the financial IQ of residents. Check local offerings for any programs in your area.</p>
<p>Needy residents can look to their state of residency for some help. States have limited offerings to help residents cover needs and to work toward self sufficiency.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=f169f24c-59cb-42a4-b34c-ec138c45f752" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/state-programs-to-help-the-needy.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Energy for Everyone</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/energy-for-everyone.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/energy-for-everyone.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 06 Jan 2011 08:34:00 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=270</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Sometimes keeping a roof over your head just isn&#8217;t enough. Heating and cooling costs of homes can also have a devastating effect on low-income families. Luckily there are programs to help households in trouble cover the high costs of energy. LIHEAP The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is a federal block grant&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/energy-for-everyone.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Sometimes keeping a roof over your head just isn&#8217;t enough. Heating and cooling costs of homes can also have a devastating effect on low-income families. Luckily there are programs to help households in trouble cover the high costs of energy.</p>
<ul>
<li>LIHEAP</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, or LIHEAP, is a federal block grant that aims to aid in paying these high energy costs. All fifty states receive aid money from LIHEAP and tribal organizations can also apply for LIHEAP money to assist in meeting energy costs.</p>
<ul>
<li>Citizens Energy Oil Heat Program</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">For those families not covered by LIHEAP, don&#8217;t fret, there are still more programs available to help cover heating costs. The Citizens Oil Energy Heat Program partnered with CITGO to provide oil to low-income, struggling households. This program is available to residents of Alaska, Connecticut, Delaware, Indiana, Maine, Maryland, <span>Massachusetts, Michigan, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington DC, and Wisconsin. </span></p>
<ul>
<li>HEAP</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;"><span> </span>Home Energy Assistance Program, or HEAP, is a program out of Ohio and New York State that helps low-income families cover costs of their energy bills to keep their homes heated. HEAP is a one-time assistance based on income and number of people living in the house.</p>
<ul>
<li>Weatherization Assistance</li>
</ul>
<p style="padding-left: 30px;">A final option to help cover energy costs is Weatherization Assistance. This program helps weatherproof homes to make them more energy efficient and cut down costs of energy bills for struggling families. In addition to increasing energy efficiency the contractors also check to make sure the furnace is safe and in good working order.</p>
<p>These programs and more can be very helpful assistance when facing financial worries due to job loss or low-income. For more information on programs to help needy families with energy costs contact your state website or local community action agency.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b7b328a9-784d-4913-bd57-1eb1510b21da" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/energy-for-everyone.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Faring Well off Welfare</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/faring-well-off-welfare.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/faring-well-off-welfare.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 04 Jan 2011 08:33:47 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=266</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[In a recession, getting a job can be difficult if not impossible. Many families have had to turn to federal welfare programs to get by while unemployment rates remained high. It can be frustrating to search for jobs in a flooded market and wading through assistance information can be tricky. Luckily there are programs showing&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/faring-well-off-welfare.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>In a recession, getting a job can be difficult if not impossible. Many families have had to turn to federal welfare programs to get by while unemployment rates remained high. It can be frustrating to search for jobs in a flooded market and wading through assistance information can be tricky. Luckily there are programs showing success throughout the United States to help welfare recipients get into the workplace and weaned off of government reliance. Checking into these programs and others can provide families with the necessary skills and access to jobs that they might not have found otherwise.</p>
<p>1. MFIP &#8211; Minnesota Family Investment Program</p>
<p><span style="white-space: pre;"> </span>This program helps families by providing food and cash, but also helps adults with children find jobs rather than relying on welfare.</p>
<p>2. CALWORKS Welfare-to-Work Program</p>
<p>This is a service to gauge employability and help welfare recipients prepare for the job market in California. Most welfare recipients are required to enter the program in order to receive aid.</p>
<p>3. WOTC Work Opportunity Tax Credit</p>
<p>WOTC is a government program that provides tax incentive to private businesses to hire people on welfare or have other barriers to getting a job. There are twelve groups of people that, when hired, can bring this tax credit to the business.</p>
<p>4. BEGIN</p>
<p>BEGIN is a program from New York State that provides education and training to those seeking jobs to come off welfare dependency. They focus on increasing literacy and basic skills and helping people who have lower than proficient English.</p>
<p>Programs like these not only help find jobs, but raise confidence in individual abilities and help create a more productive and successful workforce. These programs are here to help reduce poverty and get people back into jobs to provide for their families. Currently most states have a welfare-to-work program in place, so check your state and local websites for further information.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=efd1e708-ee8b-4084-84a6-08cc61e91314" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/faring-well-off-welfare.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Retirement Homes are a Thing of the Past</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/retirement-homes-are-a-thing-of-the-past.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/retirement-homes-are-a-thing-of-the-past.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 31 Dec 2010 17:53:31 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Low-Income Housing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Assisted living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Independent living]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nursing home]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retirement home]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=115</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When I was younger it seemed that retirement homes for seniors got a bad rap.  These were portrayed as a place where people sat around most of the days in rocking chairs looking out across the horizon.  If they did have any activities they participated in, those were usually games of bingo or possibly shuffleboard.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/retirement-homes-are-a-thing-of-the-past.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div id="_mcePaste">When I was younger it seemed that retirement homes for seniors got a bad rap.  These were portrayed as a place where people sat around most of the days in rocking chairs looking out across the horizon.  If they did have any activities they participated in, those were usually games of bingo or possibly shuffleboard.  Well there is nothing wrong with rocking chairs, bingo or shuffleboard; but today’s independent living communities are much different than those in the past.  A lot of the reason for that is that senior/elder care is not the same as it used to be and many people are living more active lives later in their lives.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste">These days many couples are forgoing home ownership as they age.  They no longer want the hassle of maintaining a home that is too big for them.  In those cases, these couples often move into independent living community together.  Some of these have smaller garden homes or might have apartments that are built for couples.  Many of these communities have various stages of facilities.  You might move in when you have very little need for medical help.  Then as you age and your health declines, you can move into another part of the community that has assisted living or nursing home facilities.</div>
<div id="_mcePaste">Another great benefit to these facilities is the companionship.  Many seniors find themselves without friends and family and independent home helps them transition into a facility without feeling like they are losing all independence.  Some of these places, with their pools, fitness studios and sunny, warm locations, feel more like a resort than a retirement community.  The cost per month is often less than the cost to live in a home and provide meals for yourself.  Overall, I’d have to give today’s independent living communities high marks when compared to the facilities of the past.</div>
<p>When I was younger it seemed that retirement homes for seniors got a bad rap.  These were portrayed as a place where people sat around most of the days in rocking chairs looking out across the horizon.  If they did have any activities they participated in, those were usually games of bingo or possibly shuffleboard.  Well there is nothing wrong with rocking chairs, bingo or shuffleboard; but today’s independent living communities are much different than those in the past.  A lot of the reason for that is that <a href="http://retirement-communities.aplaceformom.com/articles/senior-independent-living/" target="_blank">senior/elder care</a> is not the same as it used to be and many people are living more active lives later in their lives.These days many couples are forgoing home ownership as they age.  They no longer want the hassle of maintaining a home that is too big for them.  In those cases, these couples often move into independent living community together.  Some of these have smaller garden homes or might have apartments that are built for couples.  Many of these communities have various stages of facilities.  You might move in when you have very little need for medical help.  Then as you age and your health declines, you can move into another part of the community that has assisted living or nursing home facilities.Another great benefit to these facilities is the companionship.  Many seniors find themselves without friends and family and independent home helps them transition into a facility without feeling like they are losing all independence.  Some of these places, with their pools, fitness studios and sunny, warm locations, feel more like a resort than a retirement community.  The cost per month is often less than the cost to live in a home and provide meals for yourself.  Overall, I’d have to give today’s independent living communities high marks when compared to the facilities of the past.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=7e0e93ee-f33e-4abe-81a8-e97ce8b54101" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/retirement-homes-are-a-thing-of-the-past.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Angel Food Ministries: Low Cost Groceries For All</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/angel-food-ministries-low-cost-groceries-for-all.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/angel-food-ministries-low-cost-groceries-for-all.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 20 Dec 2010 13:44:55 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Angel Food Ministries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Food]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Georgia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grocery store]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Retail]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopping]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=203</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[With the cost of food on the rise people are getting less bang for their buck when they hit the grocery store. Finding places to shop frugally has become increasingly difficult. Enter, Angel Food Ministries, a non-profit, non-denominational organization that provides low-cost groceries to needy individuals and families nationwide. Established in 1994 by pastor Joe&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/angel-food-ministries-low-cost-groceries-for-all.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>With the cost of food on the rise people are getting less bang for their  buck when they hit the grocery store. Finding places to shop frugally  has become increasingly difficult. Enter, Angel Food Ministries, a  non-profit, non-denominational organization that provides low-cost  groceries to needy individuals and families nationwide.</p>
<p>Established in 1994 by pastor Joe Wingo and his wife Linda, the program  began in Georgia and has since spread to 45 states. The program has no  income restrictions or applications. Those who want to participate have  no qualifications to meet other than a need for low-cost food.</p>
<p>The one drawback of the program is it provides only certain items. It is  not set-up like food pantry, or store in which you can select items  individually. The food from Angel Food Ministries  is divided into  boxes. Each month the menu is different, but the items in the regular  box is the same for everyone who purchases it. The cost of the box is  around $30 give or take, but the value is usually at minimum double  that.</p>
<p>Participants can buy multiple boxes. All participants must buy at least  one regular box. In addition to the regular box, each month a variety of  different boxes are available for people to purchase. Add on boxes  vary, but may include a seafood, meat, produce or dessert box. The only  hitch is, you have to decide what you want ahead of time, pay for it and  wait for the boxes to be delivered. Each host site has a different  payment and delivery schedule.</p>
<p>Angel Food Ministries delivers the low-cost food boxes through  participating host sites. Any church can apply to be a host site. There  is a $50 application fee, but if your church is not approved that fee is  refunded. Being a host site benefits the church because they receive $1  in benevolent funds for every regular unit they sell each month.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=e84d73af-2395-4555-b765-4fb366459a9a" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/angel-food-ministries-low-cost-groceries-for-all.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Better Dental Health One Student at a Time</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-dental-health-one-student-at-a-time.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-dental-health-one-student-at-a-time.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 19 Dec 2010 13:43:42 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Delta Dental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dental caries]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dental public health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dental sealant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dentistry]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Oral Health America]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=201</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When a family falls into a low-income bracket they can usually get state issued health insurance for their children. However, in many states this insurance limits or excludes dental health care. Not to mention parents who do not qualify for state insurance or get no dental through their work. The lack of adequate dental health&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-dental-health-one-student-at-a-time.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When a family falls into a low-income bracket they can usually get state  issued health insurance for their children. However, in many states  this insurance limits or excludes dental health care. Not to mention  parents who do not qualify for state insurance or get no dental through  their work. The lack of adequate dental health care is unfortunate  because we now know how crucial good oral hygiene and dental care is to  our overall health. Programs like Oral Health America and Smiles Across  America are attempting to close this gap.</p>
