Assisted Living

So I've been looking for disabled/senior housing..I was told that they can't turn me away because of my age(46) because I have a disability(mental/ptsd, depression and physical/degenerative disc disease). so here goes, and I will list some of the places I have checked out. Hopefully this will help someone out there!

Bridgeport Place Assisted Living

5250 Bridgeport Way West

University Place, WA 98467

(253) 565-1960

Email Us | Directions

Free Business Classes

Tacoma Business center is a great place to start or continue your entrepreneurship. I'm wit it! I will be signing up for the Tacoma SCORE South Sound chapter this Summer.. The South Sound Tacoma Chapter provides FREE confidential mentoring for aspiring entrepreneurs and small business owners.

Click on pick to get to site for more info on Tacoma Business Center at Bates Technical College!

Stop Sex Trafficking!

"On the street I saw a girl

cold and shivering in a thin

dress, with little hope of a

decent meal. I became angry

and said to God: Why did

you permit this? 'Why don't

you do something about it?'

For a while God said nothing.

That night He replied quite

suddenly: 'I certainly did

something about it.

I made you.'"

from: Sometimes God Has a Kid's Face

by: Sister Mary Rose McGeady

Take action   

United Methodist Women is dedicated to raising awareness of modern-day slavery and recruiting allies to help end it. Local United Methodist Women can help save the lives of girls like Kelsey.

• Invite local law enforcement officials to a unit or circle meeting or event and find out what you can do to help.
• Partner with other community groups, especially men’s groups, to spread information through literature and public events.
• Visit United Methodist Women's human trafficking webpage for more information and resources to help.
• Write, call or e-mail your senators to pass U.S. Senate Bill 596, The domestic Minor Sex Trafficking Deterrence and Victims Support Act. The proposed funds in SB 596 are the first dollars earmarked to put a roof over the heads of victims in America. You can call Senator John Cornyn @ (202) 224-2934 or send him an email by filling out a contact form at http://cornyn.senate.gov/public/index.cfm?p=ContactForm. He also has a Facebook page: facebook.com/Sen.JohnCornyn.
  OR:
  Senator Ron Wyden @  Phone: (202) 224-5244; contact form (email): http://wyden.senate.gov/contact/ and Facebook: facebook.com/wyden. 
• Check out this site to learn more on U.S Senate Bill 596: http://www.laweekly.com/2011-11-03/news/village-voice-media-asks-for-your-support-of-senate-bill-596/
• I just called and put in my vote of support and was told that they should be voting on this soon. Both numbers are in working order so do what you can to make some changes. If I could help just one young lady get out of this daily hell it would be well worth it..I too was in a similar hell working in the sex industry, not knowing how to ever get back to normal. With 13 years of counseling and drug and alcohol treatment I am now able to focus on my future with my head held high, addiction free! Thanks for listening: cozynblue

My Comment Form

Thanks for stopping by my blog! If you like an article please click 'share' or leave a comment. This will help me improve my blog and give me motivation to write more articles you may find interesting.

Just found this geeky-cool new thing, if you want a photo to show with your comment, go get a gravatar, I'm going to go try it right now!

Thank you,

cozynblue

FREE 'Truth About Drugs' Kit!

Click on Pic to check out site and order your FREE kit

Free Truth About Drugs Information Kit for Educators

Exclusively for educators, law enforcement officers and other drug prevention specialists who teach students 11 years of age and above in classroom, group instruction or community learning settings.

Your free kit includes:

• The Truth About Drugs booklet, the centerpiece of the 13-booklet The Truth About Drugs series;
• The Foundation for a Drug-Free World, a video introduction to the Foundation, and our drug awareness-raising tools you can put to immediate use: the award-winning “They Said, They Lied” PSAs and a preview of The Truth About Drugs: Real People, Real Stories documentary.
• The Truth About Drugs Program Guide.

One free kit per educator—includes free shipping. To receive your free kit, fill out the form to the right.

If you cannot, for any reason, honor the basic agreement to use this kit to promote drug education activites in your area—and provide documentation of usage—the Foundation for a Drug-Free World can, at the discretion of its officers, exercise the option to ask for shipping charges.

