You want to help. We make it easy. TM
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Giving Thanks
by Henrik Edberg)
“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously. And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
Some days are just great.
Things go as planned or even better and you bounce from meetings to tasks to your private life and you feel wonderful on the inside.
Then there are other days.
Days when you do not feel much motivated at all.
When your best laid plans go out the window before the day has barely begun.
When something important unexpectedly goes wrong and you get that sinking feeling in your stomach.
Or when you feel sorry for yourself and honestly just want to go back to bed and to sleep again.
Maybe the simplest and certainly one of the most effective ways to turn such a day, week or month around into something more positive and better is in my experience to turn your focus to gratitude.
Because even if things look tough today or for the next three or six months, I can always find something or several things to feel very grateful for about my life. Below are ten things for which I am so grateful.
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10 Simple Things You Can Be Grateful for Even When Times are Tough
1. A roof over my head and a warm home.
Few things feel better than to reflect on having a warm home and a roof over my head when it is cold and windy outside and I can hear the rain beating hard on my window.
2. Plenty of drinkable water.
I love water and drink plenty of it every day. It is certainly something I take for granted from time to time. But it is not a given.
780 million people lack access to safe drinking water according to water.org.
3. I don’t have to go hungry.
Plus, most of things I cook and/or eat are quite tasty and healthy. And sometimes they are simply wonderful.
4. I can enjoy the small and free pleasures of life.
- A sunrise
- A relaxing walk in the woods
- A cool swim in the ocean
- A crisp Autumn day when the trees are filled with leaves of vibrant and spectacular colors
- The sun warming my face after days of the sky being filled with dreary, gray clouds
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And What Small Things Make You Happy?
Here's another way to look at this time of Thanksgiving with gratitude to my friend, Jennifer Abrams, for many things, including passing along this video.
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Have a Place for a Spiffy
Give!Guide Yard Sign?
When CanDo's Give!Guide 2020 launches on Giving Tuesday, December 1, we want these handsome signs decorating the entire County.
They're corrugated plastic, 18x24", and printed on both sides. If they hold up as we hope they will, we'll collect them the first week in January.
Have lawn space at your home or business?
Help spread the good word!
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CanDo's Non-green Bag Pick Up is Coming December 12
Good news! Shirley King at CANV's Napa Food Bank has given us a thumbs-up for our December 12th pick-up.
Thoughtfully-designed COVID-19 protocols will be in place for all our drivers and warehouse volunteers. That includes using paper, even plastic bags rather than green bags.
If you're already one of CanDo's Food Donors, you'll be hearing details from your Neighborhood Coordinator shortly.
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Quickly Spot Volunteer Opportunities
This buttery yellow color indicates volunteer opportunities. Have an hour or two? CanDo helps make it easy to make a difference.
This image indicates a family friendly event.
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“Cultivate the habit of being grateful for every good thing that comes to you, and to give thanks continuously.
And because all things have contributed to your advancement, you should include all things in your gratitude.”
-- Ralph Waldo Emerson
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Reusables
in the Age of COVID
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Reduce. Reuse. Recycle.
These three Rs have framed how to be a responsible consumer for decades.
Now, in the midst of a health crisis caused by a highly infectious disease, consumers are struggling to understand if the middle R — Reuse — is safe or not.
Luckily for us, the good folks at The Indisposable Podcast have brought together an epidemiologist and leaders from the reuse industry to get to the bottom of this important issue. Listen along here!
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Responses graciously provided by Tim Dewey-Mattia,
Napa Recycling & Waste Services
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Transform Kindness into Action
Share Your Backyard Produce
(More taste, Less waste!)
Have more fruit or vegetables growing in your yard than your family can handle? Napa Valley CanDo volunteer gleaners may be able to come to your yard and harvest. Your gift of fresh produce will be donated to the Napa Valley Food Bank for direct distribution to neighbors in need. Tax-deductible receipt is available.
If you're interested in donating, fill out this form.
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CanDo's Food Rescue Team
We're Thankful Year Round
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Napa's Farmers Market vendors are beyond generous. From apples to zucchini, from bread to broccoli, every single week they provide much-needed sustenance to the food-insecure in Napa County.
We invite you to help CanDo's Food Rescue Team volunteers collect this bounty. Choose a Saturday that works for you. It takes about 2 hours start to finish. Families and teens welcome!
Click the red button below for details or to sign up. Questions? Email Karen.
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Bits and Pieces
The Happiest Songs, According to Science
Yep, there's an algorithm for that!
See if Dutch Neuroscientist Dr. Jacob Jolij's carefully researched
puts a smile on your face and a tap in your toes.
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Our Mission
Napa Valley CanDo is a vibrant, all-volunteer service organization.
We connect, inspire, and empower neighbors by making it easy to take positive action as volunteers and to learn about our community.
All of CanDo’s efforts are designed to strengthen and enrich the lives of Napa Valley residents. We create and implement dynamic projects when we recognize unmet community needs, and collaborate with other local service organizations to further our mutual goals.
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The CanDo Spotlight
Events and Volunteer Opportunities
from Groups Around the Valley.
Tell 'em you heard about it through CanDo!
Note: Posting events in this "Spotlight" does not constitute an endorsement by Napa Valley CanDo unless expressly stated. We list a variety of opportunities and programs we feel may be of interest to our readers.
Explore! Enjoy! Get involved!
