Our support will provide items such as blankets, hygiene kits, and mosquito nets. The American Red Cross International also provides safe drinking water to more than 300,000 people daily. As stated by the Red Cross of Southeastern Virginia,

“American Red Cross volunteers have joined forces with Red Cross and Red Crescent volunteers from around the world in a coordinated effort to meet both the immediate and long-term challenges that stand between chaos and recovery for the people of Haiti.”

Visit www.redcross.org or call 757-446-7788 for more information. The recovery for Haiti is a long one. They need our help now more than ever!

Now they’re calling me a SUPERHERO! (I think I like that better than a Plunger.) According to Special Olympics VA, February 6 proved fans will stop at nothing in support of them and their annual Polar Plunge Festival. 2,636 thrill-seekers took the icy dip this year, despite snow, rain, sleet and wind, raising $861,000 (and counting!) for Special Olympics! If you were there, you’re a SUPERHERO too! Thank you for coming out and supporting us. You can see more crazy photos here, and read the full story on my replacement windows website.

The folks at the Atlantic Shores Christian Academy dared me to take a dip into the icy waters of the Atlantic Ocean in support of Special Olympics Virginia. This year I accepted. To date, the event has raised $4.7 million for the organization.

You don’t need to risk hypothermia to be a Plunge hero. IEven though it’s too late for you to register (or take my place) for this year’s bone-chilling challenge, if you’re in the area, please come out and cheer me on while I “suit up” for the winter swim.

Even if you don’t want to catch a few waves or cheer me on, it’s a great cause, and you can make a donation through the Mr. Rogers Windows Foundation (earmark PLUNGE on your check). We can all make a difference, and this is a fun way to do it.

The fun starts Friday night with a rockin’ plunge party, and on Saturday there’s a costume parade and contest, pee wee plunge, ice carving and more before the main event at 2:30 pm. I love the gigantic sand sculptures.

Special Olympics Virginia is indeed a very special organization. They provide year-round programming in sports training and athletic competition specifically for children and adults with intellectual disabilities. Serving almost 10,000 special athletes across seven regional offices and through 28 area programs, Special Olympics Virginia is also proudly part of a dynamic global movement, which is now in more than 180 countries and represents over three million athletes worldwide.

Using sports to influence social change, Special Olympics VA wants to open our collective hearts and minds about people with intellectual disabilities.

Their mission is to provide participants with exciting and competitive athletic opportunities that will help them to develop and improve physical fitness and motor skills, as well as build self-confidence and promote a positive self-image.

And thanks to the assistance and generous support of more than 20,000 wonderful volunteers and partners around the state, these special athletes don’t have to pay in order to achieve their dreams.

It is only the international relief effort that will give these people hope.

As citizens of this planet and children of God we all have a responsibility to help our brothers and sisters in Haiti.

Therefore for the next 3 months for every window we sell we will donate $10 directly to the relief effort. We will make this donation to the International Red Cross and World Vision and designate it for the relief. Both organizations have had relief efforts on the streets in Haiti within hours of the quake.

• DONORS BEWARE

Be careful. Send your donations only to charities with an established track record of helping people in this region. World Vision and the Red Cross both have staff in Haiti. But don’t be sucked in by fly-by-night “charities” ready to advantage of your generosity. They’re out there.

Do not respond to high pressure or emotional appeals. Don’t let yourself be pressured into contributing over the phone. If you are not familiar with a charity, get detailed information in writing. And remember, you have a right to say no. No legitimate organization will pressure you to give immediately.

Also beware of e-mails from people claiming to be victims. Unless you know the sender personally, it is better to give to charities.

• SEND A CHECK, NOT MERCHANDISE OR GOODS

The best way you can help is by sending a check. Cash donations allow charities to buy the most needed type of food, medicine, clothing, shelter materials and other supplies. Typically, buying relief products locally or regionally means less shipping costs and quicker assistance. Charities are best suited to make the product purchases.

If you do decide to send goods, please run it by your chosen charity first. For example, after the tsunami, boxes of donated winter coats, scarves and fuzzy hats, completely useless items in tsunami stricken nations with tropical climates, were sent to these nations. Let’s make sure we get the right supplies to the citizens of this devastated area.