Author Archives: k8mante

Safeguarding Seals and Sea Lions: The Crucial Role of the Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach, CA

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Laguna Beach, California, is renowned for its stunning coastal beauty, attracting tourists and locals alike to its pristine shores. Amidst the breathtaking landscapes and azure waters, an often overlooked yet crucial aspect of Laguna’s marine ecosystem is the presence of Northern elephant seals, Pacific harbor seals, and California sea lions.

These adorable marine mammals all play a vital role in maintaining the ecological balance of the region, and their well-being is at the forefront of conservation efforts led by organizations like the Pacific Marine Mammal Center (PMMC).

PMMC, based in Laguna Beach, is a nonprofit organization dedicated to the rescue, rehabilitation, and release of marine mammals stranded along the Southern California coastline. Established in 1971, the center has been a beacon of hope for seals and sea lions in distress, providing them with expert care and a second chance at life.

Importance of Saving Seals and Sea Lions:

Seals and Sea Lions are integral to the marine ecosystem, contributing to the balance of oceanic food webs. As apex predators, seals regulate the population of prey species such as fish, preventing overpopulation that could disrupt the delicate equilibrium of the underwater world.

Additionally, these animals are indicators of ocean health; their well-being reflects the overall condition of marine environments.

Laguna Beach, with its diverse marine life and protected coves, provides an ideal habitat for seals and sea lions. However, increasing human activities, pollution, and climate change pose significant threats to their survival. Saving seals is not just an ethical imperative but a necessity for maintaining the ecological integrity of Laguna’s coastal ecosystem.

PMMC’s Rescue and Rehabilitation Efforts:

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center plays a pivotal role in the conservation of seals and sea lions in Laguna Beach by offering a comprehensive suite of services. The organization’s dedicated team of experts and volunteers respond to reports of stranded or injured animals, providing immediate assistance. Shark bites, run-ins with local boats, malnutrition and dehydration, getting tangled or ingesting fishing wire – these are just some of the causes of injury.

The center’s state-of-the-art facilities are equipped to rehabilitate the animals suffering from malnutrition, injuries, or illnesses, ensuring they regain their strength before being released back into the wild.

You can check out their current patients at any time through this link: Our Patients — Pacific Marine Mammal Center (pacificmmc.org)

Educational Outreach:

PMMC is not only focused on direct rescue and rehabilitation efforts but is also committed to raising awareness about the importance of seal and sea lion conservation. The center engages with the community through educational programs, school visits, and outreach events, fostering a sense of responsibility and empathy towards marine life. By empowering individuals with knowledge, PMMC aims to create a community that actively participates in the protection of the animals and their habitats.

Volunteerism and Community Involvement:

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center thrives on the support of volunteers and community partnerships. Individuals passionate about marine conservation can contribute by volunteering their time, skills, or resources to support the center’s initiatives. By fostering a sense of community involvement, PMMC not only ensures the well-being of seals but also encourages collective efforts to safeguard the marine environment as a whole.

I had traveled to Laguna Beach, CA for a work conference and was fortunate to have heard of the PMMC ahead of my visit. Thanks to a break in the conference schedule, I was able to visit the center and volunteer. Washing animal dishes and helping clean some of the central areas of the center, provided me the opportunity to learn all about the organization and its efforts.

At the time I was visiting, rising levels of algae toxins off the waters of Southern California was making sea lions sick. It was unfortunate timing – the rising sea temperatures were fueling toxic algae growth along the shores just at the time the sea lions came to shore to mate and give birth. The algae generated a harmful neurotoxin called domoic acid that overexcites the receptors in the brains and hearts of the sea lions, causing them to have seizures. The toxin had spread through the food chain. Sea lions eat sardines, anchovy and hake, which concentrated the toxin.

At the week I visited, PMMC was completely full with sick sea lions and seals that were in various stages of medical treatment. Touring the facility I learned all about how the team treats the animals. On the following Saturday morning I was able to watch the release of a treated sea lion back into the ocean! It was emotional and exciting to watch it excitedly run back into the surf!

Conclusion:

The Pacific Marine Mammal Center in Laguna Beach stands as a beacon of hope for seals and sea lions in distress, embodying the essence of responsible marine conservation. By rescuing, rehabilitating, and releasing these vital marine mammals, PMMC plays a crucial role in maintaining the ecological balance of Laguna’s coastal ecosystem. It is through the combined efforts of organizations like PMMC, community involvement, and public awareness that we can ensure the continued well-being of seals and sea lions and preserve the natural beauty of Laguna Beach for generations to come.

To learn more about the organization, or to donate to support their work, please visit Pacific Marine Mammal Center (pacificmmc.org)

XO XO – Penny

Healing through Quiet Moments on the Water

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Some volunteer days are loud and busy. Others are calm, peaceful, and quietly powerful.

Volunteering with Heroes on the Water was one of those peaceful yet deeply meaningful experiences.

On this particular day, I helped set up and run an event where disabled veterans spent the day out on kayaks, fishing and enjoying time outdoors.

From the moment we began unloading gear, it was clear that this wasn’t just about fishing. It was about creating space for healing, connection, and calm.

Heroes on the Water, founded in 2007, provides no-cost therapeutic kayak fishing experiences for veterans, active-duty military members, first responders, and their families across the United States. Their programs are built around a simple but powerful idea: time on the water, surrounded by nature and supportive community, can help people reconnect with themselves and with others.

What impressed me most was how thoughtfully the day was organized. Every detail was handled so participants could simply show up and enjoy the experience. Kayaks, fishing gear, and safety equipment were all provided. Volunteers worked side by side to ensure each participant felt supported, safe, and welcomed.

As the kayaks pushed off from shore, something shifted. The noise of setup faded into the quiet rhythm of water and movement. You could feel the calm settling in. It was a beautiful, sunny day. Perfect for enjoying kayaking on the open water.

Heroes on the Water offers a wide range of experiences designed to meet people where they are, including:

• On-the-water family events, where veterans and first responders can spend meaningful time with loved ones
• Small group events, creating opportunities for deeper connection in a more intimate setting
• Women-only events, providing safe and supportive spaces specifically for female veterans and first responders
• Social gatherings, including off-the-water events that build community
• Off-season workshops, keeping participants connected year-round

What makes this organization especially powerful is that the impact isn’t just anecdotal, it’s measurable. Their Operation Early Impact study shows significant improvements in mental health, stress reduction, and overall well-being for participants.

