All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol
This show is about the ability to run a non-profit from the heart with a sense of humor and still be successful. Binky Patrol is a 100% volunteer grassroots 501c3 founded in 1996. Binky Patrol makes blankets and gives them away to children and teens in need of a reminder that they matter, are not invisible and that someone cares. We give to children who are ill, abused, or in trauma.
Episodes
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
EP46: Aaron’s Presents Where Kids Are Changing the World
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Wednesday Nov 15, 2023
Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Leah Okimoto, Executive Director of the incredible organization Aaron's Presents. Through Aaron's Presents, kids are empowered to make a positive difference in their communities by pursuing service projects of their own design. From providing reflective vests to peers walking home in the dark, to leading cheerleading classes for younger kids, participants experience the joy and fulfillment of helping others. As we'll hear from Leah, these projects not only spread good in the world, but build confidence, purpose, and compassion within the young people carrying them out. Aaron's Presents demonstrates the boundless potential within all children to be a force for good when given the opportunity. I was so moved learning about the transformative impact of this organization. We hope you are inspired by listening to Leah Okimoto share the heartwarming mission and powerful stories of Aaron's Presents.
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
EP45: The Power of Purpose - How to Engage All Ages in Community Service
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Tuesday Nov 07, 2023
Welcome to another episode of Volunteer All Heart from Binky Patrol. I'm your host Susan Finch, and today we have two of our amazing volunteers joining us to share their experiences hosting Bink-A-Thons in their communities.
First up is Binky Patrol director, Carolyn Berndt, one of our dedicated volunteers who helped organize a small but mighty Bink-A-Thon with kids from a local charter school. She knows the power of involving youth in service.
We'll also hear from Daphne Boyd, a longtime New Jersey Binky Patrol Area Coordinator who partnered with her local library for a Bink-A-Thon. Daphne knows the importance of engaging senior volunteers, using online volunteer platforms, and allowing flexible participation.
Both ladies have great tips to share from their events, which the MrBallen Foundation sponsored. They'll inspire you with how our volunteers unite to make blankets and hope for children and families nationwide. Stay tuned!Here are some key tips from this episode and our recent event:
Partner with organizations receiving donations to help promote and recruit event volunteers through their newsletters, social media, etc.
Involve youth groups like Girl Scouts or school kids to participate in service activities. It teaches them to help others.
Engage senior communities in making items, giving them a sense of purpose.
Use online volunteer platforms like VolunteerMatch.org to manage and recruit volunteers. Have multiple admins.
List your non-profit in volunteer directories like 211 and United Way to increase visibility.
Consider hosting events in different seasons to provide more opportunities for involvement.
Block enough time for setup, the event itself, and clean-up when planning. Allow some flexibility.
Develop partnerships with local schools, companies, stores, etc. to host drives or service days.
Provide options for volunteers with limited time, like setup/cleanup help only.
Learn more at https://binkypatrol.org
Monday Oct 30, 2023
EP44: 1 Day, 7 States, 1400+ Blankets for Kids Who Matter!
Monday Oct 30, 2023
Monday Oct 30, 2023
October 28 seven states coordinated a national blanket-making event. They each chose who would receive the blankets they made. They all had one thing in common - the recipients would be children and teens who were victims of or traumatized by violent crimes. Listen to this episode to hear the stories from four states: Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Oregon.
We can help any group coordinate one of these events, even if there isn't a chapter near you. We've done this for remote teams, international teams, churches, quilt groups, service organizations, corporations large and small. If you want to bring the like-hearts near you together, consider a Bink-A-Thon.
This national event was sponsored by the MrBallen. Foundation.
Links from this episode:
MrBallen.foundationBinky Patrol Comforting CoversTheAngelsInTheOutfield.orgCenter for Family JusticeMassachusetts Society for the Protection of ChildrenMission of DeedsCape Cod Children's CenterComfort CasesSecond-Story.orgProject HorizonPhillips Academy (andover.edu)Holy Trinity Catholic ChurchLoudon County Public LibraryPlanet PizzaDutch Bros. Coffee
Other sponsors included Planet Pizza in Connecticut, Dutch Bros. in Beaverton, Hoffman Fabrics, Embassy Suites in Tigard, OR and our host locations. Many hands, as the saying goes.
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
EP43: Beyond the Ask: Building Donor Relationships with Handwritten Notes
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
Wednesday Oct 18, 2023
With fundraising and volunteer engagement always top of mind, nonprofits need to maximize their donor relationships. Susan's penmanship can be challenging to read, even with the most heart-felt card she sends. Simply Noted provides nonprofits an easy way to personalize communication through handwritten notes, helping donors feel appreciated. Their customizable templates, bulk mailing discounts, and automation integrations enable nonprofits to scale personalized donor touches throughout the year. By sending consistent, meaningful communication outside of solicitations, nonprofits can improve donor loyalty and lifetime value. This outline explores how Simply Noted enables nonprofits to show extra appreciation, share updates, and invite supporters in a more genuine, memorable way. Binky Patrol is fortunate to have a sponsor for this account for the year. It's time to get started on the piles of return addresses on blanket boxes and get those thank you's out. We're also going to use it to send our volunteers anniversary cards - we'd be nothing without their hearts and time!
