2011 November — MomStart

Smiling through Adversity Bethany Hamilton Damon System

November 16, 2011 By Momstart 5 Comments

I was listening to a webinar this morning for a better smile by the Damon® System, an orthodontic treatment that combines “tieless” braces with advanced memory wire. These advanced orthodontic treatment options offer fast, comfortable and virtually invisible braces for teens, children and adults of all ages.

I have a gap in my teeth, there isn’t enough room in my mouth for my tongue to sit so while I’m sleeping my tongue pushes out against my top teeth and it causes me to have a gap. I’ve talked to my dentist about fixing it and he said he would probably have to do jaw surgery to fix my teeth. Um, no thank you. He did say he could fix it, but because there isn’t enough room in my mouth for my tongue I would end up with another gap. So I’m wondering if the Damon System would be able to help.

This is what I learned:

Bethany Hamilton, the Soul Surfer who was attacked by a shark and is now completely recovered and back into competing and sharing her story had a terrible smile. A dentist was watching one of interviews and wanted to do something to help her, so he offered her his services. After some time passed Bethany’s family contacted them and he decided to use the Damon System to correct her teeth, and he knew if it didn’t work they might have to resort to jaw surgery, but guess what, it worked and she now has an amazing smile.

How it works:

Damon passive self-ligating braces that eliminate the need for elastic or metal "ties". With Damon tie-less braces you can experience treatment without tightening.
Light high-technology shape-memory wires that move teeth faster and require fewer adjustments.
A new clinically proven treatment approach that aligns your teeth and enhances your facial aesthetics—usually without extractions or rapid palatal expanders.

So in my particular case, The Damon System might or might not help me, I’ll have to ask my dentist. There are reasons why this system works well in children because they are still growing. The shape of their mouth is still changing and is much easier to manipulate. Bethany was a young teenager when they started the Damon System process which is one of the reasons it worked so well. The other reason it worked so well is because of it’s unique system, which is why it also works on adults. It’s a little different than traditional braces. They don’t use a ring. You have fewer treatments. The combination of the bands and the head gear provide more room for growth. So I’m pretty sure that my dentist’s original statement is true, my mouth is finished moving on it’s own. However, I might still bring it up at my next appointment and see what they say it wouldn’t hurt to ask. You should find out about your own case with your own dentist. Make sure you ask about the Damon System the next time you go in if you’re considering braces. Remember I’m no expert on any medical issue.

Filed Under: Announcement Tagged With: Bethany Hamilton, braces, Damon System, orthodontic treatment

Where Your Energy Consumption Goes Infographic & 10 Tips to Save Energy

November 16, 2011 By Momstart 15 Comments

So What should you do?

10 Tips to Save Energy Today – Easy low-cost and no-cost ways to save energy and money.

1. Install a programmable thermostat to keep your house comfortably warm in the winter and comfortably cool in the summer.

2. Use energy efficient light bulbs with the ENERGY STAR® label.

3. Air dry dishes instead of using your dishwasher’s drying cycle.

4. Turn off your computer and monitor when not in use.

5. Plug home electronics, such as TVs and DVD players, into power strips; turn the power strips off when the equipment is not in use (TVs and DVDs in standby mode still use several watts of power).

6. Lower the thermostat on your hot water heater to 120°F.

7. Take short showers instead of baths.

8. Wash only full loads of dishes and clothes.

9. Caulk, seal, and weather strip all seams, cracks, and openings to the outside.

10. Look for the ENERGY STAR® label on home appliances and products. ENERGY STAR® products meet strict efficiency guidelines set by the U.S. Department of Energy and the Environmental Protection Agency.

