By BEN FELLER, Associated Press Writer Ben Feller, Associated Press Writer
WASHINGTON – President Barack Obama named federal appeals judge Sonia Sotomayor as the nation’s first Hispanic Supreme Court justice on Tuesday, praising her as “an inspiring woman” with both the intellect and compassion to interpret the Constitution wisely.
Obama said Sotomayor has more experience as a judge than any current member of the high court had when nominated, adding she has earned the “respect of colleagues on the bench,” the admiration of lawyers who appear in her court and “the adoration of her clerks.”
“My heart today is bursting with gratitude,” Sotomayor said from the White House podium moments after being introduced by Obama.
With so many people going through a rough time and a call to action from our new President I have had it on my mind lately to find somewhere to volunteer. I wasn’t able to help much this year with monetary contributions but I know I can give my time!
To get me started on this project I thought I would go ahead and blog about all the different ways to find a place to share your talents.
1. The United Way – liveunited.org is a great website that helps you find a place that could use your help.
2. Another great website that will connect you with a volunteer opportunities is VolunteerMatch.org.
3. Contact your local nursing home and find out if they need anything. Sometimes just visiting with the elderly and doing a craft with them will mean the world.
4. Contact your local food bank and see if they need help with stocking or handing out food items.
5. Contact your local boys and girls club or YMCA
6. Get involved in your own city. Most have committee’s that plan and implement activities to help those in need right in your own community.
7. Contact your local library. Even the hospital can use your help, I’ve always been interested in helping out in the NICU, either holding sick babies or transporting parents who wouldn’t be able to visit everyday otherwise.
8. If you don’t want to leave your house you can advocate for issues that are important to you by contact your state and local representatives. I know that my favorite advocacy group here in Arizona is Protecting Arizona’s Family’s Coalition but you can find one wherever you are and for whatever issues are important to you.
To me it is all about using your own gifts to help others. There are hundreds of ways you can help out. Reading books to young children, making bracelets with the elderly, picking fruit for the food bank, shooting baskets at the boys and girls club. There are so many ways to offer your time, why not get started today?
*photo credit: flickr
Now that I am staying home with my daughter I have a lot more time to do fun things with her but not a lot of money to do them with. Here are some things I have found that do not cost a ton.
1. The park – living where I do it is very family oriented and there are a lot of cool parks, many of which I have yet to discover.
2. Story time at either the library or Barnes and Noble. I love books and want to instill that love in her too. My downfall could be that I can not walk into a childrens book section and not want to buy everything I see!
3. Lunch with daddy. There are many inexpensive places we can go, but if money is really tight I can bring lunch and we can have a picnic.
4. The zoo – we have an annual pass which wasn’t too expensive. Usually we will only go for a few hours in the morning and the most I will spend is about $10. $3 for the carousel and the rest for snacks and drinks.
5. Play area at the mall. Eva love’s going to the mall and playing in the little area they have there. She also LOVES going into the Disney store so that can be dangerous for my wallet.
6. Play date at a friends house. Cost = $0 Time for mommy to chit chat with an adult = Priceless.