Click on Pic to check out site and order your FREE kit

Click on Pic to check out site and order your FREE kit

My Comment Form

Thanks for stopping by my blog! If you like an article please click 'share' or leave a comment. This will help me improve my blog and give me motivation to write more articles you may find interesting.

Just found this geeky-cool new thing, if you want a photo to show with your comment, go get a gravatar, I'm going to go try it right now!

Thank you,

cozynblue

BIDERMAN’S CHART OF COERCION 

(available at http://www.refocus.org/coerchrt.html) 

Synopsis written by Rus Ervin Funk, MSW 

This short article describes a break-down of various forms of coercion used in a variety 

of settings. Looking at a number of forms of oppression and violence, this model has real 

implications for looking at the forms of coercion used in domestic violence. 

Isolation is seen as consisting of three forms: 

ƒ Depriving an individual of social support which effectively inhibits that person’s 

ability to resist; 

ƒ Makes the individual dependent on the perpetrator; and 

ƒ Develops an intense concern with the “self” of the perpetrator(s). 

Monopolization of Perception is another tactic used and likewise consists of three forms 

or consequences: 

ƒ Fixes attention of the victim on the immediate predicament – fostering 

introspection (which inhibits one’s ability to hope, plan, or resist); 

ƒ Eliminates competing stimuli (which reinforces the omnipotence of the 

perpetrator); and 

ƒ Frustrates actions not consistent with compliance. 

Induces Debility and Exhaustion The victim becomes worn out by the levels of tension 

and fear, and by constantly attempting to “read” the perpetrator and their behavior; while 

simultaneously avoid expressing fear, sorrow or rage to avoid further consequences form 

the perpetrator. 

Occasional Indulgences which reinforce the omnipotence of the perpetrator and provides 

motivation for compliance. 

Devaluing the person through words and actions. This can result in: 

ƒ Creating fear of freedom and dependence on the perpetrator; 

ƒ Reinforcing feelings of helplessness; and 

ƒ Developing lack of faith in their own capabilities. 

These tactics and the consequences are seen commonly in forms of torture and can 

provide a framework to better understand the impact of domestic violence.

NEED FURNITURE?

NW Furniture Bank can help!

Click on Pic to get to site

More Help:

Metropolitan Dev Council
Community Health Care
Tacoma Housing Authority
 Rescue Mission
Step by Step Family Support
Phoenix Housing
Pierce County Alliance
WWEE
St Vincent de Paul
HopeSparks Family Services
Puyallup Tribe of Indians
Helping Hands House
Exodus Housing
Catholic Community Service
Network Ministries
SPIPA
Answers Counseling

So it looks like I lost some things in our move. My son moved into his own apartment and I lost his bed. How? I don't know..Between moving our things to storage and then into my own apartment(I downsized from a two bedroom to a bachlorette's one bedroom!) His bed and two of my lamps are nowhere to be found. This morning I called St. Vincent Depaul and they referred me to St. Patrick Church and told me to call first thing in the morning between 9:30-10 a.m. to ask for a furniture assistance gift card. My son had grown out of his bed anyways, so wish me luck!

Strengthening Your Grip on Family

Inspiration: Perhaps the most taxing of all, are the years a family finds itself in and out of crisis situations. Little babies that cooed and gurgled grow up into challenging independent-thinking adolescents. The protective, sheltered environment of the home is broken into by school, new friends, alien philosophies, financial strain, illness, accidents, hard questions, constant decisions, and busy schedules...and it isn't difficult to feel the pressure mounting-especially when you add dating, new drivers in the family, leaving for college, talk of marriage, and moving out. Whew! And what does God say about these years?

He says we'll be "blessed." We'll be "happy." It will "be well" with us during these years...In the family portrayed on this scriptural canvas, "the Lord" is still central...

Even before you finish...it may be the right time for you to come to terms with the truth regarding your family. I must be honest with you, in most of the family conflicts I have dealt with involving trouble with teenagers, the problem has been more with parents who were either too liberal and permissive or too inflexible, distant, rigid (and sometimes hypocritical) than with teenagers who were unwilling to cooperate. When the modeling is as it should be, there is seldom much trouble from those who fall under the shadow of the leader. Strengthening your grip on the family may start with an unguarded appraisal of the leadership your family is expected to follow.
(From: Strengthening Your Grip by: Charles Swindoll

My nephews, nieces, and Son Johnny 2008. I know the pic says 2002 but who can set the time on them cameras?

