How to Help, Thanksgiving 2014

Good evening friends,

I wanted to take a moment to share with everyone what I intend to do to help out this month and Thanksgiving to give and support those who are less fortunate than I. After my post, which gathered some traffic here, about Arnold Abbot and the ridiculousness of him getting arrested for helping others I noticed a lot of people who wanted to help out and had the same impression as I had after reading that article. So, I’ll get down to business as we only have just over a week to make some of this happen! Kim Ziegler reached out to me and gave me a ton of helpful information that we can use to do some good within the York Community. With your help (and her help) I think we can do some truly wonderful things for some families this winter. We can also continue a wonderful tradition of selfless giving and caring that Kim has started.

Kim is a member of Grace Lutheran Church @ 150 Jefferson Avenue, in York City and as a member of the church she does what she can to help others in the community throughout the year, every year.? On Saturday 11/22 Kim is going to be putting together Thanksgiving food baskets (of turkey, potatoes, bread, eggs, milk, vegetables, canned fruit/applesauce, cranberry sauce, cookies/pastries, etc) for families that may need just that little extra help this Holiday season. The following donations I will take in until Friday 11/21 so that I can get all of them to Kim so we can get together and make the baskets. If anyone wants to help make baskets and is available Sat 11/22 let me know, I believe Kim will be using the kitchen at the church to put as many baskets as possible together so more families can have some enjoyable Thanksgiving meals. I will make sure to get you whatever information you need to help that day.

Donations Accepted:

  • Variety ?of canned vegetables ? corn, peas, string beans etc.
  • Canned fruits/applesauce
  • Boxed instant potatoes
  • Tubs of Butter/Margarine
  • Loaves of Bread
  • Packs of cookies
  • Pre-baked pastries
  • Cranberry Sauce
  • Turkeys

If you would like to donate any of these items, please get in touch with me, I’m hoping that I’m able to fill my truck up and deliver to these to Kim NLT Friday evening. So if you want me to pick them up from you all Friday, I’ll do that. Just get in touch with me!

Other donations not necessarily for Thanksgiving but for the season if you have them available or would like to provide can be a huge help to the community…

Food for the food pantry (stored at the church):

  • Canned foods
  • Boxed foods
  • Baby food
  • Baby formula

Other Items:

  • clothing (winter hats, gloves, old jackets)
  • Toothbrushes
  • Toothpaste
  • deodorant
  • shampoos
  • soaps
  • combs/brushes
  • hand wipes
  • household goods

When I was talking to Kim over the weekend I started to think about the amount of hoodys, hats and gloves that are sitting in my moms front closet and also what I’ve purchased over the years and never use? anymore due to having something newer and “better”. I try my best to put together trash bags full of clothes that I no longer use and drop them in drop boxes throughout the year but this is probably the most important time. If you do have any WARM clothes that are not in use and want to donate them please get in touch with me. I’ll swing by and get them. It’s about to get cold and although I enjoy cold weather I know that I won’t have to suffer through it.

Again, if you could, please let me know if you would like to share the wealth this holiday season and help out someone in need. I know that many of you may belong to your own churches and if you are already supporting them that is great, but if you are not and would like to help out another community I’d be forever grateful.

Happy Holidays

#TeamEitel Leads LLS/LTN Friends and Family Teams!

Congratulations Team Eitel and Team Eitel supporters! We’re currently leading the Friends and Family Teams list for the Light the Night walk. Little do they know, we still have lots to add to this total from our party this year.

ltntopfundraisersI hope everyone that is able can make it out to the walk next Saturday evening. I’ve been asked to lead the Gold Lantern walking group and say a quick note. The Gold Lanterns indicate walking for someone who has passed away from blood cancers and the hope and dedication of a future cure. There will be a moment (minute) of silence before we get underway with the walk Saturday. It would be a wonderful feeling if there was a strong showing of #TeamEitel supporters. If you are not yet registered please register at the TeamEitel website. There’s still time to raise awareness and money for the cause. Please contact me with any questions!

