In Your Neighborhood

Still have to buy presents for family and friends, but running a little tight on cash?  Check out these money saving ideas that will not only wow, but give your wallet a much needed break. 

Human Rights Day is the world’s opportunity to “advocate for the full enjoyment of all human rights by everyone everywhere.” In other words, today perfect day for YOU to take action on something YOU care about. Bullying? Homelessness? The environment? Whatever it is, use this guide for small steps that lead to a big impact.

Today marks the 71st anniversary of the Japanese attack that killed thousands of people and launched the United States into WWII.  Ceremonies are being held at Pearl Harbor in remembrance of the 2,390 service members and 49 civilians killed in the attack.  If a last-minute trip to Hawaii to attend a ceremony is not in the cards for you, here are some ways you can observe the anniversary. 

Looking for a way to give back this holiday season? No worries, we've got you covered.  And even better – these are activities you’d probably be doing anyways...but now you can do them for a cause! 

Volunteering on Thanksgiving doesn’t have to be an all-day affair.  All of the following ideas can be done in just a few hours, so that you’re back in time to eat turkey with the fam.  And watch NFL…and maybe see Life of Pi…and take a nap. If you couldn't tell, we’re pretty psyched for Turkey Day ourselves. :)

According to The Department of Education, children who live below the poverty line or come from a non-English speaking home are much more likely to fall behind their peers in reading skills. What's worse, the inequality starts between kindergarten and 3rd grade.

Engage children with storytelling to teach them spelling and other literary skills.

What to Consider

• Will you help kids at your school, or travel to a nearby community that may need extra support?
• Is there an age restriction for tutors or students?
• Is there an application process?
• Where will you recruit tutors from?
• Will you offer general homework help or address a specific subject area?
• Which subjects will you cover? At what levels of advancement?
• Will the tutors be working one-on-one or can they lead group sessions?
• Where will sessions take place?
• What hours will people tutor?

You don’t have to be an animal expert to help out at your community’s shelter. You just need to have the time and desire to lend a helping hand. (And it doesn’t have to be a lot of time, either.) Here are a few ideas on how you can help!

Teach a class

Teaching shelter dogs to sit, stay, walk calmly on a leash or shake paws will make them infinitely more adoptable. The Humane Society and SPCA of Austin, TX, for example, have a team of volunteers who spend their time playing with puppies and taking adolescent dogs to obedience classes.

1. Find a shelter. Search for one near you.

Creating a neighborhood watch sounds easy enough, right? That's because it is. But here are a few tips on what's exactly involved in getting your watch up and running.

Meetings

The last thing anyone wants is more meetings to attend! With a neighborhood watch there are really only two major meetings that need to happen.

The First Meeting