Do Something Good Tuesday

Today’s “Do Something Good” activity isn’t necessarily local, but it is quick and easy and is something everyone reading this post can do.

GiveBack.org was the creation of Steven Paletta through Oprah’s Big Give and is an easy way for people to organize, track, and maximize their charitable giving.

Here’s how it works: Create your own “foundation”. Pick a charity. Donate. It takes all of 5 minutes. You can use the same foundation to donate to any number of charities and at the end of the year you’ll get one statement for your taxes. Plain and simple: If a charity is registered as a non-profit with the IRS, then you can donate to it via GiveBack.org. 100% of the donation goes to the charity.

Sign up right now and get $5 automatically placed in your foundation account. You can add to that $5 or donate it immediately.

GiveBack.org also makes it easy to set aside money for charitable giving. Every time you shop through one of their merchant partners, a percentage of your purchase goes directly into your “foundation” account. And then you can donate that money to the charity or organization of your choice. Target is one the partners! So if you do your normal, everyday Target shopping through GiveBack.org, you’ll be raising money for your favorite charities without even changing your budget.

River Park “Mothers” Club + Meals for Moms

River Park neighborhood boundaries

(Image found here)

If you are a River Park resident you might have heard of the River Park Mothers Club— they have been around for 57 years now. Yes, FIFTY SEVEN years. What was originally formed as a way for new mothers to connect and support each other has become a network of 88 members and growing. “River Park Families Club” might be more accurate, as the club now has stay-at-home dads and grandparents raising their grandchildren as members.

The most popular draw to the River Park Mothers Club is their “Meals for Moms” program where they bring meals to families who have just had a baby. Another mother will show up at the home of the new arrival with a meal, a friendly face and, in some cases, extra hands to hold that new bundle of joy so the new mom can take a shower. That alone is worth its weight in gold.

Even after the families are beyond the newborn stage the River Park Mothers Club serves as discussion group, an events calendar and a way to get involved with small groups (such as a toddler group, for example.)

For more information about the River Park Mothers Club contact club president, Jill Bornemann at jbournemann@yoga-bags.com or 415.846.1497.

Has your neighborhood formed any kind of group? Let us know! We would love to help get the word out and encourage East Sacramento families to connect.

Flapjack 5K and Short Stack Kids Run

Are you sensing a common theme in this week’s posts? It’s very subtle, but this week has been all about the weekend! December 12th is a busy day for East Sacramentans. If you don’t already have plans to party with Santa at the McKinley Library or hit up the Second Saturday festivities, take the kids to participate in the Flapjack 5K and Short Stack Kids Run!

Caleb Greenwood School is hosting a Short Stack Kids 1/4 mile run for ages 5 and under, a 1/2 mile run for ages 6-9 and a 5K for everyone else. The Short Stack runs begin at 8AM with the 5K following. There will be a pancake breakfast (of course) from 8-11AM that is open to all. Not a fan of getting up that early to run? How about getting up that early to cheer on the runners and help out? Volunteers are needed!

Registration is $10 for ages 13 and younger, $25 for 14 and up, and every participant will receive a t-shirt. Click here to complete registration online.

For more information click here. Caleb Greenwood is located at 5457 Carlson Drive in River Park. If you are a resident of River Park, remember that there will be some street closures on Saturday morning. Plan accordingly!

We’ll see you there!

P.S. Have we mentioned there is a giveaway on Friday? Be sure to check back!

Anyone participating in the Flapjack 5K this weekend? Have you participated in the past? Any tips for parents wanting to join in with their kiddos?

Santa’s Toy Shoppe (or Story Time with Santa)

This will be my baby’s first Christmas and one thing I’ve been looking forward to is taking him to get the traditional “Santa picture”. The funny part is that I’m not one of those parents who wants to raise my child to believe in Santa! My parents have pictures of my brothers and I sitting on Santa’s lap in the mall when we were growing up and they are all hilarious– whether it’s the classic “unknowing baby” picture, the poplar “screaming toddler” shot, or eventually the  “grinning-from-ear-to-ear kid” photo.

