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RACK – Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

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Tis’ the season to get into the holiday spirit! We are RACKing up Random Acts of Christmas Kindness this season, and we would love for you to join us! We are spreading the joy of the holidays by performing a Random Act of Christmas Kindness each day throughout December. It’s the perfect way to enjoy the true reason for the season… family, togetherness, community, and giving!

The best part of participating in even the smallest act of kindness and/or giving is that generosity and kindness are contagious!

Goodness spurs goodness: A single act can influence dozens more.

Please join us for our 8th Annual RACK! We are showering the Baton Rouge community with Christmas Kindness all month long!

RACK – Random Acts of Christmas Kindness

What is RACK, and how does it work?

 It’s a way to infuse holiday spirit in others by performing a Random Act of Christmas Kindness throughout December! Many do a RACK a day for 25 days leading up to Christmas, an advent of sorts. However, we are asking you to join us in doing what you can, when you can, however big, however small. Be creative and lead with your heart! Most importantly, get the whole family involved!

We have created printable RACK cards in different sizes; print and attach them to your RACK. Although there are many ways to offer a RACK, we have put together an extensive list of ideas and a calendar if you want to follow a list of acts.

RACK – Random Acts of Christmas Kindness Ideas:

  1. Rake the yard of a neighbor who can’t rake it themselves.
  2. Bless your garbage collectors with a treat or small gift card for lunch.
  3. Have your children make the mailman or lady a Thank You card or poster with treats taped to it.
  4. Tape coins on vending machines for snacks or sodas. The hospital would be an excellent place for this!
  5. Tape single dollars to items at the dollar store. (plus a dime for tax)
  6. RACK a Red Box by leaving a dollar or two and some popcorn or a candy cane.
  7. Donate items to the Greater Baton Rouge Food Bank
  8. Pack toiletry or snack bags for Volunteers of America Greater Baton Rouge homeless shelters.
  9. Donate a coat to Pat’s Coats for Kids.
  10. Bake treats and take them to the police station or fire station with thank you cards for their service.
  11. Take a break from texting and mail an actual handwritten letter or card to someone you love.
  12. Send letters or gifts to an assisted living home. Coordinate with your local nursing or retirement home first.
  13. Take Get Well balloons or flowers to the hospital and leave them with a nurse for someone who is alone.
  14. Fill a Good Samaritans Christmas Box
  15. Tape quarters to laundromat machines.
  16. Leave a basket of Christmas gifts on the doorstep of a family in need.
  17. Leave a $5 bill on the pump at a gas station.
  18. Bring treats to your local urgent care office on Christmas Eve.
  19. Cook a meal and deliver it to someone who could use a meal. Someone who is sick, a new family in the neighborhood or at church, a new mom.
  20. Take a person who’s working on Christmas Eve something special.
  21. Drop off books to give to patients at the OLOL Children’s Hospital.
  22. Drop off a coffee and a treat to a busy mom.
  23. Bring a gift to Santa.
  24. ‘Ding dong ditch’ your neighbors with fresh-baked goods.
  25. Before paying at the grocery store, buy a gift card, and then turn around and hand it to the person behind you or to the cashier.
  26. Leave an extra big tip at a restaurant.
  27. Donate to the local animal shelter. Contact a local animal shelter to find out what they need. (food, blankets, towels, and food bowls, etc.)
  28. Put something you no longer need on Craigslist’s FREE section.
  29. Fill purses you no longer use with toiletries and fun items for men and donate to your local women’s shelter.
  30. Foster a dog for the local animal shelter.

Rack Tag printables…

RACK CardsDownload Medium RACK Cards HERE.

RACK Christmas TagDownload Small RACK Cards HERE.

Small RACK CircleDownload XSmall Circle TACK Tags HERE

 A RACK Advent calendar can be found here.

 More cards and tags can be found here.

