Regina Food Bank to Receive $1000 Donation

The Regina Food Bank’s is on a mission. Their vision is to create a community where no one goes hungry.

“Our mission is to feed hungry people and work to solve hunger issues in our community”, Todd Sandin, Director of Resource Development, said.

Regina Food Bank will be the recipient of the $1000 cash prize as nominated by the winner of the Organized Mom Awards 2012, Kathryn Lavallee. Award sponsors, Stuck on You, are really excited to be donating to such a worthy cause.

“We knew that when it comes to moms choosing charities that there would be some truly awesome causes,” said Jenna Hepburn, Awards Media Manager. “Kathryn is almost jumping out of her skin and so are the sponsors, Stuck on You.”

Charities that moms nominated included Children’s Hospitals, Arthritis Societies, Doctors Without Borders, Ronald McDonald House, Children’s Miracle Network, CareNet Pregnancy Center, Canadian Cancer Society and many nominated food banks from across USA and Canada.

Things have been very busy at the Regina Food Bank as they have just celebrated their 30th Anniversary. I recently took a moment to chat to Todd Sandin,  at Regina Food Bank and asked him what $1000 means to them.

What does the Regina Food Bank do?
We provide support services to families in need in our community through our emergency food service and our adult education programs.

What does a donation, from a mom who could have chosen any charity at all, mean to Regina Food Bank?
This donation is very special to us because we know there are many other worthwhile causes available and that this could help other mothers out there provide for their children.  The Regina Food Bank serves approximately 10,000 people a month, half of which are children.

What will $1000 buy for the local people who depend on the food and resources provided by Regina Food bank?
Working with our various partners, we will be able to translate that $1000 donation into $3000 or more worth of food for our customers.

What does it mean to Regina Food Bank to be able to send kids to bed with full bellies?
It is very important to us that we are able to provide nutritious meals to children in need and that parents not be worried about their children’s food needs.

What are the biggest challenges that face Regina Food Bank?
Increasing demand on our services continues to be an issue in our community.  Increasing costs in housing has pushed many families below the poverty line.

Find out more about the Regina Food Bank.

Kathryn Lavallee will present the cheque to the Regina Food Bank in a week or two. We will be sure to blog about it and include some photos to share it with all the moms who joined us in the Organized Mom Awards 2012.

The Winner of the Organized Mom Awards Up Close

One of my favorite things to do was to phone the luck winner of the Organized Mom Awards 2012 and tell her that she would soon be $1000 richer!

For some strange reason I felt very nervous about the whole thing, I needn’t have. Of course, our winner, Kathryn Lavallee was absolutely delighted and over the moon. Not just at the thought of winning $1000 for herself but at the though of being able to phone her chosen charity, Regina Food Bank and let them know that they would be getting $1000 also.

I thought I’d ask our winner a few questions so that we could all get to know her a little better. Here is what she had to say:

What does it mean to be an ‘organized mom’?

Well, in my case, it sure doesn’t mean being perfect! To me, being an organized mom is about having some easy-to-use systems to help take the chaos out of a busy, kid-filled day. If you have kids, some mess, confusion and downright craziness is unavoidable, but a few handy tricks and a bit of planning can make the craziness a lot easier to handle.

How will you spend your $1000?

I’m having a bit of a dilemma about that. My sensible side is convinced I should put it in the bank and save it or maybe even do something absurdly responsible like pay down my mortgage. My wild side thinks I should do something indulgent like taking a vacation or buying an iPad. In the end, I’ll probably try to split it and satisfy both halves of my personality. Though I guess an iPad could help me be more organized, which makes it a responsible purchase, right?

Why did you choose the Canadian Food Bank as your charity?

The Food Bank is a charity that is near and dear to my heart. When I was growing up, we didn’t have much money and there were times us kids were convinced that we were going to run out of food. I don’t think it ever would have reached that point, but the fear was the worst feeling in the world. No child should ever have to feel that fear and thanks to the Food Bank, children across the country are able to go to sleep at night knowing that there will be a good meal waiting for them the next day. It’s not just about providing food to families. It’s about giving children the feeling of security that so many of us take for granted.

How do you feel about being able to donate $1000 to your favorite charity?

Grateful. To be able to give such a wonderful gift to a cause I support so strongly is going to be an incredible experience and I am honoured that the Organized Mom Awards has given me the chance to do that.

Lianne’s Quick Guide: Babies 0 to 6 Months

I have to share a little gem I have found along the way that I wish I had when I was a new mom. I buy a copy of it and tuck it inside a present for every friend that has a baby. I am talking about one of My Favorite Things, the new book by Lianne Bergeron.

Lianne is a writer for Canadian Parenting Magazine,  Oh Baby! Magazine and AMotherWorld where you can find her sharing parenting tips, advice, daily motherhood experiences and more.