<p>Oral Health America and Smiles Across America partner with local  businesses, government, care providers and donors to provide dental  services that prevent oral disease. The programs aim to reach students  by offering their services in schools nationwide. Combined, the two  programs service more than 90,000 children each year.</p>
<p>Sadly, tooth decay affects half of all first graders and 80 percent of  all 17 year old children. This results in an estimated loss of 51  million lost school hours due to dental related problems. Preventative  measures such as sealants provided by OHA and SAA can help prevent tooth  decay and gum disease in many of these children.</p>
<p>These programs also provide support to charitable dental facilities  nationwide. Facilities receive materials resources, supplies, equipment  and dental care products from both SAA and OHA. These donations are  provided with to support the greater goal of reaching more at-risk  children and providing them with dental sealants along with other  services.</p>
<p>Oral Health America also advocates for better policies relating to  dental health. They also work to reach the general public and create  awareness on the topic through public service announcements and  community education. Both groups are supported by a private individual  donors and a bevy of corporate donors including Trident, DENTSPLY,  3MESPE, Delta Dental and Aetna Dental among many others.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=7e2180ef-eee4-4dda-abdf-102f05d6025b" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/better-dental-health-one-student-at-a-time.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Stay Warm This Winter With Fuel Assistance</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/stay-warm-this-winter-with-fuel-assistance.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/stay-warm-this-winter-with-fuel-assistance.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 18 Dec 2010 13:42:58 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bay State Gas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Keyspan]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Massachusetts]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New England]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Hampshire]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[NStar]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Rhode Island]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=199</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Winter is getting ready to make an appearance and for many that means cold weather ahead. For some winter weather brings on the added stress of figuring out how to budget for the cost of heating their home. Since 1979 Citizens Energy has been trying to help ease this added burden for people in the&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/stay-warm-this-winter-with-fuel-assistance.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Winter is getting ready to make an appearance and for many that means  cold weather ahead. For some winter weather brings on the added stress  of figuring out how to budget for the cost of heating their home. Since  1979 Citizens Energy has been trying to help ease this added burden for  people in the United States and abroad.</p>
<p>Citizens Energy uses millions in revenue earned in the oil-trade to  support charitable programs. This includes a program that helps heat the  homes of the poor, disabled and elderly. This would include the  Citizens Energy Oil Heat program, Natural Gas Assistance program and  Citizens Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance.</p>
<p>Citizens Energy Oil Heat programs operate in Alaska, Wisconsin,  Michigan, Indiana, Virginia, Delaware, pennsylvania, New York, New  Jersey, Maryland, Connecticut, Rhode Island, Massachusetts, New  Hampshire and Vermont. It serves 200,000 homes each year.  Citizens  Energy Natural Gas Assistance program helps low-income natural gas  customers pay their utility bills in Ohio, Pennsylvania and Kentucky.  Since it began in 1980 the program has provided more than $20 million in  assistance funds and helped about 150,000 households with utility  costs.</p>
<p>Individuals living in Massachusetts can also take part in the Citizens  Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance program. The program helps families of  low-income that have used up all their federal fuel assistance. It is  also eligible to people who cannot afford their heating costs, but are  ineligible for federal fuel assistance. The program provides approved  applicants with a credit of $150 dollars toward their energy bills. The  credit is applied directly to the customers energy provider. Citizens  Energy/Distrigas Heat Assistance program is available to those who are  customers with Bershire Gas, Blackstone Gas, Bay State Gas, Holoke Gas  &amp; Electric, Keyspan.  New England Gas, NStar, Unitil, Wakefield  Municipal Gas &amp; Light, Westfield Gas &amp; Electric and Middleboro  Gas &amp; Electric.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=c93a17bc-6bfe-465d-8246-e194d3b783fe" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/stay-warm-this-winter-with-fuel-assistance.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Co-Payment Assistance for Cancer Patients</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/co-payment-assistance-for-cancer-patients.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/co-payment-assistance-for-cancer-patients.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 17 Dec 2010 13:41:57 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cancer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Cancer patient]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Conditions and Diseases]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health insurance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Out-of-pocket expenses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Patient]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=197</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Getting diagnosed and subsequently receiving treatment for a serious illness such as cancer is stressful. Combine that with the rising cost of health care and the situation my fell insurmountable to some. Many patients are unaware that there are programs out there to help them with their out-of-pocket expenses. Cancer Care Co-Payment Assistance Foundation is&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/co-payment-assistance-for-cancer-patients.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Getting diagnosed and subsequently receiving treatment for a serious  illness such as cancer is stressful. Combine that with the rising cost  of health care and the situation my fell insurmountable to some. Many  patients are unaware that there are programs out there to help them with  their out-of-pocket expenses. Cancer Care Co-Payment Assistance  Foundation  is one of those programs.</p>
<p>Cancer Care Co-Payment Assistance Foundation is a non-profit  organization that helps cancer patients pay for their medical insurance  co-pays. Established in 2007 the foundation focuses on helping patients  cover the out-of-pocket expenses that are associated with chemotherapy  and are not covered by insurance or government medical assistance.</p>
<p>The foundation is limited to the number of patients it can help annually  because it is funded donations from corporate sponsors, individuals,  pharmaceutical companies and other foundations.  For this reason, there  are times when the fund is closed to new applicants. When the fund is  open, approved applicants may receive partial or full co-payment  assistance. The level of assistance an applicant receives is based on  their income, insurance coverage, available funding and amount of  co-payments incurred within a years time. This patient assistance  program cover many of the most common drug treatments for breast, colon,  colorectal, gastric, glioblastoma, head and neck, non-small cell lung,  pancreatic and renal cell cancers.</p>
<p>The Cancer Care Co-Payment Assistance Foundation is affiliated with the  group Cancer Care. Cancer Care was founded in 1944 and provides  professional support services from trained oncology social workers. Some  of the services would include counseling, education, day-to-day help  and financial assistance free of charge. The Cancer Care Foundation  serves more than 100,000 patient each year. The services are available  to anyone affected by cancer including; patients, caregivers, loved  ones, bereaved and children.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=c842858d-2790-4ed0-8dff-4a413b1fd9f6" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/co-payment-assistance-for-cancer-patients.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Get Free Gas</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/get-free-gas.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/get-free-gas.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 16 Dec 2010 13:40:51 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fuel card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Gasoline]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Residential]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States Department of Housing and Urban Development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[USA]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=195</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When you are struggling to make ends meet it can be difficult to determine where your money is best spent. Sometimes you have to choose to put gas money in car so you can get to and from work, over buying groceries or medicine. Free Gas USA is a non-profit organization designed to help people&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/get-free-gas.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When you are struggling to make ends meet it can be difficult to  determine where your money is best spent. Sometimes you have to choose  to put gas money in car so you can get to and from work, over buying  groceries or medicine. Free Gas USA is a non-profit organization  designed to help people facing those tough choices.</p>
<p>Free Gas USA is based in Kalamazoo, Michighan. It was founded during the  2008 gas crisis and provides grant assistance to poor individuals and  families so they can afford the cost of gasoline. The goal of the  program is to ease the burden associated with finding daily  transportation when you are poor, disabled or elderly.</p>
<p>A subsidiary of Baptism USA Ministries, Free Gas USA uses the income  guidelines established by the United States Department of Housing and  Urban Development to determine eligibility. The program is funded by the  donations of individuals, corporations and religious organizations. It  is open to applicants nationwide.</p>
<p>When an individual is approved for a grant they receive a coded fuel  card. The card will hold a balance between $50 to $1,200 depending on  that personâ€™s individual needs. The card can only be used for fuel.  The idea is for people to spend the money to fill their tank so get to  and from a job, seek medical assistance, get an education or shop for  necessities.</p>
<p>Free Gas USA distributes cards monthly. The number of cards they  distribute is based on the amount of funding they have available to them  in a given month. It is also based in the applicants locations and  whether or not there is a participating gasoline distributer nearby.  Applicants are also required to get a referral letter from a church, or  Human Service Agency such as a state welfare office, or Hospital.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=a2582f4c-dec0-4596-9287-d6873f234851" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/get-free-gas.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free Cars For the Disadvantaged</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-cars-for-the-disadvantaged.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-cars-for-the-disadvantaged.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 15 Dec 2010 13:40:04 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Automobile]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Domestic violence]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Internal Revenue Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Tax return (United States)]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=193</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are tight for cash, or live paycheck to paycheck it can be difficult to handle larger expenses when they come up. Purchasing a car is one of those larger expenses that many people struggle with. Charity Cars Inc. is a non-profit group dedicated to providing free vehicles to people in need. Established in&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-cars-for-the-disadvantaged.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you are tight for cash, or live paycheck to paycheck it can be  difficult to handle larger expenses when they come up. Purchasing a car  is one of those larger expenses that many people struggle with. Charity  Cars Inc. is a non-profit group dedicated to providing free vehicles to  people in need.</p>
<p>Established in 1996, Charity Cars mission is to help disadvantaged  families and individuals become less dependent and more self-sufficient.  Candidates may includes victims of domestic violence, the working poor,  non-profit groups, military families, those transitioning from welfare  to work, victims of national disaster, the medically needy and those  living in transitional shelter. These individuals can apply on their own  or be referred by a non-profit or social service organization.</p>
<p>The cars provided by Charity Cars are donated by public and private  donors. The donors can usually deduct the value of their car on their  income tax return. After the car is donated Charity Cars evaluates it  and makes all necessary repairs so the car is safe and in good working  order. If a vehicle is not suitable for repair Charity Cars disposes of  it at auction or through salvage and uses the proceeds to fund the  organization. The program has awarded around 4,000 cars nationwide.</p>
<p>Charity Cars also helps people pay for the cost to register and insure  the free vehicle in some cases. To apply for a free car you Create a  user account on Charity Cars website and fill out an application. You  will create a public user profile in which you will plead your case for  getting a free car. Other community members will vote for you if they  feel you deserve the free car. Applicants who receive the free car are  selected based on a combination of geographic location, public votes and  a team evaluation of their application.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=2801fca2-623c-49b3-8503-cae8521065f0" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-cars-for-the-disadvantaged.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Feeding America Takes a Bite Out of Domestic Hunger</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/feeding-america-takes-a-bite-out-of-domestic-hunger.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/feeding-america-takes-a-bite-out-of-domestic-hunger.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 14 Dec 2010 13:39:07 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Arkansas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Feeding America]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hunger]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Mississippi]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[North Carolina]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Puerto Rico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Texas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=191</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When it comes to fighting hunger right here in our own country no other organization tops Feeding America. Feeding America reaches more than 37 million people facing hunger in the United States each year. Of those 37 million plus, 14 million are hungry children and three million are elderly. Food insecurity is highest in Texas,&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/feeding-america-takes-a-bite-out-of-domestic-hunger.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When it comes to fighting hunger right here in our own country no other  organization tops Feeding America. Feeding America reaches more than 37  million people facing hunger in the United States each year. Of those 37  million plus, 14 million are hungry children and three million are  elderly. Food insecurity is highest in Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi,  Georgia and North Carolina. Economically times have been hard and while  some states struggle more than others hunger is an issue nationwide.  What is important to note, is that not all hungry people are homeless.  Oftentimes, hardworking, responsible individuals struggle with making  ends meet and they are forced to make choices that leave them with  little money for food.</p>
