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foster care

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Clothing

Dress for Success
What they do: Provide interview suits, confidence boosts, and career development to low-income women in over 75 cities worldwide
What they need: Women’s business suits and other professional apparel, footwear, and accessories

Career Gear
What they do: Provide underserved job-seeking men with training, career counseling, interviews, and professional clothing
What they need: Men’s suits, dress shirts, ties, shoes, briefcases, and other interview-appropriate clothing

The Women’s Alliance
What they do: Provide professional attire and career skills training to low-income women and their families seeking self-sufficiency
What they need: Women’s business clothing and professional accessories

Sew Much Comfort
What they do: Provide adaptive clothing to wounded service men and women in military hospitals (specially designed to look like normal attire while accommodating their injuries)
What they need: Basketball shorts, boxers, t-shirts, sweatshirts, and PJ bottoms; also twill, flannel, and woven shirting fabric

Clothes4Souls
What they do: Provide clothes to people around the world who are in desperate need
What they need: New or gently-worn clean clothing

Planet Aid
What they do: Provide clothing to people in developing nations, and fund community, health, agricultural, and vocational programs
What they need: Gently-used, unsoiled, functional clothing and shoes

Soles4Souls
What they do: Distribute shoes to people in need in over 125 countries
What they need: All types of new or gently-worn shoes: athletic, running, dress, sandals, pumps, heels, work boots, cleats, dance, and flip flops

Diamonds for Dreams
What they do: Grant wishes for terminal breast cancer patients
What they need: Diamonds, estate jewelry, and other specialty jewelry items

Indigo Rescue
What they do: Assist county animal shelters, and rehabilitate pets and place them in adoptive homes
What they need: Jewelry (for fundraising events)

Animal Guardian Network
What they do: Rescue and place homeless pets with loving families, and assist low-income seniors and financially disadvantaged individuals with their pet care
What they need: Gently-used designer handbags to sell in their ReBag Boutique

Brides Against Breast Cancer
What they do: Advance the awareness of breast cancer, and operate a wish-granting service enabling patients to make special memories with their loved ones
What they need: New and used wedding gowns from 2005 to present

Brides Across America
What they do: Provide wedding gowns to military brides in need
What they need: New or gently-used bridal gowns, not more than three years old

DonateMyDress.org
What they do: Provide special occasion dresses to girls who cannot afford them for prom, sweet 16, quinceañera or formal events
What they need: Prom and special occasion dresses for young women

The Glass Slipper Project
What they do: Collect formal dresses and accessories and provide them, free of charge, to Chicago-area students who are unable to purchase their own prom attire
What they need: New and almost-new prom dresses and accessories

Third Love
What they do: Provide jobs for human trafficking survivors
What they need: Used bras, undergarments, and foundation pieces

 

Household Items

Goodwill 
What they do: Help people with barriers to employment learn the skills to find competitive employment
What they need: Clothing, electronics, appliances, furniture, and more

Salvation Army
What they do: Provide community programs, homeless services, rehabilitation, disaster relief, and other assistance to those in need
What they need: Clothing, furniture, household goods, sporting equipment, books, electronics, and more

Vietnam Veterans of America
What they do: Help Vietnam-era veterans and their families
What they need: Clothing, baby items, housewares, electronics, small appliances, tools, and just about anything else

Volunteers of America
What they do: Support at-risk youth, the frail elderly, men and women returning from prison, homeless individuals and families, people with disabilities, and those recovering from addictions
What they need: Clothing, furniture, toys, and household goods for their thrift stores

Friends of Pine Ridge Reservation
What they do: Provide needed items to the poverty-stricken Pine Ridge Reservation in South Dakota
What they need: From school, sewing, crafts, sporting, baby, and office supplies, to toiletries, clothing, Christmas gifts, holiday items, bed, bath and kitchen linens, cold weather gear, crayons and more (see website for specific needs)

Operation Give
What they do: Bring hope and solutions to the deprived and disconnected people of the world, in many cases where the US military operates.
What they need: Toys, school supplies, art supplies, sports equipment, and more (Fedex provides FREE shipping from anywhere in the US to their warehouse)

The Help Kenya Project
What they do: Provide Kenya’s students with science and computer skills to break the cycle of poverty
What they need: Used computers, books, clothing, sports equipment, and other supplies

Cause USA
What they do: Send gift packs to wounded military personnel and their families
What they need: Playing cards, handheld electronic games, current magazines, batteries, travel-size toiletries, and more