York
Saturday, October 25, 2014
Cousler Park
1060 Church Road, York
Walk Distance: 2.5 miles
Check In: 4:00PM
Remembrance Ceremony: 5:00 PM
Walk Start Time: 6:00PM

Domestic Violence in 30 Minutes or less

With Ray Rice and his spouse headlining the sports and national news circuit this last week I thought it be best to support a viewpoint and article that I believe in. Most regretfully due to the amount of support I’ve seen for Ray from a surprisingly large faction of Facebook “friends”. I can’t come to terms with a single opinion of theirs on the issue.

A few things:
*There should be zero tolerance for domestic violence, EVERYWHERE and ANYWHERE.? Charges should not be up to the spouse, that makes absolutely no sense. Force the charges and the SPOUSE will not feel as trapped having to make a choice.
*Any comparison of Ray to any other criminal, other than one who was caught on video tape knocking out their spouse or significant other, is outrageous and inconsistent. Ray should not be held to any other standard of criminal charges except for the crime he committed.
*The NFL and Raven’s Organization have handled this in the most INEPT manner. Whatever the outcome – I believe they should be charged and should be required to support a United Front against Domestic Violence. After all, the NFL is an entirely MALE DOMINATED sport, with the MAJORITY of positions being held by MEN. Cheerleaders exist, but what women hold position of responsibility and regard within the NFL and NFL teams? I’m serious, you tell me because I can’t think of one that has any say in team activities other than maybe the influence of owners spouses (interestingly enough).
*I hope Ray bounces back and I believe he deserves a second chance. I believe in rehabilitation. I pray he works his issues out with his family. He has an uphill battle to fight (no pun intended) as the history and evidence shows that this story fits the same script as any other domestic violence abuse case. Just switch out the spouses names, it’s the same old sad story.

I’ve attached a great article and really the only one, IMHO, worth reading in regards to Ray Rice’s week in the news. It’s a sobering perspective on Domestic Violence in America. To all those, especially those women, who have said “Why is it our business, she took him back…”, “The media ruined their lives…” I quote this article, “Of all the women murdered in 2010, nearly 40 percent were killed by a spouse or someone they were dating, according to the Bureau of Justice Statistics. This number has been 30 percent or higher since 1996.

“Get angry at what Ray Rice did and get angry at what Roger Goodell didn’t do, but please don’t be surprised by any of it. Not by the hit, not by the blatant attempts to make it look like it was the woman’s fault, not by Rice saying he would never do it again, not even by his wife taking him back. From the beginning, the Ray Rice saga has recapitulated everything awful about how domestic violence plays out in America. It has followed the script perfectly.”

Regardless of what a spouse says, it’s a crime and acting on charges should NOT be up to the spouse. Conflict of interest anyone?

Click here to read the article…

9/11 #NeverForget (to DONATE/Volunteer)!

InHonorofFlagI?m approaching September 11th a little different this year than in years passed. It goes without saying that today is about remembrance; remembering those who touched our lives on that frightful and fateful day, remembering family and friends who passed on and those who struggled to survive, and remembering those who put others before themselves and those who in the end gave the ultimate sacrifice to save others.

I also encourage everyone to remember to stay vigilant and alert and to know what that means. Today and everyday should be used as a reminder of what we as individuals can do to support our communities and those less fortunate than ourselves. A hero can be anyone. All heroes have one thing in common and it is creating a positive impact. May it be as drastic as laying down one?s life OR as simple as doing acts of kindness out of your own initiative without expecting or asking for any in return. Heroism starts with having the right motive and intention, and is followed through by a concrete action that is taken regardless of the outcome.

My goal by the end of the day today is to have recruited 5 HERO?s. Just to download the RedCross blood app, join #TeamEitel and schedule a donation! You can find the app for iOS and Android here (http://share.3sidedcube.com/arc/blood/teams/1419). With each whole blood donation you have the potential to save upwards of 3 lives. The easiest 8 minute act of heroism you?ll ever participate in.

I challenge you, I implore you! Donate as many times and as many different ways as you can per year! The need for blood was great on September 11th, the need for blood is great today. The need to make a difference hasn?t changed, just the environment in which we exist.

I just signed up for my first platelet donation scheduled next Monday in Timonium. I thought I knew a lot about donating blood until just today I learned that it could be beneficial for me to donate platelets too. If you are a platelet donor, you can still make regular whole blood or double red cell donations.? Both gifts are vitally important to patients with life threatening diseases.