<p>Feeding America has been around for more than 30 years. Once called  Americaâ€™s Second Harvest, Feeding Hunger took on its new name in 2008.  The organization changed its name to better convey the mission of the  group to the general public. The mission of the group is to end domestic  hunger by educating the public and creating awareness on the topic.</p>
<p>There are many import facts about hunger that the average person is  unaware of. For instance, many people donâ€™t know that the nearly 5  percent of American households sought emergency food assistance in 2009.  In 2009, the rate of children in America who reported being food  insecure doubled and nearly 8 percent of seniors that lived alone  reported being food insecure. The fact is, 1 in 6 Americans is struggles  with hunger related issues.</p>
<p>Feeding America is operational in all 50 states, the District of  Columbia and Puerto Rico. It distributes an astounding 2.5 billion  pounds of food and groceries each year. The product is distributed  through a network of 61,000 local charitable agencies and 70,000  programs that serve individuals in need. Weekly Feeding America serves  roughly 5.7 million hungry people.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=08cd7cc1-1f41-4db8-8060-f75376589418" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/feeding-america-takes-a-bite-out-of-domestic-hunger.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Career Clothes For Unemployed Women</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/career-clothes-for-unemployed-women.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/career-clothes-for-unemployed-women.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 13 Dec 2010 13:38:21 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career Center]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Career development]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Dress for Success]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nancy Lublin]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suit (clothing)]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Unemployment]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=189</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Unemployment is at an all time high, which means the job market is extremely competitive. Applying for a job in this market can be daunting enough without facing the added obstacle of not being presentable. Successful individuals know that selling yourself to a potential employer is an important part of getting the job. Enter Dress&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/career-clothes-for-unemployed-women.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Unemployment is at an all time high, which means the job market is  extremely competitive. Applying for a job in this market can be daunting  enough without facing the added obstacle of not being presentable.  Successful individuals know that selling yourself to a potential  employer is an important part of getting the job. Enter Dress for  Success, a non-profit organization that helps disadvantaged women  professional attire.</p>
<p>Dress for Success was founded in 1997 by Nancy Lublin when she received a  small inheritance of $5000. The group provides candidates with an  initial interview suit. After the candidate lands a job she is welcome  to return for a second suits or career wear separates. Candidates to  dress for success are chosen by referral from homeless shelters,  government agencies, immigration services, job training programs,  domestic violence shelters, educational institutions and a variety of  other charitable groups. Each year Dress for Success serves about 50,000  women and to date they have helped more than 550,000.</p>
<p>After being referred to Dress for Success a woman is scheduled for an  interview with the program. If she is accepted she receives her first  suit and in some cases accessories. Dress for Success also provides  women accepted into the program a support network and career development  tools to help her find and maintain her career. This includes their  Professional Womenâ€™s Group, Career Center and Steps to Success  programs. The organization has a presence in more than 110 cities  worldwide.</p>
<p>Dress for Success relies on donations of clothing and money to remain  operational. They also accept donations of related items such as  handbags, unopened cosmetics, jewelry, briefcases, tote bags, shoes,  unused hosiery and undergarments, scarves, belts, coats and outerwear.  These donations come from individuals and corporations. They also use  volunteers to help with the day-to-day operational tasks.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=842e2287-37d1-49a9-ac8d-254e2598a5ed" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/career-clothes-for-unemployed-women.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Volunteering At The Hospital</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/volunteering-at-the-hospital.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/volunteering-at-the-hospital.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Dec 2010 14:42:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=112</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Everyone can agree that it&#8217;s nice to be able to give back. Sometimes though, it&#8217;s tough to know just how to do it. Everyone wants to be able to help, but they find it hard to find time in their busy schedule. Often times it&#8217;s just hard figuring out where to go to get started.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/volunteering-at-the-hospital.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div>
<div>
<div>Everyone can agree that it&#8217;s nice to be able to give back. Sometimes though, it&#8217;s tough to know just how to do it. Everyone wants to be able to help, but they find it hard to find time in their busy schedule. Often times it&#8217;s just hard figuring out where to go to get started. If you have never thought of volunteering at a hospital, this is an amazing way to get your volunteer career started and a way to make a difference immediately.</div>
</div>
<p>The first thing you want to do is to do a <a href="http://www.411.ca" target="_blank">Canada 411</a> search of hospitals in your local area. You should then pick whichever one you might want to go to and then give the Human Resources department a call. Just let them know you are interested in volunteering. Let them know where you might like to work. Also, be sure to let them know if you have any physical limitations. This is a really important part of the process because there may be jobs that you cannot do and for that, you should let them know so they can handle it accordingly.</p>
<p>One of the jobs they may have you do is just walk through the hospital offering books and magazines to the patients. Some of these patients are there all by themselves and are just looking for someone or something to keep them company. You can help by offering them reading materials or just stopping in to have a conversation. Most of these people just like to talk so listen to them and their stories and you will probably make their day.</p>
<p>Making the choice to volunteer at a hospital is more than just a good thing. It can be a way to transform your life and do it for the better.</p>
</div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/volunteering-at-the-hospital.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Diapers for Needy Families</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/diapers-for-needy-families.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/diapers-for-needy-families.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 12 Dec 2010 13:34:46 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Children]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Connecticut]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Diaper]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Disposable]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Textile]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=187</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[One thing not many people are aware of is that assistance food stamps and Wic do not cover essential items like toilet paper, shampoo and soap. They also donâ€™t cover diapers. Families on public assistance sometimes get a small amount of cash assistance, but often it is not enough to cover all of their non-food&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/diapers-for-needy-families.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>One thing not many people are aware of is that assistance food stamps  and Wic do not cover essential items like toilet paper, shampoo and  soap. They also donâ€™t cover diapers. Families on public assistance  sometimes get a small amount of cash assistance, but often it is not  enough to cover all of their non-food grocery items. The Diaper Bank can  help people who cannot afford to buy diapers on their own.</p>
<p>Founded in 2004, the Diaper Bankâ€™s mission was to fill in the gap left  by the lack of public assistance to low-income families in need of  diapers. The Diaper bank is located in Connecticut and serves families  in Bridgeport, Hartford and New Haven. The program is run on donated  funds that are used to purchase disposable diapers. Funds are donated by  businesses, individuals, private donors and corporate donors. The  organization distributes more than 200,000 diapers to more than 50  public service agencies and charities each month. To date the Diaper  Bank has distributed more than 5,000,000 disposable diapers over their  five year history.</p>
<p>The Diaper Bank also works to educate the community about the need for  diaper assistance for low-income parents. The fact is, an adequate  supply of diapers can cost a parent more than $100 each month. In  addition to this, for many hardworking low-income parents cloth diapers  are not a viable option considering most daycare providers prohibit  there use. Likewise, many low-income families live without adequate  washing facilities, rendering cloth diapers a health hazard. In addition  to diapers being a financial burden on low-income families, they can  also pose a health risk. Parents who cannot afford an adequate diaper  supply are often forced to leave their babies in a soiled diaper longer,  which can lead to rash and other illnesses.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=ad04759d-a759-440a-9687-58c64568b89f" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/diapers-for-needy-families.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Kids Get Free Books</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/kids-get-free-books.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/kids-get-free-books.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 11 Dec 2010 13:33:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Argentina]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Literacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Margaret McNamara]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reading]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Reading Is Fundamental]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington D.C.]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=185</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Living in a country in which school is a legal requirement for all children the average person takes literacy for granted. The fact is, a large majority of children in the United States live in households in which there are absolutely no books. Two-thirds of low-income American families own no books. Reading is Fundamental is&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/kids-get-free-books.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Living in a country in which school is a legal requirement for all  children the average person takes literacy for granted. The fact is, a  large majority of children in the United States live in households in  which there are absolutely no books. Two-thirds of low-income American  families own no books. Reading is Fundamental is the nationâ€™s largest  nonprofit literacy program for kids.</p>
<p>Margaret McNamara and a group of Washington D.C. school teachers founded  Reading is Fundamental in November of 1966. The group started with a  book distribution and reading motivation program that started in three  elementary schools. Within two years the program had launched a model  that could be used nationwide. In response to the groups efforts the  United States Congress developed the â€œInexpensive Book Distribution  Programâ€ which matches funds to groups that qualify for Reading is  Fundamentalâ€™s national program.</p>
<p>Currently operational in all 50 states, U.S. territories and Washington  D.C., Reading is Fundamental reaches more than 4.4 million kids each  year. They donate about 15 million books annually and have donated more  than 366 million new books since their launch. Plus, the program has  been used as a model for groups in Argentina and the United Kingdom.</p>
<p>Reading is Fundamental has two primary programs they operate; Books For  Ownership and Care to Read. Books For Ownership provides free books to  kids and families in an effort to motivate children to read. Kids are  allowed to choose between 2 to 5 books annually for free. The program  also offers support and resources for parents, educators and other  support staff to help promote childhood literacy. Care to Read helps  childcare programs and childcare providers in and outside the home to  foster literacy in young children. It provides training, books and other  materials to support educational efforts towards literacy.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=f85a2cfa-f794-401c-b765-3d8b837d0def" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/kids-get-free-books.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Hair for Kids With Hair Loss</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/hair-for-kids-with-hair-loss.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/hair-for-kids-with-hair-loss.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 10 Dec 2010 13:32:24 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Alopecia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hair]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hair Loss]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Locks of Love]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Toupée]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Wig]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=181</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia A child is dealing with a serious or chronic illness must face a host of issues that can be both stressful and embarrassing for them. Sick or not, kids just want to be kids and they want to fit in around other kids. Kids that have alopecia, cancer or scalp injury may&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/hair-for-kids-with-hair-loss.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Locks_of_Love_Aviano_3.jpg"><img title="Locks of Love Aviano 3" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Locks_of_Love_Aviano_3.jpg/300px-Locks_of_Love_Aviano_3.jpg" alt="Locks of Love Aviano 3" width="300" height="199" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Locks_of_Love_Aviano_3.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>A child is dealing with a serious or chronic illness must face a host of  issues that can be both stressful and embarrassing for them. Sick or  not, kids just want to be kids and they want to fit in around other  kids. Kids that have alopecia, cancer or scalp injury may suffer hair  loss that can make them feel self-concious. Locks of Love makes sick  children natural looking wigs from donated human hair.</p>
<p>Created in 1997, Locks of Love is a nonprofit organization developed by  Madonna Coffman. Madonna and her young daughter both suffered with  alopecia, which was her inspiration for beginning the charity. From its  grassroots beginning in her garage to its current headquarters in West  Palm Beach, Florida Locks for Love has always strived to deliver high  quality prosthetics to children dealing with hair loss.</p>
<p>Locks of Love gets all the hair from their wigs from donations. To  donate a person must have enough hair to donate a 10 in ponytail from  tip to tip. The hair can be dyed or permed, but it must be clean and in a  ponytail or braid when it is cut. After it is cut the hair just gets  mailed in a plastic bag, inside a padded envelop.</p>
