I thought you’d enjoy listening to the show and to hear in her voice the difference your donations made for her. She and Mark will leave for their trip to see their son on May 24.

Take lots of pictures on your trip, Teri!

Related Articles

• We Raised $500 for Teri! (caregiving.com)
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• Saturday’s Yard/Bake Sale for Teri (caregiving.com)
• Giving to BreeAnna (caregiving.com)

Cookies and Brownies - each with the Caregiving.com logo

When Denise posted about CareGifters and Teri on Monday, I wanted to be able to do something to help contribute to Teri’s trip. Marah had sold candy in the past for CareGifters so I thought we would do something different this time. We began to plan a Yard Sale and Bake Sale. I talked to two of my neighbors about it, who were anxious to donate items. I began going through our garage and basement – I actually like going to the basement now.  (:

Marah began talking about it at school. She explained we were going to have a sale to help a lady and her husband who is sick go see their son.

Rees’ coffee cake – he made from scratch (:

Friday morning the baking began and Friday night the signs went up. Rees made his specialty – a coffee cake. Our paper put an ad in for the sale and, because it was a fundraiser, only charged us a portion of the cost to post the ad.

The most difficult part about Friday was keeping the kids away from the baked goods!

Saturday morning as we were setting up, three of Marah’s friends with their parents appeared at the door: Meadow, with her mom and two loaves of homemade bread; Isa, with her mom and a box of Barbie dolls with their clothes; and Hunter, with his dad and a small forsythia bush. I showed them Teri’s CareGifters page and they began helping at the baked goods table. I was so touched that each of these kids had taken the initiative to go through their homes and search for things for Teri.

Hunter’s Forsythia Bush

Lois from our support group brought seven plates of chocolate chip cookies and three dozen whoopie pies. We had one man tell us that he came just for the baked goods!

A little girl bought Rees’ bike. I explained to her where her $10. was going; she listened very intently with a very big smile on her face.

It was a wonderful day. Teri, thank you for this opportunity to help you. Many stopped to look at the laptop that showed Teri and her husband and take a Caregiving.com flyer.

I loved that our kids were sorting through their things to help someone else.

I had an aide come for a couple of hours to help my mother. So, if you have a yard sale, include an aide, because after their “shift” they shop.  (:

(Meadow’s bread is pictured on the right.)

Bette organized a yard/bake sale yesterday which raised $135 for Teri, our sixth CareGifters recipient.

We had a great day yesterday, which means today we have $500 to give to Teri, our sixth CareGifters recipient. Your donations will ensure Teri and her husband (and her caree) can travel to see their son graduate from high school. Left-over funds will help with the costs of oxygen supplies and medical bills. (You can read about Teri’s need here.)

A large donation ($100!!) and a yard/bake sale held by Bette (she raised $135!!) helped us reach our goal. (Bette will write more about her yard/bake sale in a separate post).

Thanks so much to all who helped! It’s another way you disrupt.

(If you are a family caregiver in need and would like to be considered in the future to receive CareGifters funds, fill out the application here.)

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Teri

As often as we can, we raise money to help a family caregiver in need through our CareGifters program.

Today, we’re raising money to help Teri, who will be our sixth family caregiver we’ve helped. She’s been caring for her husband, Mark, for the past five years. You can read her blog here.

Our goal is to raise $500 to help Teri, who writes, “The first thing that any received money would do, would be to enable us to make the trip to see our boy graduate from high school. I feel with the decline in hubby’s health that this trip is more important than ever. (We have not been able to see our son in about a year and a half due to Mark’s health and our lack of finances). Any funds that would be left over from this would go toward money due for oxygen supplies and medical bills.”

Mark

You can help with your donation of $5. (If you can give more, that would be awesome.) To donate, just click the Donate button below.

I’ve asked Teri to share her three top challenges; they are (in her words):

1. Housing: We are having to live with family due to finances, hubby’s illness, and my unemployment.

2. Our son’s graduation: Family dynamics have caused our son to live in Tennessee for the past 3 1/2 years. We are trying to be able to make this trip to see our boy graduate. We have not had finances to be able to see him in 1 1/2 years.