It’s our responsibility to discuss gratefulness, generosity, unselfishness and service not just during the holidays but year-round. We are our children’s greatest role models — we should start early to mold our children’s perspectives on the holiday season. May we create such treasured memories of family time and togetherness, and the joy of giving, that our children will hold on to these memories for a lifetime and pass them on to their children.

We wish each of you a blessed Christmas Season full of RACK!

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Top Box Foods Louisiana – healthy, affordable, accessible food.

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Top Box Foods Louisiana (TBFLA) is a nonprofit organization committed to making fresh, healthy food affordable and accessible for all. Every time you shop with Tob Box Foods, you directly contribute to building a more equitable and localized food system. TBFLA provides year-round access to fresh, affordable produce, frozen meats, seafood, and poultry.

Top Box Foods

About Top Box:

Top Box is a community-driven nonprofit that creates access to healthy and affordable food. We offer fresh produce and other healthy groceries, support community partners in hunger and nutrition initiatives, and promote the development of a more sustainable food system. Anyone in Baton Rouge can get Top Box grocery boxes delivered FREE right to their door!

How it works:

Placing an order is easy! Visit www.topboxfoods.com or call (504) 304 – 2319 to shop our fresh, affordable produce, frozen meats, seafood, poultry, and local items. Place your order by 11 PM Sunday to get your boxes Monday, and by 11 PM Wednesday to get your boxes Thursday. All items can be paid for with EBT or credit/debit, and we even have a 50% off discount every time you use an EBT card! Discounts will be applied when payment is taken at your door. On delivery day, we will text you with live updates and a tracking code, so you never miss a delivery.

Top Box history:

In 2012, Chris and Sheila Kennedy established Top Box Foods’ flagship location in Chicago.

Top Box Foods Louisiana (TBFLA) launched in New Orleans in 2013 with one mission: to make healthy food accessible and affordable for all. Since 2018, TBFLA has increased access to fresh and affordable foods in Baton Rouge in collaboration with the Geaux Get Healthy initiative, a project of Mayor Sharon Broome’s citywide health and wellness program, Healthy BR.

Ready to place an order? Visit our website to start shopping!

Building a better Baton Rouge by listening, learning, and growing together.

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It’s been an emotional two weeks for our country and our community. The last two weeks have shown us the best and the worst in humanity. The last two weeks have shown us that a once-in-a-generation opportunity for real change feels tangible.
 
The last two weeks have shown me, a Latina and owner of Baton Rouge Family Fun, that we have an important role to play in our community.
At its heart, Baton Rouge Family Fun is a community organization serving ALL Baton Rouge families. We stand in solidarity with all who are working to dismantle racism in our community. We are committed to being an ally to those leading the change. Standing against racism and injustice has nothing to do with our politics and everything to do with our humanity.
 
While Baton Rouge is a great place to live, with a diverse and resilient community, great restaurants, rich culture, and fun events… we have significant challenges to face, challenges that aren’t new.
We don’t have the answers to such ingrained and complex problems such as racism but we do know it starts at home, it starts with our children. As parents, families, and members of this community, who seek to raise one another up, we must point out and condemn racism, brutality, and indifference to suffering wherever we see it.
We are tasked with the important job of raising the next generation to be pro-actively anti-racist. Our children will be better able to break this chain of bias if we give them opportunities to think deeply and talk openly about justice, inequity, and humanity from a young age.
We do not have all of the answers but we do have this space where we can learn with one another. We hope to support families in the effort to build a better Baton Rouge by listening, learning, and growing together.
As a platform for local parents, we will continue to be a resource to all families, working with inclusive businesses and organizations to support our collective community.

Building a better Baton Rouge by listening, learning, and growing together.

Anti-Racism Resources for Parents and Kids

Below is a list of local grass-roots organizations that are working to educate and dismantle racism in our community along with some helpful resources to start the conversations at home:

Dialogue on Race Louisiana
Power Coalition
Step Up Louisiana
East Baton Rouge Parish Prison Reform Coalition-EBRPPR
TRUCE Baton Rouge
The Promise of Justice Initiative
Innocence Project New Orleans
Women with a Vision, Inc.

