All Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol

1. EP33 Breaking the Stigma: Seeking Help is a Sign of Strength

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 struggling to come to terms with his father's sudden death, and the ways in which he found support and hea

Apr 05,2023 27:24

2. EP32 Scaling Your Non-Profit: Tips and Strategies for Growth

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 nonprofit.Some key points covered in the first half include:Conduct research to identify the need for your

Mar 27,2023 26:52

3. EP31 Building Blocks for Good: A Lego-Inspired Charity

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. Russ talks about the challenges he faced as a one-man operation and how TikTok changed the game for him

Mar 21,2023 18:02

4. EP30 From Bereavement Photography to a Mission of Care

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 photography 15 years ago, and the experience led her to start On Angels' Wings in July of 2013. Today, the o

Feb 01,2023 26:00

5. EP29 Non-Profits: Using Free AI Tools to Help with Your Marketing Load

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 a nonprofit more efficiently. Join me and my co-host Savannah Finch as we interview these organizat

Jan 25,2023 04:34

6. EP28 Joy and Connection Through Volunteerism to Outshine the Negative

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 episode:Connect with Catilin:Her chapter page: https://binkypatrol.org/page.cfm?name=va_petersonOn Lin

Jan 11,2023 20:28

7. EP27 How to Get Big Groups of Kid Volunteers

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 about what creative idea can you create to allow volunteers of all ages to help. What a great way to

Dec 13,2022 00:00

8. EP26 236 Hours - A Community Service Story

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 up his phone in timelapse mode and record his work. He won them over, they rooted for him to make hi

Nov 30,2022 18:18

9. EP25 Great Holiday Team Event for Remote Teams and Families

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, stay busy for those fidgety people, and change lives. Make blankets. We sometimes forget to talk ab

Nov 07,2022 09:20

10. EP24 Connecting Like Hearts to Grow Your Organization

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 have newsletters. There is a great opportunity for both them and you to expand your lists and introduce

Oct 26,2022 00:00

11. EP23 Gain Job Skills by Volunteering

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 job - sometimes for the first time. They have all of these skills they've learned while volunteering

Oct 19,2022 00:00

12. EP 21 Coast to Coast Bink-A-Thon Oct. 8

We are having two Bink-a-Thons October 8. One in Monroe, Connecticut, and one in Beaverton, Oregon. A little friendly competition never hurts, right? I really want to win. Jeanne Malgioglio usually wins. But really who wins? The kids who will get the binkies we are all making that day. This is a fun opportunity to connect multiple chapters. This is a great idea for other hands-on charities that have multiple locations. We will most likely be broadcasting live that day on Facebook and YouTube.

Sep 29,2022 03:37

13. EP 20 How to Find Partners for Your Event

Having events is a great way to expand your audience, donors, volunteers, and build goodwill in the community. Since Binky Patrol is all-volunteer, we rely on partnering with sponsors and hosting organizations that are looking for a fun event to offer their volunteers, employees, members. This episode walks you through some ideas, and a list of what you need to know before you have an event.If you want to have an event, find partners. For Binky Patrol, we partner with United Way, HandsOn Portlan

Sep 21,2022 00:00

14. EP19 How to Really Help the Homeless in Portland

Wil and Liam are back with Susan talking about what the homeless in Portland really need, and it's not tiny houses. They need to kick addictions, get teeth, get an ID, get a ride and sometimes that's all it takes to get them off the streets. Dinner and a Movie has great gift cards you can give instead of having mugs printed with your company name for client gifts. The focus is on helping one person as a time, not unlike Binky Patrol comforting one child at a time. Don't try to solve the issue wi

Sep 14,2022 20:44

15. EP 18 Misconceptions About the Homeless in Portland

Will and Liam from Dinner and a Movie see it on television every day. Reporters assure the homeless their story will be told and when it ends up on television it's been changed, twisted, and doesn't tell the truth. They know because they spend most days in Southeast Portland trying to give respite from the hell of being homeless. There are many misconceptions. This is part one of a two-part episode that shares some beautiful stories, some science and aha moments. Building tiny houses isn't the s