Filed Under: Announcement, green Tagged With: energy consumption, energy efficiency, infographic

How To Earn $20 MasterCard Here’s To Mom Holiday Rewards

November 16, 2011 By Momstart 8 Comments

It’s Shopping Season you know. Have you ever wondered why Black Friday is called Black? I never really even considered it before but when I was working in retail at a small boutique that sometimes barely made ends meet, I finally understood what Black Friday means. When you’re in the red it means you’re not making enough to cover all expenses. Black Friday is the day that almost every retailer gets out of the red and into the black on the accounting books. While you’re out shopping make sure your earning points. MasterCard has a Holiday Rewards program Here’s To Mom! Because Who Does all the shopping? Mom!

Signing up is so easy!

This Holiday Season when you spend $200 on your master card you are eligible to receive a $20 MasterCard Gift Card. First you need to enroll your MasterCard (credit or debit) and e-mail address online then shop online with that card between November 15th and December 31st, 2011. Once you spend $200 online you will be able to redeem your gift card reward.

What’s the Benefit?

Getting out during the Holiday Season can be quite hectic. Parking can drive a person insane in seconds of arriving at your destination, at one of our local malls it’s hectic 2 miles away from the mall this time of year. So I LOVE doing my Holiday Shopping on-line. This way you also get rewarded for it and what I love is that it counts on a debit MasterCard too. We just switched banks, we’re now at a bank that gives us points for our purchase, now we can get even more points by combining this promotion with our bank’s promotion. Beyond that, you’ll also enjoy the ease of budget management through simplified online tracking of your purchases

So Here’s To Mom!

I am being compensated to work with MasterCard This Holiday Season.

Filed Under: personal Tagged With: credit card rewards program, Here's To mom, Holiday rewards, MasterCard, shopping rewards

Season of Giving Day 16: Literacy: Libraries and Schools

November 16, 2011 By Momstart 5 Comments

By Summer:

Literacy is very important to me! Not just as a person but as a mom and teacher. Thanks to my resources at Mom Start we’re been able to supply books to a local school by requesting extra books from PR companies when writing reviews (not all companies are giving, special note is given at the bottom of a post for donated books); my family keeps the book we’ve used by reading and we give the extra book to the school I student taught at which has a high population of free or reduced lunches and is the school for a government subsidized housing area for refugees mainly from Laos and Thailand.

If you’d like to give literacy too, donate to your local classroom or library system.

Libraries are more than hardcovers on shelves as you can borrow movies, music, eBooks, and browse databases all with a small free card! My library system also offers FREE community events and support services: homework help, English as a Second Language conversation groups, book readings, book signings and author readings, concerts, story time, storytelling programs such as puppet shows, summer reading programs, educator STARS workshops, computer classes, writing workshops, book sales, etc. I’ve used a fair share of resources as a teacher for my classroom, as a student for research, as a mom for their events and programming, and personally for books and eBooks.

If you want to give literacy try these options:

· Acquiring Books

Bloggers – Ask companies you work with to donate an extra book so you can also donate.

Parents – When the scholastic book orders come along order an extra $1 book or two. You can also think about donating the used books your child has out grown. Be sure to ask the group you plan to donate too if they need books. Then get the books to the principal or teacher. They could hand them out to children or the teacher might be able to use them as teacher’s classroom library is personally supplied, so donating a book to a classroom library can offer a resource for that grade level for several years.

Educators – I challenge you to give books to the children who need them. In my class there were students who wouldn’t bring back the library books they checked. These children need books at home.

· Donate new or used books

School – Contact local toddler groups or schools; see if they have a library in need of resources. Schools teachers and administrators might also have a giving program where they get books in the hands of students who couldn’t otherwise afford them.

Library – Check and see if your library offers books for sale. Mine has groups called Friends of the Library for each branch in my library system. By selling donated books they fund and help support their branch.

Food Bank – Some food banks will also accept books to hand out to patrons. They might only accept books during the holiday season to pass onto parents as presents. Check with your local food bank.

· Donate Money

Library – My library has a foundation to which monetary donations can be accepted.

Library Groups – My local library system offers a group called “Friends of the Library” which sponsors their city’s library branch. Anyone can join with a simple annual membership fee. The funds are used at the library of the chaptering city.

