Thread:61Storm/@comment-29709319-20190621035327/@comment-29709319-20190817025512

National Themes For August 17: National Nonprofit Day, National Massachusetts Day, National I LOVE My Feet Day!, National Thrift Shop Day, Black Cat Appreciation Day, and World Honey Bee Day.

🎗Somewhere a volunteer reads to school children; a patient receives steady medication; a lawyer provides legal services for low-income individuals; a nonprofit funeral home buries a lost soul; or a first-time homebuyer is moving into his own home. On August 17, National Nonprofit Day (NND) reminds us that each of these scenes is possible because of the nonprofit sector and the work performed by capable men, women and organizations. NND recognizes more than nonprofits’ primary altruistic goals (awareness, research, and aid); it also acknowledges the added positive impacts they have on communities and the world. For example, following the recent U.S. recession, in 2012 the nonprofit sector provided 5.4% of the nation’s entire GDP (gross domestic product), or $887.3 billion; continuously employing nurses, web developers, lawyers, computer engineers and more (sources: John Hopkins and Tactical Philanthropy Advisors reports). Sherita J. Herring, a renowned speaker, best-selling author and business strategist, founded National Nonprofit Day to educate, enlighten and empower others to make a difference, while acknowledging those that are in the trenches, impacting lives every day – the Change-Makers of the World! The Tariff Act of 1894 signed into law on August 17, imposed the first federal income tax on corporations, which included exemptions for nonprofit corporations and charitable institutions. With a few modifications, nonprofit exemptions remain a solid part of the law and have served significant benefits, both for communities and the economy.

🇺🇸National Massachusetts Day recognizes the first New England colony and the sixth state to join the Union. Named after the indigenous people who populated the area when explorers (and later the pilgrims) first arrived, Massachusetts became an incubator for independence, education, and industry. It should come as no surprise that the colony credited with the founding of the Sons of Liberty and hosting the Boston Tea Party would also be considered the Cradle of Liberty. The list of notable names from history grows long from Massachusetts. Of course, their stories and the historic events leading up to the founding of a country make for fascinating tales. Patriots are the first to come to mind. Poets, inventors, authors, politicians, architects, activists, athletes and those who have managed the amazing, the list is long. With numerous bays and abundant shorelines, Massachusetts offers many seaside escapes. Discover mountain exploration inland, and for those who seek urban adventure, there is plenty to be found. Everywhere you go, there’s history, beauty and perhaps a bit of an adjustment to the New England language.

👣National I LOVE My Feet Day is a day to appreciate how valuable our feet are, to practice good foot care and pamper our feet. Our feet are our primary mode of transportation. They quietly and faithfully help us stand, swim, run, walk, play sports, jog, skip and dance. They take us to school and work. Our feet withstand all the things we do in our everyday lives and accomplish things our hands cannot. Taking care of our feet is important for preventing long-term problems. Years of wear and tear can be hard on them, as can disease, bad circulation, improperly trimmed toenails and poorly fitting shoes. Practicing good foot care is easy. Elevating your feet when you sit is a relaxing way to help reduce swelling. Stretching, walking or having a gentle foot massage aids circulation. A warm foot bath is also helpful. Make sure your feet are dry before putting on shoes. Wearing shoes when outside provides your feet better protection. 75% of the adult population has a foot problem and improper shoe choices account for the majority of those problems. Wearing properly fitted shoes with good arch support, getting foot massages and regular pedicures can reduce foot problems. If you have persistent foot pain, consulting a podiatrist can help.

👕👖National Thrift Shop Day! A thrift shop (also known as a thrift store, charity shop, hospice shop or resale shop) is a retail establishment typically run by a charitable organization to raise money to be used in accord with the organization’s stated charitable purpose. Thrift shops are a type of social enterprise that typically sell used goods that are donated by members of the public and are often staffed by volunteers. Donation of the items being sold allows for a lower cost to the buyers. Saving money is on the minds of everyone these days and shopping at thrift stores is becoming more and more popular. Clothing, furniture and household goods are great finds among the other hidden treasures within the walls of thrift shops across the country. To some, shopping at a thrift store isn’t even about the price (that’s just a bonus!) but instead, it’s about the adventure of finding vintage and antique items.

🐱Black Cat Appreciation Day! Today shouldn’t be confused with National Black Cat Day and superstitions aside, cats are simply adorable, even black ones. We are believers in that these feline friends have been given a bad rap… help to change these misguided myths.

🐝World Honey Bee Day! Recognizing not only the honey bee but the beekeepers who tend to hives, the day encourages everyone to enjoy and buy locally grown honey. We plant wildflowers, orchards, and other flowering plants, we support pollinators such as honey bees. They depend on the nectar of a variety of plants for their survival. Conversely, we depend on honeybees for our survival! Without their pollinating abilities, many nutritious plants wouldn’t reproduce. Besides, their honey is an added bonus. We enjoy it in our baking, teas, and confections. Honey bees do sting, but only if they perceive a threat – damage to their hive or being swatted at. Since they seek sweet nectar, sugary drinks and sweets will attract honey bees when flowers are not blooming yet. Keep beverages covered. If a honey bee comes close, either hold still or move slowly away. The honey bee will fly along to the next sweet thing as long as it doesn’t feel threatened. World Honey Bee Day began as National Honey Bee Day in 2009 with a proclamation issued by the Secretary of Agriculture, Thomas J. Vilsek. The day grew rapidly bringing awareness to the benefits and environmental needs of honey bees.

The staff meeting is over for now, but I'll probably be having another one later when my Wi-Fi decides to take a break while I'm in the middle of looking something up. That septic tank truck went by our house today. (Seriously) Today was the first day of school today.

Warm hugs!🐶🐶💕🌤🌧