Helping Hearts, Blog of Anne Sanders

Everybody has their own way to make a difference in the world. Some have the time to volunteer a regular amount of time every week.   Others give regularly to their charity of choice. Still others raise money for sporting events in which they participate. Some spend time on the computer clicking for a cause or e-mentoring. My husband and oldest sister donate in another way. They give blood to help save lives. January is National Blood Donor Month because during the winter people give blood less often.   Yet the need does not go away during the winter months.   In fact the Red Cross reports that every two seconds in the United States, someone needs blood and 44,000 units of blood are needed every day.   One pint of blood can help save up to three lives. Here are 25 more quick facts about giving blood. My husband has tons of t-shirts from all the blood drives he does. Donors can give every eight weeks. However, he sometimes travels to places that delay his...

During this time of new year’s resolutions, people look inward to discover what it is they would like to change about themselves and their lives. It’s a wonderfully revolutionary time that can mean goal setting and real change throughout a new year. Unfortunately, often people don’t have resources to support their goals which causes them to falter and fall away from their lofty intentions.   For those of you that want to do more to change the world in the new year, I’m going to provide support for you. Throughout the year, I’ll give you ways to help nonprofits, find volunteering opportunities and take small actions that can make a big difference. In that spirit, I’m going to provide four great sites for getting more involved in 2012.   These sites have lots of resources for making a difference and are also organized to help you find the best cause for you. They also have something in common. They all offer petitions that you can support or places that you can start yo...

In 2011, I made a resolution to exercise more, at least 2-3 times a week. It’s a resolution that I’ve kept throughout the year unless I was sick. It’s a popular resolution because we all know how good exercise is for us and many of us would like to lose a few pounds, too. Two things helped me keep this resolution more than anything else. First, I made a friend who was my exercise buddy on Tuesdays and Thursdays. We ran/walked together using the Galloway method to prevent injury and increase running speed. My exercise partner is the best and I highly recommend getting one. Now that it’s too cold for us to run outside, we meet and work out together at a gym on those two days that we have set aside for our health. Secondly, I began using a website dedicated to helping others. You might ask how this would help me keep up my workouts. That’s a good question. The site is Plus 3 Network . It’s a place to log your exercise time and sponsors give money to a charity of your choice when yo...

January is National Mentoring Month. When most people think of mentoring, they think of volunteers spending time with young people and helping them become adults. That is an important form of mentoring, but there are mentors that help adults as well. When mentoring is partnered with microfinance in the poorest parts of the world, people learn how to make their own opportunities to succeed.   The newest mentoring opportunities in business are set up by organizations that want new businesses to bloom and grow. Business leaders can volunteer to share their knowledge with young entrepreneurs building their own businesses across the world. MicroMentor provides small businesses with mentors who are willing to share their experience owning or managing businesses. Through telephone calls, MicroMentor mentors work with entrepreneurs so no in-person meetings are required. Agora Partnerships is another mentoring organization that focuses on young entrepreneurs who are addressing socia...

On this, the next to last day of 2011, I’m looking back as well as forward to see what I might do differently in 2012.   I heard on the radio yesterday that losing weight is not in the top three for resolutions any more.   Instead reading more, traveling more, and volunteering more are the new top resolutions. Well, since I’m halfway through writing my own book and just got a Kindle for Christmas, I’d have to agree with the first one.   I also love to travel and have visited nine other countries and gone around the world.   I’d love to add more to that total.   But I think I’d change the last resolution slightly. In 2011, I volunteered six hours a week for the American Cancer Society.   I ran in charity 5Ks.   I worked in a soup kitchen, sent items to soldiers and pajamas to orphans and donated to several charities. I helped lead an American Cancer Society Relay for Life team for my church and raised donations on my own.   I gave food and mone...

I’m fighting a cold today and definitely feeling under the weather so my blog will be shorter than usual.   I read somewhere once that people enjoy and remember experiences more than gifts.   It makes sense. I will have forgotten who gave me a scarf for Christmas three years ago, but I won’t forget when my husband and I went parasailing last summer. So I’m about to share a great place you can buy one of a kind experiences.   I couldn’t end the giving season of the year without mentioning CharityBuzz .   Now, you can give an exciting experience to your loved one that cannot be found in any store.   The great thing about it is that the money you spend on the experience will also go to a charity. What kind of experiences are available? Meet and greets with celebrities and sports figures, trips of a lifetime, concerts, cooking classes and   consultations with a professional life coach or famous designer are just a few of the items up for bid. It’s all done ...

Christmas is getting closer but it’s not too late to do something to make a difference this holiday.   The unique items below can be given with the best intentions—to help others.   You can also send the notice of the present by email or in many cases, you can print out your own card to hand to your friend or family member.   Sight for the Blind in Nepal from Alternative Gifts International - $110 pays for lens implant surgery for one person or $33 pays for equipment, training, or outreach for an eye care clinic. Soccer Ball for Needy Children from Compassion International - $13 pays for soccer balls and sport camps for kids who wouldn’t otherwise be able to play.   A llama from Heifer International – A share is $20 while a whole llama is $150.   Heifer provides all kinds of animals from chicks to water buffalo to families that can use them to generate income and useful resources for the family. Crickets from Mercy Corps International – for $33, t...