School – I don’t actually know if you can give money to a school or a school library directly. Donations can be made to private schools, but I don’t know how this works in a public school. On donations, if they are accepted, ask about designating your money to the library or the purchase of books.

School Groups – Giving through groups such as the PTA might be the best way to offer monetary support. Check with the PTA about what they do for the school’s literacy.

If you’re gifting your used books, don’t just give your child’s books away. Get your child involved! This is the perfect opportunity for your child to learn about giving. Explain to them why you feel this is the best thing for the books they own which are only collecting dust. If your child belongs to a group such as a scout troop try organizing a book drive so your child can see other children also giving. Not only are you giving, but you’re “recycling” these books to new users. An all-around win!

About Summer:

Summer is very active in our Local MOMS Club chapter, she is the mother of two adorable active boys, and is always thinking of ways to help others. She is a friend, a wife, and always busy as all mommies are. She is very active on Facebook, addicted to Geocaching and very interested in organic and green living while cooking up a storm.

Filed Under: charity, Summer Tagged With: Boomer and Halley, charity, giving, Libraries, literacy, season of giving, ways to give

Travel Like The Muppets Use Alamo Rent A Car

November 16, 2011 By Momstart 102 Comments

We’re going to see the Muppets on Saturday and I can’t wait, Zoe can’t wait and Miles can’t wait. My husband he’s excited too, I’m pretty sure he’s the biggest Muppet fan in the house. Everyone travels for Christmas and if you don’t travel perhaps someone travels to your house. Want to know the Muppet Rental Car Brand? It’s Alamo.

In Disney’s “The Muppets,” Amy Adams character, uses an Alamo-branded map of Los Angeles to find her way around the city. The Muppets also star in an Alamo television commercial promoting the Alamo Get The Gang Back Together Sweepstakes, and the movie The Muppets coming out November 23rd. When does it come out? NOVEMBER 23rd. That’s how I teach my kids things. Ask them a question right after telling them something, then I know they’ll remember it. Anyways, it’s an outtake video starring Fozzie Bear.

Here is the outtake video:

Looks Like Fozzie needed quite a bit of practice before filming with Kermit and Miss Piggy. Here is the Alamo Sweepstakes Commercial Spot. DOGS! Crack me up!

“As the official rent a car of Walt Disney World^® Resort and Disneyland^® Resort, Alamo is thrilled to be a part of Disney’s ‘The Muppets’ movie,” said Susan Madigan, director for the Alamo Rent A Car brand. “In the movie, the characters embark on a journey to get their gang back together, so we’re excited to offer our fans the chance to win $5,000 towards a dream vacation to reconnect with their friends.”

To enter the sweepstakes click the “Get The Gang Back Together” tab in the left column on the page. After registering for the grand prize, you can “Check Your Luggage” for a chance to receive instant-win prizes, including gas cards, free Alamo rentals, Muppets prize packs and more. You can enter the sweepstakes once per day, and members of Alamo Insiders can receive two entries per day. The simple process to become an Alamo Insider can be initiated on the Alamo Facebook page. Alamo Insiders who book through Alamo.com are guaranteed a 10 percent discount or more off retail rates.

The sweepstakes will end on December 16, 2011. The grand-prize winner will be selected at random on or about December 19, 2011. To participate in the contest, visit http://alamo-muppets.prizelogic.com/officialRules.pdf for complete contest rules.

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Elisabeth.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: Alamo Rent A Car, car rental, giveaway, The Muppets

The Littlest Angel Review

November 16, 2011 By Momstart 54 Comments

The Little Angel by Charles Tazewell has come out on DVD. Anchor Bay revamped this timeless classic just in time for Christmas buyers, but I don’t feel this DVD lives up to what Tazewell had in mind. Half the movie takes place on Earth and is based around The Littlest Angel preforming good deeds and around a circus; both of these areas didn’t seem to fit. I didn’t enjoy the movie, but I hadn’t read the book. After the watching The Littlest Angel I read Tazewell’s book and I really questioned the movie’s added storylines and actually ended up liking the movie less.