Forgotten Soldiers Outreach
What they do: Send care packages to deployed soldiers
What they need: Travel-size toiletries, packaged food, flea collars, batteries, tube socks, envelopes, trash bags, and more

 

Children and Expecting Mothers

Project Night Night
What they do: Reduce the trauma of homeless children with Night Night Packages of childhood comforts
What they need: Stuffed animals, blankets, and children’s books

SAFE (Stuffed Animals for Emergencies)
What they do: Collect items to give to children in emotional, traumatic, or stressful situations (like fires, illness, abuse, homelessness, and natural disasters)
What they need: New or gently-used stuffed animals

Hope Village For Children
What they do: Provide a home to children in need
What they need: Any household items or clothing that can be sold; this organization runs a charity thrift shop in Meridian, MS

Loving Hugs
What they do: Send stuffed animals to children living in war zones, refugee camps, orphanages, hospitals, and natural disaster areas
What they need: New or very gently-used stuffed animals

Project Smile
What they do: Provide emergency responders with children’s comfort items, to help ease their pain and fear
What they need: New or gently-used stuffed animals, children’s books, unused coloring books, new crayons

Newborns in Need
What they do: Provide care necessities to local agencies and hospitals serving premature, ill, or impoverished newborns
What they need: Baby clothing, toys, and other items; also fabric, yarn, thread, and other supplies

Touching Little Lives
What they do: Provide necessity items to needy infants in Ohio
What they need: Baby clothing, booties, toys, blankets and other items; also flannel, thread, batting, and yarn

Ronald McDonald House
What they do: Provide a “home-away-from-home” for families so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little or no cost
What they need: New toys, food, and household products; see website for details

 

Electronics

World Computer Exchange
What they do: Provide used computers and technology to schools, libraries, community centers & universities in developing countries
What they need: Computers, laptops, printers, hard drives, peripherals, software, and more

National Cristina Foundation
What they do: Provide computer technology to people with disabilities or economic disadvantages, to enable them to lead more independent and productive lives
What they need: Desktops, notebooks, printers, peripherals, software, and more

National Coalition Against Domestic Violence
What they do: Work to eliminate domestic violence, and empower battered women and children
What they need: Used cell phones

Games for Heroes
What they do: Provide emotional support to troops in Iraq and Afghanistan
What they need: Handheld video game devices like Gameboys, PSPs, and Nintendo DSs

Get-Well Gamers Foundation
What they do: Bring video game systems to children’s hospitals, for entertainment and pain management
What they need: Video games, systems, controllers, and other accessories

Computer Recycling Center
What they do: Place computers in public charity and community programs through Computers & Education™, and recycle unusable items to keep them out of landfills
What they need: Computers, laptops, home electronics

HopeLine from Verizon
What they do: Provide refurbished phones to local domestic violence organizations
What they need: No-longer-used wireless phones, batteries, and accessories in any condition from any wireless service provider

Cell Phones for Soldiers
What they do: Use the money from recycling cell phones to purchase calling cards for troops in need
What they need: Used cell phones

iOS Device Recycling Program
What they do: Bring high technology mobile devices (installed with educational apps) into classrooms
What they need: iPads, iPhones, iPod Touches

Fireside International
What they do: Use mobile devices to advance education in Haiti
What they need: iPods, iPads, iPhones

 

Office and School Supplies

iLoveSchools
What they do: Match America’s school teachers with donations of classroom resources
What they need: A variety of school supplies, materials, and equipment

Swap4Schools
What they do: Match donors’ “haves” with schools’ “wants”
What they need: Books, movies, and other items specifically requested by educators

The GrayMatters Foundation
What they do: Support and empower people impacted by brain tumors through outreach, awareness, and assistance programs
What they need: Stickers, postage stamps, blank or encouragement cards and envelopes

Muscular Dystrophy Association
What they do: Fund worldwide research efforts and nationwide programs to aid those with neuromuscular diseases and their families
What they need: Computers, software, office equipment, furniture, and supplies for use in local offices

Develop Africa
What they do: Provide books, school and teaching supplies, scholarships, and job-related training in Africa
What they need: A wide variety of school and office supplies; see website for details

Pens for Kids
What they do: Send pens to kids in Africa to assist them with getting an education
What they need: New and used pens of every type, color, size, shape, and quantity

 

Books

International Book Project
What they do: Promote education and literacy by sending quality used books overseas
What they need: Textbooks, dictionaries, encyclopedias, vocational books, children’s books, and more

Global Literacy Project
What they do: Foster community-based literacy initiatives throughout the world
What they need: “We are currently most in need of Pre-K to 12th-grade reading books as well as Math and science textbooks.”