It’s never too early to talk about race.

“Adults often think they should avoid talking with young children about race or racism because doing so would cause them to notice race or make them racist. In fact, when adults are silent about race or use “colorblind” rhetoric, they actually reinforce racial prejudice in children. Starting at a very young age, children see patterns — who seems to live where; what kinds of homes they see as they ride or walk through different neighborhoods; who is the most desirable character in the movies they watch; who seems to have particular jobs or roles at the doctor’s office, at school, at the grocery store; and so on — and try to assign “rules” to explain what they see.” (Dr. Erin Winkler, 2017)

Books for parents:

Books for children:

Books for young adults:

More resources:

 

CASA: Speaking up for abused and neglected children

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CASA Baton Rouge Child Abuse Prevention monthChild Abuse Prevention Month has been observed each April since its first presidential proclamation in 1983. Since that time, individuals and organizations have joined forces during the month of April to raise the public’s awareness of child abuse and its prevention.

In honor of National Child Abuse Prevention Month, we have Jennifer Mayer, of CASA, as our guest contributor….

CASA: Speaking up for abused and neglected children

By Jennifer Mayer

CASA Baton RougeMelissa and her siblings were all exposed to prenatal drug and alcohol use before birth, and each of them suffered the negative medical effects. Their mother used her government assistance money for drugs and alcohol. She abused Melissa every day, “sometimes so severely that I thought my last breath was imminent,” said Melissa.

When Melissa was 12, she finally confessed the abuse to her dance team coach, and she and her siblings entered foster care. In their five years in the system, they lived in a constant state of fear. “The only one we could turn to for answers was our CASA volunteer,” said Melissa. “She tried to comfort us and guide us through the process. She was a constant in our lives and our voice in the courtroom.”

“The support of my loved ones and my CASA volunteer enabled me to see my past as a source of strength. It allowed me to leave a life of suffering behind.”

– Melissa, former foster youth

Like Melissa, children in our own community have been removed from their homes because of abuse, neglect or abandonment. All children deserve a forever family, yet too often abused children remain adrift in a foster care system too overworked and underfunded to pay close attention to each child whose life is in its hands.

CASA provides powerful voices for these children.

 CASA Baton Rouge

CASA stands for Court Appointed Special Advocate. Capital Area CASA Association serves East Baton Rouge Parish and trains volunteers to advocate for these children. CASA volunteers represent the best interests of abused children during juvenile court and child protection proceedings. The CASA volunteer serves as an independent voice to speak solely for the child.

CASA volunteers get to know the child and talk with everyone involved in the child’s life to gather facts about the child’s history and current situation. Using this information, the volunteer submits recommendations in a report to the juvenile court judge.

Since most CASA recommendations are accepted by the court, children with CASA volunteers are more likely to find permanent homes and spend less time in foster care. CASA volunteers also ensure that children’s needs are being met while in state custody.

April is National Child Abuse Prevention Month, a time to remember that we can all play a part in helping these children. Children are continuously entering foster care, so CASA always needs volunteers. No special background is required – CASA provides training and support every step of the way. Volunteers typically spend 10-15 hours per month on their advocacy work. The first step to becoming a volunteer is to attend a 45-minute orientation session.

Upcoming CASA Orientation Dates

All sessions take place at the CASA office, 848 Louisiana Ave.

Wednesday, April 23 @ 12:00 p.m.

Monday, April 28 @ 12:00 p.m.

For more orientation dates and additional information, call CASA at (225) 379-8598, visit www.casabr.org or email volunteer@casabr.org.