Sep 08,2022 00:00

16. EP17 How a Local Businesses Can Easily Host a Charity Event

Wade Perry joined Susan after his first annual Coventry Summer Jam in Littleton, Colorado. He goes through the expense and return of this event. The expense is all under marketing, the return is beyond what he had hoped. This event benefitted the School of Rock in Littleton. They raised enough for ten scholarships. Seeing and hearing everyone enjoying this event in their local park was the best gift. Listen to this to hear how a small business or two can align with a charity to give so much to a

Aug 31,2022 31:14

17. EP16 The Stories are the Best Part of Volunteering

Nina Acosta, the Area Coordinator for Riverside Binky Patrol, told us, "When I started doing this with my daughter 15 years ago, I didn't think that it would still be here!" Susan asked her the reason she's still in Binky Patrol and her favorite part. Nina says it's the stories. Knowing the difference a binky their chapter made given to one child keeps them all going. Being able to immediately handle the need of a child or family in their community is another driving force keeping them motivated

Aug 23,2022 15:39

18. EP11 A Binky is more than a blanket

What we do is simple. We make blankets and give them away to comfort teens and children who need a reminder that they matter, that they are not invisible. But can a binky be more than a blanket? Definitely, listen to this quick episode on how you can send binkies through your phone. A binky isn't just a blanket.If a binky is a reminder that someone matters and that they are not invisible and that someone cares can it be something other than a blanket. Yes.

Jul 20,2022 06:21

19. EP10 Attract Top Talent By Focusing On More Than Revenue

People want to be part of a community and a company that isn't only focused on the bottom line. Aligning with a worthy charity can fill that gap, and fill your hearts. You can also retain talent longer and attract more of the types of people you want working with you. Tim Johnson joined Binky Patrol 25 years ago when he bought is wife an elaborate sewing machine. Their entire family joined, and then the company he worked for, BMC Software. It was about actually doing something - not just writing

Jul 12,2022 20:08

20. EP9 3 Volunteers Have Enough Heart for Salem MA

When Marlys Vaughan picked up the phone to talk to Susan Finch about volunteering to help with the Binky Patrol website, she had no idea it would lead to lifelong friends, a way she can craft for others, and daily joy from helping the children and teens in Salem, Massachusetts. This episode is the story of her one-woman chapter that grew to three people and a school and continues to grow.Learn from Marlys' gentle story that you can start with a small effort and add to it as you go along the path

Jul 05,2022 00:00

21. EP7 Sarahs House and Wounded Heart

When we deliver binkies we encounter angels of hope. Our guest today, Liz Bias, is an angel of hope for victims of domestic and sexual abuse. As a survivor herself, she knows exactly what they are going through. A lot of these women when they leave, have nothing. They have no clothes, and their driver's license and their social security have been taken from them by their abuser.Sarah's House gives them all the resources and the contacts where they can make the phone calls and set up the appointm

Jun 22,2022 12:47

22. EP6 Time to get back to in-person charity events

There is no replacing the in-person experience of laughter, and compassion. Time to dip a toe into these events again through speaking, team building, 5Ks, and more! Lisa and Susan go through some ideas to make it easy for you to do what you are comfortable with and will tell you some of their experience at Race for the Cure events, corporate team building, quilt guilds, and even ski events. It's time to get back out there and really connect with your communities!From sewing blankets on-site dur

Jun 15,2022 20:41

23. EP5 Stories About Deliveries, Break out the hankies

This episode talks about some of the early deliveries that still impact us as they truly show the full mission of Binky Patrol from holding premature drug-addicted babies in soft, dark, quiet rooms to driving quickly to deliver a binky to a girl in an orphanage that called us to get one for her friend arriving shortly. Carolyn Berndt joined Binky Patrol when the company she was working for was in search of a local charity they could help financially. She showed up and fell in love immediately wi

Jun 07,2022 22:51

24. EP4 How one little girl with AIDS moved the country to compassion.

People would watch Oprah DAILY. She inspired, and continues to do so. But she was upstaged in 1996 by little Hydeia telling us what it was like as a child to be born with and live with AIDS. The entire country wept with her, even though she fought back tears with enormous strength to tell her story and drive us to action. In the middle of it, Oprah showed a photo on the screen of Binky Patrol founder, Susan Finch holding a blanket and with her business phone number if you wanted to help comfort