She is writing a series of ‘booklets for busy women’ and this is her first one – Lianne’s Quick Guide: Questions and Answers – Babies 0 to 6 Months. It is the perfect gift and companion guide for any new or expecting mom, this book has over 170 questions and answers set out in an easy-to-read way. You can read it from start to finish and then dip in and out to remind yourself as you reach certain stages in the first 6 months of parenthood.

It’s like having a little knowledgeable friend along to whisper in your ear whenever you need it.

Here’s why it is one of Our Favorite Things:

• It’s packed with great information for new moms for one of the most daunting times of motherhood
• It’s nice and small so it fits perfectly into your handbag or diaper bag
• Easy to read, easy to find answers to your questions super quick
• It’s straight to the point – not overcomplicated as some parenting books can be
• It retails for only $7.95
• It doesn’t talk to moms like they have lost all of their brain cells
• Perfect companion for a new mom!

Here’s a blurb from Lianne herself:

Everything You Need to Know About Newborns

The first 6 months are often the most overwhelming. Not only are you a first time mother and you have a baby to take care of, you are also still juggling the rest of your responsibilities. This book is full of questions and answers that cover daily encounters that you and your baby will experience in the first 6 months. It is based on my experience, and that of other mothers, and should help you feel like you are not alone in this new and exciting, but sometimes overwhelming, world of motherhood.

Here’s a review or two:

“When reading this book I was shocked at how much information was packed into this tiny little thing. Seriously!.” Ninja Mommas

“Its simple and gives sound information which is ideal for a busy new parent.”
bygurus.com

“I only wish I had her Quick Guide when I had little ones! It is a reassuring read of the most basic questions.”
capabilitymom.com

We are ALSO very excited as Lianne is giving away 2 copies of her new book to us at the Organized Mom Awards. Win a copy for yourself or someone you know who is having a baby and they will have the perfect companion! Enter via the Organized Mom Awards Facebook Page – just tell us what question and answer would have most helped you as a new mom in the first 6 months?

Favorite Children’s Products

Janet Muniz is the Founder and Editor of Children’s Retail Today, a website dedicated to introducing readers to manufacturers, designers, store owners and inventors who are leading the way in the children’s retail industry.

As an expert in all things involving children’s retail, we asked Janet to write a guest about her favorite things. Janet’s favorite things include retailers with a social conscience – many started by moms, or with moms in mind!

My Favorite Children’s Retailers

I think organized moms and Children’s Retail Today go hand in hand. Why? So many moms are not only organized, but innovative problem solvers who envision creative ways to make their lives easier. They’re also savvy enough to share their inventions with others.

LamanBlu™ – Designer Holli Gibson makes beautiful apparel for children and keeps mom’s busy life in mind by creating machine washable, ironing optional pieces with adjustment points at critical areas so children can wear their clothing longer.

SpiritHoods – Handmade with the best quality faux fur, the company believes in conservation and protection of both the planet and the animal world.

little society – A comfy clothing line featuring the world’s most endangered species. Not only are the message graphics fun and inspiring, but the materials and techniques used in producing the garments are earth friendly and the company donated a portion of proceeds to help protect species, habitat and humanity.

Chantina Designs – Created in 1989 as a one-of-a-kind custom clothing line. Coats are designed with an added two-inch sleeve length, allowing parents to get more than one season out of each garment.

Susu & John – Mother-daughter team Mary Patrick and Janie Brooks McQueen hand make cute headwear, baby bonnets, buckets hats and clothing.

Find out more about companies making products exclusively for children by following Children’s Retail Today.

Our Favorite Home Organization App

In just a few weeks we will be crowning the Most Organized Mom 2012. It’s got all of us thinking about the things that we use that help us keep organized. One of my most favorite, and most used things, would have to be the app Out of Milk.

This easy to use app is designed to help keep track of your shopping needs, to do lists and pantry items all from your cell. It allows you to categorize your shopping lists (e.g. butcher, grocery store, bakery) and even includes a bar code scanner. When you use the last of an item at home you simply scan it and add it to your shopping list. It just means that you have all of your shopping needs, right where you need them, whenever you get to the grocery store.

The Pantry List is where you keep track of all of those things in the pantry so that you are never caught short (herbs and spices, baking soda etc). When you run out of something, you click on it and add it direct to your shopping list.

Another cool aspect of this app is the To Do List feature. Here you put all of your to do lists into categories – mine are separated into things to do around the house, jobs to do each week (bank, important phone calls, permission slips for school) and pressing work tasks. I also keep a couple of standard lists such as what to pack for a picnic or a day at the beach. It just means that I have a checklist for almost everything always at the ready.

I am a BIG lover of lists, if you are too, this app is for you and it’s FREE. You can buy the Pro which has a few additional features for around $5 but, for me, I have everything I need with the free version.

Do you have an app or piece of technology that helps you to manage lists, organization or just makes life easier? Share your reviews with us here.