Future Fortified Campaign

Photo Courtesy of http://futurefortified.org/

As a child, I was never aware of financial problems. My mother was a single mother and would often work up to 3 jobs a week in order to provide for my older brother & I. One thing we were never without is the basic nutrients needed to sustain a healthy life. We may have eaten a lot of chicken or beans, but we always ate.

It saddens me to think that children in America leave school not knowing if they are going to have dinner. We have so many great nutritional programs in our country that having hungry children is never acceptable.

But what is happen to women and children globally? Are they getting enough nutrients to sustain a healthy lifestyle?

Future Fortified is a great non-profit awareness campaign of the Global Alliance for Improved Nutrition (GAIN). They help the average individual, business & other organizations reach millions of women and children so they too can have access to the essential nutrients they need to live a healthy & sustainable lifestyle globally.

Good nutrition is something every person, in every country should have, EVERY day. Good nutrition begins during the mother’s pregnancy of her child. The first 1,000 days are critical in a child life. Without the basic vitamins and nutients, a child or their mother may not survive the pregnany, delivery or even after their birth.

If your intrested in joining the effor, please visit Future Fortified. There you can learn of the different steps we can take to make a change.

Please visit Future Fortified on their Facebook Page, Twitter, or on their website.

Disclosure: I have not been compensated in any way for this post.My post is part of the Future Fortified Features with other mothers.

Maria-: Blogging, Babies & the Bayou- Future Fortified Feature April 2012

Relay For Life 2011

For the last few years I have been involved with American Cancer Society Relay for Life: East St. Tamanny.  Having had many family members lost their battle to Cancer, it is very personal event to me.

This year’s event was held  this weekend in @ the Slidell Airport in Slidell, La. The event started Saturday at 4:30pm and ended 6 a.m Sunday morning. Since Cancer never sleeps, many teams stayed overnight. I was really bummed I had to leave late Saturday due to work Sunday morning, but had so much fun while I was there.

Our Team, Krewe of Hope, was selling hamburger, hot dogs, and sausage on bun food plates. Customers received their choice of  either, a side of cole slaw or pasta salad, brownie, and a bag of chips for $5.00!!

The Krewe of Hope did a great job at the event, but more importantly we were able to fundraise for a cause we hold close to our heart.At the end of the event we had raised over $1,600!

My kids were able to walk around, participate in kids booths, and we purchased a $5.00 kid’s bracelet for them which enabled them to play on all the kid’s inflatable jumpers all eventing!! We also had an amazing firework show, great bands and many other events throughout the evening.

Our event was represented by 76 teams which is the most we have ever had! Many teams either sold food items or had basket raffles as their main fundraising tools. I was hoping to win a 4k diamond ring form a local jewelry store. Even though I didn’t bring home the ring, everyone at the event is a winner!

I can’t wait to find out this years final fundraising totals. Before the day of the event, our event had already raised $185,000!! Every year our event gets bigger and bigger, and I pray that one day, we won’t have to raise money for Cancer because a cure will be found!

~~ If you are able to participate in your local ACS Relay for Life please do so, it is fun and it’s something you can be proud of. Join a team, start your own, either way together we can all make a difference.