American Girl-Homeless doll

Meet Gwen, the new doll created by American Girl.  For about $100 Gwen can be yours!  She is a new addition to American Girl and she is featured as the “Homeless Doll”.  Each AG Doll has a storyline that comes with the doll, as if they were a real live person.

Gwen lived with both her parents until her dad walked out on her and her mom.  Then her mom lost control and became depressed.  Her mom lost her job and soon enough, they were both living in the back of her car.  Gwen and her mom then move to homeless shelter and she meets friends there.  The friends are other AG Dolls that have there own story lines too.  The only reason why her “friends” are working at the homeless shelter is because they were being bullies and as their punishment, they have to work at the local homeless shelter.

So there are several problems that people have with this new American Girl Doll.  First, these cute dolls are priced at $100 and little girls all over are pretty much addicted to them.  Not to mention it is a homeless doll which supposedly “teaches” young girls about helping out at homeless shelters and soup kitchens.  Yet do you think any of the contributions that the maker, Mattel, is getting going to help the homeless.  Which means basically Mattel is making money off the homeless and it seems to me like a slap in the face!  I can picture a homeless little girl waking up to the window of the American Girl store and wondering what $100 taste like.  This was a stupid idea for a doll.

Another problem I have with this doll is it gives the message to younger girls that it’s the dad’s fault she ended up homeless because he left.  Doesn’t matter that the mom had a melt down and couldn’t rise up with a little bit of self control and take care of her daughter.  If this was the real world DFACS would be involved once the child was living in the backseat of a vehicle.

My point is, Mattel is you wanted to “send a message” or teach these younger girls that are going crazy for these American Girl dolls, then why didn’t you just advertise that with every purchase of a Gwen doll, you would donate a portion to help the homeless?!

Too much Halloween candy? Ronald McDonald House will take it

A very simple way to give back. Children-based charities, such as Ronald McDonald House, will take donations of Halloween candy. If your kids did a lot of trick or treating or if you hit 50% off on the day after, consider donating it and helping kids smile a little bit

Please contact the charity before dropping off and make sure all candy is in its oringal wrapper.

Extreme Makeover: Home Edition highlights Salt & Earth

I have such a profound respect for nonprofits that exist solely to help those in need and who truly believe in the work they do. Highlighted this week on ABC’s Extreme Makeover: Home Edition was one of these organizations…Salt & Earth. The founder was the one who started this organization that collects canned goods, furniture and clothing for needy families…and found himself asking for help for the offices so they can continue to help those in need.

Visit Salt & Light at http://www.saltandlightministry.org/ and see what they’re all about.

Elf Island-Gaming for a good cause

Elf Island is only $5.95 per month which allows you or your child to have fun playing games and creating a safe virtual world all for a great cause. Elf Island is the first kids’ virtual world specifically created to instill positive social and environmental values into the world’s future stewards. Elf Island turns online gaming efforts into tangible offline results through non-profit partnerships and Mirrored Gaming™. Elf Island invented Gaming for Good,™ Mirrored Gaming™, and GoodQuests, ™ and is an independent children’s interactive entertainment developer that delivers entertaining game play for kids that inspires, rewards actions, and builds awareness of social issues around the world. Examples of how Elf Islanders have impacted the real world through their gaming efforts: Protecting VIRTUAL sharks helps protect REAL sharks in The Galapagos Islands with WildAid. Result – Elf Island helped repair six boats used by Park Wardens to protect sharks and other wildlife from poachers. Tracking VIRTUAL polar bears and polar ice caps helps protect REAL polar bears and their environments in the Artic with Polar Bears International. Result – Elf Island is helping scientists’ track polar bear migration in the Arctic. This will help ensure the survival of their species. Players can also track the location of the polar bear. Planting VIRTUAL trees helps plant REAL trees in Niger with Plant It 2020. Result – Elf Island is planting over 2,000 trees in Niger that will not only help the environment, but also people in need. Farmers and their families will have food to eat, and a crop they can sell to earn a better living. Feeding VIRTUAL gnomes causes the delivery of REAL produce to REAL families with Fresh Producers. Result – Elf Island is providing healthy produce to an under-served neighborhood in Sacramento, California.