But you don’t need research to see the difference. You can see it in the smiles, the quiet conversations, and the way people linger just a little longer at the end of the day.

All programs are offered at no cost to participants, removing barriers and making sure those who have served our communities have access to support, camaraderie, and time to decompress.

As volunteers, our role was simple but important: set up the equipment, provide assistance when needed, and help create an environment where participants could focus on enjoying the moment.

What struck me most was the sense of community. Many participants return regularly, building relationships and supporting one another in ways that go far beyond a single day on the water.

Volunteering with Heroes on the Water reminded me that healing doesn’t always happen in structured settings. Sometimes it happens in quiet moments like casting a fishing line, feeling the gentle movement of water, and sharing time with others who understand.

It was an honor to play even a small role in making that day possible.

Experiences like this continue to shape my #52WeeksOfCharity journey — reminding me that service can be both active and peaceful, structured and simple, but always meaningful.

Sometimes the greatest gift we can offer is simply helping create space for someone else to breathe.

Heroes on the Water: Recreational Therapy for Mental Health

Healing through Play: Only Make Believe’s Interactive Theater Bringing Joy to Children in Hospitals

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In the challenging world of pediatric healthcare, where young patients face not only physical ailments but also emotional stress, the power of interactive theater is proving to be a transformative force. Only Make Believe, a remarkable organization dedicated to bringing joy and distraction to children in hospitals, has been at the forefront of this movement. Through the magic of live performances and interactive theater, Only Make Believe is making a significant impact on the lives of young patients, fostering resilience and hope during difficult times.

The Healing Power of Play:

Children, by nature, are curious, imaginative, and full of energy. However, when illness strikes and hospitalization becomes a reality, these qualities can be overshadowed by fear and discomfort. This is where the unique approach of interactive theater becomes a beacon of light. Only Make Believe understands that play is not only a means of entertainment but also a powerful tool for healing.

Interactive theater engages children in a dynamic and participatory way, encouraging them to explore their creativity and emotions.

Through storytelling, music, and interactive activities, the organization creates an environment where young patients can momentarily escape the confines of the hospital and embark on imaginative journeys. The transformative power of play allows children to experience a sense of normalcy and joy, crucial elements for their mental and emotional well-being.

Only Make Believe’s Mission:

Only Make Believe was founded in 1999 by Dena Hammerstein, inspired by her belief in the healing power of theater. The organization’s mission is to bring interactive theater and creative arts to chronically ill and disabled children in hospitals and care facilities. By partnering with professional actors and artists, Only Make Believe designs and performs interactive plays that cater to the unique needs of each child and their specific medical condition.

The Heart of the Program:

What sets Only Make Believe apart is the personalized and interactive nature of its performances. Trained actors visit hospitals armed with scripts that allow them to adapt to the needs and preferences of each child. The children become the stars of the show, with the actors incorporating their suggestions and even enlisting them as characters in the play.

The Only Make Believe actors bring a trunk full of costume pieces (hats, caps, masks, scarves and other pieces) and props. Children participate by creating characters and choosing their favorite costume.

In one example of an interactive play, an actor playing a Space Detective works with the children to solve a mystery – finding a lost key to a gold storage room somewhere in space!

At the end of the show, the children get to keep their costumes and can continue to play with them and wear them whenever they want.

The interactive theater program not only serves as a welcome distraction but also fosters a sense of empowerment among the young patients. Through the magic of storytelling, the children are transported to fantastical worlds where they can be anything they want, if only for a little while. This experience goes beyond entertainment; it provides an emotional outlet and a sense of control that is often lacking in a hospital setting.

Volunteering:

My co-worker, Alla, and I volunteered at Only Make Believe’s New York City headquarters one afternoon to help create caps and masks that would be used during the shows. We also looked through existing costume parts and props to fix anything that needed fixing and also to add jewels, colorful bobbins and lace, and other “bling” to existing costumes. It was a chance to get to learn about the organization and also to add creative fun to our day!

The volunteer coordinators explained everything we needed to know about working with the costumes and props. Glue, lace, jewels, glitter, markers, paint and all sorts of craft supplies were available for us to use and we were encouraged to let our imaginations roam!

We volunteered in person at their NYC headquarters. They also have a headquarters in Washington DC. You can also volunteer as a group remotely from anywhere. They’ll send you all the supplies and instructions and you can host your own costume collective design and creation event! Participants will be creating one-of-a-kind masks, hats and tutus – costumes children will use during the performances, and which they keep afterwards.

It is a great teambuilding activity for all ages! Great for corporate events, team activities, school activities, family reunions, etc. Any age can participate (young children with parental oversight).

No sewing or artistic talent required! Just the willingness to create something colorful and imaginative.

Impact and Success Stories:

The impact of Only Make Believe’s work is evident in the countless success stories that have emerged from their programs. Children who may have been reluctant to engage in other therapeutic activities find solace and joy in the interactive theater experience. Parents and healthcare professionals alike have noted improvements in mood, decreased anxiety, and increased cooperation among the young participants.

The organization’s commitment to inclusivity is another aspect that sets it apart. Only Make Believe recognizes the diverse needs of the children it serves, tailoring performances to be accessible to those with various physical and cognitive abilities. This dedication to inclusivity ensures that every child, regardless of their medical condition, can benefit from the healing power of interactive theater.

Conclusion:

In the world of pediatric healthcare, where resilience and hope are as crucial as medical interventions, Only Make Believe stands as a shining example of the transformative impact of interactive theater.

By bringing the magic of storytelling and play to children in hospitals, the organization is not just providing entertainment but also contributing to the emotional and mental well-being of these young patients.

As Only Make Believe continues to expand its reach and touch the lives of more children, it serves as a beacon of light, proving that in the face of illness, there is always room for joy, creativity, and the healing power of play.

To learn more about Only Make Believe, make a donation, or to volunteer, please check out their website at Only Make Believe

XO XO – – Penny

Benefits of the Unexpected

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Volunteering at Gallop NYC

Howard Beach, NY is nestled cozily into the Southwest portion of Queens. Across its Northern and Western borders runs the very busy Belt Parkway, a major thoroughfare transporting thousands of travelers to points between Staten Island and Long Island every day.

JFK Airport – the busiest of the 7 airports that serve NYC – juts up against the Eastern border. And Jamaica Bay and its estuary curl up along the South.