3. Ongoing medical costs for hubby: Oxygen, medication, copays, and gas prices all add up to take a good portion of any finances we do have each month from hubby’s disability.

After Teri receives her $500, she’ll share how she used it and its impact on CareGifters.org and Your Caregiving Journey talk show.

You can donate below. CareGifters is operated through The Center for Family Caregivers, a charitable organization. We use PayPal to process your donation. (Please note: The Center for Family Caregivers does not currently have tax exempt status with the IRS so donations are not tax deductible.)

Thanks so much to all who help!!!

And, if you are a family caregiver in need and would like to be considered in the future to receive CareGifters funds, fill out the application here.

Related Articles

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• Giving to Amy (caregiving.com)
• Needed: Your Comedies for Our Next Book (caregiving.com)
• Our Youngest Fundraiser Pounds the Pavement Again (caregiving.com)
• Now Available: Your Help Book (caregiving.com)

We raise money for CareGifters through direct donations and through the sales of “I CAN!” wrist bands. Last spring, Chet suggested we compile your stories into a book, which we sell in order to benefit CareGifters. We released our first book in the CareGifters Book Series, Help, in February. (You purchase your copy here.)

Our second book will feature your stories about the funny experiences that occur during your caregiving day. For this theme, Comedy, share a story with us that made you giggle or guffaw (or both).

We’re taking submissions for the Comedy book through April 30. You can submit an essay, short story, narrative or poem.

Here are the guidelines for submission:

1. Your submission must be 1,500 words or less. We’re also looking for short funnies, like what you read in Reader’s Digest. A short funny can be just two or three paragraphs.

2. Your submission, in the form of an essay, short story, narrative, short funny or poem, must be related to the book’s theme of “Comedy.”

3. Your submission is, in essence, a donation. With your submission, you acknowledge you will not receive reimbursement upon the book’s publication.

4. We may not be able to include all submissions in the book. We will notify you whether or not your story will be included by May 15. Each published submission will feature the author’s by-line, bio and website link (if applicable).

5. To enter a submission, email your story by April 30 to comedystory@caregiving.com. Please only attach Word or .txt documents (no PDFs). Include your name and phone number in your email.

6. Our goal is to publish the book in May. Proceeds from the book’s sales will benefit CareGifters.

If you have any questions, feel free to email Denise.

Thanks so much! We look forward to receiving your story about the comedy we refer to as caregiving.

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BreeAnna, with her husband, Shane, and their two children, cares for her mom. BreeAnna and Shane also help his parents. BreeAnna is part of Faces of Caregiving on Pinterest.

As often as we can, we raise money to help a family caregiver in need through our CareGifters program.

Today, we’re raising money to help BreeAnna, who will be our fifth family caregiver we’ve helped. BreeAnna is a member of the Sandwiched Generation, caring for her mother while raising her children. She’s also a long-term family caregiver, having been in her caregiving role for more than 10 years. You can read her blog here.

Our goal is to raise $500 to help BreeAnna, who will use the money to build a ramp on her home. She writes, “The money will go directly into buying wood for the ramp and if any is left over, it will go to the other medical supplies.” You can help with your donation of $5, below. (If you want to give more, we’ll take more.)

I’ve asked BreeAnna to share her three top challenges; they are (in her words):

1. Building a ramp to get her in and out of the house;
2. Getting other medical supplies such as blood pressure monitor, thermometer, pulse oxidation monitor, adult diapers and wipes;
3. Expanding doorways and creating a small ramp into her room, which involves moving her closet to a new location.

After BreeAnna receives her $500, she’ll share how she used it and its impact both here and on CareGifters.org.

You can donate below. CareGifters is operated through The Center for Family Caregivers, a charitable organization. We use PayPal to process your donation. (Please note: The Center for Family Caregivers does not currently have tax exempt status with the IRS so donations are not tax deductible.)