<p>The recipients of Lock of Love hair pieces pay for the wigs on either a  sliding scale fee or they get them for free. They are nominated by a  parent, family member, friend or medical professional. Children must be  between 6 and 21 years of age to apply and they can reapply for a new  hair piece every 18 months. The hair piece is made for each individual  child. A mold is made of that childâ€™s head. The child then gets to  select the color, length and style of their new prosthetic hair piece.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5f5ff9aa-5ea9-4222-86b2-3db67e266995" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/hair-for-kids-with-hair-loss.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Eyeglasses for Low-income people</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/eyeglasses-for-low-income-people-2.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/eyeglasses-for-low-income-people-2.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 09 Dec 2010 13:29:28 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Accelerometer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Corrective lens]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Eye care professional]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[eyeglasses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Glasses]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Eyes for the Needy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New Jersey]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=175</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia If you have perfect vision it is hard to understand how frustrating and life altering it can be to have imperfect vision. Couple that with the fact that not everyone can even afford to go to the eye doctor for corrective lenses. The fact is, not everyone has a vision plan in&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/eyeglasses-for-low-income-people-2.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brille_eingeklappt_fcm.jpg"><img title="Fashion eyeglasses that limit the lower part o..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/02/Brille_eingeklappt_fcm.jpg/300px-Brille_eingeklappt_fcm.jpg" alt="Fashion eyeglasses that limit the lower part o..." width="300" height="138" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Brille_eingeklappt_fcm.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>If you have perfect vision it is hard to understand how frustrating and  life altering it can be to have imperfect vision. Couple that with the  fact that not everyone can even afford to go to the eye doctor for  corrective lenses. The fact is, not everyone has a vision plan in their  health insurance and even those who do may not have an allowance for  glasses. New Eyes for the Needy is attempting to help the less fortunate  get the eyeglasses they need so they can function in society.</p>
<p>This New Jersey based charity was founded in 1932. It is supported by  the National Society for the Prevention of Blindness, the American  Academy of Ophthalmology, Fight for Sight Inc. and the Opticians  Association of America. It is an agency of the Untied Way. Since it was  formed New Eyes for the Needy has helped more than 7,000,000 visually  impaired people globally.</p>
<p>New Eyes for the Need delivers more than 5,000 pairs of eyeglasses in  The United States alone each year. Eligibility is based upon a  personâ€™s income. If you are found eligible for the program you will  either get a voucher for new eyeglasses, or they will get used eyeglass  frames, with new corrective lenses made to accommodate their  prescription. Services are provided to needy individuals in the U.S. and  developing countries worldwide.</p>
<p>New Eyes for the Needy runs on donations. People can give them used  eyeglasses and cash donations. Items that are made of or contain  precious metals can also be donated; used hearing aids, old dentures old  crowns and jewelry. The program can harvest the metal and sell it for  scrap, applying the proceeds to the operational costs of the charity.  The nonprofit group has just 3 paid employees. More than 200 unpaid  volunteers and students assist with the operational tasks associated  with the charity.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=dbe67afc-1252-4f59-b974-6550028a30b3" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/eyeglasses-for-low-income-people-2.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Suitcases for Foster kids</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/suitcases-for-foster-kids.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/suitcases-for-foster-kids.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 08 Dec 2010 13:27:10 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Consumer Goods and Services]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Foster care]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Luggage]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Suitcase]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Travel]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[USA Today]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=170</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Kids that are in foster care often live a transient life. In fact, many kids in foster care 2 to 3 times each. Sadly, many foster children are forced to load their belongings into garbage bags when bouncing from home to home. Suitcases for Kids is attempting to help these kids by providing them with&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/suitcases-for-foster-kids.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Kids that are in foster care often live a transient life. In fact, many  kids in foster care  2 to 3 times each. Sadly, many foster children are  forced to load their belongings into garbage bags when bouncing from  home to home. Suitcases for Kids is attempting to help these kids by  providing them with luggage to store and transport their belongings.</p>
<p>Suitcases for Kids was founded in 1995 by a 10 year old little girl  named Aubyn Burnside. After learning that foster kids moved frequently  and didnâ€™t even have nice bags in which to carry their belongings she  launched an effort to collect suitcases for foster kids in her home  county. Aubyn solicited local business, girl/boy scouts, church members  and private residents to donate luggage. Her initial delivery of  consisted of 175 suitcases in March of 1996.</p>
<p>Suitcases for kids expanded rapidly. In fact, by the second year the  program was operating on a national level with a presence in all 50  states. Aubyn has traveled globally to spread the word about her  charity. These efforts have led the group to even provide luggage to  kids who travel internationally for medical treatment and to teen moms  living a transient existance. The program runs on donations of cash and  used luggage.</p>
<p>Suitcases for kids prefers that people donate actual suitcases for kids  in need. That being said, the group also accepts donations of duffel  bags and large backpacks. Aubynâ€™s goal was to get the general public  in the mindset of automatically donating there used luggage to foster  care. The bags are donated through foster care and other groups that  work closely with children in foster care. Suitcases for Kids efforts  have been acknowledged by a host of media outlets including National  Geographic World, USA Today, Scholastic News, Girl Zone and the Weekly  Reader.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=0c053fea-cc25-47da-802f-aa00de2ae49a" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/suitcases-for-foster-kids.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free Brand New Coast For Kids</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-brand-new-coast-for-kids.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-brand-new-coast-for-kids.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 13:26:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Chicago]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grant-Making Foundations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Thanksgiving]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=168</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When â€œOld Man Winterâ€ makes his first appearance many of us are caught off guard and lack proper outwear to keep us warm during the cold weather. For the parents of children this can be a particularly stressful time. Kids grow fast, so oftentimes the outerwear that fit the the previous year no longer fits.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-brand-new-coast-for-kids.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When â€œOld Man Winterâ€ makes his first appearance many of us are  caught off guard and lack proper outwear to keep us warm during the cold  weather. For the parents of children this can be a particularly  stressful time. Kids grow fast, so oftentimes the outerwear that fit the  the previous year no longer fits. The Coats For Kids Foundation helps  parents give their little ones a new winter coat.</p>
<p>Coats For Kids Foundation was founded in Alexandria, Virginia in January  of 2004. The founders of the nonprofit program, Paul and Cheryl Darby,  wanted to make sure that every child that needed one had a winter coat  got a new one. more than six years later the group is still distributing  free coats to kids in the Alexandria area annually.</p>
<p>The Coats For Kids Foundation collects coats between the months of March  and October. Coats from the foundation are distributed every year  between the Thanksgiving and Christmas holidays. Each coat distributed  through the group is free of charge and brand new.  All coats come with a  new pair of gloves and a winter hat too. Coast are sized from 4 to 16  in girls and 4 to 18/20 in boys. The coats are delivered through local  schools and government social service agencies, along with churches and  private charities.</p>
<p>The coats distributed through the program are donated by business and  corporations. Money donated to the group is also used to purchase and  distribute coats. The group does not accept used coat for distribution.  The organization is run entirely by volunteer staff.</p>
<p>The Coast For Kids Foundation does not require proof of income in order  to give a child a coat. The organization relies on the groups it works  with to determine which children are in need of coats the most.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=9cdd22b6-3a68-47d9-b523-670eb1a772f4" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-brand-new-coast-for-kids.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Homemade Fun for Kids</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/homemade-fun-for-kids.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/homemade-fun-for-kids.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 07 Dec 2010 12:44:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=108</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If your kids are showing signs of boredom, whip up a few of these free toys. Child development experts advise imaginative play for all children. Learning more about your child&#8217;s developmental needs is important. These are just a few ideas your kids may enjoy. Try elearners.com for child development classes that will increase your understanding of&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/homemade-fun-for-kids.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If your kids are showing signs of boredom, whip up a few of these free toys. Child development experts advise imaginative play for all children. Learning more about your child&#8217;s developmental needs is important. These are just a few ideas your kids may enjoy. Try <a href="http://www.elearners.com/">elearners.com</a> for child development classes that will increase your understanding of their needs.</p>
<p>After you search elearners.com, you can use these imaginative, recommended activities. Elearners.com offers parents great solutions to cure boredom fast!</p>
<p>BIG Blocks Kids love building with blocks and these super-big blocks are all-time favorites for making forts, castles, or anything else. You will need two empty, washed and dried half gallon milk or juice cartons. Remove the top and cut a slit down one side. Slip the two halves together so that each opposing side has a bottom. Tape them shut and your block is built. These blocks can be decorated with paints or contact paper. Quart and 1/2 pint cartons can also be used.</p>
<p>Tents Gather old sheets and blankets. A favorite tent is made with the addition of an old hula hoop. For the no-sew version of this tent, cut slits about 5 inches apart all around the long sides of two twin size sheets. With lengths of assorted ribbons tie the sheet to the hula hoop. Cut four, 36-inch lengths of strong twine or cord and tie these to the hula hoop so that there is a length in each quarter of the hoop. Knot the four lengths together, forming a hanging loop. Suspend from a stud in the ceiling.</p>
<p>Sock Puppets Lone socks can become a zoo of soft puppets. Place your hand inside a sock and push in the mouth. Mark the spots for eyes and nose. Remove the sock from your hand and sew on eyes and nose. Now it&#8217;s time to create the creature. Add painted stripes or dots, string whiskers, or a braided yarn tail. Let your imagination run wild. Enlist your kids&#8217; help in the creative process.</p>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/homemade-fun-for-kids.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free Shoes for the Needy</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-shoes-for-the-needy.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-shoes-for-the-needy.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 06 Dec 2010 13:23:54 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Clothing]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Footwear]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hurricane Katrina]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shoe]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soles4Souls]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Southeast Asia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=163</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia When a person is in need they need help from head to toe. Having a decent pair of shoes on your feet is more important than one might think. Our shoes help protect our feet from injury and they ensure we stay tip top shape. Unfortunately, getting a new pair of shoes&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-shoes-for-the-needy.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sami_shoes.jpg"><img title="Sami shoes." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/b/b5/Sami_shoes.jpg/300px-Sami_shoes.jpg" alt="Sami shoes." width="300" height="400" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Sami_shoes.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>When a person is in need they need help from head to toe. Having a  decent pair of shoes on your feet is more important than one might  think. Our shoes help protect our feet from injury and they ensure we  stay tip top shape. Unfortunately, getting a new pair of shoes is  something most low-income people just canâ€™t afford to do. Enter Soles 4  Souls, a non-profit organization that distributes shoes to those in  need worldwide.</p>
<p>Soles 4 Souls has been providing people in need shoes that are new or  â€œgentlyâ€ used since 2005. To date the group has given away close to  12 million pairs of shoes in more than 125 different countries including  the United States. Thatâ€™s roughly a pair of shoes donated every 7  seconds.</p>
<p>Soles 4 Souls accepts donations from companies, retailers and individual  donors. The shoes can be new or used. The shoes can be dropped off at  one of organizations many drop off locations or mailed directly to their  warehouse.</p>
<p>The Soles 4 Shoes organization was formed during the aftermath of the  2004 tsunami in Southeast Asia and hurricane Katrina in 2005. The  founder of the group, Wayne Elsey, was volunteering during the disaster  when he called upon friends to send shoes for the individuals he was  helping. When he received a quarter of a million pairs of shoes after  the tsunami and more than one million after hurricane Katrina he got the  idea to form a full-time shoe donation service.</p>