This Christmas, angel, “Christian”, heaven movie didn’t work for me because:

· Anger in Heaven – The Littlest Angel angers his teacher in heaven. There are other anger scenes in heaven in The Littlest Angel movie. They just don’t fit into heaven for me and don’t really have a place in Tazewell’s original short story. Though the short story includes sadness, which isn’t in heaven; somehow sadness and homesickness are “easier to swallow” than anger and frustration. Though I don’t agree with any of these emotions in heaven.

· Doing Good Deeds – In the movie, all angels have to preform 3 good deeds on Earth as an angel to get their official angel wings. Since good deeds don’t get people into heaven I didn’t think it fit for this angel story. These deeds stray from the Tazewell story and from Christianity.

· Talking Angel Animals – The movie offers The Littlest Angel a sidekick talking dog named Halo. I feel this was added to the movie to give children a fun animal to adore. My thought then is why the creators didn’t also add songs. The dog was another out of place character for me, as were all of the talking animals in the movie.

· Magic of the Halo – All angels seem to have this “super power” of controlling the visibility of their wings and controlling their halo. These props enabled The Littlest Angel to get out of the tight situations he found himself in on Earth retrieving his box.

· Logan, the Dumbest Angel – Why does this movie have to have this character? The one who is big and strong and defined as good looking. The humor wasn’t understood by my children and the teacher angel as snide and mean to him. Simply uncalled for.

Other than these three-fourths of the movie, I liked it. It is strange; all the portions of the movie I liked were the parts that kept true to Tazewell’s story. After not feeling right about the movie I had to hunt down the book at my local library as I wanted to find the similarities and differences to give an objective review. Spoiler Alert: The best part of The Littlest Angel movie is the same as the book, that God chooses the simple box full of simple treasurers from a humble boy from Earth and of man to be a heavenly gift to Jesus on his birth day.

My Mom Start Review Grade of The Littlest Angel DVD: D

If you’re interested on learning more about The Littlest Angel on DVD you can check out the movie’s site. The site offers Littlest Angel Coloring Sheets, and a Bible Study Littlest Angel Student Activity Guide and Leader’s Plans.

If you’re interested in owning The Littlest Angel on DVD you can buy it or we have a copy to giveaway, so enter below:

This giveaway has ended. Congratulations to the winner, Costana Hornbaker.

All rules can be found under giveaway rules.

Filed Under: giveaway Tagged With: children's movie, Click, giveaway, Littlest Angel, movie

A Sneak Peek at DreamWorks War Horse

November 15, 2011 By Momstart 11 Comments

I keep telling all my friends that I’m going to see War Horse, and their response is unanimous. I haven’t heard about it, what is it about, uh!. I’m SUPER excited about this movie, I’ve been super excited about this movie since I saw the teaser trailer and I think I saw the teaser trailer this summer while watching Harry Potter. If it wasn’t on Harry Potter I’m really not sure which movie it was because truth be told, my husband and I don’t get out much. It was the best teaser! This is the War Horse Trailer:

So Coming out Christmas Day is War Horse and I have a sneak peek for all of you. I’m reading the children’s book War Horse that Scholastic printed and I was surprised when I first started reading the book that it’s from the horse’s prospective. It’s obvious from how far I’ve gotten in the book that the horse, Joey is going to fall in love with Albert who is the only human to show him compassion from the time he was born. With an outstanding story to start with, War Horse was originally a play, director Steven Spielberg is sure to turn this into a masterpiece.

Movie Synopsis:

War Horse is an epic adventure, it is a tale of loyalty, hope and tenacity set against a sweeping canvas of rural England and Europe during the First World War. Just like what I’ve been reading in my book, the synopsis of Spielberg’s “War Horse” begins with the remarkable friendship between a horse named Joey and a young man called Albert, who tames and trains him.