The neighborhoods within Howard Beach reflect its history. Each area showcases the housing style typical at the time of development.

One neighborhood, built directly after WWII, spans street after street of quaint cape-cod and raised-ranch homes on 50 x 100 lots, with tiny, neatly maintained, front yards.

A few streets over you’ll find larger two-story homes with Dutch-angled roofs, built in the 1950s. Each with street-level entries jutting out from the main house like a chin. These homes have bigger front yards – – almost every one delineated by ornate gates and fences.

The newest neighborhoods have 6-story red-brick apartment buildings and shared condos.

Some of the housing styles in Howard Beach

More than 26,000 people live in this busy, vibrant, urban 2.3 square mile area that is Howard Beach.

This is a fact I find almost impossible to believe as I stand looking out across a large, outdoor, riding arena surrounded by trees and listening to the cluck-cluck-cluck of a few chickens and the neighing of horses and ponies.

Two white geese are splashing in a small plastic kiddie pool off to the side.

Behind me, a long red stable barn runs out towards two fields where horses are stretching their legs and enjoying the morning sun.

A few more horses and ponies are grazing on fresh hay in a gated paddock attached to the side of the barn.

It’s hard to believe I disembarked from the busy NYC Subway’s A-Train less than a mile from here!

I am at Sunrise Stables in Howard Beach, Queens, one of Gallop NYC’s three locations.

I am here to volunteer for the morning – – helping work in the barn and lend a hand wherever needed.

Gallop NYC provides therapeutic horsemanship to veterans and people with developmental, emotional, social, and physical disabilities.

Their goal is to help individuals with physical, verbal, and learning skills… inspiring them to live their lives as fully and independently as possible.

Weekly Therapeutic Riding Sessions are led by PATH International certified therapeutic riding instructors. Trained volunteers are on hand to assist each rider.

The lessons provide the opportunity for students to learn how to ride while setting individual goals.

These goals translate to the world beyond the stable.

Learning how to build a bond with a horse, how to care for a horse, how to lead a horse, understanding how horses perceive the world – each these develop skills useful in daily life, such as: balance, control, muscle use and strength, patience, focus, empathy, emotional perception, and confidence.

In addition to the therapeutic riding lessons, Gallop NYC also has two unique programs for Veterans:

  • Riding for Veterans trains participants how to bond with and ride a horse and includes special breathing and physical techniques. Participants report decreased anxiety and depression, more focus in the workplace, more overall confidence, and the strengthening of leadership skills.
  • Groundwork for Veterans focuses participants on how to care for horses. Through this program they learn important verbal and non-verbal communication skills, patience, confidence, and leadership skills as they actively take on horse care responsibilities such as grooming, tackling, lead walking, lunging and other activities.

Gallop NYC also provides Hippotherapy sessions, which use the horse’s movement as a therapeutic rehabilitative treatment. The program is designed to improve coordination, balance, core stability, muscle tone, sensorimotor function, and overall strength. Sessions are conducted by a physical or occupational therapist. The therapist adds motor tasks to the horse’s movements to address the specific needs of the patient such as sitting, standing, walking, changing the horse’s direction or gait, and working with props.

Sweating my way through barn cleaning

I started the day helping muck the stables. The horses were out in pasture or already in the middle of lessons, so our team had time to clean out the stables and then provide fresh hay and water.

It was a super-hot day (Accuweather’s “real feel” listed at 99 degrees and humid), so frequent water breaks for all the volunteers, workers, and animals kept our energies up.

The volunteer coordinator who ran the barn staff and one of the head volunteers (who volunteers several times a week) were very helpful in showing me the ropes and allowing me to help in a wide variety of tasks. They also provided me with a lot of information about the horses and the programs.

In addition to mucking the stalls, I helped clean the water buckets and food buckets, as well as a variety of other equipment for the barn and horses.

Prior to coming for the day I was asked to watch a few videos provided by the organization which detailed how to behave around, and interact with, the horses.

The videos also explained in detail how volunteers help during the lessons by walking alongside the horse and supporting the rider for safety. I found the videos very helpful and useful. They definitely prepared me for the day!

Later that morning I had the opportunity to be a support volunteer walking alongside a horse during a rider’s session. The therapist in charge of the lesson gave me very specific and detailed instructions to ensure everyone was safe and the rider had any support they needed.

The student had been taking ongoing lessons so was experienced in riding. My job was to walk alongside the horse and hold my arm across the rider’s thigh while holding the edge of the saddle with my hand.

There was another volunteer on the other side of the horse and a third volunteer leading the horse with the reins. The instructor gave very specific directions to the rider to have them practice a variety of motor skills, posture setting, verbal communication, and more.

After the first time around the arena, the volunteers walking next to the horse were asked to let the rider’s legs go so that they had more independence and control. We continued to walk alongside to ensure rider safety. At this point the front-walker leading the horse helped the rider respond to the instructor’s directions to weave between cones, stop walking, start walking and more. The instructor also kept the rider focused on correct posture, proper body movement to direct the horse, and proper arm, leg and foot positions so all the correct muscles were engaged. The instructor’s passion for their work was inspiring.

The rider was very focused and seemed to be greatly enjoying the lesson!

At the end of the lesson the instructor and one of the aides helped the rider dismount. Myself and the other side walker volunteer stayed close by in case an extra set of hands were needed. It was very safe and the rider was very confident in their actions! They dismounted like a champ!

I was able to assist with a second lesson as well. I felt very lucky to participate in the training.

In between lessons I was able to help with other barn chores. It was clear the barn managers and volunteers truly enjoy caring for the horses. I found that very motivating.

I did have a favorite horse by end of day – Sadie. She was so gentle and loved scratches on her forehead.

Throughout my time that day I was continually surprised by the peaceful beauty of the surroundings. I kept thinking about how unexpected this was – a magical place within the densely-populated, hustle and bustle of Queens.

I was energized by the excitement and happiness of the students. They were working hard and learning lots. And they were making very special memories. I am positive they each had happy stories to tell their families about their lessons.

It was a joyful day!

Transitioning back to the city atmosphere as I walked the .8 mile back to the A-Train, I thought about the unexpected moments of the day – looking into the curious eye of a horse a few inches away, finding a beautiful rural farm in the middle of a busy city, seeing the joy on the faces of the students, meeting wonderful people who devote their time regularly to the organization….