Interact with us!
www.facebook.com/CapitalAreaCASA

Twitter: @CASA_BR

Writer bio: Jennifer Mayer joined the Capital Area CASA staff in June 2013 as recruitment coordinator. She is a Baton Rouge native and holds a bachelor’s degree in public relations from the University of Georgia. She oversees all marketing/PR functions at CASA in order to recruit enough volunteers for CASA to serve every child who needs a voice. To contact Jennifer, call (225) 379-8598 or email jmayer@casabr.org.

National Adoption Day in Louisiana – Meet Elijah

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Elijah Evans, a then 15-year-old young man from LaFayette, Louisiana, defied every one of the many myths of adoption and foster care. Like most children, he entered foster care through no fault of his own. Tragically, he suffered abuse at the hands of the very person who was supposed to love and protect him, his biological mother.

Needing special care to address the damage left from being placed in a bathtub of scalding water as a baby, he met a nurse named Lynore who not only helped him heal, but ultimately became his mother. Today he is a thriving teenager who through his foundation, No Use for Abuse, is reaching out a loving hand to kids just like him to offer them hope and help achieving their dreams.

2013 New Orleans Saints Season New Orleans Saints 23- San Fran 49ers 20 in the Mercedes Benz Super Dome on November 17th.

National Adoption Day

This annual, one-day event has made the dreams of thousands of children come true by working with policymakers, practitioners and advocates to finalize adoptions, and create and celebrate adoptive families. Communities across the county celebrate every Saturday before Thanksgiving.

It is one day each year set aside to raise awareness of the more than 100,000 children in foster care still waiting for their forever family. This year, National Adoption Day is particularly focused on the more than 23,000 children each year who reach the age of 18 without ever finding forever families. That’s nearly 1 in 4 children from foster care who age out of the system with no place to call home, no family to support them, no table to join for Thanksgiving.

The fact is that the current U.S. foster care system is very much built to support the false premise that the older a child gets, the less they need a family. As both a daughter and a mother, my life experience has shown me that we never outgrow our need for a family. I am 41 years old and still rely on both my parents and my siblings for guidance and support in life. And my soon to be 10 year old daughter, Grace, very much looks to her dad and me to help support her in her quest to discover who she is as a person and what she wants to be one day. There is no doubt in my mind that both her courage and confidence comes directly from her knowledge that we are there to catch her when she falls. This is no less true for kids in foster care.
National Adoption Day

So what can be done to bring about change? First, more people need to help in challenging the general public’s belief that there is such a thing as an unadoptable child. There is no such things as unadoptable children – there are just unfound families.  And while one would think that most people would agree, a recent Harris poll sponsored by the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption found that only 51% of those surveyed agreed that every child is adoptable. And an even smaller number (27%) said that they would personally consider adopting a child over 12.

Louisiana adoption

Second, if you have not already, consider stepping up to play a role in the life of an older child in foster care. Those who have already answered their calling to parent these children will be the first to tell you that becoming a parent to a teenage child is no less magical than the birth of an infant. In fact, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption recently captured some of these parent’s hearts in a moving video.


And finally, speak out for these children. Tell your local, state and federal policymakers it is unacceptable that our system is putting more than 23,000 kids out on the streets to fend for themselves each year. Demand better for them than group homes. Push for more programs that are specifically designed to connect these children with permanent, loving families.

If you are already an adoptive parent, you can help too. The National Adoption Day Coalition has created the One Day Project to give hope to children waiting in foster care, and to encourage others to adopt, by sharing their stories of what their “one day” in the adoption process is like. Help us spread the message that adoption changes lives by submitting a short video about your adoption story, a few words of encouragement or why you support National Adoption Day.

For more information about the events taking place locally and foster care adoption, please visit nationaladoptionday.org.

Kathleen Strottman
Kathleen Strottman served as executive director of the Congressional Coalition on Adoption Institute (CCAI). National Adoption Day is supported by a coalition that includes CCAI, the Dave Thomas Foundation for Adoption, Freddie Mac Foundation, Children’s Action Network, and Alliance for Children’s Rights.