Darien Book Aid
What they do: Send books in response to specific requests from Peace Corps volunteers, libraries and schools all over the world
What they need: A variety of new and gently-used books. Please call before shipping, to make sure your donations fit their needs

Books for Africa
What they do: Help create a culture of literacy by shipping books to libraries and classrooms in Africa
What they need: A wide variety of new and gently-used books, generally 15 years old or newer; details on the website

The Bridge of Books Foundation
What they do: Provide books to children in low-income families, particularly through foster family agencies, homeless shelters, underfunded schools, and neighborhood centers
What they need: New and used children’s books, from preschool through high school

Books Through Bars
What they do: Send quality reading and educational material to prisoners, thereby promoting successful community re-integration
What they need: A variety of new and gently-used books; details on the website. Please email prior to shipping.

Little Free Library
What they do: Allow community members to build or donate books to small free public libraries
What they need: A variety of gently-used books; details on the website. 

Books for Soldiers
What they do: Facilitate the direct donation of books to soldiers serving overseas
What they need: Books and magazines (as well as CDs, DVDs, and video games) requested by soldiers

BookEnds.org
What they do: Place books in inner-city schools, youth centers, homeless shelters, family literacy centers, after-school enrichment programs, children’s group homes, and juvenile detention facilities
What they need: Quality, gently-used children’s books appropriate for infants to 18 years of age

Better World Books
What they do: Sell books to help fund literacy programs worldwide
What they need: A wide variety of books; see website for details

 

DVD’s, Language Media, and CDs

Kidflicks.org
What they do: Create movie libraries for children’s hospitals and pediatric wards across the US
What they need: DVDs

DVDs4Vets
What they do: Provide DVDs to VA facilities for veterans in rehabilitation
What they need: DVDs and portable DVD players

DiscsForDogs.org
What they do: Sell used DVDs and CDs, and donate the proceeds to the SPCA
What they need: DVDs and CDs

Musicians On Call
What they do: Provide hospitals with complete CD libraries and players for patient use
What they need: New or gently-used CDs and new, unused personal CD players

 

Arts and Crafts

The CUREchief Foundation
What they do: Bring hope to cancer patients, and people with other conditions that cause hair loss
What they need: Cotton, flannel, or polar fleece fabric

Care Wear
What they do: Provide handmade baby items to premature infants in neonatal intensive care units
What they need: Yarn, flannel, broadcloth, and other fabrics suitable for children’s toys, apparel, and blankets/quilts

A Little Something
What they do: Help refugee women in Denver, CO become self-sufficient through crafting
What they need: Leftover or unwanted beads or jewelry-making supplies, weaving fiber, knitting needles, and natural fiber yarn

Beads of Courage
What they do: Provide arts-in-medicine for children with serious illnesses
What they need: All types of beads, of any color and shape

The Mending Hearts Project
What they do: Assist low-income families, teen and single mothers, and mothers with premature infants in neonatal intensive care units
What they need: “Donations of all handcrafted items, yarn, and sewing supplies are graciously accepted.”

Afghans Etc for Charity
What they do: Brighten the lives of children with cancer and other medical issues
What they need: Crochet and knitting supplies, and handcrafted items

Binky Patrol
What they do: Distribute homemade blankets (sewn, knitted, crocheted, or quilted) to children in need
What they need: Fabric, yarn, batting, and finished blankets

The Knitting Connection
What they do: Distribute supplies to volunteers to make hats, mittens, scarves, sweaters, afghans, baby booties, layette sets, and Christmas stockings for needy children
What they need: Yarn, knitting needles, knitting books, and finished knitted/crocheted items

Many Arms Reach You
What they do: Collect and donate knitted, quilted, or crocheted blankets to disadvantaged mothers and their children
What they need: Yarn

The Mother Bear Project
What they do: Provide hand-knit and crocheted bears to children with HIV/AIDS in emerging nations
What they need: Yarn, knitting needles, PolyFil, postage stamps, packing tape

Knots of Love
What they do: Provide crocheted and knitted caps for chemo patients and others facing life-threatening illnesses and injuries
What they need: Yarn

Made 4 Aid
What they do: Sell handmade items on Etsy to raise funds for Doctors Without Borders
What they need: A variety of handmade items, as well as arts and crafts materials

Inklude Studio
What they do: Provide a creative environment for adult artists with autism and other developmental challenges
What they need: A variety of fabric, art supplies, photography and computer equipment

ArtBridge Houston
What they do: Provide an arts program for children in homeless shelters
What they need: Art supplies including paper, colored pencils, watercolor paints, paintbrushes, stencils, markers, etc.

