Sunday, November 27, 2022

#GivingTuesday 2022: What is it and why do we give?

 


Giving Tuesday is just a day away. My heart seems to grow six times its size when I see many of our families hosting Facebook fundraisers and sharing a bit about why they donate to Children's Craniofacial Association. And who am I kidding, I also love reading reflections by people hosting Facebook funders for other nonprofits that positively impacted their lives. This tradition that began in 2012 galvanized many to give consistently to nonprofits and NGOs around the world each year. 

The effort began at New York City's  92nd Street Y and its Belfer Center for Innovation & Social Impact. In just 10 years, #GivingTuesday became, "an independent nonprofit and a global movement that inspires hundreds of millions of people to give, collaborate, and celebrate generosity." Their focus for the next 10 years is on radical generosity, hoping we can snuff out suffering through a movement of giving freely to support our communities. 

Ten years ago, when I first read about #GivingTuesday while on the board of another nonprofit, I thought, "Well great! Three days of sin followed by a single day of atonement. One day to support the work we do all year long?" This didn't seem fair in my Catholic mind. It wasn't enough. As the years wore on more and more nonprofits joined the campaign of giving, and what it lacked in the number of days devoted to the cause, GivingTuesday gained with an increase in participation by a rising tide of nonprofits. 

In the world of fundraising high participation is everything. What makes people participate?  Yes, I think offsetting the holiday splurging on our loved ones, and let's face it, ourselves (the deals are just too good!). But it's more... Giving Tuesday is about honoring the impact that these nonprofits have on our lives. An organization like CCA Kids, can take a family or individual from the depths of despair back to a state of hope, wonder, and possibility. Life-giving, life-returning, life-altering narratives flow throughout our community each told by a grateful heart. 

  • A trip to a medical center that will help solve the riddles of a medically complex child. 
  • A care package sent after the mid-face surgery (the big one for many of our kids). 
  • A virtual program that helped support someone's mental health during a particularly difficult time. 
  • Or perhaps, a scholarship to our Annual Retreat for a family to be in community with people with shared life experiences

Hope takes many different forms. It's easy to see why so many feel hope is in the realm of the divine. 

Reading about these powerful experiences on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, and on other social media platforms is heartening as we all take stock of the year that was 2022. For the staff, board members, volunteers, all charged with carrying forward CCA's mission, we recognize through your photos and stories that we have done our jobs. For members of the CCA Kids community, we cheer each other on and honor one another by starting a Facebook fundraiser, hosting an event, or putting out a jar at our place of work to accept small donations to make sure the hand of CCA is there for the next person in need. For we know all too well that the next person in need could be us or someone we care deeply for in our tight-knit community. 

Do what you can with what you have available to you. As people with facial differences, we improvise in our daily lives with that adage in mind. Don't feel obligated to donate a lump sum of money. Instead, let's keep spreading the word about #GivingTuesday. Even after 10 years of service to a world of nonprofits, someone you know and love may not know about this day to give back to those whom keep us whole and filled with hope. 

Donate today to our community Facebook fundraiser or start your own on Facebook. All donations are processed with no additional fees. All profits go to Children's Craniofacial Association. 

Monday, November 21, 2022

Packing the Hospital Bag: 6 Tips for Dads 

 



Editor's Note: Today we have a guest post from Josh Moore of Diaperdads.org. He has some helpful suggestions on what to pack when you go to the hospital. Please also see our overviews for other ideas to help you prepare for an upcoming hospital stay.

By Josh Moore

Your wife is due to give birth in a month or so, and you want to make sure that you’re both prepared for your hospital stay. Dads can pitch in when it comes to packing the hospital bags! You can find lots of helpful packing tips - and parenting advice - from the Children’s Craniofacial Association. Here are a few suggestions to get you started, from essential devices to clothing for mom and baby!

Tech Devices and Chargers

Don’t forget your tech devices at home! Make sure to pack a tablet in the hospital bag. Tablets are affordable, and since they have large screens, you can easily use them to video chat with family members who live far away! Plus, you’ll be able to browse the internet, answer emails, and handle other simple computer tasks.

Of course, you’ll also want to pack your phones and long charger cords. Furthermore, if you know that you’ll need to wrap up some work while your wife is at the hospital, bring your laptop and charger, too.

Paperwork

You’ll need lots of paperwork when you get to the hospital. The Planning Mom states that you’ll have to pack a photo ID and health insurance card, hospital registration paperwork, any relevant health insurance documents, your wife’s birth plan, and paperwork for your child’s new pediatrician. Check in with your wife’s OB/GYN to see if you need any additional documents.

Clothing

Your wife will need clothing for her due date, such as a gown or robe that she is willing to get rid of after giving birth. The hospital will not provide maternity clothes, so make sure to pack postpartum cotton panties, nursing bras, slipper socks, pajamas, basic t-shirts, and loose pants. You will also want to bring onesies for your baby.

Toiletries

After giving birth, your wife will need lots of postpartum toiletry products. It’s important to stock up on these well ahead of her due date and bring the necessary items to the hospital to keep her feeling clean and comfortable. Very Well Family states that you’ll want to invest in maternity pads, mesh underwear, chux pads, a squirt bottle, gauze, and nipple cream. Your wife’s OB/GYN will undoubtedly have more suggestions for hygiene products!

Entertainment

You might assume that once your wife begins having contractions, the baby will arrive shortly - but labor can take quite a while! New parents are often waiting in the hospital for quite a while until they can finally welcome their baby. Therefore, you should bring a few items for entertainment, like a good book or a journal, so that you can remember this moment.

Snacks

Some women are able to eat while in labor, while others cannot. However, it’s a good idea to pack a few snacks in your hospital bag anyway. While the hospital will have vending machines and a cafeteria, their offerings might be pricey, and depending on your wife’s dietary preferences, they may not have options that she likes. Your wife will be able to have breath mints and lozenges, so keep some of these on hand. Furthermore, you can pack snacks like granola bars, muffins, trail mix, nuts, applesauce pouches, and fresh or dried fruit.

By packing up a hospital bag for your wife ahead of time, you can ensure that you’re both ready to head out the door when she goes into labor. She’ll be grateful to have your help with this task! From tech devices you can’t forget to fun entertainment options, you can follow these tips to guide the packing process.

Are you seeking advice on raising children with craniofacial conditions? Turn to the Children’s Craniofacial Association! Browse our blog today to find the answers to your biggest questions.

Photo via Pexels

Friday, November 11, 2022

Writing Prompts From The Mighty To Reflect On Your Year

 

[?utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=Mental%20Health%20Newsletter%20-%20November%2011,%202022&utm_source=cordial]
👋 from Mighty staffer Nina

Because sometimes you just need to write something down.

The end of the year is fast approaching and one word I would use to describe what this year was like for me is… full. Full of positive and new experiences, growth, changes, and progress; but also full of challenging experiences, grief, yearning, and loss. Getting to know myself in those experiences has definitely shaken up my self-awareness, but I made it to this point and I can't help but be proud of myself for that.One thing I've noticed about having bigger experiences this year is the need for me to write things down. It's easy for big emotions and ideas to just float around in my head and slowly spiral into something huge. For me, my pen and a blank piece of paper have saved me from that spiral time and time again.If you want to reflect about your year with me, here are some reflection prompts and activities we can write about together:
  1. What emotions are you feeling the most today? How are you navigating those feelings?
  2. What experiences would you say set the tone for the year? What memories float to the top?
  3. What are three things you want to do before the year is up?
Happy writing,Nina, from The Mighty