 

St. Jude Walk/Run to End Childhood Cancer – Baton Rouge

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September is Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, and there are little Baton Rouge warriors in the fight of their lives that need our support. 16,000 children and teens will be diagnosed with cancer this year in the U.S. 1 in 5 U.S. children diagnosed with cancer won’t survive. Doctors often send their toughest cases to St. Jude because they have the world’s best survival rates for some of the most aggressive childhood cancers. Families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food — because all a family should worry about is helping their child live.

St Jude

On September  16th, St. Jude supporters in Baton Rouge will join together at A.Z. Young Park- Downtown Baton Rouge  {Intersection of N. Third St and Spanish Town Rd.} to participate in the the St. Jude Walk/ Run to End Childhood Cancer, an inspiring, family-friendly walk/ run to raise money for the children of St. Jude. September is National Childhood Cancer Awareness Month, making it the perfect time to rally the community in support of the mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital. All participants are encouraged to form walk/ run teams with their friends, family and co-workers and fundraise to support the lifesaving work done at St. Jude.

“The mission of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital is to advance cures, and means of prevention, for pediatric catastrophic diseases through research and treatment. Consistent with the vision of our founder Danny Thomas, no child is denied treatment based on race, religion or a family’s ability to pay.”

St. Jude Baton Rouge

Register today

Walk – Free
5K Run – $20 – ages 6 and up
Little Ones – Free

  • Registration: 7 a.m.
    Walk Start: 9 a.m.

Raise money to support St. Jude patients

  • Raise $100 and earn your official event T-shirt.
  • Raise $250 to become a member of our Fearless Fundraiser Club and earn additional St. Jude gear as you fundraise.

How your support helps:

  • Thanks to committed fundraisers like you, families never receive a bill from St. Jude for treatment, travel, housing or food.
  • St. Jude freely shares the breakthroughs it makes, and every child saved at St. Jude means doctors and scientists worldwide can use that knowledge to save thousands more children.

Hurricane Harvey: Here is what you can do to help Texas flood victims

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More than 1,000 people have been rescued from record flooding in the Houston area and over 1000 people have yet to be rescued; it’s all too familiar.  Just a year ago, we here in Baton Rouge were going through our own natural disaster and in need of help and assistance.  We know many in our community are still struggling from last year’s floods; this is definitely a time to take care of ourselves and our loved ones as Harvey brings last year’s flood memories to the forefront. We’re praying that Harvey will not dump too much water on us. 

Our neighbors in Texas showed up in numerous ways to assist, donate and volunteer in our time of need and our hope is that we can return the favor. The rain continues, with flood waters rising amid dire concerns about the days ahead.  The Cajun Navy is currently en route to help our neighbors to the west in Houston and we here in Louisiana can help too! 

Officials say some parts of Texas could be uninhabitable for months or even years to come. If anyone can empathize with what Texas is going through, it’s us. Aid groups are taking stock of the situation and rushing help to evacuees. We have put together a list of ways to get involved and help the victims of this massive storm. 

Aid Hurricane Harvey victims:

