Jan.2010 FEATURE GROUP: ISLIP BREAST CANCER COALITION

January 2010 Islip, Long Island
by: Kelly Halloran

Last Saturday, January 23rd, we had the honor of playing at a fundraiser in Long Island, NY for a grassroots group of women volunteers: IBCC.

They provide 3 services to women in the Islip, Long Island community:

1. Lending a Helping Hand: Provide financial support to procure services such as house cleaning, childcare, massage therapy, salon services, transportation and financial assistance with medication, wigs, prostheses, etc.

2. CanSurvive: CanSurvive first responders (volunteers from the Coalition) visit patients admitted to the community hospitals. The volunteer spends time with the patient, allowing them the opportunity to talk openly about their experiences, needs, and concerns. The volunteer also brings to them a "Carry-On tapestry suitcase filled with a variety of personal items such as an exercise "squeezy" ball, temporary prosthesis, resource information, A Breast Cancer Journey Book, meditation tapes, etc."

3. Support Groups: led by either a Nurse Practicioner or a Social Worker the support groups run 10-week sessions allowing patients a safe space to share their experiences and gives coping skills.

-They also provide online resources and organize/are involved in various community activities to bring awareness and education of breast cancer, early detection etc.

I feel they also provide a 4th service of inspiration and hope to everyone who learns of their deeds. They are a small group of women making a BIG difference in peoples' lives...ALL volunteers...ALL grassroots. The $800 they spend on services for each client is raised not with the support of a political party, but with the involvement and mobilization of the community. What a beautiful synergy to witness.
IBCC, we applaud YOU.



*Special shout out to Bob Schlageter and his team for organizing the event*

Shelburne Falls Senior Center

Hey Blogosphere,
I just would like to say thank you to the Universe and everyone else who made my concert at the Shelburne Falls Senior Center possible! It was a blast!

"There is wisdom in a multitude of counselors."

Here are some things I learned:
1. A nice run through of Orange Blossom Special appeals to everyone!
2. Helping others keeps you young: There was a very inspiring women who happens to be one of the oldest seniors at the center...sharp as an arrow and happy as a buddha. She told me she has a huge pile of hand crocheted blankets she made herself that she donates to the handicapped. Apparently there's a group that comes and picks them up from her every week or so...they'd missed a week or two so she was hoping they'd come today because she had a huge pile of them! Isn't that awesome!
3. Apples to Apple Juice to Apple Cider to Hard Apple Cider to Apple Cider Vinegar
4. When you sing, well that's alright, but when everyone else sings along with you, that's bliss.
I will be sure to go back to the Shelburne Falls Senior Center soon!

Love,
Kelly
www.leftonredmusic.com

EWB

We rocked out at a benefit concert last night for Engineers Without Borders (EWB). It was awesome to meet these generous new friends who give their expertise and time to help our brothers and sisters of the world's developing nations. This particular event was a fund-raiser to support a trip to Kenya. The folks of EWB are designing and building a new water system for a maternity ward for the people of a small village there called Matunda.

Saving the planet, one salad at time

Today Kelleanor and I figured out a new way for us to conserve resources while eating lunch at Doppio, the greatest Ma and Pop Soup and Salad Shop in the Financial District. We were enjoying one of their delicious, homemade vegetarian soups and a salad when the conversation turned to the ecological footprint. “Ecological footprint (EF) analysis is a measure of human demand on the Earth's ecosystems and natural resources. It compares human consumption of natural resources with planet Earth's ecological capacity to regenerate them.” Wikepedia.

The United States has the largest ecological footprint in the world and we can’t just blame this on the corporations and industry because we can all do little things each day to help our planet. Today, instead of throwing out the clear plastic containers that our yummy salads came in, we took them home and washed them. Next time we head to Doppio to get our green fix we will be helping the planet stay greener as well by bringing our own salad containers..henceforth "saving the planet one salad at a time".