When they are forcefully parted (and in the book, this was not the first time Joey had been forcefully parted from someone, his mother), the film follows the extraordinary journey of the horse as he moves through the war, changing and inspiring the lives of all those he meets—

British cavalry, German soldiers, and a French farmer and his granddaughter—before the story reaches its emotional climax in the heart of No Man’s Land.

The First World War is experienced through the journey of this horse—an odyssey of joy and sorrow, passionate friendship and high adventure. “War Horse” is one of the great stories of friendship and war— a successful book, it was turned into a hugely successful international theatrical hit that is currently on Broadway. It now comes to screen in an epic adaptation by one of the great directors in film history.

Now who would be the best choice for music? You guessed it, or you should have. The War Horse Sound Track was composed by John Williams. "The dramatic countryside of Dartmoor has inspired John Williams to compose a score of such beauty and quiet majesty that one might think the earth was speaking through him, much as the heavens have done for nearly five decades. When I first heard John s sketches of the four central themes for War Horse, I didn’t need my memories of the film to underscore the feelings I was having. The music was a stand-alone experience and it affected me deeply, as have so many of John s scores during our nearly 40-year collaboration. I feel that John has made a special gift to me of this music, which was inspired not only by my film but also by many of the picturesque settings of the poet William Wordsworth, whose vivid descriptions of the British landscape inspired much of what you are going to hear." – Steven Spielberg (This quote was found on the Examiner)

War Horse comes out December 25th to a theater near you!

Filed Under: Movie review Tagged With: dreamworks, movie, Movie review, Sneak Peek, Steven Spielberg, War Horse

Twilight: Team Kermit or Team Rowlf Wordless Wednesday?

November 15, 2011 By Momstart 15 Comments

My friend and I are trying to make plans to go see Twilight before the Muppets comes out and I was thinking, where is that spoof? Well here it is every, the Twilight Spoof done the only way it can be, by The Muppets themselves:

Featuring

Bella Swine

Star Crossed loved between

Whose team are you on?

Filed Under: personal, Wordless Wednesday Tagged With: Muppet Mania, The Muppets, Wordless Wednesday

Inside The Muppets: The Commonalities Between Miss Piggy And My Daughter

November 15, 2011 By Momstart 6 Comments

My daughter who is only four is so excited about The Muppets coming out November 23rd. She wants to watch anything and everything we can find on the internet that has Miss Piggy in it. Miss Piggy has suddenly become one of my daughters idols and as I sit here thinking about how interested Zoe is in Miss Piggy it’s no big surprise because they have so much in common.

In an interview with Miss Piggy she was asked how she liked working at French Vogue, well, she got right down to the point. She didn’t really work there she was acting for the Movie The Muppets. “I did not really work there. This is a movie we’re talking about. You all know that, right? It was, it was lovely. It was lovely. I wish we’d actually shot on location. Paris, — we shot here in the back lot.” If you haven’t noticed, Miss Piggy is a very direct character, over the top at time direct. So is my daughter!

Something else they both have in common is that they are both very fashionable. Zoe has had a fashion sense since she was 15 months old. She just learned how to walk and suddenly she was picking out her own clothes and accessories. And Miss Piggy says fashion is wonderful and loves the clothes she wears in the movie. “Those are real and it’s wonderful, it’s fabulous. I love to do free clothes from, from fashion designers.” And so does my daughter!

When I asked Miss Piggy what her favorite color was, she said she wears a lot of lavender and that probably is her favorite color. Lavender matches everything. My daughter must have gotten her coordination directly from Miss Piggy because she’s always wearing some shade of purple even when I think it doesn’t at all match. I just keep my mouth shut because I know she’ll just tell me I’m wrong and have no fashion sense. Not like they do at least.

One thing I adore about Miss Piggy is the great advice she gave about kids playing outside. She said, “Kids need to play. They need to go outside and play and run and jump and skip and have fun.” This makes me quite happy with Zoe’s new idol choice.