May 31,2022 19:31

25. EP3 Tips for Rotating Boards

People volunteer for different reasons. After doing this for more than 25 years, Susan Finch has seen a lot of motivators. One is the need make their mark to be seen, heard, to feel important. That can still work for an organization, but without some guidelines and roadblocks in place, it could result in a website going down, social media debacles, embarrassment, loss of sponsors and volunteers. Tune in with Nina Hambleton and Susan as they go over some simple, helpful tips to prevent this and s

May 24,2022 16:14

26. EP2 It is OK to say No to free fabric.

When we start a non-profit, we are usually pretty open to ANY help, any donations. Sometimes the cost of free can be higher than you'd expect. When we started, we were approached by several fabric companies wanting to help. Some were a perfect match, some were overwhelming with their generosity, and some simply put a piece of paper over "Basura" and said, "Binky Patrol" (Basura is trash in Spanish.) In this episode, we visit about the first donations and how they are still dear to us, even thoug

May 17,2022 12:14

27. EP22 Create Signage to Direct Them To Your Event

We've invited people and they signed up! That's great. But, they need to be able to easily find you from the parking lot. Sometimes non-profits have events at libraries, community centers, schools, churches. Their campuses can be large and confusing. Having directional signage can help prevent volunteers from being frustrated before they walk in the door. Jordan Castellanos (J.C.) is our guest today from FastSigns in Beaverton, Oregon. We talk about how teaming up with a signage professional can

Oct 05,2022 09:33

28. EP15 Your Fabric Stashes Can Change Lives

Hobbies change, people die, and people downsize. Many times this results in a ton of fabric purchased for those projects that were never completed. Binky Patrol has been fortunate for over 27 years to receive a lot of fabric through these circumstances. It's a great way to honor the person who has passed or to make mom feel better about downsizing.We give tax donation receipts by the box or the bag of fabric. Think about all of the stashes tucked away in your home, your mom's, your grandmother's

Aug 17,2022 20:02

29. EP14 What a 501c3 Website Must Have to Build Trust

There are 6 elements a 501c3 orgs website must have to build trust and give a clear picture of the impact of the organization. Listen to this episode for the listKimberly Ofilas, Healthcare Partnerships Communications Manager at Direct Relief joins us to talk about the must-haves for a non-profit organization's website to build trust and credibility, as well as clarity of the organization's mission. Kim's experience with non-profits and many segments stretches back to when Binky Patrol started.

Aug 10,2022 29:16

30. EP13 5 Things a New 501c3 Needs to Do to Protect Themselves

When people have the idea to start a non-profit, they usually know some of the steps, especially if they've had experience in a board role before. We learned a lot when we started Binky Patrol and wanted to help newer non-profits avoid mistakes that could cost them their reputation, sponsors, and ability to grow.VERIFY you have set up your 501c3 correctly at the federal and state level. Not doing this can cause all sorts of issues if you are not truly a non-profit but have been accepting donatio

Aug 03,2022 33:39

31. EP12 The Binky Her Daughter Brought Was All She Had

The Legg family has welcomed over 30 foster children through their home and each one receives and leaves with a Binky Patrol blanket. They also have adopted four children from the foster system. She tells us about a child that arrived two weeks ago at her home. And just two Fridays ago, we received a, a little baby girl. And during the drop off of them inspecting our homes and whatnot. I had six blankets that had been delivered to our house and they were sitting on the porch. And, uh, the case w

Jul 25,2022 00:00

32. EP8 Creative Hybrid Events for Global Companies

We are still one world and sometimes one very spread out company. A great way to get to know each other is through team-building events, but what can you do that will allow each location to get to know the other locations? An event where you work with one or more charities, perhaps make blankets live, have a guest speaker from the place your teams will deliver their blankets, have a relay benefitting a charity in those big inflatable balls at each location simultaneously rolling in a field. Well

Jun 28,2022 20:41

33. EP1 How 501c3 Binky Patrol grew from 1 volunteer to 1500 in 30 days.

Hear about a spontaneous non-profit grew to a nationwide organization from three people who were there 26 years ago. Miriam talks about walking the streets – of Laguna Beach, and Lisa talks about the streets of Skid Row, and how volunteering for Binky Patrol forever changed their lives. Learn about Binky Patrol and hear the reminder about volunteering and how it can be FUN, easy and give you forever friendships. Join us for this episode of All-Volunteer, All Heart from Binky Patrol hosted by fou

May 10,2022 17:25

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All Episodes (33)

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