Thanks so much to all who help!!!

And, if you are a family caregiver in need and would like to be considered in the future to receive CareGifters funds, fill out the application here.

Related Articles

• Giving to Amy (caregiving.com)
• Now Available: Your Help Book (caregiving.com)
• Call for Submissions: Your Comedies for Our Next Book (caregiving.com)
• Our Youngest Fundraiser Pounds the Pavement Again (caregiving.com)
• Talking with Amy (caregiving.com)
• Who Can Help the Family Caregiver? The Former Family Caregiver (caregiving.com)
• Just Added: Groups to Share About Caregiving Help in Your Community (caregiving.com)
• The Faces of Caregiving (caregiving.com)

Join me for three-week classes that help you manage your caregiving experience. Our school is about you and your caregiving experience, to help feel better where you are right now.

Our classes conveniently take place over the phone (“teleclasses”). Teleclasses are a great way to learn, share and support—without leaving your house. In this winter school session, we’ve got three courses from which to choose. Register for one, two, three, as many as you’d like.

You can participate in our classes by registering for one for a cost of $47. Or, purchase a CarePASS and you have access to all the classes you’d like. Purchase a CarePASS, which begin at just $10 a month for unlimited classes, here.

To register for an individual class, sign up via the registration form at the bottom of this page. After you register and pay, we’ll email you the class phone number and access code as well as any homework to complete before our first class. The cost of each class is $47. In addition to the cost of the class, you’ll also incur the cost of a long-distance phone call (whatever rates your long-distance carrier charges).

Space is limited so register early to guarantee your space.

Here’s what participants say about our teleclasses:

—I so enjoyed the course from both a professional and a personal standpoint.
—This was phenomenal!
—Denise, you have such an exceptional manner in leading the discussion and your visualization exercise was the best I’ve ever encountered!
—I feel better today. I highly recommend the phone class.
—I just completed a (multi-week) training course for family caregivers; I learned as much in your one-hour presentation as I did in that (multi-week) course.

Our curriculum follows; I’m your leader for each class:

1. Rise ‘N Shine: Start your week with an early morning class focusing on meditation and inspiration. This class is a great way to start your week right. This is a three-week session; a one-hour class each week for three weeks. Cost: $47 plus long-distance phone charges.

Class Day and Time: Mondays (March 12, 19 and 26). Choose from two times: 9 a.m. ET (8 a.m. CT, 6 a.m. PT) OR 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT, 8 a.m. PT)

2. Three-Word Journaling: You’ve probably heard this many times: Journaling can be a stress-reliever. So, you buy a journal only to stare at its blank pages. Where to start? What to write? In this three-week class, you’ll have three words to write about every week. We’ll meet on the phone to talk about each week’s three words and then you’ll be assigned three more words to write about until the next class. The class also will help you find the right time to write in your journal. At the end of three weeks, you’ll have a habit that rewards you with insights and comfort. This is a three-week class; a one-hour class each week for three weeks. Cost: $47 plus long-distance phone charges.

Class Day and Time: Wednesdays (March 14, 21 and 28) at 10:30 a.m. ET (9:30 a.m. CT, 7:30 a.m. PT) OR Fridays (March 16, 23 and 30) at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT, 8 a.m. PT)

3. The Caregiving Years for Family Caregivers: Our three-week session opens your journey to its meaning. The caregiving journey can seem like a journey of questions (Why me? Why now? What now?). In this class, we’ll help you find your answers. We’ll talk about the stages of the experience, which will help you understand where you’ve been and, more importantly, where you’re headed. The clarity you gain will help you understand your journey’s purpose. This is a three-week session; a one-hour class each week for three weeks. Cost: $47 plus long-distance phone charges.