<p>Individuals who donate shoes to Soles 4 Souls can deduct the donation of  their income taxes in most cases. Plus, the organization reminds people  that donating used shoes in good condition is better for the  environment because they donâ€™t end up in landfills. Donated shoes  should look clean, be free of holes, have a solid sole and they should  preferably have laces.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b82c9126-a49f-4b14-a9fd-1e924c77cbad" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-shoes-for-the-needy.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Discount Prescriptions for Low Income Americans</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/discount-prescriptions-for-low-income-americans.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/discount-prescriptions-for-low-income-americans.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 05 Dec 2010 13:06:20 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bristol-Myers Squibb]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Health]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pfizer]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pharmacy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Prescription drug]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Puerto Rico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=161</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If a person doesnâ€™t have health insurance it can be difficult for them to afford the cost of prescriptions when they need them. Not only does this leave people in need of daily scripts in a vulnerable position, but it even normally healthy people may suffer if they get sick and need an antibiotic. Together&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/discount-prescriptions-for-low-income-americans.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If a person doesnâ€™t have health insurance it can be difficult for them  to afford the cost of prescriptions when they need them. Not only does  this leave people in need of daily scripts in a vulnerable position, but  it even normally healthy people may suffer if they get sick and need an  antibiotic. Together Rx provides thousands of uninsured Americans with  access to affordable prescriptions through a discount program.</p>
<p>Together Rx was formed by the nationâ€™s largest pharmaceutical  companies to provided hardworking, low-income individuals with access to  prescription drugs. Sponsers of the card would include some of the most  recognizable names in pharmaceuticals such as Glaxo Smith Kline, Pfizer  and Bristol-Myers Squibb. There is no fee for the card, no limitations  of usage and no hidden fees. The card is accepted at most major  pharmacies in the United States and Puerto Rico.</p>
<p>When a person gets their Together Rx Access Card they can take the card  and their scripts to a participating pharmacy for service. More than 300  brand name prescriptions are discounted on the card and there is even a  wide range of generics that are discounted. Many f the most common  drugs for diabetes, asthma, allergies, ADHD, depression and high blood  pressure are covered on the program. Cardholders can expect between 25  to 40 percent off on covered prescriptions when they use their card.  However, the card cannot be used with any other prescription coverage,  savings cards or coupons.</p>
<p>There are not many requirements for eligibility when it comes to the  Together Rx Access Card. Applicants cannot have any prescription  coverage public or private. They cannot be eligible for medicare. In  addition to this, applicants must meet the income guidelines established  by Together Rx. Applications can be submitted through the mail, over  the phone or online. All information applicants provide is kept private  and used solely for the application process.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b4ca0327-7961-4355-8344-f0aeea83c374" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/discount-prescriptions-for-low-income-americans.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free School Supplies For Needy Kids</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-school-supplies-for-needy-kids.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-school-supplies-for-needy-kids.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 04 Dec 2010 13:02:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Free School]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grant-Making Foundations]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Grants]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[National Union of Teachers]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=157</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia Getting your kids prepared for school can be an expensive endeavor. Between buying clothes, shoes, a book bag and lunch box the costs can really add up. The buck doesnâ€™t stop there though, many schools give parents a laundry list of school supplies they must get and with cuts to educational funding&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-school-supplies-for-needy-kids.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 276px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fsks_logo.JPG"><img title="Logo for the Frank Ski Kids foundation" src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/6/64/Fsks_logo.JPG" alt="Logo for the Frank Ski Kids foundation" width="266" height="104" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Fsks_logo.JPG">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>Getting your kids prepared for school can be an expensive endeavor.  Between buying clothes, shoes, a book bag and lunch box the costs can  really add up. The buck doesnâ€™t stop there though, many schools give  parents a laundry list of school supplies they must get and with cuts to  educational funding the list of supplies school can provide is getting  shorter. The Kids in Need Foundation provides free school supplies to  kids that cannot afford them.</p>
<p>The Kids in Need Foundation is a nonprofit organization that was formed  in 1995. The program works on a national level providing free school  supplies to  students and teachers in need. The supplies are delivered  through the Kids In Need Network of Resources Centers. The programs  School Box program organizes the supply giveaway. Award grants are given  to teachers who come up with innovative classroom projects.</p>
<p>Kids In Need Foundation is funded by a combination of financial donors  and program sponsors. Companies can also donate to the program in the  form of free supplies as well. Excess inventory, returned or slightly  damaged products or outdated product can all be donated. Schools qualify  when they have at least 70 percent of their student population on the  federal free lunch program.</p>
<p>It is estimated that 13 million children in the United States live in  poverty. A $500 donation to the Kids In Need Foundation provides $12,500  in supplies to those children. Interested parties can also volunteer  their time to one of the foundationâ€™s charity programs.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5b5d6573-2c4a-46ee-9cbb-b12402feba4a" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-school-supplies-for-needy-kids.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Nutritional Staples for Needy Kids</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/nutritional-staples-for-needy-kids.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/nutritional-staples-for-needy-kids.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2010 12:48:39 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Breastfeeding]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Guam]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Infant]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Puerto Rico]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States Department of Agriculture]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Washington D.C.]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[WIC]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=152</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The ability to afford groceries is a luxury not everyone has. Many Americans struggle to cover the costs of the very basic items on their grocery list. Things like milk, bread, cheese and cereal may not seem expensive to the average person, but when you are pinching pennies living pay check to pay check these&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/nutritional-staples-for-needy-kids.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The ability to afford groceries is a luxury not everyone has. Many  Americans struggle to cover the costs of the very basic items on their  grocery list. Things like milk, bread, cheese and cereal may not seem  expensive to the average person, but when you are pinching pennies  living pay check to pay check these basic nutritional staples often seem  like more of a luxury than a necessity. WIC, or Women Infants and  Children, is a program that provides food and nutritional services to  low-income Americans.</p>
<p>WIC, is a part of the USDA that operates on federal grant money. It is  available in all 50 states, 34 tribal organizations, American Samoa, the  District of Columbia, Guam, the Comonwealth Islands, Puerto Rico, the  Northern Marianas and the Virgin islands. WIC was founded in 1972 and  currently serves 8.7 million people each month. Among those participants  4.33 million are children, 2.22 were infants and 2.15 are women.</p>
<p>To be considered for WIC benefits you must be pregnant, postpartum,  breastfeeding, an infant or child under the age of five. They must fall  at or below the U.S. Poverty Income Guidline. Applicants who are  approved for services receive voucher checks that allow them to buy  specific grocery items. The food items may include infant formula,  infant cereal, iron-fortified adult cereal, fruit, milk, eggs, cheese,  peanut butter, vegetable juice, fruit juice, tofu, baby food, canned  fish, whole grain bread and beans.</p>
<p>Participants in the WIC program are also eligible for health screenings  and nutritional counseling. WIC also supports and encourages  breastfeeding through educational services and peer counseling support.  They may even provide breast pumps, breast shells and nursing  supplements to promote and support breastfeeding mothers.  Immunizations  are also of concern to WIC. The group helps screen kids for  immunization and refers parents to free vaccine clinics.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=f940d244-8cd7-47f7-98dc-924b274f5ba0" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/nutritional-staples-for-needy-kids.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Does a Welfare State Promote Poverty Reduction?</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/does-a-welfare-state-promote-poverty-reduction.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/does-a-welfare-state-promote-poverty-reduction.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 03 Dec 2010 10:18:32 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Business]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Nick Clegg]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social security]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Welfare]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Welfare state]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=71</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[A welfare state generally implies the direct redistribution of income from a group the government views as too rich and giving it to people the government views as too needy. This is the definition used here. Though on the surface people may view the welfare state system as a good thing, that it will bring&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/does-a-welfare-state-promote-poverty-reduction.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>A welfare state generally implies the direct redistribution of income from a group the government views as too rich and giving it to people the government views as too needy. This is the definition used here. Though on the surface people may view the welfare state system as a good thing, that it will bring people up out of poverty and put everyone on a level playing field, these practices actually encourage poverty.</p>
<p>Proponents of a welfare state rarely call their practices &#8220;welfare&#8221; economic recovery has become a code word for the more negatively viewed welfare term. These people tend to make redistributions through increased taxes on businesses. The tax revenue is then turned into welfare programs that have a high pay for administrators of the program. Only a fraction of the tax revenue makes its way back to the public.<br />
Meanwhile, these businesses must attempt to stay profitable or they will go out of business. If they go out of business, the government loses the tax revenue all together. To remain profitable, the rates for products or services must increase. This leads to higher costs for the public some of who live in poverty. The only way these people can afford the product without reducing another necessity is to have an increase in pay or assistance from the government.<br />
To get help from the newly established program, the person must meet income qualifications. If their income has increased they will no longer qualify for services. If income has remained the same, they reap a net loss on the value of their money due to the businesses increase in rates.<br />
The bottom line is that the welfare state, under any name, does not reduce poverty. It has the reverse effect because it limits the person&#8217;s free will to exercise control over their own situations.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=f8201e1c-75d2-4145-aff7-d5a7f296d91f" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/does-a-welfare-state-promote-poverty-reduction.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Growing up so Fast</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/growing-up-so-fast.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/growing-up-so-fast.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 16:31:14 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bluetooth]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Credit card]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Money]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=100</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[So I have mentioned that my daughter is getting ready to go to university. I am really excited and sad at the same time. When I think about her living away from home, I want to buy her everything that might possibly make her life more comfortable while she is away from home. At the&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/growing-up-so-fast.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>So I have mentioned that my daughter is getting ready to go  to university. I am really excited and sad at the same time. When I  think about her living away from home, I want to buy her everything that  might possibly make her life more comfortable while she is away from  home. At the same time, I know she will have limited space when she is  there.</p>
<p>I did find some special storage shelves that will be  perfect for wherever she ends up, but of course, the half price sale was  going to end and I did not have the money for them. The good news is  that I ended up stopping in at <a href="http://www.paydayone.com/">Payday One</a> so I was able to get the great deal.</p>
<p>Candid is looking at which types of courses she will be able to take  once she is at University. I am afraid she might be there a lot longer  than we expected if she doesn&#8217;t narrow down her choices soon. She wants  to take a class on everything.</p>
<p>I am proud that she wants to be  so smart and she wants all of the knowledge the university that she  chooses to go to can provide, but I also want her to remember where the  money is coming from that allows her to be where she is and to not take  advantage of it lest she be on the other end of the wallet someday.</p>
<p>She is a smart girl though and I know she will make mostly good  decisions in her future. I say mostly because I know that everyone makes  a bad decision now and then. The positive side to that is that we can  take what we learned from the bad decision and apply it to the future.  Then, the next time that thing comes up, we make a good decision after  all!</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=7be16f6e-bf51-4d62-b427-dd2ec317a159" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/growing-up-so-fast.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Night Night Totes for Needy Kids</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/night-night-totes-for-needy-kids.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/night-night-totes-for-needy-kids.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 02 Dec 2010 12:45:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Christmas]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Donation]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homelessness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philadelphia]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Shopping]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=148</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[When we lay down in our bed at night, or tuck our children in to sleep we often take for granted that a warm cozy bed is something not everyone has. In the United States alone there are close to 300,000 homeless families. In fact, right now there are more homeless American children than any&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/night-night-totes-for-needy-kids.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>When we lay down in our bed at night, or tuck our children in to sleep  we often take for granted that a warm cozy bed is something not everyone  has. In the United States alone there are close to 300,000 homeless  families. In fact, right now there are more homeless American children  than any other time in our history other than the depression era.  Project Night Night is taking aim at this issue in a unique way.</p>
