All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol

Susan invited Lori on to the show after the recent Bink-A-Thon in Thousand Oaks. Binky Patrol Director, Carolyn Berndt hosted her event at One Spark Academy and knew Lori has the same heart as Binky Patrol. This inspiring conversation delves into making positive change through education and understanding. Host Susan Finch speaks with Lori Peters, executive director of One Spark Academy, about supp...

Today I had the pleasure of speaking with Leah Okimoto, Executive Director of the incredible organization Aaron's Presents. Through Aaron's Presents, kids are empowered to make a positive difference in their communities by pursuing service projects of their own design. From providing reflective vests to peers walking home in the dark, to leading cheerleading classes for younger kids, participants...

Welcome to another episode of Volunteer All Heart from Binky Patrol. I'm your host Susan Finch, and today we have two of our amazing volunteers joining us to share their experiences hosting Bink-A-Thons in their communities. First up is Binky Patrol director, Carolyn Berndt, one of our dedicated volunteers who helped organize a small but mighty Bink-A-Thon with kids from a local charter school. Sh...

October 28 seven states coordinated a national blanket-making event. They each chose who would receive the blankets they made. They all had one thing in common - the recipients would be children and teens who were victims of or traumatized by violent crimes. Listen to this episode to hear the stories from four states: Virginia, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Oregon. We can help any group coordinat...

With fundraising and volunteer engagement always top of mind, nonprofits need to maximize their donor relationships. Susan's penmanship can be challenging to read, even with the most heart-felt card she sends. Simply Noted provides nonprofits an easy way to personalize communication through handwritten notes, helping donors feel appreciated. Their customizable templates, bulk mailing discounts, an...

This is not your episode if you want to remain with only one location and not scale your organization. If you want to grow - even slowly, here are some tips to increase the success of that growth and help retain your regional chapter leaders. Here are a few ideas covered in this short episode: How-to videos. How to edit their info on your site - profile. Where are their tools - central location to...

Shannon Kmetic, founder of Angels in the Outfield, joins Susan Finch to discuss her mission of supporting children impacted by crime and abuse. Kmetic shares how her experience as a prosecutor showed her the need to help children after going through trauma and the justice system. She details the year-round work Angels in the Outfield does to give kids opportunities to pursue their passions, from s...

Part of our MrBallen series, Sarah Muzquiz from the Ride Foundation joins Susan and shares the touching journey of healing through their programs. Many previously wild horses bond with veterans, inner-city kids, and individuals battling trauma, teaching invaluable lessons on trust and emotional boundaries. With a barn close to the city, the program ensures accessibility for urban kids, fostering a...

Continuing the MrBallen Foundation Series, join this conversation on a topic close to many hearts - child abuse and the journey toward healing. Dr. Gina Crean from the Nashville Children’s Alliance joins Susan Finch to discuss the challenges faced by children who have undergone traumatic experiences and the support provided by Children's Advocacy Centers (CACs) across the United States. Dr. Crean...

You'll hear a Mark Twain quote in this episode. "The two best days are the one we are born and the one where we figure out why." That quote captures this episode with Texas EquuSearch's team as they tell their stories, how they found this organization, and how honored they are to find their why. This is the first half of the interview with Tammy Phillips, Director – Business Operations; Angelina F...

Step into a world where love triumphs over hate, where darkness is challenged by the unwavering light of compassion. Join Susan Finch as she sits down with Buck Blodgett, the founder of the Love is Greater Than Hate Project. In this poignant episode, their conversation delves deep into the heart of adversity, unveiling the power of human connection to heal even the most profound wounds. Buck's jou...

As part of our MrBallen Foundation series, we have Bev Warnock, the executive director of Parents of Murdered Children, an organization dedicated to supporting families devastated by the unimaginable loss of a loved one to violence. As I spoke with Bev, I couldn't help but feel the weight of her mission. The pain and grief that these families endure is unfathomable. But within that darkness, Paren...