  • Legacy Collective is committed to finding and partnering with organizations who are doing great work, with boots on the ground and leaders from the affected community, who are committed to sustainability. As we consider the great need that is before us in serving those affected by Hurricane Harvey, our commitment to you is to make sure we partner with LOCAL organizations and leaders who will use the resources we provide in the best possible way.Today you can either give a ONE TIME DONATION that will be used 100% for hurricane relief or JOIN our giving community in make a lasting impact!
  • The Salvation Army: To donate visit givesalvationarmy.org or call 1-800-725-2769.
  • Catholic Charities USA: Visit catholiccharitiesusa.org to donate 
  • Save The Children: Save the Children invests in childhood – every day, in times of crisis and for our future. In the United States and around the world, we give children a healthy start, the opportunity to learn and protection from harm. By transforming children’s lives now, we change the course of their future and ours.
  • North American Mission Board Disaster Relief: Online donation: Click here Phone: 800-634-2462 (Continental U.S. & Canada)
  • Billy Graham Rapid Response Team: Online donation: Click here
  • Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund: The Hurricane Harvey Relief Fund was established by the Austin Disaster Relief Network to provide for the immediate and long-term physical needs of families impacted by Hurricane Harvey.  
  • Houston Food Bank, San Antonio Food Bank, Feeding Texas: Food banks are an important asset during hurricanes, as they provide relief to families and residents who have lost access to food and water during the disaster. 
  • Animal Defense League of Texas, SPCA of Texas, or the San Antonio Humane Society: Donate to Texas animal shelters like the 
  • Southern Baptist Disaster Relief – Meets the urgent needs of communities in crisis, from serving food to volunteers in rebuilding communities.
  • Driscoll Children’s Hospital – This hospital will be taking in evacuated NICU babies.
  • Direct Relief USA offers prescription drugs and other medical supplies to those who need it in emergency situations, and works with clinics and primary care doctors to ensure that people are able to get what they need when they need it. They’re accepting financial contributions.

 

The Texas Diaper Bank is in need of donations to help families affected by Hurricane Harvey. According to the diaper bank, diapers are not provided by disaster relief agencies. Disaster relief kits with donation supplies will go to those affected by natural disasters in Texas with diapers. If you or someone you know is in the area, they can drop off items at their location on 5415 Bandera Road, Suite 504, San Antonio, TX 78238. If you’re not in the area, you can click here to make a cash donation.

We will continue updating this list daily as we receive news of more ways to help and assist the victims of Tropical Storm Harvey. 

The Talk: Race in America – This Saturday in Baton Rouge

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We have been through so much as a nation and I personally believe that in order to heal and move forward we must first and foremost acknowledge our wounds. Imagine if one of our children knocked his head on the concrete and came in with blood on his face, crying for our attention, and we ignored him or told him just to get over it. I don’t know of any mother who would do that, but there are so many people in our country crying out for us to just listen and hear them. Moms of Black Boys United, Inc., Progressive Social Network of Baton Rouge, Love Alive Church and BREC are partnering to host a viewing of the PBS documentary, THE TALK: Race in America this Saturday, July 8 from 10am-1pm. The viewing will be followed by a panel discussion and a Meet & Greet to allow guests to intermingle and learn more about each organization and the work they are doing in the community.

The Talk: Race in America

The Talk: Race in America

THE TALK is a two-hour documentary about the increasingly necessary conversation taking place in homes and communities across the country between parents of color and their children, especially sons, about how to behave if they are ever stopped by the police. This event will bring together a racially diverse audience to raise awareness about institutional racism and to discuss ways in which institutional racism can be identified, dismantled, and how disparities in policing based upon race can be eliminated. The panel will be hosted by Louisiana State University law professor Philip Hackney and panelists include:

Harry Turner, Founder of Distant Beginnings. Harry is a Licensed Master Social Worker who holds a Master of Social Work graduate degree from Louisiana State University. He is employed in the mental health department of a state correctional center and is also employed in the Emergency Department of a major nonprofit hospital. He has also received training by the Southern Law Enforcement Foundation to become a Critical Incident Stress De-briefer and has provided assistance to law enforcement who are/were impacted by tragic events in our community.

Jahi Mackey, Program Director and Founder of The 821 Project, a nonprofit organization that promotes global citizenship in south Louisiana by providing social justice and intercultural education programs to the local community. Jahi holds a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies from the University of New Orleans and a Masters of Arts in Intercultural Service Leadership and Management from the School of International Training Graduate Institute.

Anna West, a teacher of socially-engaged writing and research in the Humanities Amped program at McKinley High School, founder of WordPlay in Baton Rouge (now Forward Arts), co-founder of Louder than a Bomb, the country’s largest youth poetry slam festival as well as Mass LEAP, a Boston-based literary education and performance collective. She holds a B.A. in creative writing from Columbia College Chicago, a M.Ed. from Harvard Graduate School of Education, and a PhD in English Education from Louisiana State University.