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CITY OF NAPA TRUCK PARADE
Sponsor: City of Napa Parks & Recreation Department
Saturday, November 24, the City of Napa will feature trucks and vehicles from numerous departments at this family friendly event! Please see the map at the City of Napa Park & Recreation Facebook page. This is a family friendly event. Please use COVID protocols, such as maintaining social distancing of at least 6 feet and wear a mask. The parade will wind throughout Napa, please see our map for parade route and approximate time in your area.
DAY/DATE/TIME: Tuesday, November 24, 10-11:30AM
LOCATION: The streets of Napa
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NAPA HOMEOWNER ENERGY EFFICIENCY ONLINE WORKSHOPS
Sponsor: Napa County, Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN)
The Bay Area Regional Energy Network (BayREN) Home+ Program provides technical assistance and up to $5,000 in rebates for home improvement projects that can reduce energy use and make homes more comfortable. Rebates are available for eligible energy efficiency upgrades including air sealing, duct sealing, insulation, and installing high-efficiency furnaces, air conditioners, and/or water heaters. Join Napa County and BayREN at a free homeowner workshop on Thursday, December 3, 2020 at 6:00pm or Saturday, December 5, 2020 at 9:00am from the comfort of your own home. Learn all about the BayREN Home+ Program, which offers cash rebates to help make your home more comfortable, healthy and energy efficient. RSVP at EnergyWorkshopNapa.eventbrite.com or email Deborah Elliott. BayREN will host Spanish language workshops: December 6th, 4:00pm, December 8th, 6:00pm, December 11th, 12:00pm, and December 12th, 10:00am. Register or call 866-878-6008. A Zoom link will be sent prior to the events.
DAY/DATE/TIME: Thursday, December 3, 6-7:30PM and Saturday, December 5, 9-10:30AM.
LOCATION: Online workshop, Zoom link will be sent prior to event
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MOVIE NIGHTS IN NAPA - VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITY
Sponsor: Teacher Resource Center of the North Bay
What a great opportunity for TRCNB to participate in this community event, "Movie Nights." With the loss of several fundraising events in 2020 due to COVID-19, TRCNB is thrilled and grateful for the chance to earn $5000 in just four days! Our assigned days begin on Thanksgiving night, Thursday November 26 and continue through Sunday, November 29. Please sign up for one or more shifts and ask a friend to join you as we partner with Team Morales Events to bring a fun activity to the Napa community. To volunteer go to SignUpGenius.
DAY/DATE/TIME: Thursday, Nov. 26 through Sunday, Nov. 29
LOCATION: Napa Valley Expo
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NAPA MOVIE NIGHTS
Sponsor: Team Morales Events
It's going to be cool weekend to get out and see a movie on a JUMBO screen at the new Napa Movie Nights right here in your backyard in Napa at the Napa Valley Exposition. Have you experienced a drive-in movie with your family just like we all did back in the day? It's a FUN FAMILY adventure! Bring the kiddos in their pjs; brink a blanket and pillow and even your chairs to sit outside or stay nice and warm in your car. Local non-profits will benefit through their volunteer services.
DAY/DATE/TIME: Now through December 31. Gates open at 5:45PM.
Movie begins at 7PM.
LOCATION: Napa Valley Expo
FFI: Visit their website for movie listings and to buy tickets.
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Other Things You CanDo to Get Involved
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CanDo has a simple, yet dynamic program to share food with neighbors in need every two months while building community. Our Napa Valley Food Project works in collaboration with the CANV Napa Valley Food Bank. Email Marilyn.
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Preventing food insecurity: In CanDo's Garden for the Food Bank we grow fresh, local produce for the CAN-V Food Bank. CanDo's Food Rescue Team collects produce from generous Napa Farmers' Market vendors for the Food Bank and Homeless Shelter. Email Karen.
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Our volunteers help raise funds and awareness for local nonprofits in a year-end giving campaign. 2.3 million dollars has been raised to date and CanDo takes no fee. You make a choice. You make a difference. We make it easy. Help is welcome all year long. Email hilary or Nancy.
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Waterway Keepers began as a CanDo project. Now it's orchestrated by our friends at the Napa Co. Resource Conservation District. Volunteers help maintain our river and streams to keep them vibrant and alive. Email Ashley.
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New to CanDo?
Want to receive this nifty weekly eNewsletter?
The CanDo Connection is filled with
volunteer opportunities
and events to help you connect with community.
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Like to Have Your Event in the CanDo Spotlight?
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Are you a nonprofit in need of volunteers? Or do you have a fundraiser, educational opportunity or fun event you'd like to share in CanDo's SPOTLIGHT?
Space permitting, posts run up to three weeks prior to your event. Photos you'd like us to consider MUST be sent as a jpg.
FFI: Learn more and submit event here.
SUBMISSION DEADLINE: Sunday, 6PM for the following Tuesday's blast.
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The Choices We Make
Napa Valley CanDo seeks to inspire and facilitate action by alerting interested Valley resi-dents about opportunities for service. If you participate as a volunteer in an activity that you learned about through Napa Valley CanDo, whether initiated by CanDo or another orga-nization, please take personal responsibility for your involvement. Use common sense.
Only you can determine whether an activity is a good fit, that is to say compatible
with your interests and abilities.
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PO Box 855 Napa, CA 94559
707.252.7743
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