Susan's guest, Steve Squillante, co-founder of Tiny Transplant Titans , opens up about the nights he and his wife spent at the hospital with their son, who is awaiting a liver transplant. The encounters with other families and transplant patients illuminated the challenges faced by those who lived far from medical centers or lacked the support of a partner. Steve realized the privilege they had of...

Mark your calendar for Saturday, October 28. Locations are to be posted soon. Bring: Your heart, your smile, sharp scissors, your sewing machine if you want to, thread, possibly a cushion to pin and cut on the ground or a folding chair in a cafeteria, and comfy shoes. Learn more about MrBallen Foundation here . Learn more about Bink-A-Thons here . Contact Susan Finch with questions about this even...

In this very special episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol, host Susan Finch sits down with Eric Berndt to talk about his experience coping with the loss of his father at a young age. Eric's story is a powerful testament to the importance of community, vulnerability, and resilience in the face of unimaginable hardship. Eric opens up about the challenges he faced as a teenager strug...

In this episode, Susan Finch and Russ Cassvah discuss the ins and outs of starting and running a small nonprofit. They cover important topics such as conducting research, building a community, and finding strategic partners. They also share their experiences with fundraising events and employee matching programs, as well as the importance of being flexible and having a clear vision for your nonpro...

In this episode welcomes Russ Cassvah, the founder of Little Brick's Charity. Susan has been trying to get Russ on the show for over a year, and finally, they get to talk about his journey and the mission of Little Bricks Charity. The conversation begins with Russ sharing his passion for LEGO and how that led him to start a charity that delivers LEGO sets to children's hospitals across the US. Rus...

Today we have a special guest, Michelle Cramer, the founder of On Angels' Wings. Michelle’s story is one of devotion and determination, and her mission is to improve the mental health and well-being of families with medically fragile children. On Angels' Wings provides free therapeutic photography and grief recovery services to families who need it most. Michelle started doing bereavement photogra...

For those of you who help market non-profits, volunteer for social media to help the non-profits, this episode will cover free tools to help lighten your load. I'm also excited to share with you some of the amazing small charities and organizations doing things differently in 2023. We'll be exploring the challenges they've faced and the successes they've achieved to inspire you to volunteer or run...

Volunteering gives us an opportunity to break the cycle of negativity and fear. We have the power to change lives! Caitlin Peterson is a legal professional by day, and a Binky Patrol chapter leader in the off-hours. She's been volunteering for ten years - she started when she was 16. Listen to this episode to be inspired to do good and outshine the negative through volunteerism.   Links from this...

How to get more volunteers? It will depend on the opportunities you have. Sometimes you have to be flexible and creative. Binky Patrol is a great organization for younger volunteers because what we do is easy and fun with friends. In the past, we've gained a lot of volunteers through annual events.  These events can include scouting troops, schools, and service organizations. You'll have to think...

When Ben Tewes called panicked, he had two months to complete 236 court-ordered community service hours. We quickly calmed him down and assured him, he could do this! We came up with a plan, outlined here - https://binkypatrol.org/article.cfm?id=510 . And he took it a step further. His probation officer wanted to be assured that BEN was actually making the blankets. He came up with the idea to set...

Have you ever known the family was coming over, but because of the weather, and varying ages, you didn't quite know what to do with everyone after the meal? What about when your office and workload are lighter due to the upcoming holidays, end-of-year vacations, and more? A great way to bring these groups of people together is to make blankets. It's a chance to lift some of the annual awkwardness,...

Amy Smart is the founder of Diary of a Quilter . Her newsletter is inspiring, her website is filled with resources. Amy now knows about Binky Patrol. Binky Patrol volunteers have all been introduced to Amy Smart and Diary of a Quilter. This is how it works.  Susan suggests that you seek out companies, individuals, and influencers in your space that have active social media presence, but who also h...

When you volunteer you have an opportunity to help others, and better yourself. Our chapter leaders are not paid. No one is at Binky Patrol, but they are learning marketable skills. Binky Patrol chapter leaders - Area Coordinators - learn how to lead a group, speak publicly, do PR, coordinate events, do basic accounting and more. We give recommendations to up to 10 people a year who are seeking a...