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. We interview our volunteers, partners, and other non-profits to learn from each other, and support each other as we bring love and hope to our communities. 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 Apr 05, 2023
EP33 Breaking the Stigma: Seeking Help is a Sign of Strength
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
Wednesday Apr 05, 2023
In this very special episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol, host Susan Finch sits down with Eric Berndt to talk about his experience coping with the loss of his father at a young age. Eric's story is a powerful testament to the importance of community, vulnerability, and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship.
Eric opens up about the challenges he faced as a teenager struggling to come to terms with his father's sudden death, and the ways in which he found support and healing in unexpected places. From trauma camps to TEDx talks, Eric has made it his mission to share his story and help others who may be silently suffering.
Susan and Eric discuss the importance of checking in on loved ones, especially during quiet times when the full weight of loss can hit the hardest. They also highlight the value of being open and vulnerable, both for oneself and for others, and the ways in which this can build trust, deepen connections, and ultimately lead to greater healing. Listen to this episode to hear Eric's inspiring story, and to learn more about the power of community, resilience, and hope in the face of loss, "Breaking the Stigma: Seeking Help is a Sign of Strength."
Eric's Aunt, Carolyn Berndt was on an earlier episode.
EP5 Stories About Deliveries, Break out the hankies
Monday Mar 27, 2023
EP32 Scaling Your Non-Profit: Tips and Strategies for Growth
Monday Mar 27, 2023
Monday Mar 27, 2023
In this episode, Susan Finch and Russ Cassvah discuss the ins and outs of starting and running a small nonprofit. They cover important topics such as conducting research, building a community, and finding strategic partners. They also share their experiences with fundraising events and employee matching programs, as well as the importance of being flexible and having a clear vision for your nonprofit.
Some key points covered in the first half include:
Conduct research to identify the need for your nonprofit and the organizations and individuals who can help you achieve your goals.
Building a community through social media, in-person events, and other outreach efforts.
Finding strategic partners, such as companies that offer employee matching programs or provide materials for fundraising events.
Some key points covered in the second half include:
Being prepared for the time commitment required to start and run a nonprofit.
Building a network of friends and colleagues in the nonprofit sector.
Being flexible and willing to pivot in response to changing circumstances.
The importance of having an active and engaged board of directors.
Utilizing tools such as ChatGPT, Zapier, and AI transcription services to streamline your work and improve your output.
Learn more about Little Bricks Charity here.
Learn more about Binky Patrol here.
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
EP31 Building Blocks for Good: A Lego-Inspired Charity
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
Tuesday Mar 21, 2023
In this episode welcomes Russ Cassvah, the founder of Little Brick's Charity. Susan has been trying to get Russ on the show for over a year, and finally, they get to talk about his journey and the mission of Little Bricks Charity. The conversation begins with Russ sharing his passion for LEGO and how that led him to start a charity that delivers LEGO sets to children's hospitals across the US. Russ talks about the challenges he faced as a one-man operation and how TikTok changed the game for him. He also shares his thoughts on the importance of seizing opportunities, the challenges of being a one-man operation, and how he manages to keep his nonprofit running on a tight budget. Russ and Susan discuss the importance of transparency, accounting, and branding to gain credibility and trust from donors and partners. They wrap up the episode by talking about the lessons Russ has learned as a nonprofit leader and how he plans to grow Little Bricks Charity in the future.
Learn more about Little Bricks Charity here.
Learn more about Binky Patrol here.
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
EP30 From Bereavement Photography to a Mission of Care
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
Wednesday Feb 01, 2023
Today we have a special guest, Michelle Cramer, the founder of On Angels' Wings. Michelle’s story is one of devotion and determination, and her mission is to improve the mental health and well-being of families with medically fragile children. On Angels' Wings provides free therapeutic photography and grief recovery services to families who need it most. Michelle started doing bereavement photography 15 years ago, and the experience led her to start On Angels' Wings in July of 2013. Today, the organization serves families all over Missouri and has recently expanded to Oklahoma City and will soon launch in Minneapolis. All photographers who volunteer with On Angels' Wings are specially trained to handle the emotional challenges of working with families who have sick children. Michelle quit her job in June to work full-time for On Angels' Wings, relying on salary support raising to cover her costs. Join us as we learn more about Michelle's journey and the incredible impact On Angels' Wings has on families in need.
Links from this episode:
On Angels' Wings - https://oawphoto.org
Binky Patrol - https://binkypatrol.org
Michelle Cramer on LinkedIn - https://www.linkedin.com/in/michellelcramer-oaw
Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
EP29 Non-Profits: Using Free AI Tools to Help with Your Marketing Load
Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
Wednesday Jan 25, 2023
For those of you who help market non-profits, volunteer for social media to help the non-profits, this episode will cover free tools to help lighten your load. I'm also excited to share with you some of the amazing small charities and organizations doing things differently in 2023. We'll be exploring the challenges they've faced and the successes they've achieved to inspire you to volunteer or run a nonprofit more efficiently.
Join me and my co-host Savannah Finch as we interview these organizations and learn from their experiences.
Stay tuned and visit binkypatrol.show and binkypatrol.org for more information.
This podcast is sponsored by Impact4Good.com
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.
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
EP28 Joy and Connection Through Volunteerism to Outshine the Negative
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
Wednesday Jan 11, 2023
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
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
EP27 How to Get Big Groups of Kid Volunteers
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
Tuesday Dec 13, 2022
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."
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
EP26 236 Hours - A Community Service Story
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
Tuesday Nov 29, 2022
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."
Monday Nov 07, 2022
EP25 Great Holiday Team Event for Remote Teams and Families
Monday Nov 07, 2022
Monday Nov 07, 2022
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.
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
EP24 Connecting Like Hearts to Grow Your Organization
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Wednesday Oct 26, 2022
Amy Smart is the founder of Diary of a Quilter. Her newsletter is inspiring, her website is filled with resources. Amy now knows about Binky Patrol. Binky Patrol volunteers have all been introduced to Amy Smart and Diary of a Quilter. This is how it works.
Susan suggests that you seek out companies, individuals, and influencers in your space that have active social media presence, but who also have newsletters. There is a great opportunity for both them and you to expand your lists and introduce each others' audiences to your respective companies. It's easy to do and doesn't cost anyone money. Listen to Amy's story and their ideas in this episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart - Connecting Like Hearts to Grow Your Organization.
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.