Comments for a Cause - North Iowa Hospice

It is a new month, which means it is time to introduce a new cause!  Before I talk about May's cause, let's talk April numbers.  Last month I had 54 comments, creating a donation of $27 to the Caring Pregnancy Center of Mason City's Community Baby Shower.  A reminder to everyone if you are in North Iowa, the Community Baby Shower will be taking place tomorrow, Saturday, May 2nd from 9-11am at the Willow Brook Mall in Mason City.  You can drop of your baby shower gifts or monetary donations at the event.

In the month of May I'm happy to be supporting an organization that a couple of my readers recommended, and an organization who I have seen be there for friends within the last month.  In May I will be donating $0.50 for every comment on my blog during the month to North Iowa Hospice.

Hospice has been on my mind lately with the recent passing of my friend Jen, and knowing that my Grandpa is currently going through the early referral program.  Being told the words, "contact Hospice," can be scary and sad.  But as Katy from Learning As I Go told me "Hospice of North Iowa is a team of caring professionals who aim to make your loved ones last days comfortable."   She adds, "the program has so many great features from the volunteers who will sit with family members, to the social workers and nurses who work closely with the family to make sure all wishes are met."  They want to serve and support the entire family before, during and after.

Photo courtesy of Beth Ann Chiles

My friend Beth Ann from It's Just Life actually volunteers for North Iowa Hospice by making homemade cards for them.  After a death Hospice use to just send a form letter.  But for the last 997 letters sent, they've been on handmade cards by her that the team that cared for their loved one signs and have a chance to share their thoughts.  What a beautiful thing?  Beth Ann actually had a serendipitous experience earlier this year when she met a family who had received one of her cards.  I encourage you to read this heart-warming and beautiful story.

Be sure to comment all month long to help this invaluable program.  Do you have any testimonials you'd like to share about Hospice?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!

Explore Franklin County This Weekend #FranklinCoHarvest

I love being involved with my community, and one exciting program that I've enjoyed being a part of the organizing team for in my county is happening this weekend!  Franklin County Farm Bureau and Franklin County Tourism have partnered together to bring in several bloggers this weekend to explore Franklin County, Iowa for the 3rd Annual Franklin County Harvest Bloggers Tour.  Starting tonight, the bloggers will experience a little of everything that Franklin County, Iowa has to offer, from a wine tasting from our local TownsEnd Winery, to combine rides, to seats at our community's vaudeville show.  The whole weekend is on Franklin County and our citizens are excited for these bloggers to be our guests:

Beth Ann Chiles (@bachiles) - It's Just Life: Finding the Extraordinary in the Ordinary
Jeni Flaa (@JeniEats) - Jeni Eats
Donna Hup (@donnahup) - DonnaHup.com
Bethany SyWassink (@SawdustEmbryos) - Sawdust and Embryos
Lisa & Time Trudell (@WalkingTourists) - The Walking Tourists

Be sure to follow all of these bloggers to see what they are doing throughout the weekend and check out their blogs next week for recap posts.  You can also follow the excitement through the #FranklinCoHarvest hashtag.

If you were to host a bloggers tour in your community, where would you have the bloggers go?  Remember to Comment for a Cause!