FREE Small Business Workshops

I just went to:
Referral Marketing AND
Branding Your Business
on March 20, 2014, Thursday
 And it was the best thing i've done in a while! I talked with a business consultant at DVR about not spending thousands on college and taking classes that I don't really need..Well I'm following his advice and finding classes around town that are FREE! Maybe I should just put this on my freebie blog (CouponQueenB) I need to start working on this one again antyways) I will be attending the next session on March 27, so be there or be square.

**Pre-registration is required by calling (253) 591-7026. For more info click here:

Update

Upcoming Workshops Offered:

 

Social Media and Direct Sales

May 8, 2014

8:00am – 12:00pm

You Rock

MDC

 

Key Steps to Market Research

May 28, 2014

12:30pm – 2:30pm

Parkland Public Library

 

Networking Marketing

May 29, 2014

You Rock!

MDC

 

Business Insurance

June 4, 2014

1:00pm – 3:00pm

Hall & Company

Parkland Public Library

 

Referral Marketing

Branding Your Business

June 12, 2014

8:00am – 12:00pm

You Rock!

MDC

 

 Art of Hiring & Firing

June 18, 2014

1:00pm-3:00pm

Stephens Law Firm

Parkland Public Library

 

Financing Your Business 

July 17, 2014

9:00am – 11:00am

Commencement Bank

MDC

 

Workshop Details:

 

Social Media “The Why’s, How’s and What-To-Avoid’s of Social Media”

Social media makes it possible for your customer, your employees, your colleagues, and anyone who has an interest in your enterprise to spread word of mouth advertising, be it good or bad.

During this overview, participants will learn the importance of owning and managing their online identity, the techniques that make it easy, and the pitfalls to be avoided to maintain a professional image.

Direct Sales Building a business quickly and reliably can only be done with the right selling tools.  Unfortunately, most start-up businesses never take the time to develop and intentional selling strategy.  This session will provide you with a toolkit full of proven techniques that will help you reach new customers and show them why they should trust you , buy from you, brag about you, and refer their friends to you.

Networking Marketing

Email, social media and texting have an important place in marketing, but who do you send them to?  How doe you create connections in the first place?  Networking is an important part of building your business, and it can be intimidating.  This session will show you how to make networking easy, fun, meaningful and profitable!

Key Steps to Market Research

Use library resources to conduct market research and find the information you need to put in your business plan. 

Business Insurance

Learn the importance of business insurance and how having or not having it will affect your business.  Discussions on how much and what kind of coverage is needed to protect your business will be covered.  A professional from this industry will help you consider the options of where to obtain, as well as how to start looking for insurance your business may need.

Referral Marketing 101

Referral marketing is the most effective form of marketing for businesses with limited marketing budgets.  If you are willing to invest the time to learn specific referral marketing strategies, tools, and techniques you can double, even triple your sales in months without spending additional marketing dollars.  If you don’t have a referral marketing plan for your business, this session is a must!  You will learn how to develop a strategic referral network, who should be in it, how to find them and how to motivate those people to refer business to you.   

 This class will open your eyes to the possibilities of generating more sales in less time by doing business by relationship.  Unless you can find more time and work harder than you already are, you can’t afford to miss this class.  You will learn some specific techniques that will enable you to really work smarter, not harder.

Art of Hiring & Firing 

Good employment practice are essential in growing a profitable business.  This workshop will help you determine if your business is ready to hire employees, give you tips on how to select and manage your employees, and connect you to resources to assist in this manner.

Financing Your Business

Workshop focuses on how to get the financing you need to start your business, the resources available, Five C’s of Lending, and the eligibility requirements of the banks.  Topics to be included are assessing your financial needs, loan eligibility, SBA loans, and alternative community resources available.

Another class I'm planning on taking is:

Entrepreneurial Training Course

This Entrepreneurial Training Course is a four-day, 28-hour course, 9am to 4pm each day.
All participants must be able to commit to attend no fewer than four (4) sessions in order to graduate. Special provisions will be made for individuals who need to make up one or two sessions they may have missed.
**Pre-registration is required by calling (253) 591-7026
All fees due upon registration.