Experiencing the unexpected affects how we see the world. It shines a light on something new, shifts perspectives, and inspires. It opens us up to thinking creatively. It is a chance to break away from life’s usual script, and a reminder that doing so is good for you!

I greatly enjoyed the day. The staff, the instructor, and the other volunteers were wonderful!

And I could tell through my interactions with the students that they were inspired by and felt joy from their experience. A chance to break away from their daily script to enjoy something special!

It helped me remember positive surprises and unexpected moments are important.

How can you bring more of the unexpected into your life and create small positive surprises?

It starts with curiosity. Pick a topic that sounds interesting and dig into it, search for a nearby organization you can volunteer with, or try shaking up your routine with a random walk (focusing on searching for unique beauty around you). Even looking at things you see every day with a new perspective can be a happy unexpected surprise.

If you remain curious as you do these things, you will be surprised at what opens up for you and within you. You can shake up your life with joy! And sharing those moments with others through story is part of the fun! Pulling others along with you into moments of curiosity and wonder spreads the benefits of the unexpected.

If you are interested in learning more about Gallop NYC, in volunteering with the organizaiton, or in donating to support their programs, please click this link:  GallopNYC

In addition to the Howard Beach, Queens, location, Gallop NYC has locations in Forest Hills, Queens, (a 30-horse stable and indoor riding arena and an outdoor bridle path) and Prospect Park, Brooklyn (they transport horses into the park, near the Parade Grounds, for lessons). If you live near any of those areas and would like more information about their programs, you can check out this link: programs — GallopNYC

Thank you for journeying with me this week!

Penny

Ripples of Hope across Humanity

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How Volunteering at a 5K Has Meaningful Impact

Children in Conflict and hope across humanity….

It is a warm, humid, drizzly mid-June Saturday morning with a hauntingly beautiful view of the New York City skyline across the river, shrouded in fog and low-hanging clouds.

It’s as if we’ve been transported into a romantically nostalgic poem.

Volunteers are setting up tents and registration tables for a 5K Run/Walk. At one end of the lawn is a children’s station complete with temporary tattoos, a cotton candy machine, a coloring area, and a bounce house.

The DJ has started the music, the thump-thump-thump dancing up and out across the fog.

The event is a fundraiser for Children in Conflict (CIC), a non-profit focused on providing aid and support to children and families living in conflict, war, and crisis-centered areas of the world. They work in tandem with their sister non-profit, War Child UK (WCUK).

When conflict and crisis happen, CIC and WCUK are one of the first NGOs on site and the last to leave, prioritizing the type of aid and the programs they support based on the specific in-country circumstances. They work with local partners and hire field staff so they can deliver aid in a culturally cognizant manner while also providing employment opportunities for local, skilled individuals whose livelihoods were affected by conflict.

iStock 140394946 Credit: MirAgareb (purchased with credits)

In Syria, for example, they arrived soon after the devastating earthquake that struck in February 2023 and remain there today distributing critically needed supplies (food, clothing, blankets, mattresses, heaters), creating and providing safe shelters, helping to rebuild homes, and providing psychosocial first aid for children with signs of trauma.

In Afghanistan, where the humanitarian crisis grew exponentially after the economic collapse of the country (2022) in the wake of the Taliban takeover, over 90% of the population is food insecure and skips meals daily.(1)

Almost 400,000 people have had to flee their homes in search of safety and are living in makeshift shelters with little access to food, water, and hygiene.(2) CIC and WCUK works with local organizations to secure food, hygiene kits and psychological first aid. In one area of the country they also provide a shuttle bus to and from kindergarten for children being held in prison with their mothers so they can safely access school.

iStock: 1489543142 Credit: Lalocracio (purchased with credits)

In Ukraine, where war continues to claim lives and destroy homes/cities as well as vital infrastructure and services, CIC and WCUK work with partner organizations to provide essential provisions like food, clothes and psychological first aid to displaced families. They work to stop children from being abducted and/or trafficked when crossing borders. They also set up temporary learning centers so children can continue their education and regain a sense of normality.

Their “Can’t Wait to Learn” online learning platform enables 210,000 Ukrainian children to continue their studies. The Ukrainian Ministry of Education has chosen the program to be their primary online education intervention for children from grades 1 to 4 and all Ukrainian children can access the Ukrainian curriculum online from wherever they are in the world so they can learn in their own language.

CIC has also been supporting “Step by Step” – a Ukrainian program which rehabilitates shelters and uses them as kindergartens where children can receive non-formal education as well as socialize, play and feel safe. Parents can also relax and find some respite while their children play in a safe, secure space.

CIC and WCUK also work in Iraq, Yemen, Central African Republic and the Democratic Republic of Congo. Their model is “Respond, Recover, Rebuild.”

Respond projects deliver critical emergency aid where that is needed first, as primary priority. Recovery projects provide mental health support for children to effectively process their trauma in constructive ways. Rebuild programs are focused on rebuilding infrastructure – schools and learning places, and developing child protection initiatives.

They focus on each of these in different ways depending on the needs and environment in-country. You can read more about their important work in those countries here: https://childreninconflict.org/where 

As I set up the registration table for the 5K and read through the CIC’s latest Impact Report, I notice over 150 runners are registered to take part in the event and I feel an existential conflict.

There is a shocking incompatibility between the experience of a 5k in a beautiful location, filled with music, raffle prizes and a bounce house, and the lived experience of children and their families, half a world away, who are desperately in need of the essential aid provided by the non-profit.

I find myself asking, do the funds from this 5k have meaningful impact? Does my volunteering here support meaningful change?

The answer to both is YES – as part of a bigger whole. This local 5k is one small piece of a global aggregate of fundraising to support the organization’s mission and on the ground actions. Together, across a myriad of events at local and national levels, the funds have the momentum to achieve goals. Local events are a chance to be part of something larger.  

Most organizations will also tell you that local fundraising events are important for raising awareness which is just as important as raising funds because it opens people up to new information and new ideas and can possibly fuel a previously unknown passion to get involved in the cause. Expanding awareness can lead to greater numbers of supporters which builds momentum to effect change. And at the local level, participants and volunteers can have great impact in spreading awareness by helping the organization get the word out about their cause. That seed of awareness can blossom into other hearts and unfold into actions and contexts never even imagined.