Davondra Brown, a published co-author in the The Journal of African American Studies, a board member on the Professional Development Board for the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, a self published author and the founder and owner of Spiced Up Marriages. Mrs. Brown has earned a Bachelor’s in Philosophy, a Master’s in Education and an advanced certificate of Innovative Technologies in Health Science Education. As a mother of two black sons and two black godsons- one of which she lost to community violence- Davondra is also a proud member of Moms of Black Boys United for Social Change.

This event is free and open to the public and more information can be found on the Facebook event page here. Please register via Eventbrite here.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge to Make a Difference

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When I used to think of animal shelters I imagined dark and dreary places with rows of sad animals who were left alone all the time. A year and a half ago- just a week or two after having our fourth child- I got it in my head we needed another dog. Maybe it was the crazy postpartum hormones, but I spent hours searching listings online and fell in love with a little black and white dog named Allie who was in foster care through our local shelter, Companion Animal Alliance. Little did I know that meeting this sweet baby with a burn scar on her back would be the beginning of a love affair with fostering dogs in Baton Rouge and learning more about the importance of spay/neuter and animal welfare.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge to Make a Difference

As it turns out, shelters are not sad, scary places. They are just little pit stops for special animals in-between a hard situation and finding their forever families. Some come in as strays, others are surrendered by their owners, and occasionally they come in as cruelty cases, but once at CAA the animals receive the highest quality care and tons of attention before meeting their new loved ones. And no worries, mamas, they’re all behavior and aggression tested before they’re put out on the rows to be fostered or adopted, and once they pass each of them also gets daily doggie play groups to romp around with their four-legged friends, as well.

The summer season is always extremely busy at Companion Animal Alliance and we joke that it’s literally raining cats and dogs because they can receive between 30-50 homeless animals every single day, just like FelineLiving.net does! Just from May 1 until today, over 1400 animals have come through intake at our Baton Rouge shelter but the average for the entire year is about 8000. To free up kennels on the rows, CAA depends on fosters and rescue organizations to pull the animals and open up space.

The staff is always happy to work with foster families to find the perfect fit for their home, they even offer a complimentary photo-shoot for your family and your pet, so they can officially become part of the family, courtesy of pet photographer las vegas. Have a small child? They will make sure to send you home with an animal that will be gentle. Have a rambunctious dog that needs to be exercised? They can match you with another pup with lots of energy for them to wrestle and run with. Live in an apartment? No problem! There are plenty of animals that will do great in that environment.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

Rio is our current foster dog available for adoption.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

Volunteers are needed daily to give the dogs more play time, socialization and walks outside and to give the kitties some good lovin’, but once someone volunteers they fall in love with the animals and often also become advocates. In turn, friends, family and co-workers end up hearing about CAA and the amazing work they are doing and decide to volunteer or adopt as well.

All volunteers and foster parents attend a short training which are conveniently held 2-3x a month. Once you go through that you are free to come and go as you please to take out dogs to walk, play with, or train to make them more adoptable, or spend time with the cats on the newly renovated Catio! You can also go pull a foster just for a quick weekend together or a foster-to-forever that you keep in your home until the perfect family comes along. Watching animals who came in scared or reserved or just in need of some extra attention blossom into the perfect pet and find a home and people to love them forever is an indescribably beautiful feeling. Our family has found this experience to be so rewarding and it has taught our children so many lessons on responsibility, compassion and the welfare of animals.

Fostering Dogs in Baton Rouge

The beautiful McCurry family who adopted our former foster dog, Rosie.