<p>Project Night Night donates Night Night Packages to homeless children  free of charge. The Night Night Package has a blanket, age appropriate  book and stuffed animal delivered in a canvas tote. The idea is to  provide children basic creature comforts they can take along with them  from location to location while they are homeless.</p>
<p>Project Night Night has been rather successful in their mission thus  far. Each year Project Night Night delivers more than 25,000 packages to  homeless kids aged birth to teen. They also manage to repurpose more  than 25,000 books and stuffed animals in an effort to be both  environmentally sound and philanthropic. All this is done through the  thousands of individuals who donate their time to deliver packages and  connect with these children in order to have a greater impact on their  community. Volunteers can also order totes from Project Night Night,  fill and deliver them on their own.</p>
<p>Project Night Night is run by volunteers and funded by donations.  Individuals can donate new or gently used blankets, books and stuffed  animals to the program, along with monetary donations. Used items should  be in gift giving comdition. Many businesses and larger corporations  also help support Project Night night. The group also accepts gift cards  that are both full or with a small remaining balance. This allows them  to purchase items to fill the Project Night Night totes.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=d79b6ac2-d8e9-48f5-9963-1b2b20791bd2" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/night-night-totes-for-needy-kids.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Free Hat for the Homeless</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-hat-for-the-homeless.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-hat-for-the-homeless.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 01 Dec 2010 12:37:03 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Food Stamps]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Hat]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homelessness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[New York City]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soup kitchen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States Department of Health and Human Services]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=144</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia When the winter wind starts to blow, cold air moves in and frost and flakes are on the horizon people start to get out their outerwear and bundle up in an effort to stay warm. For some, this is a difficult task. Homeless people are exposed to the elements the greater majority&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-hat-for-the-homeless.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Homeless_man%2C_Tokyo%2C_2008.jpg"><img title="Homeless man, Tokyo." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/2/25/Homeless_man%2C_Tokyo%2C_2008.jpg/300px-Homeless_man%2C_Tokyo%2C_2008.jpg" alt="Homeless man, Tokyo." width="300" height="228" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Homeless_man%2C_Tokyo%2C_2008.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>When the winter wind starts to blow, cold air moves in and frost and  flakes are on the horizon people start to get out their outerwear and  bundle up in an effort to stay warm. For some, this is a difficult task.  Homeless people are exposed to the elements the greater majority of  their day and often have no outerwear to keep them protected form the  elements. When they have money, they barely have enough to feed  themselves let alone buy hats, mittens, scarves or a coat.</p>
<p>Many charities aim to address the need for outerwear in the homeless  community. One such charity is Hats 4 the Homeless. Founded in 1998, Hat  4 the Homeless delivers wrapped hats, scarves, and gloves to homeless  individuals during the holiday season. The hats are both handmade and  purchased. Donated by individuals and purchased through monetary  donations made by businesses, corporations and individuals.</p>
<p>Hat 4 the Homeless started as the humble effort of one young man who  each year would encourage his friends and family to gather and donate  hats, scarves and gloves to the homeless in New York City. Tragically he  passed away in 1998, which is when the charity was created to honor his  memory. The organization encourages families, friends and organizations  to make Hats 4 the Homeless part of their holiday tradition. They  provide a free poster that groups can use to garnish donations. the  groups are then encouraged to wrap the donated items and send hem to  Hats 4 the Homeless so they can be distributed. Currently the group  gives each individual that comes to St. Francis Xavier&#8217;s Soup Kitchen on  West 15th Street in NYC the weekend before Christmas a gift wrapped  item. This not only acts as a gift to some who may otherwise go without,  but it keeps them warm as well.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=841dbed0-fb33-400f-967c-d855b4d5592e" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/free-hat-for-the-homeless.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Legal Help for the Poor</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/legal-help-for-the-poor.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/legal-help-for-the-poor.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 29 Nov 2010 12:15:45 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[American Bar Association]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Bar association]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Pro bono]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=43</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The American Bar Association recognizes the need for charities, not for profit organizations, business leaders and average citizens to come together to help the poor. The ABA has the Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public Service to address the issue of offering poor people the benefit of legal counsel without cost to the client.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/legal-help-for-the-poor.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The American Bar Association recognizes the need for charities,  not for profit organizations, business leaders and average citizens to  come together to help the poor. The ABA has the Standing Committee on  Pro Bono and Public Service to address the issue of offering poor people  the benefit of legal counsel without cost to the client. The mission of  the Committee extends beyond the courtroom to offer aid in developing  other programs to reduce poverty among citizens. The organization  features legal development, policy development and the formation of not  for profit organizations that carry out work in accordance with the  values of the American Bar Association.<br />
The Committee oversees the creation of policy as well as analyzing  existing policy set in place by government entities. These practices  benefit people who cannot effectively advocate for themselves and who  would be marginalized if not for the actions of the Standing Committee  on Pro Bono and Public Service.<br />
The Committee has historically been active in outreach activities that  target the judiciary and government attorney offices, minority bar  associations and groups, small firms and middle sized firms as well as  the law schools. The encompassing message of the Standing Committee on  Pro Bono and Public Service is to provide services that support the  protection of the people who live in poverty and who would not have  representation if it were not for the services of Committee.<br />
To encourage other organizations to take action to help reduce poverty  and increase services to people who cannot pay full price for the  services. This promotion is provided through recognizing successful  agencies with outstanding service awards. People who suspect they  qualify for help from the Standing Committee on Pro Bono and Public  Service or one of their supporting agencies should contact a local  charity to find out more about how to contact the agency who serves  their area.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=ddc314d8-a307-4220-b35d-6835105a9d38" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/legal-help-for-the-poor.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Education: the Death of Poverty</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/education-the-death-of-poverty.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/education-the-death-of-poverty.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 27 Nov 2010 13:16:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[General]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Education]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ivy League]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=59</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Haven&#8217;t we all heard the stories of people who have come from nothing and gone on to be millionaires when they retired, if not billionaires? What is the real difference between a philanthropist who has more money than his grandchildren can spend, and the man who works all the way up until he hits his&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/education-the-death-of-poverty.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Haven&#8217;t we all heard the stories of people who have come from nothing  and gone on to be millionaires when they retired, if not billionaires?   What is the real difference between a philanthropist who has more money  than his grandchildren can spend, and the man who works all the way up  until he hits his death bed (and not because he loves his job)?  There  are actually a lot of factors, but one of the most important is becoming  educated.  In this day and age, just about anybody can get a good  education.  And it doesn&#8217;t involve spending a lot of money, either.  The  benefits become worth all the hard work you have to go through, too.</p>
<p>One problem in poverty is the scarcity mindset.  This is the belief  that there is &#8220;only so much&#8221; of anything.  If someone tells you,  &#8220;there&#8217;s only so much,&#8221; you know they&#8217;re thinking scarcely, which is  limiting.  In truth, you have all the time you need.  And you can always  find the money, even if yours is a ghetto family and you want to peruse  onlinembarankings.com for  the program (perhaps an Ivy League program) that will take you out of  the ghetto for good.  When a person begins to think in terms of  abundance, the whole world changes.  The people you meet change (and the  scarce-thinkers scoff, before they finally go off to stew in their  scarcity someplace else).</p>
<p>Another, more outwardly apparent  reason why education is the cure for poverty is that with education  comes money, and the knowledge to save and invest it.  There are people  living dangerously closely to losing their homes, cars and other status  symbols, just because they still live paycheck to paycheck.  Some of  these people earn six figures.  It isn&#8217;t just how much you earn  (although that certainly helps); what you keep is extremely important  when it comes to getting away from poverty.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=5e10440d-2b2b-4628-8eb1-dff96c052ac1" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/education-the-death-of-poverty.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 Ways to Encourage Charity Work in Teens</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-ways-to-encourage-charity-work-in-teens.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-ways-to-encourage-charity-work-in-teens.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Thu, 25 Nov 2010 12:14:33 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Ronald McDonald House Charities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volunteer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=41</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Teenagers who volunteer their time to charity will likely grow up to help promote charity organization and civic responsibility. Fostering volunteerism in youth can help move teens to better critical thinking and community service skills. When teens volunteer they learn to help other people, find new interests, have less boredom that can lead to mischievous&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-ways-to-encourage-charity-work-in-teens.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Teenagers who volunteer their time to charity will likely grow  up to help promote charity organization and civic responsibility.  Fostering volunteerism in youth can help move teens to better critical  thinking and community service skills.</p>
<p>When teens volunteer they learn to help other people, find new  interests, have less boredom that can lead to mischievous behaviors,  overcome a painful experience and find new perspectives on life  situations.</p>
<p>1.	There is a local homeless shelter in most areas. These shelters  always look for volunteers to help meet daily needs of meal preparation,  cleaning of beds and facilities and other services. The shelters often  welcome teens to help with tasks and can usually find something that  relates to the teens skill set and interest. A teen who wants to work in  an office will likely find volunteer opportunities in the office, a  teen who wants to work in a kitchen will find lots of opportunities  learning how a commercial kitchen functions.<br />
2.	A food bank is sometimes run by a not for profit group in the area or  sometimes by a state led agency. No matter who operates the food bank  officially, there a typically a few volunteer positions needed  especially on distribution days. Teens who want to help people who live  in poverty or the elderly will enjoy making polite conversation as they  help the client gather their needs and take them to the vehicle.<br />
3.	Teens who have learned to knit may want to contact the Sweater  Project ran by the Guideposts magazine. These sweaters are distributed  to children in poverty around the world.<br />
4.	The Ronald McDonald House is a well known group. There are plenty of  ways a teen can volunteer. Baby sitters and housekeepers are always  welcome.<br />
5.	Habitat for Humanities helps to shelter people in poverty and provide  them a chance to overcome situational struggles. Volunteers are always  needed to help hammer nails and paint walls.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=a36ea83b-cf89-44b0-9d4e-56a25272ee09" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-ways-to-encourage-charity-work-in-teens.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Many Benefits of Study Groups</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-many-benefits-of-study-groups.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-many-benefits-of-study-groups.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 23 Nov 2010 11:42:50 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[GMAT prep]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Graduate Management Admission Test]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Study group]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=57</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[There are many basic benefits to the concept of a study group, especially groups that study preparatory courses. If you are taking gmat prep courses, you may want to consider the many benefits of study groups so that you can best benefit from the course. Study groups can be helpful when you are trying to&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-many-benefits-of-study-groups.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/44124379481@N01/93851110"><img title="Study group" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/30/93851110_8c3634ab66_m.jpg" alt="Study group" width="240" height="180" /></a><p class="wp-caption-text">Image by samgrover via Flickr</p></div>
