All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol

In this segment from a recent Binky Patrol meeting, Area Coordinators who participated in the MrBallen Bink-a-Thon event share strategies for volunteer recruitment. Caitlin Peterson-Woolard discusses challenges with community outreach, while experienced coordinators Susan Finch, Terrie Madruga, Kathy Taylor, and Jeanne Malgioglio offer proven solutions including: Leveraging church bulletins and se...

In this first episode of our special two-part series, we're taking you inside our nationwide Bink-A-Thon debrief meeting, where chapter coordinators share their heartwarming stories from this year's MrBallen Foundation event. From Meridian, Idaho to Connecticut, from Southern California to Virginia, our volunteers united in their mission to create comfort one blanket at a time. Join Susan Finch an...

In this episode, we're joined by Keri Banghart from Microsoft's Corporate, External and Legal Affairs team in Seattle. Keri recently organized a blanket-making event for her team as part of Microsoft's annual giving campaign. We'll discuss how they set up the event, its impact on local and remote team members, and the creative ways they're supporting their community. Keri shares insights on coordi...

We had talked about the man who lost his wife in the Temecula area.  It was a funny tale about golfing, hobbies, and fabric. But it has turned into a beautiful relationship and legacy. Temecula Area Coordinator, Kimberly Legg joins Susan to give an update about their chapter's newest volunteer and patron, Mr. Karl. Let's just say the Temecula chapter is SET for their Bink-A-Thon October 19. Mr. Ba...

Today is a short episode requesting you consider these requests: Consider starting a local chapter - 2 - 100 people! Great way to build community and make friends. ( info here ) Make binkies, aka blankets. We can send you the labels. ( info here ) Host a Bink-A-Thon at your company or in your community - we'll give you all the stuff you need. ( what's a bink-a-thon? ) Sponsor Binky Patrol - podcas...

Today we're catching up with Russ Cassavah, founder and president of Little Bricks Charity. It's been over a year since we last spoke with Russ, and the changes in his organization are remarkable. In this episode, Russ shares how Little Bricks Charity has transformed its approach to helping hospitalized children. We'll hear about their innovative livestream building sessions that combine LEGO cons...

In this episode, Binky Patrol founder Susan Finch delivers a candid and passionate message about the importance of quality in our mission to comfort children through handmade blankets. Susan's 'tough love' approach tackles a growing concern: the influx of hastily-made fleece blankets that don't quite meet the mark. Get ready for a mix of hands-on tips, heartfelt pleas, and a dash of humor as Susan...

In this episode, we join Susan Finch as she chats with Kimberly Legg, who runs the Temecula chapter in California. Prepare for a story that's hilarious and inspiring, as Kimberly recounts how she unexpectedly became the recipient of a truly massive fabric donation - we're talking about $30,000 worth of material! How did this fabric bonanza come about? Well, it all started with a late quilter's pla...

Our topic today is Quilting for Community: From Grief to Nonprofit Success with guest Lizz Leral, Executive Director of Quilting for Community. She shares how personal loss sparked a quilting journey that grew into a thriving nonprofit. You'll hear her story and ideas about: Transforming personal healing into community service Building an intergenerational crafting community Creative fundraising t...

Susan Finch of Binky Patrol interviews Mara James, founder and CEO of the Extraordinary Lives Foundation (ELF). Listeners will learn about ELF's mission to improve children's mental health and emotional wellness through programs like Piggie Bear and the HUGS School Life Healing Center. Mara shares her personal journey of overcoming mental health challenges and how it inspired her to create tools f...

There are many ways to list your volunteer opportunities. This short episode goes over some of our favorite volunteer and matching fund portals. They include: volunteermatch.org, benevity.com, and joindeed.org. Tips include: Have a checkbox that they agree to have their photos taken and used for your site and social media accounts Link to a form if you are posting this somewhere like NextDoor or F...

Susan Finch, founder of Binky Patrol, discusses the importance of having a cohesive branding package for nonprofit organizations looking to scale up. She shares insights from her own experience, highlighting the need for consistent messaging, logos, fonts, and phrasing across all chapters and volunteers. Susan also touches on the benefits of streamlining processes, such as providing digital patter...

