Volunteers

Binky Patrol Director, Terrie Madruga joined Susan to talk about how easy it is to volunteer for Binky Patrol. From sewing on labels to taking phone calls to writing thank you notes. If you want to give us a bit of time, we have ideas to make it easy and fun! Join us for this short episode to support our chapter leaders and spark ideas in your heart.
Learn more ways to help at https://binkypatrol.org/ways-to-help/ . We hope to hear from you soon!

Looking for ways to build community in your workplace or neighborhood? In this week's fun and uplifting episode, we talk to Rebecca Heinen who used her passion for crocheting to connect with others across 36 states and counting. Rebecca shares how she started "A Stitch in Every State" to donate handmade crochet items to organizations in need and how it accidentally helped her form bonds at her new job. Tune in to hear Rebecca's creative ideas for starting conversations, from math puzzles to crocheted cat toys, as well as where she finds resources to fund her craft. Her story shows that a hobby like crocheting can make a big difference, stitch by stitch. So grab your yarn and join us for an inspiring chat about building community through crafting.
Links from this episode:
OwlBHooked Etsy
“Call the Midwife” Pattern (apparently, she wrote the pattern from the show!)
Chill Pill Pattern (one of Rebecca's go to for gifts/prizes at work) 
Rebecca Heinen on LinkedIn
Ear Savers

Susan invited Lori on to the show after the recent Bink-A-Thon in Thousand Oaks. Binky Patrol Director, Carolyn Berndt hosted her event at One Spark Academy and knew Lori has the same heart as Binky Patrol. This inspiring conversation delves into making positive change through education and understanding. Host Susan Finch speaks with Lori Peters, executive director of One Spark Academy, about supporting students through a difficult time and empowering them to create meaningful connections. Lori explains how her alternative learning program focuses on "finding that one spark" in each child and nurturing it through small class sizes, engaging electives like gardening and cooking, and daily "circle time" to practice communication skills. She shares the powerful story of two boys resolving a conflict after weeks of learning these techniques. Their journey illustrates how patience, empathy, and an openness to listen can work wonders. As Lori says, "By creating supportive spaces for young people to develop self-awareness and compassion, we plant the seeds for a more peaceful world."
About our guest:
Lori Peters is the founder of One Spark Academy. She wholeheartedly believes in the principles of teaching the whole child– meeting students’ academic, social, and emotional needs– and inspiring students to be healthy, balanced, and globally aware. In July 2011, after 16 years in public alternative education, Lori put her energy into helping students find their spark and enjoy learning with like-minded peers in a truly unique learning environment.
Links from this episode:
Binky Patrol
One Spark Academy

Volunteering gives us an opportunity to break the cycle of negativity and fear. We have the power to change lives! Caitlin Peterson is a legal professional by day, and a Binky Patrol chapter leader in the off-hours. She's been volunteering for ten years - she started when she was 16. Listen to this episode to be inspired to do good and outshine the negative through volunteerism.
 
Links from this episode:
Connect with Catilin:
Her chapter page: https://binkypatrol.org/page.cfm?name=va_peterson
On LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/caitlin-peterson-woolard-44081a67/ 
Learn more about Binky Patrol:
https://binkypatrol.org
Connect with Susan Finch:
On LinkedIn: https://linkedin.com/in/susanmfinch
Funnel Media Group: https://funnelmediagroupllc.com 

How to get more volunteers? It will depend on the opportunities you have. Sometimes you have to be flexible and creative. Binky Patrol is a great organization for younger volunteers because what we do is easy and fun with friends.
In the past, we've gained a lot of volunteers through annual events.  These events can include scouting troops, schools, and service organizations. You'll have to think about what creative idea can you create to allow volunteers of all ages to help. What a great way to build a long-lasting volunteer base that can grow up with your organization. I know we have volunteers that started as children over 20 years ago who find us after they have children to see how they can get involved again because of all of the great memories they have from when they were children. Listen to this 11 minute episode, "How to Get Big Groups of Kid Volunteers."