About Our Guest:
Rick Elmore is founder and CEO of Simply Noted in Tempe, Arizona, a company that utilizes software and robotic technology to create personalized handwritten notes for its 300,000 monthly users.
Learn more about Binky Patrol here.
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
EP42 Onboarding, and Retaining Regional Chapter Leaders
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
Wednesday Oct 04, 2023
This is not your episode if you want to remain with only one location and not scale your organization. If you want to grow - even slowly, here are some tips to increase the success of that growth and help retain your regional chapter leaders.
Here are a few ideas covered in this short episode:
How-to videos.
How to edit their info on your site - profile.
Where are their tools - central location to make it easy for them to create letters, social posts, flyers, and thank you cards with their local info. Lock it down except for those pieces to keep it consistent with your brand.
Ask for feedback once a year or more to ensure you still address your audiences with the materials.
Who pays for printing? Do they need to submit expenses?
Ask them for faqs you can add to the site - and credit them - they will feel supported and heard!
Press kit they can easily access to make local grant-writing and sponsorship processes easier.
Tuesday Sep 26, 2023
EP41 Normalcy and Healing for Abused Children and Teens
Tuesday Sep 26, 2023
Tuesday Sep 26, 2023
Shannon Kmetic, founder of Angels in the Outfield, joins Susan Finch to discuss her mission of supporting children impacted by crime and abuse. Kmetic shares how her experience as a prosecutor showed her the need to help children after going through trauma and the justice system. She details the year-round work Angels in the Outfield does to give kids opportunities to pursue their passions, from sports gear to college visits, and provide a sense of normalcy. Kmetic emphasizes the power of helping children heal through positive outlets and relationships. As Susan describes their upcoming collaboration providing blankets to Angels' holiday store, Kmetic thanks participants for giving children warmth, security, and care. Together, they model uplifting partnerships that allow grassroots groups to transform children's lives. Will you join them by volunteering time or donating to organizations like Angels in the Outfield?
About Shannon Kmetic
Shannon was a Deputy District Attorney for Clackamas County when she founded the Angels in the Outfield in 2009. She had been a prosecutor since 1996, and her caseload for quite some time had involved domestic violence and child physical and sexual abuse cases. Shannon had just prosecuted one of the worst sexual abuse in her career, and she realized that more had to be done for this young victim and others like her. She was worried that the "system" was not equipped to deal with long-term issues related to victimization and healing. Shannon was blessed with a wonderful family and supportive parents, but not all children, including vulnerable children who are abused and neglected, get to experience what she did.
Shannon's hope was, and is, that the Angels in the Outfield will provide hope to children who fall within our mission. Getting to experience or do things that they may not have otherwise, or participate in an activity or event, or have something that will assist them daily will be the impetus for healing.
Links from this episode:
Angels in the Outfield
Binky Patrol
MrBallen Foundation
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
EP40 Wild mustangs and Healing Veterans Linked Forever Through Trust
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Wednesday Sep 06, 2023
Part of our MrBallen series, Sarah Muzquiz from the Ride Foundation joins Susan and shares the touching journey of healing through their programs. Many previously wild horses bond with veterans, inner-city kids, and individuals battling trauma, teaching invaluable lessons on trust and emotional boundaries. With a barn close to the city, the program ensures accessibility for urban kids, fostering a bond beyond mere riding. Several kids have found solace and accomplishment through the course, proving that the healing touch of these animals is universal. Sarah tells the story of a veteran who, having personally benefited from the program, volunteers to assist inner-city children. The Ride Foundation’s unique approach to therapy has rippled through the community, intertwining lives and building lasting relationships. Their message? Healing is a shared journey. Learn more about this moving initiative and discover how to participate in this transformative experience.
Links from this episode:
The Ride Foundation
Binky Patrol
MrBallen Foundation
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
EP39 Healing Young Hearts - Supporting Traumatized Children Together
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Wednesday Aug 30, 2023
Continuing the MrBallen Foundation Series, join this conversation on a topic close to many hearts - child abuse and the journey toward healing. Dr. Gina Crean from the Nashville Children’s Alliance joins Susan Finch to discuss the challenges faced by children who have undergone traumatic experiences and the support provided by Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) across the United States. Dr. Crean highlights the importance of minimizing retraumatization by following similar protocols across all CACs while adapting to local needs and resources. They discuss the critical role of supportive adults, community awareness, and how even small contributions, like donating snacks or blankets, can significantly impact. Dr. Crean encourages listeners to reach out for support, whether for themselves or others, and underscores the importance of starting conversations about child abuse to eliminate its stigma. This conversation is not just an eye-opener but also a call to action for everyone to contribute in their own way to support the healing journey of affected children. Join them for this episode: Healing Young Hearts: Supporting Traumatized Children Together.