I believe local non-profit fundraising events also nourish hope. They provide a conduit for individuals to live in generosity and share that experience with each other. To build community. To nourish the kindness of the human spirit, which often gets lost in the busy-ness of day to day and the in-the-moment focus of our lives.

I won this cute summer orange slice clutch at the raffle

Maria Popova, in one of her articles on her blog The Marginalian, writes “nothing broadens the soul more than the touch of kindness, given or received…” (3) Local charity events provide the opportunity for the growth of shared kindness. A pathway for living with a perspective of love and kindness.

Local charity events also let you connect with causes that interest you and touch your heart. If you have a passion about something globally, there are always ways to get involved locally. And to get involved at whatever level you are motivated to be involved. Volunteering is an opportunity to remember that all humanity is tied together, and we can support each other across the globe. Ripples of kindness seeding the world – imagine if we prioritized that perspective first as humans? What would the world look and feel like then? 

I am reminded of Carl Sagan’s book, Pale Blue Dot, where he reflected on the last photo taken by NASA’s Voyager 1 spacecraft as it left the solar system in February 1990. Just as it left our solar system it turned its cameras back to snap one last photo of Earth, which looked like the tiniest imaginable speck of dust caught in beam of light in a vast, incomprehensible emptiness. In his book Carl Sagan wrote:

“Look again at that dot. That’s here. That’s home. That’s us. On it everyone you love, everyone you know, everyone you ever heard of, every human being who ever was, lived out their lives. The aggregate of our joy and suffering, thousands of confident religions, ideologies, and economic doctrines, every hunter and forager, every hero and coward, every creator and destroyer of civilization, every king and peasant, every young couple in love, every mother and father, hopeful child, inventor and explorer, every teacher of morals, every corrupt politician, every “superstar,” every “supreme leader,” every saint and sinner in the history of our species lived there–on a mote of dust suspended in a sunbeam [….] The Earth is the only world known so far to harbor life. There is nowhere else, at least in the near future, to which our species could migrate. Visit, yes. Settle, not yet [….] To me, it underscores our responsibility to deal more kindly with one another, and to preserve and cherish the pale blue dot, the only home we’ve ever known.” (4)

Imagine the world if everyone, across the globe, decided to deal more kindly with one another. Prioritized kindness. What would we create?

If you have a passion for a specific cause, do a search for a local chapter or supporting organization. You can also check out your local charities or look for volunteer opportunities through such on-line portals as Volunteer Match: https://www.volunteermatch.org/ or EventBrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/. I find many of my volunteer activities on those two sites.

To learn more about Children in Conflict or to make a donation, visit https://childreninconflict.org/

Thank you for joining my journey this week,

Penny

Citations:

Touching life 400 million years ago

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Spending a Night NYC Horseshoe Crab Monitoring

Here are things you may not know about Atlantic horseshoe crabs:

  • They are one of the world’s oldest species. Scientists have discovered fossils of horseshoe crab ancestors that lived over 445 million years ago (dinosaurs appeared 200 million years ago).
  • Horseshoe crab blood is blue. Their blood is copper-based, not iron-based like ours.
  • One mamma horseshoe crab will lay up to 120,000 eggs during a single spawning season.
  • Horseshoe crabs, and their eggs, glow under UV light/blacklight. The younger the crab, the brighter they glow.
  • Certain endangered migrating shore birds depend on horseshoe crab eggs to survive, including the Red Knot

High tide hit Big Egg Marsh in Queens at 10:52 p.m. on Tuesday June 20th. The incoming tidewater lapped against my knees… a good 3 or 4 inches above the tops of my rainboots… as I carefully and slowly walked along the shoreline trying not to step on the hundreds of horseshoe crabs who had migrated in this night to mate and spawn their eggs.

Using headlamps to track the crabs
Swarms of Horseshoe crabs around my feet
Large Female on the beach

The only light coming from my headlamp and with the wind pushing the incoming tide, it was a bit disorienting to determine where to put my next step.

The bodies of female adult horseshoe crabs are the size of dinner plates. If you include their tails, they could easily be two feet long. Males are smaller, faster. Tails quickly moving back and forth as they skitter through the water. They use their tails for stability, not for protection, a fact for which I was grateful as dozens of them swarmed around my feet.

Males swarming a female
Hard to see, and catch!
Males pushing each other around

The mosquitoes were intense and unforgiving. Any new skin exposed to the air without a layer of bug spray would quickly be covered in mosquitoes looking for a late-nite dinner. In the time it took me to push my long sleeves back from my wrist up to my elbows and spray a good dose of bug repellent, I counted no less than a dozen mosquitoes landing on my arm for a feast.

I was part of a small team of volunteers with the NYC Audubon Society, there to monitor the horseshoe crabs by counting them, checking for (and recording) pre-tagged crabs, and then tagging a few of our own after catching them, measuring them and checking for a few specific characteristics before releasing them back into the bay.

If you’ve never caught a live horseshoe crab it is like picking up a piece of ancient earth. Shells hard and dark, sometimes covered in barnacles, they’re faster than you think. They can weigh up to 11 pounds. All of which makes catching them in the water in the complete dark, under a new moon, using only your headlamp to track them, a challenge.

Equipment for measuring and tracking
Measurement characteristics
Watch that tail!

Picking them up means placing your hands on either side of the center edges of their body shells and quickly flipping them up and over so their 10 pairs of legs are flailing about in the air. From here, upside down, you can see their claws, their gills, and their jawless mouths, which, if you touch it, feels a bit like you’re running your finger along extra sturdy toothbrush bristles.

Their tail – while not a weapon – does whip up and down when you pick up a crab, as if it is doing violent sit ups. It’s an effort to thrust the tail up and down in hopes you drop them back into the water so they can escape. It is a bit unnerving if you have never done it. The tail may not be a weapon but it still pinches when it whaps you in the face.

One thing you should never do is catch them or hold them by their tail. It may look sturdy, but it is very fragile and easily damaged and if injured means it cannot properly navigate the waters. The tail also has photoreceptors that allow it to sense light, helping it understand where the shore is.

Our group had arrived at the site in the dark around 9:30. We took some initial shoreline measurements and set up our equipment. Dottie – our leader from the Audubon Society – took us through the process of what was to come and gave us tons of information about the crabs. Horseshoe crabs are not really crabs at all. They’re actually closely related to scorpions. A fact that also made me grateful they do not use their tails as weapons or for defense.