Be sure to check the Companion Animal Alliance website for tons of great info on fostering dogs in Baton Rouge, to learn more about what they do, the importance of spay/neuter, their Fostering Hope program for cancer survivors, their capital campaign to raise funds for a new facility, and other important topics. You can also sign up for an orientation so you and your babies can love on some fur babies, you won’t regret it. We hope to see you soon!

Fight Hunger. Spark Change. with Walmart and Your Local Food Bank

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Disclosure: “This post is brought to you by “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign and The Motherhood. All opinions are my own.”

Food insecurity is an issue facing families in communities across the country, nearly one in five children in America lives in households that struggle to put food on the table. Louisiana has the fourth highest rate of children living in poverty in the country. You might never know this because child hunger in America is often invisible, it could be friends, neighbors and even family members that are struggling with food insecurity.

Fight Hunger. Spark Change.

There are many ways to help those in our community that struggle with food insecurity, one tangible way to make a difference is with Walmart’s “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign. Walmart is committed to providing meals to those in need and with the help of Discover, five food suppliers and Walmart customers, they hope to donate enough to help Feeding America secure 100 million meals on behalf of its member food banks across the country. As the nation’s leading hunger-relief organization, the Feeding America network provides food to more than 46 million people in communities across America. This includes the Baton Rouge Food Bank and Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana.

Last week I had the opportunity to interview Jay Vise, Communications and Marketing Manager at Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, to discuss how the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign has benefited the food bank and the local community. Jay shared important information about the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign, as well as his thoughts on the importance of donating during the spring months when donations are usually down, and strategies for bridging the food gap children experience during the summer months.

As we approach summer, one of the greatest needs that Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana will meet is fighting summer hunger. During the school year the food bank offers an after school program, Kids Cafe, where they provide thousands of free meals to students as well as a place to study. In the summer, when school meals and those free after school meals disappear, children find themselves hungry and with few options. Second Harvest Food Bank’s summer feeding program provides meals to numerous children’s groups throughout the summer as well as supporting shelters, recovery programs and local support groups with hot meals for those in need.

I was pleasantly surprised to learn that Walmart is Second Harvest Food Bank’s single biggest donor and the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign offers the biggest boost and spike in support for the food bank. The “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign  not only provides donations but raises awareness about the needs of food banks across America.

Friends, the most important thing I learned from talking to Jay is that the food bank needs our help! Go to your local food banks website to learn about their current needs, donate, volunteer and go to your local Walmart to make a difference in your community with the “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” campaign!

Fight Hunger. Spark Change.

There are three easy ways to get involved and help fight hunger during the campaign:

  1. Online Acts of Support: Generate meals for Feeding America food banks by engaging with the Fight Hunger. Spark Change. campaign on social media: Create original content that with the hashtag #FightHunger, like, share and/or comment on campaign content and click on Walmart-provided campaign content via Facebook, Instagram and Twitter.  For each visible online act of support, Walmart will donate the equivalent of 10 meals ($0.90) to Feeding America on behalf of member food banks, up to $1.5 million.
  2. Purchase: Purchase participating products in Walmart stores to help provide meals those struggling with hunger. For each product purchased, the supplier will donate the equivalent of one meal ($0.09) on behalf of a Feeding America member food bank, up to applicable limits. Additionally, for every Discover card transaction made at U.S. Walmart stores and Walmart.com during the campaign period, Discover will donate the equivalent of one meal ($0.09) to Feeding America and its network of member food banks, up to $1 million. See Walmart.com/fighthunger for further details.
  3. Donate at the Register: Donate to a Feeding America food bank at the register during checkout.

The campaign will run online and in all U.S. Walmart stores through May 15, 2017. To kick off the campaign, Walmart will make an initial donation of $1.5 million to Feeding America. Based on the public’s social engagement, they aim to reach a total donation of $3 million.

I’m a huge fan of the work being done at our local food banks in partnership with Walmart, I encourage you to join us to “Fight Hunger. Spark Change.” — to help our local Feeding America food banks support those struggling with hunger.

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