Whole Blood Donation (All blood types, most common, 8-10 minutes, eligible every 56 days)

Double Red Cell Donation (Type O preferred, ~30 minutes, eligible every 112 days) (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations/double-red-blood-cells-donation)

Platelet Donation INFO (A+, B+, and AB blood types encouraged!, 1.5-2 hours, up to 24 times a year!) (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations/platelet-donation)

All of this information can be found at (http://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/types-donations). Educate yourself!

One love,

J.D.E

Is my charity legit? +America’s Worst Charities!

With the overwhelming response to the ALSA.org ‘Ice Water Bucket Challenge’ I thought it beneficial to share some information that has and continues to help me when it comes to supporting charities that I don’t know much of, along with a few other informative articles.

The Better Business Bureau (BBB) provides “Wise Giving Reports” for all known charities which can be found here. “The BBB Wise Giving Alliance Standards for Charity Accountability were developed to assist donors in making sound giving decisions and to foster public confidence in charitable organizations. The standards seek to encourage fair and honest solicitation practices, to promote ethical conduct by charitable organizations and to advance support of philanthropy.”
BBB’s Standards for Charity Accountability

The Federal Trade Commission has also provided plenty of good information on it’s website as a guide to “before giving to a charity“. Give it a look if you receive phone calls or want to look into a charity.

Fortunately for us, both LLS and ALS meet all of the standards of the BBB and other Charity/Philanthropy Researchers! You can breath your sigh of relief now.

However not all do, so without further delay I present to you “America’s Worst Charities“! (Last updated 11/15/2013 ) The results may shock you, protect yourself and do your research! “Cancer Fund of America” Ranked #2 on the list; 0.9% SPENT ON DIRECT CASH AID, you can’t make this stuff up folks. Please give it a read, seriously. Not all charities, regardless of what name or cause they piggy back off of are what they appear to be.

And in closing, an intriguing article from April 2013, “Why the Rich Don’t Give to Charity“. The article dives into how wealth affects how much and to whom/what charity is given, it also touches on the fact that Charity in the US differs from most of the world due to our tax system. If you’re interested, give it a go. (spoiler alert: the wealthy DO give to charity)

The more you know 😉

2014 #TeamEitel FUNdraiser party updates

Big thanks to Derek Kara Siegel and Brewery Products for donating beverages AND their beer trailer for our party this Saturday, your generosity and support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and Team Eitel is tremendous! As long as the weather holds steady we’re going to have a beautiful day of fun in the pool and sun!

The #TeamEitel Pool Party starts at 1PM this Saturday! Weather.com is reporting 81 degree’s and mostly sunny with a 0% chance of rain, so that’s good. Bring your bathing suit if you want to get in either the pool or dunk tank. We’re also working out a way to do a slip and slide beer game, because why not?!… The Afterparty starts promptly at 9PM at Granfalloons, I hope to see you all at one if not both parties!


Don’t forget to RSVP to the event and join the #TeamEitel Facebook group to get all the details and stay up to date on our progress kicking cancers A$$!

TeamEitel.com gets a face lift in 2014!

With the #TeamEitel annual party right around the corner and a lack of attention on the website for the last year I decided to release what I hope to be (close to) the final t-shirt design for 2014 as the splash home page image! This year I wanted the emphasis to be on those who make TeamEitel what it is today, along with a special tribute to those that TeamEitel supporters have and are relentlessly fighting for. Too often we forget to give back and I wanted to make a point to let everyone know how important you have been to not just TeamEitel but Light the Night and the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society. Your support is a blessing.

In regular styling you will see the names of all of the #TeamEitel supporters over the years – in caps and bold styling you will see the names of those who have specifically been touched with cancer.

Thank you all for the tremendous and continued support over the years! I wish you all the best in our efforts in finding a cure for cancer! I can’t wait to see all of you at the party on Aug 16th. More details to follow soon! Check out www.TeamEitel.com to see the image live or click below and find your name!

TeamEitel2014Design
TeamEitel2014Design

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society?

Justin D. Eitel
www.TeamEitel.com