The crabs only come to shore in May and June during new and full moons – leaving the safety of the deep water to make their way up the Atlantic coast to breeding grounds where they mate and spawn eggs. Lots of eggs. They arrive by the hundreds of thousands along the shallow waters along the beaches.

Male clutching onto the back of a female as she makes her way to the shore to lay her eggs

Mating is unique. Males migrate to the inshore waters first and wait for the females to arrive. The females are much larger than the males. In the shallow waters, as the females begin to make their way towards the beach, the males battle to attach their front legs to a female’s shell.

There could be a dozen males vying for one female. When the female moves onto the very edge of the water, just at the very edge of the beach, she digs a small hole (a nest) where she deposits strands and strands of eggs, sometimes thousands at a time. At the same time the male releases his sperm over the eggs to fertilize them. It is not unusual for another male to come charging in and also release his sperm over the eggs too.

You can see the tiny eggs glowing in the blacklight

Females lay as many as 4,000 eggs in one nest and will create 5 to 7 nests in one visit to the beach. Each female returns to the shore many times during spawning season.

The eggs are the size of pearl couscous, almost indistinguishable from the sand except they glow under blacklight/UV light. We saw several nests of eggs during our time on the beach.

They will hatch in 2-4 weeks, during a high tide where the eggs are covered by the water. They use the waves to carry them out to sea.

We came across a nest of early eggs who were hatching. If you were to scoop some up in your hands you would see they are shaped exactly like their parents. Tiny, miniature versions of their earlier generations.  

It’s hard to believe something so tiny will hatch and make its way to the enormous ocean to one day become a full-grown adult.

NYC Audubon has dozens of teams spread out across several sites in Queens and Brooklyn tonight and for 12 – 15 nights in total (depending on migration pattern and moon phase). These beaches have the highest densities of horseshoe crabs on the East Coast.

Our monitoring of the population is part of a statewide project to survey spawning populations. The NYC Audubon is partnering with Cornell Cooperative Extension’s Marine program and Stony Brook University as well as the NY State Department of Environmental Conservation. The information is used to create conservation and management plans.

11 species of migrating birds, including several endangered and threatened ones, rely on the eggs to replenish their fat supplies as they migrate to northern breeding grounds. The horseshoe crabs and birds have developed an interesting symbiosis. Female horseshoe crabs will often dig up existing nests where all or some of the eggs did not hatch. This makes the eggs available to the birds – making it easy for the birds to get nourishment that way instead of needing to dig up fresh nests.

The crabs are threatened in many ways, all of which are human:

  • Biomedical use – Because horseshoe crab blood is copper-based and contains a special clotting component, an extract of it is used to test pharmaceuticals and medical devices for bacteria (to insure there is none). Vaccines and implants are primary areas where horseshoe crab blood is used for such testing. Pharmaceutical companies typically harvest the crabs by hand during spawning season. They transport them to labs where they are cleaned and then 1/3 of their blood is removed. After a bit of care to be sure the crab is healing, they return them about a week later to the ocean. This interferes with spawning. It is not uncommon for the crabs to die during the process.
  • Climate change is changing the temperature of the ocean, the patterns of ocean circulations, changing the temperature, height and depth of the water along the coastlines. This affects the migration and breeding of the crabs. Additionally, as humans build sea walls and other interventions to fight sea level rise, it often negatively affects their breeding grounds
  • Pollution of the water and beaches
  • Bait fisheries often harvest horseshoe crabs and cut them up to use as bait for eel. More breeding areas have been set aside as protected areas where such harvesting is not permitted, but the activity still exists.

During our count tonight we came across several crabs that had been tagged in previous years. The goal with these was to catch them to measure and inspect them, get a photograph of the tag, and then record it so it can be tracked throughout its life. One horseshoe crab we found was over 10 years old. Each of us in the group found at least one tagged specimen.

Tagging a female

After completing the counting, it was time for each of us to pick up a sample crab for measuring and tagging. I picked up a female. She was about 2 feet long and very dark, meaning old (the shells of the older crabs are darker than the younger ones). She had barnacles on her back section.

I tagged her with a tracking number and released her wondering where her journey would take her.

Making my long journey back from the beach in Queens to Manhattan NYC on the A train Subway at 1:30 in the morning, wet clothes and smelling like sea water, I was feeling exhausted, excited and amazed.

It was humbling to be able to hold and examine one of the Earth’s oldest living species – unchanged for 400 million years.

I could not help but wonder….. Horseshoe crabs have survived the prior 5 mass extinctions of Earth’s history. Even outliving the dinosaurs. Would they survive this current man-made one?

I am eager to learn more about the population pattern (increasing/decreasing) and I am already looking forward to helping out again next year!

Thank you for joining my journey this week,

Penny

If you’d like to learn more about NYC Audubon, get involved, or support their programs, please check out: Who We Are | NYC Audubon

To learn more about the New York Horseshoe Crab Monitoring Network, check out: New York Horseshoe Crab Monitoring Network (nyhorseshoecrab.org)

Juneteenth Celebration

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Juneteenth is celebrated on June 19th and commemorates the date in 1865 when Major General Gordon Granger told people in Galveston, Texas about President Lincoln’s Emancipation Proclamation. President Lincoln had actually signed the Emancipation Proclamation ending slavery in 1863, however many southerners sought to evade the executive order by forcibly moving enslaved people to Texas, the most Western of the slaveholding states.

Image from National Museum of American History

Union troops pursued them and arrived in Galveston in the summer of 1865, finally freeing more than 250,000 Black Americans.

Enslaved people were formally emancipated, and slavery officially abolished by the 13th Amendment in December 1865.

In 2021 President Biden signed the Juneteenth National Independence Day Act, making June 19th a Federal holiday.

The holiday not only commemorates the end of a horrific period in American history, it also 1) symbolizes the ongoing struggle for freedom and equality, 2) celebrates and draws attention to the incredible achievements of Black Americans who have shaped history, 3) highlights the resilience of Black Americans who continue to fight against the bonds of racism and advocate for systemic change, and 4) reminds us that the fight for equity and justice for Black Americans continues to wage on even today.

The struggle against racism is still felt at both the individual and systemic levels. Hundreds of years of racism did not vanish overnight with Juneteenth or the Civil Rights movement. We each have a role in working towards equality.

As a non-black ally, I found myself understanding the importance of the holiday but was unsure how to commemorate it appropriately. How could I actively participate in Juneteenth celebrations in an authentic way? What could I do beyond the celebration?