Fee: $25

Free for Military

Dates and Times:

2014
April 8th-11th
9:00 am – 4:00 pm daily

Location:

MDC Main Office
721 Fawcett, Ste 201
Tacoma, WA 98402
(253) 591-7026

For More Info click here:






Click on picture to find out more about help with Electric bills thru MDC Energy Assistance Program . I do it once a year!

Financial Aid for College Checklist and Ideas/from BBB

From: http://www.bbb.org/us/article/financial-aid-for-college-410

Quick Check List

• Early on—Study, Work Hard, and do your best to Earn Good Grades;
• Know the ins and outs of standardized tests. High test scores open doors to more colleges and high dollar scholarships and grants.
• Save now for college;
• Be sure to complete all high school courses you’ll need for college admission. Most four-year colleges require the following:
• four years of English;
• three years of math;
• three years of lab science;
• three years of social studies;
• two years of electives;
• Seek out scholarships and grants before looking at student loans;
• Consider Federal loan programs which offer lower interest rates;
• Manage student loan debt by knowing how much you can afford to borrow and repay. Working while in college can help to reduce your debt after graduation.

INTRODUCTION
Over the past 20 years, the cost of a college education has risen twice as fast as inflation. Tuition at public universities alone jumped 234 percent between 1980 and 1995. But despite the huge rise in tuition, it can be easier for people to afford higher education. Today, close to half of students at public colleges and universities and over 70 percent of students at private institutions receive some sort of financial aid. This is good news since a higher education can mean more money and wider job choices in the present and future job market. To get the most from your educational potential, you should begin mapping out your future as soon as possible.
Define Your Goals
The best way to make the most of your opportunities is to work hard and know generally what you want to do in life so you can plan wisely for the future. Asking yourself questions like the ones below can help you define and achieve your goals.

• What are your strongest skills and talents?
• What are your values and dreams for the future?
• How do you define success?
  Is it family, wealth, charity, etc.?
• What activities or achievements do you find most rewarding?
• What careers excite you most?

Establish a Career Plan
Once you’ve thought generally about what you might want to do in life, you should consider developing a career plan. A career plan will help you work towards a specific job—such as a heart surgeon—or help you find opportunities in a general field, such as medicine. Following the steps below is a good beginning:

• List Your Skills: Write down your natural talents such as music, art, writing, etc. Include training you have gained from your parents, school, or jobs. Rank your skills in terms of what you do best and like most;
• Research Careers: Take time to research any career fields or specific careers that you feel qualified for or that are of strong interest to you. The U.S. Department of Labor’s Bureau of Labor Statistics is a great place to get in-depth, up-to-date information on hundreds of specific careers. Look for their Occupational Outlook Handbook at your local library or visit their searchable career database on the World Wide Web at www.bls.gov/OCO/;
• Gather Good Intelligence: Learn as much as you can about the careers you like. Be sure to read articles, biographies, etc. about people in the jobs you’re considering. Whenever possible, talk to someone in those career fields. Also, take every opportunity—after school, during summer break, etc.—to intern at a job that’s in your favored career field. Internships are excellent ways to gain good work experience and network with people who can help you get future jobs. An internship lets you discover if a career is what you thought it would be and whether it offers the salary and job satisfaction you desire.

Choose a Type of School
After identifying some of your goals and narrowing your career field choices, you can begin deciding what educational avenues can prepare you best for success. Depending on your intentions and interests, your education options are many, and include:

• Vocational Training Schools: These are privately owned and operated schools that offer wide-ranging career training in specialized occupations such as computers, graphics design, paralegal services, etc. Course study is specific and intensive. Time to graduation is short—usually three years or less.
• Community and Junior Colleges: These schools can benefit students who ultimately want to go to a four-year college or university or those who simply want specialized job training. Generally, these colleges require two-years of study to graduate with an associate’s degree.
• Four-year Colleges/Universities: These schools offer bachelor’s and/or master’s, doctorate, or professional degrees and a wide variety of studies and curriculum to choose from. Bachelor’s degrees usually take four years to obtain and graduate degrees two or more years additionally.
• Public Colleges/Universities: These schools are subsidized by the states in which they reside. Often, they are much less expensive than private colleges, with the cheapest rates going to in-state residents. Out-of-state students usually pay higher fees.
• Private Colleges/Universities: Funded through endowments, tuition, and donations, these schools cost more than public schools. Financial aid can offset the higher costs.