Class Day and Time: Wednesdays (March 14, 21 and 28) at 8 p.m. ET (7 p.m. CT or 5 p.m. PT) OR Saturdays (March 17, 24 and 31) at 11 a.m. ET (10 a.m. CT, 8 a.m. PT)

Our book club picks for the next few months are:

April: The Gifts of Imperfection: Let Go of Who You Think You’re Supposed to Be and Embrace Who You Are by Brene Brown

May: Wild: From Lost to Found on the Pacific Crest Trail by Cheryl Strayed

June: Back to the Summit by Omer Rains (the author will join us for a live discussion)

July: Strengths Finder 2.0 by Tom Rath

You should be able to find the April and May selections (and possibly the June pick) at your library. You’ll want to purchase Strengths Finder ($14.97 at Amazon.com) because you’ll want to take an online assessment. In order to take the assessment, you need to purchase the book to get a code.

In the past, I picked a book written by an author who I know will be able to join us for a live discussion. I’ve decided to mix it up a bit and choose books I know will lead to an interesting discussion for us. I’ll keep you posted on when we’ll discuss each month’s pick on Your Caregiving Journey talk show.

We also have a group for our Caregiving Book Club you can join to discuss not only our month’s selection but any book you’re reading or recommending. Any member of the site (and it’s free to join Caregiving.com) can join the group here.

Reminder: Your Caregiving Journey next airs on Tuesday, March 6, at 11:30 a.m. ET and at 9 p.m. ET. Note that we have a new time for our live call-in show on Tuesday evening. Bette has a school event for her daughter, so we’ll broadcast at 9 p.m. ET rather than our normal time of 7:30 p.m. ET. We’ll take your live calls to this question: What went well today? You can listen to our shows here.

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Marah, who raised $100 to help Amy, delivers candy yesterday to a hungry customer.

Our work to raise money for CareGifters—which funds caregiving solutions, one family caregiver at a time—doesn’t just take place online.

It happens in person, thanks to the efforts of 9-year-old Marah, the daughter of Bette, who blogs here about caring for her mom. You may remember that Marah raised $140 last spring to help Liliana, who also blogs here about caring for her mom.

Last month, Marah began selling Valentine’s candy to raise money to help Amy, who cares for her parents. I’m happy to report that Marah’s efforts have raised an additional $100 to help Amy.

“It makes me feel happy to help others that are somewhere different,” Marah said.

Which reminds me that miles may separate but kind hearts will always connect.

Thanks, Marah, for your inspiring efforts!

(Did you buy our latest book? Help, A Collection of Essays by Those Who Care is the first in our Caregifters Book Series. The ebook costs just $5; the proceeds benefit CareGifters. It’s a great read for a great cause! Buy here.)

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And, you’ll love it!

Help, A Collection of Stories by Those Who Care, the first in our CareGifters Book Series, is now available as an ebook. The cost of the ebook is $5; the proceeds from books sales will be donated toward our CareGifters program. You can buy your copy here. (The print version will be available on Wednesday, February 15.)

Our Help book is a collection of essays (and one poem) from family caregivers who write about their perspectives on help: Getting help, giving help and asking for help. We also feature a series from Kathy, who writes about the struggle to take a break from caring for her husband. In her essays, she walks us through her thoughts before, during and after her break.

Throughout our book, you’ll also enjoy artwork, created by family caregivers and carees of all ages, from our First Annual Caregiving Art Show. We hope the artwork will help remind that you remain a creative being, especially during your caregiving years.

Trish, who blogs about caring for her brother, Robert, did an amazing job editing and producing the book. She worked tirelessly and lovingly to turn individuals stories into a collective voice of comfort.

Our book about help is also a way for us to help. We’ll use the revenue from our book sales to fund our CareGifters program. As often as we can, we send $500 to help a family caregiver in need. Because, when you ask for help, we want to be there for you.

Finally, I hope, after reading our book, the words, “I need help,” roll off your tongue.

Buy your copy of the ebook here.

(We’re ready to publish our next book. We’d love for you to submit stories for a book about the funny stuff that happens in your caregiving day. The deadline to submit a story for Comedy is March 23. You’ll find details here.)