Some other great advice I’ve seen Miss Piggy share is about Facebook. Miss Piggy wants you to like the Muppets on Facebook a Bazillion times because you guys are wasting likes on things like Lima Beans. Zoe agrees! The only green you should like is Kermit! The Muppets comes out in Theaters November 23rd.

My travel expenses and interview opportunities were provided by Disney/DreamWorks.

Filed Under: Movie review, personal Tagged With: Disney, Kermit, Miss Piggy, movie, The Muppets, Zoe

Season of Giving Day 15: Radio Disney’s Project Family: “Festival of Giving”

November 15, 2011 By Momstart 7 Comments

By Summer

Giving shouldn’t be a private matter; it should be a family matter. By including our children we’re teaching them how to give. Radio Disney is hosting Project Family to encourage families spending time together. The first Project Family event is called “Festival of Giving”. This is a FREE event which allows families to give together by bringing a donation. Radio Disney has lots of fun planned for your family with interactive entertainment including music, games, and prizes.

Mark your calendars and tell a friend about Radio Disney’s Project Family: “Festival of Giving” on December 3 & 4. Donation items depend upon your city. Check the sponsored charities and you’ll know what to bring with you (i.e., The Seattle charities are Food Lifeline, Seattle Humane Society, Treehouse for Kids and Salvation Army. You could bring a non-perishable food item for Food Lifeline, a bag of pet food or treats for the Seattle Human Society, a new clothing item for a child touched by Treehouse for Kids, or a new unwrapped toy for the Salvation Army.).

Mark your calendars for Saturday, December 3 if you live in:

Atlanta, Georgia:
Atlantic Station with AM 590
4:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Charities: Humane Society of Atlanta, Toys for Tots, Children’s Healthcare Network of Atlanta and Atlanta Community Food Bank

Boston, Massachusetts:
Marblehead Christmas Walk with AM 1260
9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
Charities: Marblehead Food Pantry and Making Ends Meet

Charlotte, North Carolina:
Carolina Place Mall with AM 1480
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Charities: Humane Society, Salvation Army and Second Harvest Food Bank

Cleveland, Ohio:
Crocker Park with AM 1260
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: Salvation Army, The Up Side of Downs of Greater Cleveland, Achievement Centers for Children, Purrfect Companions Cat Sanctuary, Berea Children’s Home and Family Services, Hunger Network of Greater Cleveland and Family Promise of Greater Cleveland

Dallas, Texas:
City of Frisco’s Simpson Plaza in Frisco Square with AM 620
5:00 p.m. – 9:00 p.m.
Charities: CASA of Collin County, Miracle League of Frisco and Frisco Family Services

Denver, Colorado:
The Streets of South Glenn with AM 1690
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: Salvation Army, Toys for Tots and Boys & Girls Club of Denver, Mi Casa and Ronald McDonald House Denver

Detroit, Michigan:
Westland Shopping Center with AM 910
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Charities: Westland Veteran’s Association, Michigan Humane Society, Toys for Tots and Forgotten Harvest

Houston, Texas:
City Centre with AM 1590
11:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Charities: TBD

Kansas City, Kansas:
Legends Outlets Kansas City in Kansas City, Kansas with AM 1190
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: Hillcrest Transitional Housing, Toys for Tots and Heartland SPCA

Little Rock, Arkansas:
The Promenade at Chenal with 99.5 FM
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: Reach Out & Read Arkansas, The Miracle League of Arkansas, Arkansas Food Bank, The Salvation Army and Pulaski County Humane Society

Miami, Florida: (there is also an event on Sunday, December 4)
Miami Children’s Hospital Palmetto Bay Outpatient Center with AM 990
11:00 a.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation

Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
The Shops of Grand Avenue with AM 1640
12:00 p.m. – 1:30 p.m.
Charities: Hunger Task Force