<p><a title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><br />
</a>There are many basic benefits to the concept of a study group, especially groups that study preparatory courses. If you are taking <a href="http://www.knewton.com/gmat/"><span style="text-decoration: underline;">gmat prep courses</span></a>, you may want to consider the many benefits of study groups so that you can best benefit from the course. Study groups can be helpful when you are trying to learn new concepts and new information and to prepare for examinations and course discussions. There are many benefits to joining a study group, but they largely depend on the course, the type of study group and your own personal needs as well.</p>
</div>
<p>One of the biggest benefits of joining a study group is that it can help to pick you up when you are feeling your motivation slipping. If you have a question but are reluctant to ask during the course, you can ask your study group afterwards. You may also find yourself becoming increasingly committed to studying simply because the members of the groups are depending on you to participate. Members of the study group are going to listen and will discuss information during these study sessions, and this will add a powerful auditory dimension to the GMAT learning experience.</p>
<p>Because everyone will have different understandings and experiences regarding the information presented in the course, you may be able to learn valuable information from your study group partners, or may be able to gain a new understanding of a previously misunderstood topic. You can also learn a variety of new study habits from the other members of the group since everyone has unique study habits. As you teach other members of the group what you know, this will reinforce your own mastery of the subject, information and concepts as well.</p>
<p>A study group can be a very powerful thing when you are taking GMAT prep courses, so do not delay in joining one that can help you today.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=b8fb0546-58f6-4da0-9c8b-917138df7c31" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-many-benefits-of-study-groups.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>5 More Ways Teens Can Affect the Future through Volunteering</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-more-ways-teens-can-affect-the-future-through-volunteering.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-more-ways-teens-can-affect-the-future-through-volunteering.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 15 Nov 2010 12:12:56 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Compassion]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volunteer]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=37</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia When people volunteer, others take notice. The domino effect of volunteerism is real and based on the premise that people are basically good. There are state and national programs to help the needy as well as a wealth of not for profit organizations that attempt to reduce the impact poverty has on&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-more-ways-teens-can-affect-the-future-through-volunteering.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carting_dirt_in_Yaounde.jpg"><img title="Children cart dirt and debris away during a co..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/09/Carting_dirt_in_Yaounde.jpg/300px-Carting_dirt_in_Yaounde.jpg" alt="Children cart dirt and debris away during a co..." width="300" height="225" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Carting_dirt_in_Yaounde.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>When people volunteer, others take notice. The domino effect of  volunteerism is real and based on the premise that people are basically  good. There are state and national programs to help the needy as well as  a wealth of not for profit organizations that attempt to reduce the  impact poverty has on people.<br />
Five places that teens can volunteer and have an impact on their future as well as those who witness their deeds are:<br />
1.	Most large cities have programs that help people who live in poverty.  Many of these programs are based on helping people secure basic needs.  The teen may help distribute information or they may help hand out food  door to door.<br />
2.	Reading programs encourage adults to develop reading skills. With the  ability to read comes  a greater self esteem and the ability to  complete job applications without assistance. These two factors can have  a profound positive impact on the people who the teen will help.<br />
3.	Local hospitals have a large array of volunteer opportunities for  teens. Children&#8217;s wards need teens who will offer comfort and  compassion while giving the parent a short break from the room. Gift  shops need teens to distribute purchased gifts to patients throughout  the hospital .<br />
4.	Local libraries are frequently underfunded and do not have resources  to provide all the services a community needs. Helping out at the local  library can increase a teens awareness of their own community while  fulfilling a community need.<br />
5.	Teens who enjoy animals may gain compassion and quality skills by  volunteering at an animal shelter. These animals will need groomed, fed,  cages cleaned, walked, and shown to perspective adopters. Teens may  learn they want to find employment in the animal compassionate services  filed once they enter adulthood.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=d23d4bb3-8e6f-4d6c-8fdf-531533f0d5ec" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/5-more-ways-teens-can-affect-the-future-through-volunteering.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Learning About Social Work Careers</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/learning-about-social-work-careers.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/learning-about-social-work-careers.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 13 Nov 2010 10:16:38 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Government Assistance]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Employment]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social sciences]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social work]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=53</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image by da_mere via Flickr It takes a special type of person to get involved in social work. Because there are so many people in need, these jobs require a great deal of patience. The jobs themselves are time consuming, but people who work with the needy also have to be patient with the people&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/learning-about-social-work-careers.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 250px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34803820@N00/284657564"><img title="Social Work on Halloween" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/117/284657564_a413c1566e_m.jpg" alt="Social Work on Halloween" width="240" height="180" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/34803820@N00/284657564">da_mere</a> via Flickr</dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>It takes a special type of person to get involved in social  work. Because there are so many people in need, these jobs require a  great deal of patience. The jobs themselves are time consuming, but  people who work with the needy also have to be patient with the people  they&#8217;re trying to help. Often they can be short, desperate, or difficult  to deal with. Their problems can sometimes be overwhelming, especially  when there are many needy people together. However, when the opportunity  to be of real help arises, these people answer the call.</p>
<p>Not  everybody is cut out to work for social programs. The work is typically  long and strenuous. Positions which interact with the subjects can be  stressful as well as the situations a person observes can be a lot of  stress. It is one of the most stressful jobs available. It also has  higher qualifications than a lot of other jobs do. You can&#8217;t just walk  in off the street and get one of these jobs. Beyond the fact that they  are government jobs, which can be highly competitive, they are also jobs  in social work, which are also quite competitive. For these reasons,  the income potential of these fields is fairly high, so as to draw in  more potential workers.</p>
<p>Social workers are in high demand  because the position is demanding. The requirements are also fairly  strenuous. For lower level government jobs, a test must be passed to  qualify. Upper level work requires a degree. Many lower level workers  would like to advance, but they hit an education wall after a while and  can&#8217;t climb any further. For those people, pursuing further education is  a good idea. Night classes or online classes from elearners.com can give them a chance to earn a degree in their spare time without  having to leave work. It&#8217;s a tough job, but somebody has to do it.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: medium none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/pixy.gif?x-id=4539eff3-d6b4-4a2f-8536-b8065fb9205b" alt="" /></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/learning-about-social-work-careers.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Increase in Electronic Societies Affect Citizen Engagement</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-increase-in-electronic-societies-affect-citizen-engagement.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-increase-in-electronic-societies-affect-citizen-engagement.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Fri, 12 Nov 2010 12:10:43 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Civic Duty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Community]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social capital]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social network]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=34</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[As the internet becomes an increasing communication method of choice, fewer people are meeting in person. This is not a new phenomenon as the telephone had similar effects on the population to a lesser degree. The same tools that draw families closer together also decrease the chances to meet new people from the same community.&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-increase-in-electronic-societies-affect-citizen-engagement.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>As the internet becomes an increasing communication method of  choice, fewer people are  meeting in person. This is not a new  phenomenon as the telephone had similar effects on the population to a  lesser degree. The same tools that draw families closer together also  decrease the chances to meet new people from the same community.<br />
People who utilize electronic media such as the internet and all the  social groups that are springing up have more &#8220;riends&#8221; whom they  have never met. There is no real evidence that these people actually  share the same interest as the user or if they are actually propagating a  fictitious life based on personal feelings or a sinister end game. What  we do know is that while people are increasing their circle of friends  around the world, the smaller more intimate communities are suffering.<br />
The needs of a community are decreased when people quite making  community engagements yet prefer to chat with someone in a disjointed  manner across the country. The community is where our children have  their roots and will derive their own value system. While discussing the  impact of global economy to someone on the other side of the world is  appealing, we must also work to build the community that sits outside  out front door. These are the people who will come together in a moment  of tragedy or triumph.<br />
When we foster relationships with our physical neighbors, take part in  the local Parent and teacher collaboration and frequent community  businesses we increase our personal social capital. Social capital helps  to lengthen lives, improve quality of life for longer period of time  and provide people we can turn to in times of need. The benefits of  social capital are well documented. However, this can&#8217;t be found on a  generic &#8220;friend me&#8221; link.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=1c381e26-110d-41bc-89e8-8acb36dd8ddc" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-increase-in-electronic-societies-affect-citizen-engagement.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Practical Ways To Reduce Poverty</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/practical-ways-to-reduce-poverty.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/practical-ways-to-reduce-poverty.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Wed, 10 Nov 2010 10:22:23 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homeless Shelters]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Child]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Earned Income Tax Credit]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Homelessness]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Poverty]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Soup kitchen]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[United States]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=84</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Although poverty is still extremely pervasive in America&#8217;s modern society, the important thing to realize is that even one single person can create a positive momentum in the fight towards helping to reduce poverty. It is essential to realize that one of the most influential ways to reduce poverty is to start at the local&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/practical-ways-to-reduce-poverty.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Although poverty is still extremely pervasive in America&#8217;s modern society, the important thing to realize is that even one single person can create a positive momentum in the fight towards helping to reduce poverty.</p>
<p>It is essential to realize that one of the most influential ways to reduce poverty is to start at the local community level. Consider volunteering your time at soup kitchens or with those who have dedicated themselves towards helping the less fortunate find steady employment or safe housing. Many communities have training centers that assist people with learning how to successfully navigate the rigor of job interviews and apply for a housing contract even if they find themselves with an income that places them at the level of poverty.</p>
<p>Furthermore, remember that although there are many benefits to helping to reduce poverty by working with those who are already in a less fortunate situation, there are equal arguments for the idea that the best way to cut down on the amount of poverty is to tend to behaviors that often lead to a state of poverty.</p>
<p>Therefore, it may be worthwhile to investigate volunteerism opportunities that focus on helping children finish school or enter into job training programs. There are many factors that contribute to poverty, but people are more likely to find their way out of such situations if they have the advantage of marketable skills that are valued by employers.</p>
<p>Finally, consider donating to the charity of your choice. Although your monetary donation may seem small in the overall picture of things, charitable organizations are well versed in the best ways to distribute funds so that they will be of benefit to the highest amount of people possible. This is an especially appropriate option if you do not have time to dedicate your time towards helping the impoverished in other ways.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=d70801d0-0f32-4c5c-8592-c99a442d92c4" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/practical-ways-to-reduce-poverty.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How To Begin Volunteering For Charities and Not For Profit Organisations</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-begin-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-begin-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Tue, 09 Nov 2010 10:21:36 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Facebook]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fundraising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Leisure]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=82</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[If you are looking for a way to fill some spare time in your life, it may be worthwhile to consider giving your effort towards volunteering for charities and not for profit organizations. The first step is determining that you have the motivation needed in order to fulfill the requirements for volunteering. Once you have&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-begin-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>If you are looking for a way to fill some spare time in your life, it may be worthwhile to consider giving your effort towards volunteering for charities and not for profit organizations. The first step is determining that you have the motivation needed in order to fulfill the requirements for volunteering. Once you have done so, the next order of business is to decide where you feel most called to serve.</p>
