Monday, June 22, 2015

(Prepping Early So We Don't Have Any) Tears On My Pillow!

Good morning, Charlotte!

Last Thursday, Molly and I had the immense pleasure of helping out with a Red Cross/BB&T partnership to bring Disney's Pillowcase Project educational materials to the Boys and Girls Club at Charlotte's Marsh Road location. I would like to extend a HUGE thank you to everyone at Red Cross and BB&T, as well as at the Boys and Girls Club, for all you did coordinating this presentation, as we had about 100 kids in that huge gymnasium! Most of all, however, I would very much like to thank the kids who participated. You all were awesome and active participants, and I hope that everyone went home and was able to share what you learned with those you love most.

Want to learn more about the Pillowcase Project? Click here to learn more from the Red Cross' website!

Want to see some of the material we used to discuss thunderstorm safety for your own use at home? Maybe even to share with your family? Check out this info sheet on thunderstorm safety from Red Cross here!

And in case you want to know a little bit of the ins and outs of our everyday presentation, here are some pictures and blurbs about what exactly we like to talk about! Further, should you so desire a Pillowcase Project presentation (for grades 3-5) at your local organization, please e-mail me at rob@handsoncharlotte.org!


After Molly and I talked about thunderstorm preparedness (it is summer after all!), we broke up into small groups and leads from BB&T led discussions on general preparedness, like knowing how to exit the home quickly if need be (windows count!) and knowing where to meet your family outside or whom you might call if you needed to leave your home for a period of time!


After the general preparedness talk, the kids are able to draw on a pillowcase that they take home what all they might like to keep ready in case they had to grab a bag (or a pillowcase!) really quickly with enough things to make it for a couple days. Obviously this includes soap and toothpaste, among other essentials, but we want the kids to know to bring some items for comfort as well!


This awesome kid had some great ideas for what to include in his pillowcase, my favorite of which is a cheeseburger. We were definitely sure to include a quick chat about non-perishable food, but I like the enthusiasm.


The kids (and adults!) were treated to popsicles from King of Pops after the presentation. If you haven't ever tried their popsicles, check them out! They're local and they're delicious and all I want is another cookies and cream popsicle right now.

And lastly, because you all know I can't leave you without some trolly tunes for your soon-to-be afternoon, enjoy a nice throwback Monday. And most importantly, stay safe, Charlotte!



Monday, June 15, 2015

(Water Safety Tips for When Summer Takes You to the) Pools!

Good afternoon, Charlotte!

I don't know if you have stepped outside yet today, but in the case that you have, you may have noticed that it has gotten a little toasty outside. May I note that it isn't even technically summer yet? I'm about it, at any rate.

That said, with this heat wave comes a lot of incredibly fun activities. I know that I for one have already made a trip to the beach, and while a four hour drive each way does not likely make for an incredibly regular occasion for the average Charlottean, I am sure that many of you will be enjoying a few days by a local pool, whether at your home or at a local community center. While pools are great ways to stay cool in the sun while having a great time, there are definitely some important safety tips which we would love to share with you!


  • First, if you have smaller children, always keep them supervised and within arm's reach. 
  • Are you with a young or inexperienced swimmer? Give them a life vest!
  • Small children do not have the ability to regulate their internal temperature in the same way that adults do. Be sure to be particularly aware of this if you are out in the sun and heat for a while!
  • Be sure to maintain proper chemical levels in your pool at home. Levels too low can allow bacteria to grow, while excessive chemical levels can make the pool unsafe as well!
  • Be sure to wash up before putting on swimwear, and don't spit in the pool! This will keep the water as clean as possible!

The ocean is really just one big swimming pool, right?

Find more in depth and specific tips at the following websites, and as always, feel free to contact us at rob@handsoncharlotte.org if you have any questions or want further resources about summer water safety!




Also, after seeing them this past weekend in Richmond, I couldn't resist posting some Glass Animals for our return to regular blog posts. It's summer concert season, and I'm still just in awe of everything that happened on that stage on Saturday night. Y'all killed it! Enjoy, Charlotte, and stay safe!