Where You Want to Be
Think about the traits of a college or university that appeal to you. If you plan to attend a four-year college or university, you will almost certainly want to find qualities that can enrich your personal and social life as well as your academic performance. Consider the following in your college search:

• Academic programs and degrees;
• Overall academic reputation;
• Academic reputation in your field of study;
• Job placement rate;
• Cost of attendance/financial aid;
• Geographic location and size of student body;
• Student diversity;
• Political or religious affiliation;
• Student Life (housing, meals, sports, health clubs, student government, fraternities/sororities, clubs, etc.)

To get answers about the subjects above, contact a college’s or university’s admissions office for an admissions catalog. Better yet, you can go to the following sites on the World Wide Web which can give you direct access to the home pages of nearly every college and university in the United States:
www.usnews.com/usnews/edu/college/corank.htm
This site lists colleges by region of the country.
Financing Your Education
You can finance your or your children’s education in any number of ways—saving, pay as you go, borrowing, grants and scholarships, or a combination of these. Types of financial aid can be divided into three general categories:

Grants and Scholarships: Money from grants and scholarships is not repaid and is often awarded on the basis of academic, athletic, or artistic abilities or talents.
Loans: Money from loans must be repaid with extra costs from interest over a prearranged period of time. Sources for such loans are plentiful, but specific loans for higher education are available at interest rates lower than those of the marketplace. Ordinarily, repayment of such student loans begins within six months to a year after graduation with a preset interest rate that lasts the life of the loan.
Work-Study: Money from work-study is earned by students working at full-time or part-time jobs for their schools during the summer and/or the academic year. Work-study jobs can be either on-campus or off-campus.
Federal Aid
The federal government is the largest source for financial aid; ahead of state and local governments, banks, and savings and loan companies. Some of the most commonly used federal aid are described below:
Pell Grants: This program provides grants which do not need to be repaid. It is designed to specifically help low income undergraduate students who have not earned a bachelor’s or professional degree. However, students coming from families with higher incomes may qualify.
Perkins Loans: This low interest federal loan is available for both undergraduate and graduate students with exceptional financial need. A student’s school is the lender. The loan is made from government funds with a share contributed by the school that the student attends. This loan is repaid directly to the school.
Stafford Loans: Similar to Perkins loans, under Stafford loan, students may borrow greater sums of money as they continue their education. This loan is open to both undergraduate and graduate students.
All student loans must be repaid whether or not a student finishes school or gets a job after graduation. Failure to pay a student loan can ruin your credit rating–—another reason to learn a school’s job placement rates beforehand.
For more information about student loans, contact the U.S. Department of Education’s Federal Student Aid Information Center at 800.433.3243 or web site at www.ed.gov and its Free Application for Federal Student Aid office at 800.801.0576 or web site www.fafsa.ed.gov. Also contact the following: FINAID at www.finaid.org, NELLIEMAE at www.nelliemae.org, and SALLIEMAE at www.salliemae.com.
Grants and Scholarships
Most high school guidance counselors and libraries have current announcements about scholarships, grants, and fellowships offered by civic and fraternal organizations, foundations, corporations, professional clubs, or charitable organizations.
The Internet, accessible through schools, local libraries, homes, and offices, is one of the best ways to find scholarships. Many web sites have searchable databases which take your personal information and give you a list of awards that fit your profile. Some of the most helpful sites are listed below:

• College Board Online
• U.S. Dept. of Education
• Financial Aid Search
• FinAid
• U.S. News & World Report

ROTC: The Reserve Officer’s Training Corps is a special type of scholarship that pays for almost all college expenses in exchange for one to four years of military service.
Beware of Scholarship Scams
Every year, thousands of students and parents fall victim to scholarship search service scams. Looking for the warning signs below can help you avoid getting ripped off.
It’s probably a scam if a company:

• GUARANTEES A SCHOLARSHIP OR “YOUR MONEY BACK”: Grants or scholarships are awarded on basis of performance or qualifications. No one can “guarantee” that you’ll get one;
• CLAIMS YOU CAN’T GET THIS SCHOLARSHIP INFORMATION ANYWHERE ELSE: Free scholarship information abounds—in school libraries, with federal, state, and local governments, on the Internet, and with private companies;
• WANTS A CREDIT CARD OR BANK ACCOUNT NUMBER FOR AN APPLICATION FEE OR TO HOLD SCHOLARSHIPS: Never give your credit card or bank account number over the phone. Free money shouldn’t cost anything. Most legitimate companies don’t charge application fees;
• SAYS THEY’LL DO ALL THE WORK: There’s no way around it. You must apply for scholarships or grants yourself;
• CLAIMS THAT “YOU’VE BEEN SELECTED” OR THAT “YOU’RE A FINALIST” FOR A SCHOLARSHIP OR GRANT YOU NEVER APPLIED FOR: You’ve got to go after grant or scholarship money. It won’t come looking for you.

For more information on scholarship scams, visit the Federal Trade Commission’s web site at www.ftc.gov; the Council of Better Business Bureaus web site at www.bbb.org; and FinAid web site at www.finaid.org/scams.
Precautions Against Scholarship Scams

• INVESTIGATE: Carefully investigate the background of any company, especially if their offer exhibits any of the scholarship scam warning signs;
• GET TRUSTED, INDEPENDENT OPINIONS: Don’t rely solely on a company’s claims. Check them out with a high school guidance counselor, college financial aid administrator, the Better Business Bureau, or other knowledgeable group or person;
• CALL DIRECTORY ASSISTANCE: Check Directory Assistance to see if a company is listed or has an 800 number. Absence of a number should raise your suspicions;
• GET ANY OFFER IN WRITING: Never rely on verbal promises. Ask a company for printed information about cancellation and refund policies and “guarantees.” If they won’t provide it, watch out!;
• COMPLAINTS: If you feel you’ve been victimized by a scholarship scam, contact your local Better Business Bureau at www.bbb.org, the Federal Trade Commission at 202.FTC.HELP (202.382.4357), or your state’s Attorney General’s Office.

How To Avoid Scholarships Scams From The 'Better Business Bureau'

The Better Business Bureau is warning college-bound students and their parents to be wary of financial aid fraud perpetrated by companies promising big bucks for college tuition, but who ultimately take your money and leave you with nothing.
Consumer complaints against scholarship, loan and grant services to the 114 BBBs across the U.S. increased by 60 percent in 2006
“Funding a college education is expensive, and finding money for college can be an intimidating process,” said Steve Cox, spokesperson for the BBB System. “The fallout from this year’s student loan scandal, combined with the efforts of tireless scammers, means there is a real trust crisis in the financial aid industry. There are many unscrupulous businesses and outright scams taking advantage of overwhelmed parents who are just trying to put their child through school.”
Along with a significant rise in complaints in 2006, the BBB has seen a steady flow of loan, grant and scholarship complaints so far this year from consumers fed up with the industry. Following are the most recent examples of complaints and common scams taking advantage of college-bound students and their parents.

Financial Aid Seminar Scams
Parents from New York to California have contacted the BBB saying they paid a Utah-based company as much as $1,000 for help finding financial aid and never heard from the company again.
Parents report their college-bound child received an email from College Money Matters stating they’d “been accepted” to attend a free financial aid seminar. The seminar was essentially a sales pitch and, for a fee, the company would submit the student’s Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FAFSA) form and find college scholarships and grants for the student. Victims report they paid $700 to $1,000 and never heard from the company again. Not only did they not receive the promised help for finding grants and scholarships, but many discovered that their child’s FAFSA form was never even filed.
College Grant Scams
The BBB continually hears from consumers who have received emails or letters with offers for “Free Grant Money” – saying they qualified for private or government grant money as financial aid for debt relief or to help pay off college bills.
When victims received the grant in the form of a check, they were instructed to deposit the check and then wire a smaller amount of money back to cover processing fees. Because checks looked professional, it often took several weeks for banks to discover they were counterfeit. Not only did victims have to pay the banks back for money they withdrew on the counterfeit checks, they were also out the money they had wired to the scammers. The Wisconsin BBB reports that a University of Wisconsin student was recently a victim of a grant scam. The student was promised $25,000 in grant money. After initially receiving a counterfeit check for $5,000, he was told that in order to receive the remaining grant money he had to send them $2,500 through stored-value cards. He had transferred $500 and was planning to transfer the rest but the scam was discovered by his bank.
“Parents nationwide are devastated and very angry about being taken advantage of,” added Cox. “Some have saved for years to help give their children a college education. And now, money that could have gone directly toward tuition and expenses has instead gone toward lining the pockets of scammers.”
How to Avoid Scholarship Scams
The BBB offers advice to avoid being snared in scholarship traps, recommending that you be suspicious if a representative tells you:

• "The scholarship is guaranteed or your money back." In reality no one can guarantee that they will get you a grant or scholarship. And the refund guarantees that are offered usually have so many conditions or strings attached that it is almost impossible for consumers to get their money back.
• "You cannot get this information anywhere else." Actually, scholarship information is widely available in books, from libraries and financial aid offices and on the Internet, if you are willing to search for it.
• "We will do all the work." Only parents and students can really determine and provide the financial information needed to complete the forms.
• "You have been selected by a national foundation to receive a scholarship." If you have not entered a competition sponsored by the foundation, this claim is highly unlikely.
• "May I have your credit card or bank account number to hold this scholarship?" This is never a requirement for a legitimate scholarship offer.
• "The scholarship will cost some money." Legitimate scholarship offers never require payment of any kind.

For more advice and information on how to avoid scholarship and grant fraud, and for objective Reliability Reports on companies in the financial aid industry, go to www.bbb.org.

Volunteer Legal Service of Washington State

Neighborhood Legal Clinic
Law Help Center
Bankruptcy Clinic
Pro Se Family Law Clinic
Lakewood Pro Bono Clinic
PCAF Wills Project Clinic
Housing Justice Project

How to contact the

Volunteer Legal Sevices Program

 

Access to Civil Justice Center

 

715 Tacoma Ave South

 

Tacoma, WA 98402

 

Phone: (253)572-5134

 

Toll Free: 1-888-822-5134

 

Fax: (253)274-1888

 

Click on links below:

vls@tacomaprobono.org

 

www.tacomaprobono.org

 

 

More help, Information and court forms are

available on the following websites:

 

www.washingtonlawhelp.org

www.courts.wa.gov

 



Pursue Your Passion (Monthly Scholarship)

 

 

Awarded by:

Degreed.com

Award Amount:

$1,000, non-renewable

Recipients:

Twelve awards offered annually. One award per month.

Deadline:

Wednesday, July 31, 2013

Deadline Info:

Applications are available on the provider's website. Students must first create an account on Degreed.com and then submit a short essay explaining why they are passionate about learning. The essay should also outline how they would spend the $1,000 scholarship to increase their education. Students may not apply more than once each month. Winners will be contacted by email or phone and must respond within 72 hours.

Requirements:

• Must be 18 years or older to apply for this award.
• This award is for U.S. and international students.
• Must currently attend OR have graduated from an accredited U.S. college or university.
• Must be a resident of the 50 states or District of Columbia.

Additional Info:

The monthly scholarship winner will be chosen on the merits of his/her essay and academic strengths.

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Food for Fines-Tacoma Public Library