<p>Many people ultimately decide that they are best suited to volunteering for charities and not for profit organizations in their local community so that they can play a direct role in positively influencing the area around which they live. However, the prevalence of the Internet has made it possible for people to use their expertise to volunteer remotely using nothing more than a computer and a positive attitude.</p>
<p>Your local phone book can be a great starting resource for locating charities and not for profit organisations. Additionally, there are numerous expansive website directories that allow users to search by interest, location or even by the amount of time that they have available to commit to the cause.</p>
<p>After determining the type of volunteering that seems like the best fit, you may be asked to go through an interview process to demonstrate your candidacy. During this time, be sure to fully disclose any concerns or possible restrictions that have risen during the consideration process so that you will be fully aware of what is expected of you and how best to perform in your role.</p>
<p>Be sure to mention any difficulties or scheduling conflicts immediately so that they can be sorted out in a swift manner. Usually, you will discover that effective communication is the best way to ensure that your volunteerism experience is one that is mutually beneficial.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=4cc067f7-6533-461f-a482-96827d7d82e1" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-begin-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Do You Have A Case For Malpractice?</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/do-you-have-a-case-for-malpractice.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/do-you-have-a-case-for-malpractice.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Nov 2010 12:08:59 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Malpractice]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Maryland]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Medicine]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=48</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most of us have a deep faith in physicians and their level of care, skill, and professionalism. So if a doctor is involved in a treatment or procedure that caused harm, death, or disability, then you need to seek compensation. Otherwise, you could find yourself unable to work and in need of government assistance for&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/do-you-have-a-case-for-malpractice.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most of us have a deep faith in physicians and their level of  care, skill, and professionalism. So if a doctor is involved in a  treatment or procedure that caused harm, death, or disability, then you  need to seek compensation. Otherwise, you could find yourself unable to  work and in need of government assistance for the rest of your life. <a href="http://www.litigationteam.com/firm-overview">Maryland medical malpractice attorneys</a>, as well as those in all other states, can help you pursue a malpractice suit.</p>
<p>You may have a hard time understanding how your physician made such a  serious mistake, and it will be just as difficult when you have to  confront this professional. You may question whether your case has any  validity. Or perhaps you&#8217;re concerned about the cost of pursuing a  malpractice case. You wonder if you may be paying fees to attorneys for  nothing. Are you afraid of doing harm to the relationship between you  and your doctor? Many people considering medical malpractice suits have  these concerns. It’s hard to question the authority of someone in whom  you&#8217;ve put your trust and accuse them of being negligent.</p>
<p>It&#8217;s  important to understand that there are certain standards of care that  should be provided by medical professionals. If a specific incident  didn’t meet those standards, you could have a case. For example, if a  technician or other medical staffer used unclean instruments or used  them incorrectly, you may want to move forward with a lawsuit.</p>
<p>Additionally, there must be an injury that resulted from the negligent  act, and a link must be shown between the two. An injury alone does not  qualify for compensation if the standard of care was met.</p>
<p>Finally, the injury has to result in considerable damages. If your case  meets these requirements, then you should consult a professional  malpractice attorney who can determine whether or not you have a  credible case.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=4533ba8f-3e0a-4c99-9f46-c0130837b934" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/do-you-have-a-case-for-malpractice.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>Benefits of Volunteering For Charities and Not For Profit Organisations</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/benefits-of-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/benefits-of-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Mon, 08 Nov 2010 10:21:01 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opportunities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=79</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Most people who make the decision to add to their life by volunteering for charities and not for profit organisations agree that it is a rewarding, yet often challenging experience. Studies have shown that that volunteers enjoy a greater quality of life, and some data even indicates that volunteers decrease their risk of ailments such&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/benefits-of-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>Most people who make the decision to add to their life by volunteering for charities and not for profit organisations agree that it is a rewarding, yet often challenging experience. Studies have shown that that volunteers enjoy a greater quality of life, and some data even indicates that volunteers decrease their risk of ailments such as heart disease and depression and may even add up to a year to their life versus people who do not choose to volunteer.   Additionally, volunteering for charities and not for profit organisations can bring with it the opportunity to improve current skills, learn new things, and even increase social interactions. People who are shy when meeting new people will often benefit from volunteering because it gently forces them to expand their social circle without making a lot of effort.   Volunteering also looks great on a resume or university application. Volunteers are regularly required to step outside of the realm in which they are comfortable, and enter into situations that may test the limits of what they thought they were capable of. Although this can be a scary feeling at first, it is actually a highly coveted life skill that proves a person can adapt to unfamiliar situations whether they are doing so as a volunteer, or not.   Finally, the act of volunteering for charities and not for profit organisations helps to bring about a genuine feeling of personal satisfaction. By nature, most humans like to help others whenever possible. Volunteering often allows people to interact with certain segments of their community on a regular basis so that volunteers can truly see the fruits of their efforts manifesting before their eyes.   Although there are many worthy benefits of volunteering listed above, chances are that you&#8217;ll also discover your own set of unique reasons why volunteering is helping to enhance your life as well as the lives of others.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=8c638f8c-4565-4f85-b88e-5acccc32f0fb" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/benefits-of-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>The Benefits of Keeping a Positive Attitude When Volunteering for Charities and Not For Profit Organisations</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-benefits-of-keeping-a-positive-attitude-when-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-benefits-of-keeping-a-positive-attitude-when-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sun, 07 Nov 2010 10:20:18 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fundraising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Social network]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Twitter]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[volunteers]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=76</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[Image via Wikipedia If you are seeking a way to fill some extra time while giving back to your community, you may find that volunteering for charities and not for profit organisations is the perfect diversion. One of the best things about volunteering is that it can be accomplished by anyone, regardless of skill level&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-benefits-of-keeping-a-positive-attitude-when-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<div class="zemanta-img" style="margin: 1em; display: block;">
<div>
<dl class="wp-caption alignright" style="width: 310px;">
<dt class="wp-caption-dt"><a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_22835_-_Photograph_by_Barbara_Pritchard_taken_on_02-19-2006_in_Louisiana.jpg"><img title="New Orleans, LA, February 19, 2006 - Members o..." src="http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/4/44/FEMA_-_22835_-_Photograph_by_Barbara_Pritchard_taken_on_02-19-2006_in_Louisiana.jpg/300px-FEMA_-_22835_-_Photograph_by_Barbara_Pritchard_taken_on_02-19-2006_in_Louisiana.jpg" alt="New Orleans, LA, February 19, 2006 - Members o..." width="300" height="232" /></a></dt>
<dd class="wp-caption-dd zemanta-img-attribution" style="font-size: 0.8em;">Image via <a href="http://commons.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:FEMA_-_22835_-_Photograph_by_Barbara_Pritchard_taken_on_02-19-2006_in_Louisiana.jpg">Wikipedia</a></dd>
</dl>
</div>
</div>
<p>If you are seeking a way to fill some extra time while giving back to your community, you may find that volunteering for charities and not for profit organisations is the perfect diversion. One of the best things about volunteering is that it can be accomplished by anyone, regardless of skill level or time commitment. Usually, your desire to volunteer will be so appreciated by those you are assisting that any skill deficiencies will be handily overlooked. Therefore, never let yourself enter the mindset that you cannot be a valuable volunteer simply because you lack certain skill sets. Instead, trust that you have many attributes that can be helpful to others, and that you can learn through experiences throughout the process of volunteering.</p>
<p>In fact, sometimes you will only need to indicate a volunteerism interest to any of the charities and not for profit organisations in your area before the appropriate parties will agree to let you come and offer your time. Volunteer roles are often not clearly defined, so you need not wait until you see an advertised position of interest to indicate your willingness to help. Flexibility and an open mind are two traits that are extremely highly sought from any volunteer. Strive to keep a positive attitude throughout any task that you are asked to participate in. In this way, you will often discover inner strengths and talents that you may not have tuned into previously.</p>
<p>No matter the sort of volunteer opportunity you choose to pursue, chances are that you will find yourself in situations that expand your social network, help you learn new things, and give you an enhanced appreciation for the world around you. As you can see, there are numerous reasons to consider the option of volunteering for charities and not for profit organisations, whether at the local or national level.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=a1c23e2f-5b88-4e58-b88e-66819ab02f0f" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/the-benefits-of-keeping-a-positive-attitude-when-volunteering-for-charities-and-not-for-profit-organisations.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
		<item>
		<title>How To Choose a Volunteer Opportunity With a Charity</title>
		<link>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-choose-a-volunteer-opportunity-with-a-charity.html</link>
		<comments>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-choose-a-volunteer-opportunity-with-a-charity.html#comments</comments>
		<pubDate>Sat, 06 Nov 2010 10:19:35 +0000</pubDate>
		<dc:creator>admin</dc:creator>
				<category><![CDATA[Community Service]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charitable organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Charities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Fundraising]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Non-profit organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Opportunities]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Organization]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Philanthropy]]></category>
		<category><![CDATA[Volunteering]]></category>

		<guid isPermaLink="false">http://civicrenewal.org/?p=73</guid>
		<description><![CDATA[The decision to volunteer with charities and not for profit organisations can often be one of the most beneficial decisions of your life. Volunteering is a terrific way to give back to your community and enhance your own life at the same time. However, after making the initial decision to volunteer, many people find that&#8230;<br /><span class="more-link-wrapper"><a href="http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-choose-a-volunteer-opportunity-with-a-charity.html" class="more-link">Read More</a></span>]]></description>
			<content:encoded><![CDATA[<p>The decision to volunteer with charities and not for profit organisations can often be one of the most beneficial decisions of your life. Volunteering is a terrific way to give back to your community and enhance your own life at the same time. However, after making the initial decision to volunteer, many people find that determining which specific organisation to volunteer with is a major obstacle.</p>
<p>Although it can be very advantageous to volunteer with causes that are closest to your heart, you may often find that this method leaves you feeling pulled in many directions because you feel called to serve in a variety of capacities.</p>
<p>After making the decision to volunteer, it is important to manage your time wisely. Be careful not to make a promise that you cannot ultimately commit to in regards to the amount of hours you devote to the cause. Those that you volunteer for and with will come to rely upon your regular presence and any absences will be noticeable and inconvenient. So, start small, and if you find you are able to handle your initial commitment, feel free to expand your reach from there.</p>
<p>There are many tools and resources for helping you choose the best charities and not for profit organisations to volunteer with. An online search can be a good starting point because many websites allow you to filter results by causes that are most of interest to you. Additionally, consider asking friends and neighbors if they have any recommendations of local charities that are in need of volunteers. In fact, once you start making inquiries, you may be surprised that you know more people who are volunteering than you first realised.</p>
<p>Finally, don&#8217;t be afraid to speak up if you ultimately decide that the volunteer opportunity you have chosen is not all that you expected. Often, the programme directors will be more than happy to shift you into another role that is more appropriate.</p>
<div class="zemanta-pixie" style="margin-top: 10px; height: 15px;"><a class="zemanta-pixie-a" title="Enhanced by Zemanta" href="http://www.zemanta.com/"><img class="zemanta-pixie-img" style="border: none; float: right;" src="http://img.zemanta.com/zemified_e.png?x-id=4f146642-e46e-4c32-8d82-b4e16363952b" alt="Enhanced by Zemanta" /></a></div>
]]></content:encoded>
			<wfw:commentRss>http://www.civicrenewal.org/how-to-choose-a-volunteer-opportunity-with-a-charity.html/feed</wfw:commentRss>
		<slash:comments>0</slash:comments>
		</item>
	</channel>
</rss>

