This time of year there's so much hype from businesses trying to get you to buy stuff from them.  From Black Friday to Cyber Monday to Small Business Saturday.  Heck, they is even a Giving Tuesday designed to encourage you to donate to your favorite cause.  I say one day is not enough!  So I'm declaring that we will observe DONATE LOCALLY DECEMBER!!

There are so many wonderful organizations and causes right here close to home that all could use an extra hand, extra donated items, and extra cahs.  During December I want to feature several of those Local Donation opportunities for you.  If you have other suggestions, please share them in the comments or on my Facebook page, Puck Fink.

First, let me highlight a way to help a really cool kid I know.  Bastian attends confirmation class with my step son.  He loves to cook and was featured not long ago on a local TV show preparing his favorite meal, breakfast. He also happens to have cancer.  Lately, Bastian has been making weekly trips to Chicago to receive treatment.  Though much of the medical expenses are covered, the cost of traveling, sometimes spending the night, and other "incidental" costs are not covered by health insurance.  So to help Bastian and his family, a fund has been established 

Bastian's mom is great about posting updates on his progress.  If you want to know more, go to their Facebook page, Hope for Sebastian.  In the meantime, go donate a few bucks, send some healing thoughts.  Though Bastian does not have breast cancer, and his illness is not co-opted by the pink ribbon machine, for him I give a loud shout of, 'PUCK FINK!"  Mainly because he is a very cool kid.  And he makes a mean homemade mac and cheese!!! Here's where you can donate!

November 25.  I'm technically off work this week, well at least the students have the week off from classes.  I'll be using the time to catch up on grading papers, attending some meetings, and trying to catch up on sleep.  This is also the week that the holiday frenzy starts to get going.  With Thanksgiving in 3 days, you can feel the excitement in the air.  We enjoyed our first of at least 3 Thanksgiving feasts yesterday at church.  I've already started making holiday candy.

As November wraps up, it's also the end of another Movember, the month designated to bring more awareness to issues signaifvant to men's health.  Though I've been more of a siltent team member this year, I have to say I've really impresses with Brian and everyone who is part of Movember in Monticello.  Brian has posted some really inspiring and poignant stories by men about men's health.  The team has also been motivated by the actions of Brian's own kids.  They held a mobile bake sale a few days ago.  I love the idea.  They made a variety of yummy sounding items, took orders, and delivered the goods directly to people at home!! I was so inspried that I too organized a mobile sweet sale at my work.  I got a few donations, and that's where the homemade candy comes in.  Later today I'll be delivering the butter toffee, dark chocolate mint fudge, and peanut butter fudce to those that are donating to Movember in Monticello.  Thank you!!!

I hope as you prepare to host firends and family or prepare to travel to vist them, you'll consider what you can also do for others.  Here's one idea, make a donate to Movember in Monticello.  

Once we get into December, I'll be featuring other ways to donate to local groups and causes in Champaign-Urbana.  Our area was hit hard by tornadoes on November 17.  I'll put together a list of various gruops accepting monetary donations.  

In the mean time, Happy Thanksgiving!!!  Gobble Gobble!

For the last several years, the month of November has become the month of MOVEMBER. This movement, no pun intended or implied, is meant to focus on issues of men's health.  This year, my friend Brian Fulton is organizing a Movember in Monticello group in Monticello, IL, to raise funds and awareness for the cause.  Though I've donated to other Movember participants in past years, this year I'm joining Brian's team as a "Mo' Sista".  What does that mean?  Well that means I'll work to help the team raise funds, participate in events to call more attention to important issues related to mens' health, and become part of this community of people examining issues for men. 

Did you know that in 2009, about the same number of men were diagnosed with prostrate cancer as women with breast cancer (192000 to 194000, ACS Study)? Yet relatively little national attention is focused on prostrate cancer. No special colored ribbons, no large corporate donations to a cause.  Yet, diagnoses of this cancer continue.  So we need to do more to raise awareness AND help fund research and treatment.

I hope you will join me in supporting Movember.  Men have health issues that cannot be ignored.  ANd let's Puck Fink this Movember!! If you wish to donate to Brian's Movember, go to this link: https://www.movember.com/us/donate/payment/team_id/1002249/