Children’s Healing Art Project
What they do: Create art classes for children in Portland’s children’s hospitals
What they need: A variety of art supplies; see website for the current wishlist needs

 

Sports

Sports Gift
What they do: Provide sports programs and equipment to impoverished and disadvantaged children throughout the world
What they need: A wide variety of sports equipment; see website for details

One World Running
What they do: Provide running shoes to those in need in the US and throughout the world
What they need: New and near-new running shoes

Bikes for the World
What they do: Donate bicycles to developing countries, so that individuals can get to work or school, or provide health and education services to low-income rural people
What they need: Any serviceable adult or children’s bicycles, as well as bike parts, tools, and accessories

Bicycles for Humanity
What they do: Send bicycles to developing countries, to empower disadvantaged people through improved access to food and water, employment, healthcare, education and social opportunities
What they need: Bicycles, as well as bike parts, tools, clothing, helmets, tires, and tubes

Opportunity Through Baseball
What they do: Provide baseball equipment to impoverished children in the Dominican Republic and around the world
What they need: Baseballs, gloves, mitts, bats, helmets, and more

PeacePassers
What they do: Distribute soccer supplies to communities in need, to empower youth and maximize hope
What they need: Soccer gear like balls, shoes, jerseys, shorts, and socks

 

Musical Instruments

Mr. Holland’s Opus Foundation
What they do: Keep the music alive in our schools and communities by donating musical instruments to under-funded music programs
What they need: Gently-used band and orchestral instruments

Marching Mountains
What they do: Supply public school band programs in distressed counties in Appalachia with donated new and used musical instruments
What they need: Musical instruments in good working condition (mainly for marching and concert bands)

Operation Happy Note
What they do: Send musical instruments to deployed service men and women throughout the world
What they need: New or gently-used guitars, violins, mandolins, banjos, keyboards, horns of any kind, harmonicas, and even bagpipes

Education Through Music
What they do: Promote the integration of music into the curricula of disadvantaged schools in order to enhance students’ academic performance and general development
What they need: A variety of musical instruments; see website for details

 

Eyewear

Unite for Sight
What they do: Support eye care for patients living in extreme poverty in developing countries
What they need: New reading glasses, distance glasses, and sunglasses

One Sight
What they do: Provide free vision care and eyewear to people in need around the world (in some countries, a pair of eyewear costs more than a month’s salary)
What they need: 2 million pairs of gently-used eyewear

New Eyes for the Needy
What they do: Send eyeglasses to medical missions and international charitable organizations for distribution to the poor in developing nations
What they need: Eyeglasses, reading glasses, sunglasses, hearing aids

 

Vehicles

Big Brothers Big Sisters’ Cars for Kids’ Sake
What they do: Provide children facing adversity with strong and enduring, professionally supported one-to-one relationships that change their lives for the better
What they need: All types of vehicles, including cars, trucks, SUVs, motorhomes, boats, airplanes, farm equipment, and construction equipment

Habitat for Humanity Cars for Homes
What they do: Build and rehabilitate houses for families in need
What they need: Cars, trucks, boats, RVs, motorcycles, and construction equipment

American Diabetes Association
What they do: Strive to prevent and cure diabetes, and to improve the lives of all people affected by diabetes
What they need: Cars, trucks, trailers, boats, and RVs

National Kidney Foundation Kidney Cars
What they do: Fund public health and professional education, vital patient and community services, organ donation programs and medical research to prevent kidney disease
What they need: Cars, vans, trucks, and boats

National Foundation for Cancer Research
What they do: Support cancer research and public education relating to prevention, earlier diagnosis, better treatments and ultimately, a cure for cancer.
What they need: Cars, trucks, boats, and SUVs

Purple Heart
What they do: Provide a variety of programs for wounded and disabled veterans and their families
What they need: Cars, trucks, RVs, and boats

 

Miscellaneous

National Furniture Bank
What they do: Provide beds, tables, chairs, and other crucial home furnishings to over 100,000 people in need each year
What they need: Beds, dressers, nightstands, tables, chairs, sofas, lamps, and more

Project C.U.R.E.
What they do: Donate medical supplies and equipment to hospitals and clinics around the world
What they need: New and used medical equipment and supplies, including crutches, wheelchairs, and beds

UNICEF
What they do: Provide humanitarian relief to children around the globe
What they need: Foreign coins and notes