Rather than standing in line at the mall (which this East Sac Mom avoids at all costs) we’ll be heading over to Santa’s Toy Shoppe in midtown this year! The Toy Shoppe is sponsored by the Midtown Business Association and is located at 1801 L Street in suite 70. Admission to see Santa is $3 per child (under 12) with a toy donation or $5 without. Proceeds for photos with Santa go to benefit the Sacramento Sheriff’s Toy Project and the CBS 13/CW31 Good Day to Give campaign. The Shoppe is also a donation location for the Good Day to Give campaign.

Santa’s Toy Shoppe is open this Friday (December 4th) through Sunday, December 20th the following days and times:

Fridays 4-8PM
Saturday 10AM-4PM
Sunday 10AM-5PM

Special hours include Sunday, December 5th after the Parade of Lights (6-8PM) as well as Monday, December 21st through Wednesday, December 23rd (12-4PM.)

Maybe your kids are over Santa Clause? You can still participate and be a volunteer in the Toy Shoppe! Give the Midtown Business Association at 916.442.1500 to see how you can help.

For more information about Santa’s Toy Shoppe click here or call 916.442.1500.

Do you take your kids to have their picture taken with Santa? Do you remember going when you were younger? Know any good Santa’s to get your picture taken with? We’d love to know! Leave us a comment below.

We’ll see you there!

Coats for Kids Winter Coat Drive

This will be my first holiday season as a mother and one of the most important values I seek to instill in my child is compassion for others. While I look for opportunities all year long to demonstrate kindness and generosity toward those in need, there is something about the holidays that makes me more mindful of ways to give back.

Now through December 18th families can donate new or “gently used” coats to News 10’s Coats for Kids drive. Over the past 18 years over 440,000 coats have been donated to children and families in need in the Sacramento area.  This year, the goal is to collect 30,000 coats.

How many coats do you own? How many do your children own? How many still fit them??? Consider donating jackets to the cause and take advantage of this teachable moment to encourage your children to think of others.

In addition to doing a great thing and supporting our community, you can get a little *bonus* for your donations at the following East Sacramento businesses:

• Mikuni (1530 J Street) – order the Big Red Roll and 100% of the proceeds go to Coats for Kids
• Deeda Salon (1734 34th Street) – 10% off hair and skin services with a donation
• Giovanni’s Pizza (6200 Folsom Blvd) – $5 off any large pizza with a donation

For more information and additional donation sites click here.

Have you donated to this cause in years past? Do you intend to participate this year? We’d love to hear any other holiday traditions you have that allow you to teach your children to give back. Comment below!

Great American River Clean Up

“The mission of the American River Parkway Foundation is to foster environmental stewardship, facilitate volunteer opportunities and fund projects and programs on the American River Parkway that support the preservation, protection, enhancement and appreciation of the parkway natural resources.”

Mark your calendars for Saturday, September 19th so you can participate in the Great American River Clean Up sponsored by the American River Parkway Foundation.

In our area, Friends of Grant Park will be participating beginning at Sutter’s Landing Park (the north end of 28th Street) at 9:00AM. This is a fabulous way to teach your children about the impact our actions have on the environment AND offer them some community service experience! The Great American River Clean Up is open to any and all ages, however participants under the age of 18 will need to come prepared with a consent form signed by their parents. You can click here to get to the volunteer registration form.

Friends of Grant Park suggest, “To make the day more enjoyable, please be on time, leave the dogs at home, and bring gloves, sunblock, mosquito repellent, drinking water, and a snack. You also might want to wear a hat, long pants, a long-sleeved shirt, and sturdy shoes.”

For more information click here or call 916.486.2773.

East Sac Mom would LOVE to hear feedback from this event. Please submit your pictures and reviews afterwards! We hope for a fantastic turn-out and, as always, we’ll see you there!