I wanted to learn more and be a stronger ally personally and professionally – beyond a weekend celebration.

My first step was getting involved in supporting the holiday by volunteering with “Juneteenth New York City” for the 14th Annual celebration in Brooklyn titled “Kaleidoscope of Black Culture” .

This 3-day event included concerts, a fashion show, a virtual summit, a “In Celebration of Black Kings” awards ceremony honoring 28 Black men from NY for their impact in the community, a day of kids’ activities, a field day, food trucks, Black-owned vendors, and more. I had registered to help on the third day of the event – which took place in Prospect Park, Brooklyn.

The organizers I primarily worked with included three passionate and inspiring women: Shantel, Tyisha, and Mel. They were amazing! They ensured everyone was organized and informed of all the details prior to the event so there was no confusion on location, roles, expectations. During the event Mel was my go-to and she was perfect at answering any vendor, food truck owner, or participant questions that came my way. She also kept me focused on tasks from greeting and directing, to helping ensure the drum core team and the models for the fashion show were taken care of. And all three women were high-energy, passionate and very motivating!

The event was well-attended and there was much joyous celebration of the Black community. Because I volunteered on Sunday I was able to enjoy the DJ, hear inspiring speakers share prayer and stories, hear beautiful traditional songs, watch a fashion show, speak with a host of Black-owned small business vendors who were selling fabulous crafts, and watch an amazing young adult/teen drum core team perform. It was such an inspiring day!

As much as I enjoyed volunteering and celebrating at the event, I want my ally-ship to extend beyond a single day.

Juneteenth is great for awareness but emancipation did not instantly fix inequality for Black Americans. There is much to do to help increase equality across all groups of people in America!

From discussions with Black friends and colleagues, and through extensive research, here are some suggestions for meaningful steps and actions we can take personally (within our community) and professionally (within our workplaces) to support the Black community, bring change, and continue to boost racial equality for all.

I am also including at the bottom of this article some informative websites to become an informed, proactive ally.

I’ll be looking to expand my involvement through some of these!

As an individual:

  • Support Black-owned businesses – Get to know the black-owned businesses in your community.
  • Truly reflect on the essence of Juneteenth and what it means for Black Americans. Learn why the holiday has profound importance to them and their lived experiences. Respect the purpose – approach it with reverence and understand it is a time for Black Americans to honor their history, celebrate freedom, and reflect on the ongoing struggle for racial equity.
  • Celebrate alongside the Black community, honor the heavy history, embrace empathy as a mindset of understanding, and embrace the joyous spirit of this holiday. Juneteenth is a time for Black Joy, fellowship, and achievement – actively engage in the festivities and foster a spirit of celebration. Celebrate the achievements of Black individuals and the Black community while acknowledging the pain and impact of history extending to today.
  • Foster learning! Use Juneteenth as an opportunity for personal growth and education. Reflect on the holiday’s historical significance and deepen your understanding of its cultural importance. Listen to the stories and experiences of Black Americans. Visit Black/African American museums and cultural centers in your city/town.
  • Move beyond general awareness to personal action. Juneteenth is a celebration of freedom AND a celebration of opportunity. Read books by Black authors. Support Black non-profit organizations (financially, volunteering, etc.) and Black-owned businesses.
  • Stay aware of existing inequities and help fight to end them. For example, for two centuries our educational systems greatly neglected the Black American experience. “A 2015 study by the National Museum of African American History and Culture and Oberg Research revealed that U.S. history teachers spend only 8 to 9% of lesson time on Black history, and research suggests that what is taught centers on the trauma of slavery, the struggles of the Civil Rights movement, and mass incarceration, instead of more positive features like the Harlem Renaissance, the Great Migration, and the myriad achievements and contributions of the Black community.” (1) How can we change the conversation?

At your organization/workplace:

  • Educate yourself about DEI topics such as racial injustice in the workplace.
  • Support Black team members by having them in the room during meetings (internal and client) and on teams making important decisions. Give them a voice (from business to politics).
  • Sponsor networking and training opportunities in Black communities and then hire from within those communities to help revitalize them economically.
  • Set meaningful DEI goals which create an environment where Black employees can thrive, are fairly compensated and promoted based on their value to the organization, and feel safe and empowered to bring their authentic selves to work. Address any disparities they may face. Fund resources and initiatives that expand promotion and leadership opportunities for Black and brown employees.
  • Ensure the organization takes a firm stance against racism and systematic inequity and clearly communicates the company’s anti-racist values, backing them up through actions and policies that promote diversity, equality, and inclusion.
  • Bring in speakers and provide educational resources that facilitate learning and dialogue around the history, significance, and ongoing struggles related to Juneteenth and the Black experience in America. African American history has long been distorted and it is an opportunity for truth to be shared.
  • Actively promote diversity in leadership, challenge outdated stereotypes of what a leader should look like.
  • Support and recruit at historically Black colleges and universities (HBCUs), tribal colleges and universities (TCUs), and Hispanic-serving institutions (HSIs).
  • Celebrate Juneteenth as an organization – give employees the day off, encourage them to visit African American/Black cultural sites, bring in a speaker to share their experiences, actively foster dialog about the holiday and what it represents.

A last point for consideration when thinking about Juneteenth:

We should resist any urge to downplay the need for the holiday under the thought that it’s unfair to highlight the experience and injustices of one group when others have experienced different injustices.

Art: Dzmitry Dzemidovich purchased from iStock; Photo ID:1401009573

Instead, lean into the holiday and encourage using the power of empathy to acknowledge the experience of this particular marginalized group – enslaved Black Americans, and what their liberation meant for the country – and continues to mean today (the possibilities and opportunities as well as a humbling of the country from a horrible experience). Focus on progress made and what can come in the future and what that kind of progress means for us all.

There is room for everyone at the DEI table, and when we advocate for change, it inherently raises everyone up – creating a more inclusive environment for all. We should celebrate bringing many different perspectives and experiences into what what binds us together as a country, and focus on how bringing equality to all will create a resilient, creative, healthy, and powerful America of the future.

Notice any of the action steps suggested in the lists above can easily translate to any minority group. Helping one group will help all.