In the second half of the conversation, Fran Morgan and Donna Robertson from Fabric Cafe share their passion for quilting and discuss the importance of passing down the love for sewing to younger generations. Fran expresses her wish to continue producing excellent books and patterns while expanding their reach to younger quilters, ensuring the craft thrives. The hosts discuss how sewing skipped a...

In this heartwarming episode of All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol, host Susan Finch sits down with the dynamic duo behind Fabric Cafe, Fran Morgan and Donna Robertson. Discover how their passion for quilting led them to leave corporate America and build a thriving business that inspires creativity and joy in the quilting community. Explore the power of quilting to bring people together, c...

Jeanne Malgioglio, teacher, Area Coordinator for the Monroe-Trumbull, CT chapter, tells the story of a community grant she received recently. She was a bit intimidated but decided to go for it. This will keep her chapter funded for a very long time and allow her to continue helping other local agencies through the gifts of binkies. Join us for this short episode to spark ideas, especially for smal...

In this episode of All Volunteer All Heart from Binky Patrol, host Susan Finch welcomes Angie Marie, a community leader from Hood River, Oregon. Angie shares her inspiring story of creating Gorge SpeakEasy, a monthly storytelling event that brings together diverse members of the community while supporting local nonprofits. Through volunteer efforts and innovative partnerships with local businesses...

Volunteer time management is often overlooked as a value, as an asset. But it is the most valuable donation your organization receives. The dollars you receive are precious - are they being used most effectively? Tracking the time your staff and volunteers spend will help you see where you are getting the best outcomes and where you may be spinning your wheels. Listen to this short episode for som...

Jeanne Malgioglio tells us about her outstanding week at her school. Her students were studying the book, "I Will Always Write Back" by authors Caitlin Alfirenka and Martin Ganda, with Liz Welch. It's a story of friendship, being open to new ideas across the globe and choosing to make things better. Jeanne's students embodied this theme by making over 70 blankets inspired by the story. One of the...

Scammers are becoming increasingly sophisticated in their attempts to exploit individuals and organizations. As a nonprofit or small business, staying vigilant and protecting yourself from photo copyright infringement scams is crucial. In this informative PSA episode, Susan Finch from All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol shares her recent experience with a suspicious email claiming image cop...

Are you running a small non-profit organization and looking for ways to save money and maximize your resources? In this quick podcast episode, Susan Finch, our founder, shares some valuable tips and resources that can help you streamline your operations and promote your cause more effectively. From free email services to volunteer recruitment platforms, Susan covers a range of tools that can benef...

Today, we're diving into a topic that's close to our hearts: recognizing and appreciating the incredible volunteers who make our mission possible. Our volunteers are the lifeblood of our organizations, tirelessly giving their time, energy, and skills to make a difference in the lives of others. They are the unsung heroes who work behind the scenes, often without expecting anything in return. But a...

Susan Finch is joined by Coleen Gose, a professional speaker and domestic violence survivor, to explore the power of storytelling for nonprofit leaders. Gose's journey from finding her voice to becoming a professional speaker is inspiring and insightful. The episode delves into the importance of nonprofit leaders honing their speaking skills, the value of joining organizations like Toastmasters, a...

Binky Patrol Director, Terrie Madruga joined Susan to talk about how easy it is to volunteer for Binky Patrol. From sewing on labels to taking phone calls to writing thank you notes. If you want to give us a bit of time, we have ideas to make it easy and fun! Join us for this short episode to support our chapter leaders and spark ideas in your heart. Learn more ways to help at https://binkypatrol....

Looking for ways to build community in your workplace or neighborhood? In this week's fun and uplifting episode, we talk to Rebecca Heinen who used her passion for crocheting to connect with others across 36 states and counting. Rebecca shares how she started "A Stitch in Every State" to donate handmade crochet items to organizations in need and how it accidentally helped her form bonds at her new...

Upgrading your nonprofit's online presence can be daunting, especially with limited resources. In this insightful episode, we walk through the initial steps small nonprofits should take when considering revamping their website. Susan shares practical tips on evaluating your current site, defining goals for an upgraded one, estimating costs, and more. Even if a full site overhaul isn't feasible now...