Chemo Angels
What they do: Brighten the lives of those undergoing IV chemo treatment
What they need: Retailer gift cards, valid or expired (can still be used in CA)

TESSA
What they do: Provide safety and counseling to victims of domestic violence and sexual assault in El Paso and Teller counties
What they need: Grocery and retailer gift cards and used cell phones

Make-A-Wish Foundation
What they do: Grant wishes to children with life-threatening medical conditions
What they need: Retailer gift cards and gift certificates

St. Jude’s Ranch
What they do: Serve all abused, abandoned, and neglected children and families in a safe, homelike environment
What they need: Used greeting cards

Overseas Coupon Program
What they do: Facilitate the sending of coupons to overseas military personnel and their families
What they need: Manufacturer’s coupons, valid and expired (up to 2 months)

 

General Recycling and Downcycling

Teracycle
What they do: Facilitate the sending of hard to recycle goods to companies and foundations needing your recyclable items
What they need: Various recycled goods; see website for more details; free program

Freecycle
What they do: Facilitate local posting of free goods and bartering opportunities
What they need: See site for more details; free program

Buy Nothing Project
What they do: Facilitate local posting of free goods and bartering opportunities
What they need: See site for more details; free program

Pots & Pans Outlet
What they do: Information provided on recycling metal pots and pans; treated and non-treated products
What they need: See site for more details; free program

Recycle Bank
What they do: Search engine and database for all North American recycling programs & point earning online games for kids
What they need: See site for more details; free program

Earth 911
What they do: Search engine and database for all North American recycling programs
What they need: See site for more details; free program

Recycle Now
What they do: Database for all North American hard-to-recycle item programs
What they need: See site for more details; free program

5 Minimalist Valentine’s Day Gift Ideas

Please note, this post is sponsored by MyGiftStop.com. All opinions expressed are my own. My site’s full disclosure policy can be seen here. Thank you!

 

Whether we like it or not, Valentines Day is almost here. Which can be difficult a difficult time of the year for those with the perpetual decluttering bug. As what gift can you give your loved ones that actually conveys your love and adoration for those nearest and dearest to you, while remaining affordable and clutter-free?

This is especially true for minimalists. Those who are seeking to lavish their love on others without living in a cluttered space, here are 5 gift ideas that might help you find just the right gift for your loved ones this coming Valentine’s Day.

Image result for canva valentine

DIY vouchers: Make your own individual digital or printable voucher. consider giving the gift of a day without the kids, a day of cleaning, handyman services, or a couple’s massage at home. The possibilities are endless. Looking for an affordable design tool? Check out Canva – it’s an awesome freebie design tool.

Canva hosts a ton of free templates and design layouts that allow you to upload your own, customized, unique vouchers, cards, and gifts. In under 5 minutes, you can give your loved ones a gift truly from the heart! A gift anyone would be happy to receive! 

5 Minimalist Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Featuring MyGiftShop.com

Volunteer together: While this gift might not seem like the most romantic gesture in the world, volunteering together can bring couples closer than ever. Plugging into a volunteer position, where your loved one’s talents shine, can help you both feel better about yourself as well as fostering a sense of purpose in the world.

Then what’s the best way to end a day of giving back to others and promoting kindness in your community? A well-deserved dinner out, that is! And you’ll then have plenty feel-good stuff to discuss over dinner too! 

5 Minimalist Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Featuring MyGiftShop.com

Breakfast in bed: Can you think of a better way of lavishing love on others than a homemade breakfast in bed? Especially a pancake breakfast in bed! Be still my heart, and ever-expanding waistline! A simple homemade breakfast is a fast and economical way of showing others how much you care!

Looking for a healthier alternative? Pancakes made with mashed bananas, organic vanilla extract, almond milk, and coconut flour are as nutritious as they are delicious! Give them a try this year! 

5 Minimalist Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Featuring MyGiftShop.com

Write a letter to each other: Before you envision your partner rolling their eyes at this gesture, hear me out: Prose and poetry can not only convey your love and affection to others but help you share sentiments that often get left unsaid. Sharing how much you appreciate someone speaks volumes. Especially on the most romantic day of the year.

Grab some nice paper and a couple of cute envelopes and write the letter the night before to exchange on Valentine’s Day. It’s sweet. It’s old-fashioned. And in your own minimalist way, you can give Lord Byron a run for his money. 

Give an awesome online gift: While it’s easy to say that as a minimalist we should only invest in experience gifts, that’s simply not true. For many, giving tangible gifts is simple their love language. Especially when you can give gifts online, with minimal mess, and with various budget-styles in mind.