Here are a few good sources of materials for further exploration of Juneteenth, the Black experience, and the impact of Black Americans on our country:

Celebrating African American and Black heroes that shaped America from National Geographic:

https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/history/topic/african-american-heroes

Extensive materials for all ages, individuals and organizations can be found on the website for the National Museum of African History and Culture at the Smithsonian: 

https://nmaahc.si.edu/juneteenth-digital-toolkit

Teach for America has wonderful resources including teaching resources, videos, and books: https://www.teachforamerica.org/celebrate-juneteenth

Perdue University’s on-line resources include interviews, podcasts, recipes and more: https://guides.lib.purdue.edu/juneteenth/online-resources

If you have resources you can share, please submit them in the comments.

To learn more about Juneteenth NYC you can check out their FaceBook Page at:

https://www.facebook.com/JuneteenthNewYork

Or you can check out their website where you can learn more and donate to support their programs:

https://www.juneteenthny.com/

Hope you enjoyed this week,

Penny

Citation

Service, Friendship, and Learning on Sacred Land

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Returning to the Blackfeet Reservation (Montana)

Some volunteer experiences stay with you long after you leave. Others call you back.

For the second year, I returned to the Blackfeet Reservation in Montana, and once again, it reminded me how service is about so much more than the work itself… it’s about relationships, respect, and learning from the communities you serve.

The Blackfeet Reservation is breathtakingly beautiful. Wide open skies, mountains in the distance, and land that carries deep meaning for the Amskapi Piikani people, part of the broader Blackfoot Confederacy that spans the U.S.–Canadian border.

Their connection to their ancestral lands and the natural world is powerful and deeply rooted in tradition.

This year, I volunteered again with FAST Blackfeet, an organization doing meaningful work to strengthen community well-being and food access.

One of the places I most love volunteering is the Ō’yō’·ṗ’ Food Pantry, which is part of FAST Blackfeet’s broader effort to increase food security and promote food sovereignty across the Nation.

Their work includes three comprehensive programs:

• Ō’yō’·ṗ’ Food Pantry — Providing essential food support and combating food insecurity
• Nutrition Education — Helping rebuild traditional food knowledge and address diet-related health disparities
• Growing Health — Encouraging the production of local and traditional foods and medicines, helping reclaim food sovereignty

The food pantry is more than a place to distribute groceries. It’s a place of connection. Volunteers and community members work side by side, sharing stories, laughter, and purpose.

During the week, we also volunteered at the local retirement home, working in the kitchen to help prepare meals for residents. There is something deeply meaningful about preparing food for elders. A quiet act of care that connects generations.

Another memorable moment came when we helped clean up a cemetery on the reservation. Cows had broken through a damaged fence and caused disruption to the grounds, and volunteers came together to restore the space with care and respect. It was physical work, but it carried emotional weight, honoring those who came before.

We stayed in a local church during the week, sharing meals, stories, and laughter with fellow volunteers. One of the greatest joys of returning this year was reconnecting with friends I made during my first visit. What began as shared service has grown into lasting friendships. The kind that feel rooted in something deeper than time.

Beyond the volunteer work, one of the most meaningful aspects of the experience was learning about Blackfeet culture. Community members were incredibly open, generous, and proud to share their traditions and stories. Their willingness to educate visitors about their heritage was a gift. One that added depth and meaning to every moment of service.

Two of my now good friends, Bob Tailfeathers and Daniel Whippert, went out of their way to share Blackfeet culture, medicines, traditions, etc. They were both so generous!

We also learned how to make Indian tacos from the local recipe and learned about special herbs and recipes.

Returning to the Blackfeet Nation reminded me that volunteering is not just about helping, it’s about listening, learning, and honoring the people and places you encounter.

Each visit leaves me with gratitude for the friendships formed, the lessons learned, and the opportunity to contribute, even in small ways, to communities that welcome volunteers with open hearts.

Experiences like this are why my #52WeeksOfCharity journey continues to shape who I am, not just as a volunteer, but as a person.

Some places you visit once.
Some places become part of your story.

The Blackfeet Nation has become part of mine.

Exploring Wildlife Through WildCam Gorongosa

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Volunteering through Zooniverse’s WildCam Gorongosa Project was a unique experience that allowed me to contribute to wildlife conservation while learning about animals from around the world. The project focuses on reviewing photos taken by camera traps in Gorongosa National Park in Mozambique. These cameras automatically capture images of animals in their natural habitats, and volunteers help researchers by identifying the species that appear in each photo.

As I worked through the images, I carefully examined each one to determine which animals were present. I used the tools on the website to select the animals I recognized and record how many were visible and what they were doing. Some of the animals I saw included zebras, wildcats, warthogs, and vervet monkeys. It was exciting to spot these animals and compare their features with the descriptions provided on the site. When I wasn’t completely sure about an animal, I used the color and pattern filters to narrow down my choices and make my best guess.

I loved how interactive and engaging it felt. Each new photo felt like solving a small mystery, since I never knew what animal I might see next.

Citizen science can support important research. By helping identify animals in these photos, volunteers contributed to tracking wildlife populations and monitoring their recovery. Participating in WildCam Gorongosa made me feel like I was part of a global effort to protect wildlife and better understand ecosystems around the world.

Check out more at:

WildCam Gorongosa | Zooniverse – People-powered research

Girls Love Mail

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Volunteering with Girls Love Mail was a simple yet meaningful experience that reminded me how small acts of kindness can make a big difference. Girls Love Mail is an organization that collects handwritten letters and sends them to women undergoing cancer treatment, offering encouragement and emotional support during a difficult time. My role was to handwrite thoughtful letters filled with kind words, positivity, and hope.

At first, I wasn’t sure what to write. I wanted my words to feel genuine and comforting, even though I didn’t know who would receive them. As I started writing, I realized that the most powerful messages were the simplest ones: reminders that someone cares, that they are strong, and that they are not alone. I focused on writing uplifting notes that would hopefully bring a smile to someone’s face during a challenging day. I found myself including small sketches or watercolors on the cards.

What I enjoyed most about this experience was how personal it felt to be able to send, as a stranger, some love. And unlike many forms of volunteering, writing letters allowed me to slow down and reflect on the impact words can have. I found it a good way to de-stress after a stressful day.

Volunteering doesn’t always require large actions or special skills. Sometimes, something as simple as writing a kind letter can provide comfort and connection. Participating in Girls Love Mail inspired me to continue looking for small ways to spread kindness in my community. Actions of radical kindness through anonymity.

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