Kindness Opportunity #12: Pet Therapy

Studies have shown that physical contact with a pet can lower high blood pressure, lower cholestrol (according to the CDC), lower stress levels, and improve the survival rate of heart attack patients.  Further evidence has shown that petting an animal can cause endorphins to be released, which can suppress physical pain in the body, and the action of petting an animal can help to improve fine motor skills.  A patient's communication skills can improve when a patient requests an animal to sit, shake hands, jump up, etc.

A couple of the psychological benefits of pet therapy include social skill development and anxiety relief.  The inclusing of an animal in the life or therapy of a patient can make a big difference in the patient's comfort, progress, and recovery.

Random Act of Kindness #15: I have long thought that my 10 year old girl, Geisha, would make a wonderful therapy pet for nursing home residents.  Geisha has always gravitated toward the senior population.  In the couple of years that my elderly mother-in-law lived with us, Geisha seemed to prefer to spend hours and hours by her side.  And as a certified dog trainer, I was confident in Geisha's skill level and her ability to interact appropriately with elderly patients.  But, as it does with us all, life kept me pretty busy.  So, it wasn't until recently that I finally got around to contacting nursing homes to schedule some pet therapy visits.  

This week, I took Geisha and my mother with me to visit some residents at one of those local nursing homes.  We went from room to room asking each patient if they wanted to meet our puppy dog, Geisha.  

They were thrilled and many lined up in the hallway excited for the interaction. 

 We told each resident that Geisha wanted to say hello and give them her favorite bible verse (we had printed a few encouraging bible verses to hand out to everyone - http://www.meetpenny.com/wp-content/uploads/2014/02/Scriptures-for-Encouragement.pdf).  We read the verses to those who asked, others read it alound to themselves. Some were so touched, they told us they planned to frame the bible verse we gave them.

Geisha sat for treats when asked by a patient.  She put her front paws on laps when invited to do so. She's such a polite greeter and social butterfly who eagerly fluttered from person to person to say hello!

It was a wonderful experience to see the eyes and faces light up for so many people who often have very few, if any, visitors.  Some of the residents literally cried tears of joy as we interacted with them.  We promised we'd bring Geisha back to visit them on St. Patty's Day.  

It only took about 90 minutes to visit with approximately 75 nursing home residents.  And it was obvious that those minutes meant very much to those we interacted with.  Why did I wait so long to do this!?!!

Are you interested in pet therapy?  Please do your homework.  
Here are some helpful resources:  
https://iaabc.org/working-animals/the-responsibilities-of-using-your-pet-for-therapy-work
http://www.therapydoginfo.net/
http://www.activphy.com/interested-pet-therapy/


Random Act of Kindness #16: 
March 17, 2016

Saint Patrick's Day provided another opportunity for Geisha to do a little pet therapy at Ave Maria's nursing home.  She brought a special St. Patrick's Day message to her friends. 

Geisha loves these visits so much. And the residents of the home light up when they see her walk in. 

mile emoticon

One resident is unable to see. When Geisha visits her, I have to guide her hand. Geisha puts her little paw right in the woman's hand as if to say, "Its OK. I'm right here." 

These visits can sometimes get a liittle emotional, but they are always very much worth while! 

Kindness Opportunity #11: The Bridge - Memphis' Street Newspaper (Written by Homeless to Support the Homeless)

WHAT IS THE BRIDGE?

In mid-2013, two Rhodes College sophomores (James Ekenstedt and Evan Katz) launched Memphis' first "street newspaper", which is dedicated to raising awareness around issues of homelessness and poverty in the city.  This monthly publication is completely directed by students, features content written by homeless and poverty-stricken Memphians, and provides a sustainable source of income for contributors and vendors, who are typically also homeless.  The Bridge is distributed solely on the streets by independently contracted homeless vendors who keep the profit from the papers they sell.  

The Bridge typically has approximately 50 active homeless vendors who they interview, train, and certify to be vendors.  The vendors get 20 free copies of each new issue the week it comes out, and 10 free issues for just showing up at distribution (if they've already gotten their 20 free).  Vendors can purchase even more papers just 25 cents each, which they sell for $1 each, and the vendor gets to keep the profit.  There are also more rewards for vendors who purchase additional papers to sell, including bus passes.  With no experience needed and a strict no-discrimination policy, literally any homeless or poverty-stricken individual can learn to be a vendor.

The ability to earn a salary, however small, is vital for members of the homeless population, as many homeless shelters in our city charge individuals as much as $10 per night to sleep in their facility - not to mention the need to purchase food and other necessities.
  

  
RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS #14:
My mother and I were driving west on Sam Cooper Blvd, headed to dinner one Saturday night a few weeks ago.  Getting off at the Perkins exit, we noticed a young African-American man sitting in the dark, He was balled up, trying to protect himself from the cold, while holding up a copy of The Bridge street newspaper to sell.  So, we pulled over to talk to him.  

The man's name was Micheal.  He was in his mid-twenties.  He explained that he was trying to sell papers so he could earn enough money to be able to stay in a shelter that night, as it was very cold.  We had almost no cash on us, but were able to give him $1 for the paper and $1 for a tip. This left him needing $3 more.  Though we didn't have anymore cash, we fortunately had a homeless care packet / goody bag (see http://kindmemphis.blogspot.com/2016/02/january-8-2016-random-act-of-kindness-1.html) in my car (containing food, toiletries, etc), and a warm scarf one of my friends had made for this very purpose. I'm pretty sure I've never been thanked for anything as many times as my mother and I were thanked that night by this man!