One of my favorite online shops, My Gift Stop, an online shop offering luxury goods dedicated to giving back to society, is one of my favorite places to shop each Valentine’s Day.

5 Minimalist Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Featuring MyGiftShop.com

My favorite part? With each order, My Gift Stop will donate 5% of every sale to the global medical relief nonprofit, Direct Relief. Making this a minimalist, feel-good way to give to others this coming season.

With the Valentine’s Day right around the corner, My Gift Stop may just be your perfect online shopping solution. They partner directly with manufacturers to bring shoppers some of the world’s most popular luxury goods and brands at affordable prices.

With everything from watches, bags, jewelry, shoes, fragrances, sunglasses and even household items, for both men and women available at price points suitable to everyone’s budget, there’s something available for all your loved ones this coming Valentine’s Day! 

5 Minimalist Valentine's Day Gift Ideas Featuring MyGiftShop.com

I particularly love their Bering 11429-999 Women’s Ceramic Watch and Swarovski Purple Duo Crystal Accented Women’s Adjustable Alcantara Bracelet. Both fun, beautiful, and thoughtful gifts this Valentine’s Day! 

Friends, I encourage you to check out My Gift Stop this Valentine’s Day. Because if giving gifts, especially luxury gifts to others, is your love language then this is the online shop for you!

There’s something for everyone. Even if just for yourself. There’s something to be said about the gift of self-love and self-care on Valentine’s Day too!

Being a minimalist doesn’t mean you have to give yourself or others anything other than the very best! After all, what’s better than shopping online, doing without the hassle of traffic and crowds, and helping others in the process! 

Image result for my gift stop

What’s even better? The great folks at My Gift Shop are offering one reader the chance to win their very own $500.00 gift card to My Gift Stop. To enter, simply click here! 

Remember, no purchase is necessary. While only one participant will win a $500 Gift Card to MyGiftStop.com, all other participants will receive a 10% off coupon via email good towards any products. This giveaway is open to domestic and international individuals aged 18 and older only; void where prohibited.

This giveaway is set to close on Monday, February 5, 2018, at 11:59 PM EST. The winner will be selected randomly on Thursday, February 8, 2018, and will be notified by email, so be sure to add mygiftstop.com to your safe list. Unclaimed prizes will be forfeited after 48 hours from notification.

My Gift Stop reserves the right to select another winner. Winners agree to allow My Gift Stop to publish his/her name as a giveaway winner and to promote future giveaways and promotions and participant agrees that his/her email will be added to our email newsletter to receive private sales, new product updates, and other marketing emails. Good luck, everyone!

So now I want to ask, what are your go-to Valentine’s Day gift ideas? And what’s your favorite item on My Gift Stop? I’d love to hear about it below!

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Why your child’s classroom needs the ClassDojo App

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

It’s hard to believe that it’s already the back-to-school season! With so much going on to get your little ones ready for the new academic year at hand, from buying supplies to attending open houses, it’s hard to focus on everything you need to know to help your child do their best this coming year. That’s where apps such as ClassDojo come into play.

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

ClassDojo is a digital classroom management tool designed to help teachers improve student behavior and communicate more effectively with parents. Using the app, teachers can create trackable classroom goals and behaviors to help keep students on track for success, such as turning in homework, participating in class, or staying on task. Using a smartphone, tablet, or computer, teachers can give or take away points throughout the school day in regards to each assigned goal or task.

Each student’s points can then be displayed via a smart board in-class as well as send electronically to parents daily, weekly, or quarterly as well. Giving parents the ability to see the progress of their student wirelessly. 

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

Something fun about ClassDojo? Each student receives an avatar. Which can be personalized by student, class, team, school, or project! These avatars are a great tool to get the kids to buy into the personal responsibility teachers and parents hope to see them develop. ClassDojo also presents teachers and parents with the ability to streamline their communication which helps to help identify and moderate behaviors. By offering an easy way for teachers to note behaviors as they happen digitally, this app reduces time away from in-class instruction.

ClassDojo allows teachers to gather more personalized behavior and grading data about individual student and in return, communicate feedback nearly instantaneously to their child’s parent. Which is why the ClassDojo app now used in 90% of all K-8 schools in the U.S. and 180 countries around the world!

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

While some may feel that a public points system doesn’t foster community or promote a positive way for children to feel inside the classroom, I believe that by presenting good behavior as a measurable, tangible incentive it gives children a visual reminder of how they are doing, much like a public behavior chart, and also gives children the ability to self-modify their behavior in a real and lasting way. By attaching names to actions, students can digitally learn better ways to communicate and respond. This also pumps much needed time back into the classroom. While some sensitive children may need extra time to respond to the app, it’s a valuable lesson just the same!