When Ben Tewes called panicked, he had two months to complete 236 court-ordered community service hours. We quickly calmed him down and assured him, he could do this! We came up with a plan, outlined here - https://binkypatrol.org/article.cfm?id=510. And he took it a step further. His probation officer wanted to be assured that BEN was actually making the blankets. He came up with the idea to set up his phone in timelapse mode and record his work. He won them over, they rooted for him to make his deadline, 236 kids are receiving blankets in Colorado because of him, and I think he's hooked. Hear his story in this episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol, "236 Hours - A Community Service Story."

Have you ever known the family was coming over, but because of the weather, and varying ages, you didn't quite know what to do with everyone after the meal? What about when your office and workload are lighter due to the upcoming holidays, end-of-year vacations, and more? A great way to bring these groups of people together is to make blankets. It's a chance to lift some of the annual awkwardness, stay busy for those fidgety people, and change lives. Make blankets. We sometimes forget to talk about the overall mission of Binky Patrol. Binky Patrol makes blankets and gives them away to children and teens in need of comfort. Those invisible kids who need a reminder that they matter, they are not forgotten, and that someone cares about them. We do this through handmade blankets - they can be sewn, quilted, crocheted, knitted, or tied - just so they come from your heart and are washable, they are perfect. Please listen to this 7-minute episode.
This podcast is sponsored by Impact4Good.com Connecting companies, organizations, and communities.What difference will you make today?
Impact 4 Good is the one source for bringing community service to your next event! Exciting and engaging team-building activities are just part of what we offer. Let us identify the best cause/beneficiary to support, manage the donation logistics and bring the spirit of community service to your group. From your initial request through the day of your event, Impact 4 Good handles all the details.

When you volunteer you have an opportunity to help others, and better yourself. Our chapter leaders are not paid. No one is at Binky Patrol, but they are learning marketable skills. Binky Patrol chapter leaders - Area Coordinators - learn how to lead a group, speak publicly, do PR, coordinate events, do basic accounting and more. We give recommendations to up to 10 people a year who are seeking a job - sometimes for the first time. They have all of these skills they've learned while volunteering. Now they can get a better job. They have confidence, too. Listen to this short episode to be inspired to do more when you volunteer rather than simply showing up.
If you need more ideas on ways to help, visit BinkyPatrol.org and click on the dropdown at the top - Ways to Help

The Legg family has welcomed over 30 foster children through their home and each one receives and leaves with a Binky Patrol blanket. They also have adopted four children from the foster system. She tells us about a child that arrived two weeks ago at her home. And just two Fridays ago, we received a, a little baby girl. And during the drop off of them inspecting our homes and whatnot. I had six blankets that had been delivered to our house and they were sitting on the porch. And, uh, the case worker that had come through said are those Binky blankets? And I said, they are. And she said, "I'm headed back to the command post. I have 18 teenagers that are sleeping in the command post right now. There aren't a lot of available foster homes." And so a lot of the older children are staying in the command post, and she said, "Can I take them? At least six will have blankets tonight."
Kimberly Legg's 19-year-old daughter says, "Mom if there's any other child that has a circumstance like mine, I wanna help to make sure that they have something that they can call their own for no matter how many years they've been in the system or how many years they've been when they're adopted or, that they have something they can call their own." Listen to the rest of this full-circle story.

When Marlys Vaughan picked up the phone to talk to Susan Finch about volunteering to help with the Binky Patrol website, she had no idea it would lead to lifelong friends, a way she can craft for others, and daily joy from helping the children and teens in Salem, Massachusetts. This episode is the story of her one-woman chapter that grew to three people and a school and continues to grow.
Learn from Marlys' gentle story that you can start with a small effort and add to it as you go along the path. Marlys says one of the greatest and unexpected gifts is the friendships she has in Binky Patrol with people who have like-hearts. Hmmm, Lisa Cintron and Miriam talked about that too. I think they're on to something!