Links from this episode:
Binky Patrol
MrBallen Foundation
Nashville Children's Alliance
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
EP38 They Are Called to Bring Them All Home - Texas EquuSearch
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
Wednesday Aug 23, 2023
You'll hear a Mark Twain quote in this episode. "The two best days are the one we are born and the one where we figure out why." That quote captures this episode with Texas EquuSearch's team as they tell their stories, how they found this organization, and how honored they are to find their why. This is the first half of the interview with Tammy Phillips, Director – Business Operations; Angelina Farris, Deputy Director; Ken Sandor, Field Operations Manager; Mary Allbright, Research Analyst and family Liaison; and Mark Edwards, Field Operations Manager.
This is part of the MrBallen Foundation series, introducing you to non-profits and volunteer opportunities nationwide.
About TXEQ
Texas EquuSearch is a 501(c)3 nonprofit volunteer search and recovery organization. Texas EquuSearch never charges a family or law enforcement entity for their services. Headquartered near Houston, Texas, resources have evolved far beyond the original horse-mounted searches. Today, searches include the use of ground searchers, side scan sonar, ground penetrating radar, boats, aircrafts, drones, and ATVs. Many law enforcement agencies across the United States call on the resources of the organization’s highly skilled searchers to assist in their lost, missing or murder victim cases.
Throughout the years, Tim Miller and the organization have received numerous awards from law enforcement agencies and grateful community groups, recognition from media partners, and countless thank you’s from families of missing loved ones.
Texas EquuSearch has assisted in thousands of cases throughout the US and abroad giving some form of resolution to distraught families as well as closure to many criminal cases. There is no doubt that Executive Director, Tim Miller and his team lend credence to the age-old saying… “Volunteers are not unpaid because they are worthless. They are unpaid because they are PRICELESS!”.
How TXEQ Started
“Don’t thank me, thank Laura.” – Tim Miller
Many great and meaningful things have been born from adversity. In some cases, the response and resiliency to that adversity has resulted in monumental benefits to humanity. Such can be said of Texas EquuSearch after the tragic and senseless kidnapping and murder of 16-year-old Laura Miller in 1984.
Laura’s father, Tim Miller, knows all too well the heartbreak and trauma that other families feel when a loved one goes missing. In August of 2000, Tim Miller founded and became the Executive Director of Texas EquuSearch which began as a horse-mounted search and recovery team. Through the years, like-minded volunteers have given their own time, talents, resources, and dedication to help recover and return lost and missing loved ones to their families.
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
EP37 Just like that, the music stopped.
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Tuesday Aug 08, 2023
Step into a world where love triumphs over hate, where darkness is challenged by the unwavering light of compassion. Join Susan Finch as she sits down with Buck Blodgett, the founder of the Love is Greater Than Hate Project. In this poignant episode, their conversation delves deep into the heart of adversity, unveiling the power of human connection to heal even the most profound wounds.
Buck's journey starts with an unimaginable tragedy—the loss of his daughter, Jessie. As he recounts the harrowing details, emotions are palpable, underscoring the capacity of the human spirit to transform pain into purpose. In this exchange, the true essence of collaboration and partnership shines through. The Love is Greater Than Hate Project isn't just an initiative—it’s a testament to the profound impact that can be achieved when hearts unite for a common cause.
Their dialogue touches on growth through adversity, leading Buck to unexpected places like prisons. His encounters with inmates illuminate the potential for change, reminding us that transformation is possible even in the darkest corners. This conversation is a call to action—a reminder that each of us can spread light and drive positive change.
Buck Blodgett's journey is a reminder that love can indeed conquer hate, and that our shared humanity binds us together in a tapestry of empathy and resilience. Tune in, be inspired, and embrace your role in the collective effort to make the world a better place.
Links from this episode:
LIGTH.org
BinkyPatrol.org
MrBallen Foundation
We make blankets and give them away.
We are an all-volunteer organization that makes blankets and gives them away to children and teens in need of comfort.
We started this podcast to help smaller non-profits get started with ideas and tips we've learned from doing this since 1996. It is possible to have a successful non-profit without paying people large salaries. You just have to think with your heart, and think smart.
Susan Finch started Binky Patrol in 1996 when her mom asked her if she'd help her make blankets for unwed mothers. Susan realized there were more people like her with limited time to volunteer, but a desire to help. All ages and skill levels are welcome! Blankets must be homemade, from the heart, and washable. That's it.
Tune into this podcast to hear stories from early volunteers, recipients, partner organizations and sponsors who believe in the mission of giving kids a reminder that they matter, they are not invisible, and someone cares.
This podcast is sponsored by Funnel Media Group. A boutique podcast production and promotion station.
If you would like to be a guest on our show, book the time here and we follow up with you.