ClassDojo also offers many different ways to use its product, including anonymous avatars and not displaying points at all, depending on the teacher’s needs. As well, ClassDojo is an app that is meant to work hand-in-hand with various districts, parishes, co-ops, and homeschooling code of ethics, to work seamlessly with a teacher’s existing classroom management arsenal.

Something else to consider is how effective ClassDojo can be in regards to time restraints. Imagine the time that can be spent monitoring the behavior of students digitally. While some issues will still need to be addressed in a one-on-one capacity, the ability to use a smart board to display behaviors can be self-correcting if used in a real and lasting manner. Then there is the matter of positive behavioral rewards. While, generally speaking, praise should be delivered immediately in a sincere manner to students, the ability to let parents also onto these same awesome behaviors can continue the praise for positive behavior long after students leave the classroom.

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

ClassDojo is also a great way to promote direct communication with parents. Every parent wants to be able to check in on their child’s behavior and progress. And sometimes waiting for 9-week reports just won’t do. So when utilizing ClassDojo parents can get a heads up on behavior when they need to know. ClassDojo helps ensure the parents, students, and the teachers are on the same side when it comes to academic excellence at home, including the use of the Classdojo in-app messengering feature.

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

One of the major reasons for ClassDojo’s success is that it utilized mindfulness. Which has been shown that regular mindfulness practice — even just a few minutes per day- improves students’ optimism, reduces stress, and increases students’ ability to feel empathy for others.

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

ClassDojo also conducted a national survey that found that only 13% of teachers and parents, including homeschooling parents, reported having a mindfulness practice at their school, while a whopping 70% of those surveyed want to find ways of utilizing mindfulness in their classrooms. Which is why mindfulness is such a key reasons for the app’s success. You can see here ClassDojo brings mindful behavior into classrooms. 

ClassDojo gives parents teachable moments and up-to-date information about their students, as well as a functional line of communication directly with teachers without decreasing the amount of face-to-face communication needed outside the classroom. Finally, ClassDojo gives students the ability to shine. Not with food or lost-in-the-moment dollar store prizes but with the child’s ability to excel based on their own merits in their own eyes and in those of their classmates. Who doesn’t enjoy being a hero or the victor who overcame the discourse of the day? 

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

As a parent, who wouldn’t want tools that directly connect their parenting to the classroom in an effective and lasting manner? I sure can’t think of anyone who would. Which is why I can see the value of ClassDojo as one of the best tools that can be digitally implemented in classrooms today. Especially as it can be used in a careful, sensitive way that encourages social and emotional learning for students of all learning and behavioral styles.

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

I have met numerous teachers, including my husband, that have implemented ClassDojo is truly meaningful ways in their classroom, and continue to use the program because of its ability to streamline excellence in real and lasting ways for students. where they have not used the ranking, nor made it public, but rather used it as a way to track behaviors within the classroom.
 
The ClassDojo app aims to give students a voice, share moments of praise with parents, and progressively and measurably help to promote a positive in-class culture of sound recognition, up-to-the-minute progress visualization, and gamification of basic classroom behavior management techniques. ClassDojo gives teachers the ability to give students digital high-fives, to reward students with points for a job well done, and give parents immediate feedback on the projects their child worked on in class or behavioral needs.

Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

While there is no perfect system for in-class behavioral tracking, ClassDojo can be the bridge parents, students, and teachers need to help students perform at their very best! Which is why I’m glad to be partnering with Classdojo to bring you a fun back-to-school giveaway! One lucky winner will receive a ClassDojo package, including 2 Large Print Posters, including the new Mindfulness poster, 3 skills print posters, and a limited edition Mojo Plushie; a retail price of $150.00. All of which can be seen here.

To enter, please use the rafflecopter giveaway function below. Please note, this giveaway will be open to US residents 18 years of age and older, all entries will be counted and verified, multiple entries, including ISP addresses, that abuse the giveaway option will be deleted, and all giveaway prizes will be provided by ClassDojo directly to this giveaways winner. The LadyPrefers2Save will not be responsible for missed or lost shipments from this giveaway. This giveaway will end at 11:59 pm CST 8/8/17. Good luck, everyone!

So parents, does your child’s teacher use Classdojo or if you homeschool, is this a program you would consider using at home this academic year? Or do you currently use a class dojo? Tell me how it works in your classroom or how you would like to see it used in your child’s classroom in the comments below! 