I don't know if Michael was able to earn the remaining $3 he needed to stay in a shelter that night, but I pray so.  And wherever Michael is now, I wish him the very best.

If you see someone selling this paper, please be kind enough to purchase one, or two, or three.  Just a few dollars can very literally be the difference between sleeping in an outdoor environment frought with dangers or safe and warm inside, snug in a bed.

Also, please conside donating to The Bridge, and help support this wonderful opportunity they continuiously provide to our homeless community. (http://thememphisbridge.com/)

Inspiration

Kindness Opportunity #10 - Volunteering at a Nursing Home

RANDOM ACT IF KINDNESS #12

It is estimated that 60% of the people living in a nursing home never receive a single visitor during their stay.  Since many stay for years, until God calls them home, this is a very sobering statistic.  

So, let me tell you a little bit about this awesome company I work for. Not only does Benefit Recovery encourage its employees to give back to their community, but a couple of times a year it even sponsors their efforts. Friday was one of those times. 

Benefit Recovery employees purchased 150 beautiful carnations (Thank you Holly & Ivy) to hand out to the residents of Ave Maria Home, along with sweet valentine messages. 

Employees baked lots of goodies and served refreshments to the Assisted Living Community. 

For the Nursing Home community, employees held games that allowed residents to play and win prizes. 

  

Some of our employees even brought their spouses and kids to help, and the residents LOVED all the attention! 





One of our employees, a very talented musician, serenaded the residents with his mad guitar and piano skills.

My sweet husband, Michael, even brought our Geisha along to add a little pet therapy to the mix! For the residents who were too tired or ill to come join in the fun, some of our employees did a little door-to-door flower delivery / visitation.

 
 
 
 
The residents asked us to please come back and visit them again.  Since Geisha seemed to be such a pro and since she has always loved older people, I plan to take her back at least twice-a-month for visits.  

It was such a humbling experience. What a blessing to be able to provide joy to others!

(www.AveMariaHome.org)

Kindness opportunity #9 - Donating Coats

KINDNESS OPPORTUNITY #9

There are many places who accept donated coats in Memphis. I will list them in a future post. However, during the winter months, you might like to keep one of those old coats in your back seat or trunk - especially if it is big enough to fit a typical man.  You never know when you may come across someone who would be thrilled to have it.

RANDOM ACT IF KINDNESS #11:
This is Justin. Justin has been standing at my exit on Houston Levee and I-40 for the last two days when I've gotten off work.  Justin was laid off not long ago and his truck was repossessed. Since that time, he has been staying with his wife and their two kids (ages 5 & 2) in the Super 8 Motel down the street. He has been unable to find a job, but he's desperate to for one. They are literally living day-to-day just trying to raise enough money for the hotel fee for the upcoming night. I didn't have money (I never keep it on me), but I had a couple of warm, wool coats for him & his wife in my trunk that I had planned to drop off at the shelter, along with some homemade scarves for the kids, and some food. Justin said a few people had previously given him some clothes that were way too small, but he wanted to "pay it forward" and so he gave those clothes to the BIBLES FOR CHINA thrift store on Sycamore View. Justin was extremely grateful for the coats, food and scarves. He was also embarrassed about being in his current situation. He asked me to pray for him and then he prayed for me. Tonight, as you lay your head on your warm pillow, in a home that you know you won't be kicked out of tomorrow, please remember Justin and his family in your prayers and thank God for all that He has blessed you with.

Kindness Opportunity #8 - Serving Meals at the Opportunity Center

January, 2016

RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS #10:
Once-a-month, #MergeMemphis serves Saturday morning breakfast to the residents of the Memphis Union Mission Opportunity Center.  On a certain Saturday last month, I was priviledged to join them in this service.  We made breakfast burritos, sticky buns, fruit, juice, and more!  Once we're finished serving the breakfast, we get to sit down and break bread with the residents of the center.  What an incredible group of people!

In addition to opening their doors to the at night when its cold so the homeless have a safe/warm place to sleep, the Opportunity Center, located at 600 Poplar Avenue, focusing on helping men overcome various addictions.  The men are offered free room / board while they are going through the treatment program (which Memphis Union Mission pays them to do).  After the men have been in the treatment program for 2 years and have continually proven to be drug / alcohol free (through random testing), they are allowed to take up residence in the Opportunity Center, where they are taught valuable job skills.  

During this visit, I sat and ate with a man named Fred (Fred is in the bottom right posing with me in the above picture collage).  Fred has had a hard life.  Currently in his late 40's, Fred has struggled with addiction since he was a pre-teen.  Somehow, he ended up in the Memphis Union Mission's treatment program and he has been clean now for many years.  He now works as an RA at the Opportunity Center to help other men who are struggling with some of the same addictions that Fred says God helped him to overcome.  

I could have talked to Fred for hours.  Alas, it was time for us volunteers to clean up and head out.  

If you're interested in volunteering with Merge Memphis to feed breakfast to the men of the opportunity center, click here for more information: https://www.facebook.com/people/Merge-Memphis/100008136078846


RANDOM ACT OF KINDNESS #13:
Was blessed to serve breakfast again to the men of the Memphis Union Mission Opportunity Center.  My mom even came along this time!  We were able to meet some new and wonderful like-minded volunteers as we served some very thankful men tasty biscuits and gravy!  

Thank you #MergeMemphis for providing us this opportunity to give back to our community!

 

Inspiration