Minneapolis, Minnesota:
Rosedale Center in Roseville with AM 1440
12:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Charities: Salvation Army, Read to Feed the Mind and Pillsbury United Communities

Orlando, Florida:
Oviedo Mall with AM 990
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Charities: A Gift for Teaching, Christian Help and Oviedo Rotary

Orlando, Florida:
Winter Garden Village with AM 990
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: A Gift for Teaching, SPCA of Central Florida, Matthew’s Hope, Christian Help and Toys for Tots

Phoenix, Arizona
Outlets at Anthem with AM 1580
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Charities: AZ Heroes to Hometowns, Salvation Army and The Al Maag Toy Foundation

Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania:
Century III Mall with AM 1250
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: Arthritis Foundation, Salvation Army and Greater Pittsburgh Community Food Bank

Richmond, Virginia:
West Broad Village with AM 1290
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Charities: Big Brothers Big Sisters of Greater Richmond and Central Virginia Food Bank

Salt Lake City, Utah:
The Shops at Riverwoods with AM 910
10:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
Charities: Kids On The Move, No More Homeless Pets in Utah, Utah County Food Bank, Salvation Army, The Christmas Box House, Head Start and The Adoption Exchange

San Antonio, Texas:
Huebner Oaks with AM 1160
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: San Antonio Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Animal Defense League and SAMM Ministries

St. Louis, Missouri:
Chesterfield Valley with AM 1260
12:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: St. Louis Area Food Bank, Toys for Tots, Salvation Army and Five Acres Animal Shelter

Tampa, Florida:
Tampa’s Curtis Hixson Park with AM 1380
11:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Charities: Toys for Tots and Metropolitan Ministries

Mark your calendars for Sunday, December 4 if you live in:

Albany, New York:
Clifton Park Center with AM 1460
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: Toys for Tots, Saratoga County Animal Shelter Annex, Regional Food Bank of Northeastern New York

Chicago, Illinois:
Gurnee Mills Mall with AM 1300

1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: PAWS Chicago with additional charities TBD

Indianapolis, Indiana:
Feld Entertainment’s Ringling Brothers and Barnum & Bailey Circus at Conseco Fieldhouse with 98.3 FM
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: Toys for Tots and Shepherd Community Center

Los Angeles, California:
Beeman Park in Studio City with AM 1110
1:30 p.m. – 5:30 p.m.
Charities: Pet Orphans, Big Brothers Big Sisters, Bookends, LAPD North Hollywood Division, North Hollywood Interfaith Food Pantry, St. Charles Borromeo Church Food Pantry and Operation Uplift

Miami, Florida:
West Kendall Toyota with AM 990
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: Miami Children’s Hospital Foundation

Milwaukee, Wisconsin:
The Shops at East Towne Square in Mequon with AM 1640
11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Charities: Toms and Toys for Tots

New York, New York:
Queens Center in Elmhurst with AM 1560
2:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: TBD

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania:
The Shops at Liberty Place in The Rotunda with AM 640
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Charities: Salvation Army, Operation Homefront, Operation Warm, Police Athletic League and Cradles to Crayons.

Portland, Oregon:
Cedar Hills Crossing Mall with AM 1640
12:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: Goodwill, Oregon Food Bank, Washington County Animal Shelter and KGW Great Toy Drive

Sacramento, California:
1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Fountains at Roseville with AM 1470
Charities: Placer SPCA, News10 Coats for Kids, Placer Food Bank, Peace for Families and Toys for the Troops Kids

San Francisco, California:
The Shops at Tanforan in San Bruno with AM 1310
2:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.
Charities: Parca and The Second Harvest Food Bank

Seattle, Washington:
Marketplace at Factoria with AM 1250
10:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Charities: Food Lifeline, Seattle Humane Society, Treehouse for Kids and Salvation Army

Filed Under: charity, Summer Tagged With: charity, family giving, festival of giving, give as a family, local event, Project Family, Radio Disney, season of giving, Seattle, Summer