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Why your child's classroom needs the ClassDojo App

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Book Review: Miss Brenda and the Loveladies: A Heartwarming True Story of Grace, God, and Gumption, by Brenda Spahn & Irene Zutell

 

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Hello, savvy savers! Today I wanted to share with you a book review for a novel I just finished reading, Miss Brenda and the Loveladies: A Heartwarming True Story of Grace, God, and Gumption, by Brenda Spahn and Irene Zutell.

Imagine growing up comfortable enough not to starve, but poor enough to feel the anguish and shame of knowing you are from the wrong side of the tracks. Picture the cruelty of knowing that the only way you could indicatively feel loved and appreciated, was to pledge a vow of wealth, to push yourself to strive to lead a successful life, so that if your family and so-called friends did not love you, the world would one day care for you, if even for your money alone. These are the humble beginnings of Brenda Spahn. This book is a true life accounting of a woman, whose inner-child narrated a story of rags to riches, nearly letting your riches become rags, and using those rags to invoke a life-changing event, so powerful that the only way her story would be believable, was by the written word.

Her’s is the story of whirlwind life, her drive to overcome personal hopelessness, to becoming a successful wife, mother, entrepreneur, and eventual voice for the downtrodden, abused, and listfully oppressed women of the Alabama Judicial System. In the book, Spahn is portrayed as an unlikely, and at first, unwilling hero. When her tax preparation business came under scrutiny for alleged improprieties, Spahn and her daughter, facing the possibility of a lengthy prison sentence, found redemption from further prosecution, by way of community service. Through this experience, Spahn realized her life’s work, outreach ministry to the same imprisoned women, she and her daughter, narrowly escaped being.

Spahn’s story, and the overall tone of the book, drastically changes as she willingly gave up all her wealth and prestige to aid the lost, helpless, and broken women described in this book, as a means of personal redemption in light of past self-inflicted legal transgressions, but finds herself invoked by a calling believably beyond her own understanding. This book also explains the humble beginnings of Spahn’s Loveladies Outreach home and facility. How her desire to bring forth change to a few select women’s correctional inmates, brought forth a message of personal growth and understanding, in terms of institutional changes that needed to lobbied against, on behalf of the women whom Spahn aided, her Loveladies.

This book is also about demons. The demons of addiction, abuse of the grandest kind, self-loathing,  and the systematic hopelessness of the women behind bars. Spahn, believing her personal relationship with her creator, will be all she will need to aid her out of the conundrums and obstacles that face her, her Loveladies, and the way she is viewed in her community. Spahn is nothing short of an non-profit daredevil, and she even jokingly admits to breaking into a prison, to bring to light the ails of certain women being ignored by a parole board.

A word to describe Spahn’s efforts, gumption. Miss Brenda and the Loveladies is the story of how this transformation came into place. Despite limited community, family, parole board approval, and at times from the Loveladies themselves, Spahn persevered. If the story had been about her personal discovery and beginning of her 501-C-3 organization, this would be a compelling story, for Spahn this was not enough, she would not stop until she was able to spread her message as far and wide as she could; she now runs the largest transitional center for women in the country by way of her “whole-way” house rehabilitation program. Her story is eye-opening, infuriating, saddening, and uplifting all at the same time.

The message of this book is above par, and worth reading. However, style-wise, I felt a continually changing narrative throughout the text as somewhat cluttered, a distraction, and somewhat forced the middle of the book to lag. But again, this is a gritty urban tale which neither seems to fit the mold of any other book I have ever read. Readers should also note, the text does include colorful language, adult dialogue, and behavior that is not child-appropriate due to the nature and reality of the narrative.

Spahn’s book, helps foster the idea that there is a loving, charming, child like selflessness of inside those whom many would regard as the deluge of society. Her story held my interest in a wide-eyed, ready to sign petitions, and march the square manner of thinking. Her story, their stories, force the reader to delve deeper into their own empathetic selves and realize, that if not for the socioeconomic, educational, or regional differences we share with the women in this book, you yourself could have been one of the Loveladies.

For a book designed for uplifting the ideas of those in either the ministry or in the grassroots movement-sector, I feel this book could be read, understood, and memorialized by anyone. This book gives the reader something more than an uplifting story, it gives the reader something to eternally believe in, humanity.
I highly recommend this book.

In compliance with FTC regulation, I hereby disclaim that I received a free copy of the book from Waterbrook Multnomah Publishers, via the Blogging for Books Program in exchange for my review. I was not compensated for this review. All opinions of this book, its author, and publisher, are that of my own.

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