Restock local food banks. Reduce your library fines. All without raiding your wallet. The availability of food items at local food banks are traditionally at an all-time low after the December holidays, but the Tacoma Public Library is hoping to change that through a new program where library patrons can help feed the hungry while eliminating overdue fines. Beginning on February 19 Tacoma's libraries will hold a community food drive at all 8 locations. It's a food drive with a twist, however: for every three non-perishables items a patron donates, the library will reduce their overdue fines by $10, without a limit to the total amount waived.  The 'Food For Fines' food drive continues through March 2. All food items donated will be delivered to a neighborhood food bank.  More information is available by telephoning the library at 253.292.2001. "We hope that this program will encourage people to return overdue items and clear their library records, while having the opportunity to donate food to help people in their community rather than just pay fees." explained librarian Rhonda Kristoff, coordinator of the two-week program. Each library branch is working with a nearby food bank to ensure donations stay in the neighborhood.  There is no limit to the number of food items the library will accept, nor to the size of the overdue fines the library will forgive.  The library is unable to accept rusty or unlabeled cans, perishable items (fruits, vegetables and raw meat), alcoholic beverages or mixes, opened or used items, home-canned and home­made items, and items within 30 days of their expiration date. "Food for Fines" donations can only be applied to overdue fines. Donations cannot be used to pay for lost or damaged items. "There's no limit to how much food a patron can donate," says Kristoff, "and food donations are welcome even if a patron has no fines." According to Helen McGovern, Executive Director of the Emergency Food Network, "the number 1 item area food banks are especially in need of is peanut butter, followed by canned protein items (such as tuna fish, chili, canned beef and chicken, and stew), canned fruits and vegetables, baby food, baby formula and diapers." A complete list is included below. "Our libraries are the heart of the community," says Ms. McGovern, "a place where people come together.  Our neighbors are in need and this is a way to show the generosity of the residents in Tacoma.  This is a win-win-win.  The fine is paid, material can be checked out and families can have access to nutritious food at their local food bank!" According to the Emergency Food Network, there were 6,313,944 pounds of food distributed through food banks in Tacoma in 2012.  There were 530,278 client visits (a client can represent themselves or a family of any size). The Library's "Food For Fines" community food drive continues through Saturday, March 2. National and local Hunger Facts 19.5% of Americans live in hungry or food-insecure households. 1 in 5 households across Washington state reported they didn't have enough money to buy the food they needed in 2009. Households with children have almost double the rate of food insecurity compared to those without. Each month in Pierce County more than 110,000 children, seniors and adults seek help finding food. Of these individuals: 53% are children and seniors (39% children under 18, 14% individuals over 55) 99% fall below the national poverty line Almost half are families with at least one adult working Food Drive "Most Wanted" List Canned GoodsPeanut Butter Chili Beef Stew Ravioli Cannelloni Canned Tuna Canned Chicken Canned Beef Assorted Canned Fruits Assorted Canned Vegetables Packaged ItemsHot Cereal (Oatmeal, Malt-O-Meal, Cream of Wheat, Grits, etc.) Powdered Eggs DrinksJuices Ensure (or other Supplemental drinks) Infant ItemsInfant formula Diapers

How to Make $500/week Cleaning out Foreclosures

The trick to entrepreneurship isn’t always how to start a business; it’s what business to start.
And it’s also not always about creating something new. When Steve Jobs built Apple, computers had been around for decades. Jobs didn’t make the first computer, he figured out how to make them smaller so that more people could have access to one. Cars weren’t new when Henry Ford introduced the Model-T. Ford innovated ways to sell cars for cheaper so that more people could buy them.
Hindsight is 20/20. It’s easy to look back at Ford and Jobs and conclude there were more opportunities in their time. However, opportunities still abound today, if you have an eye to spot them. One entrepreneurial venture that is booming right now is cleaning out foreclosures.

What is the Foreclosure Cleaning Business?

The housing bust has created a glut of foreclosed properties. Nearly 4.4% of all mortgages have received a foreclosure notice. Once homeowners move out, banks look to get the property on the market and sold as soon as possible. However, there is one major obstacle banks face in moving the houses to sell: cleaning.
Former mortgagees have no incentive to get properties in saleable condition when they leave their homes. In fact, most foreclosures are riddled with trash and property that foreclosed homeowners don’t feel like transporting with them. Foreclosed homes need a lot of TLC before they are ready for an open house. With a large inventory of bank-owned properties, there’s a need to hire cleaners.
How large of a need? From 2007-2010, foreclosure home cleaning businesses expanded 1,000%.

What’s the Work Like and What Does it Pay?

Those looking to start a foreclosed home cleaning business need a flexible schedule. Banks often need cleaners at a moment’s notice and work needs to be completed on a strict turn-around. Often weekend work is involved and some properties require a lot of work before they are in selling condition. However, the jobs pay well, often averaging between $500 to $2,500 per house.
Another way that foreclosure cleaners make extra money is by selling things that have been left behind by the previous homeowner. You obviously want to check with the client, but often times they’ll ask you to clear out anything left behind in the house. It’s your choice whether to dump the stuff, keep it, or sell it.
One time I was asked by a client to dump a left-behind treadmill and washing machine. I ended up making an extra $300 (in addition to my cleaning fee) by selling them on Craigslist!

How to Start Your Own Foreclosure Cleaning Business

The good news is that you don’t need much to start this type of business. All you need is a telephone number where you can be contacted and some cleaning supplies. The crux of business success is getting jobs. To accomplish this, you’ll need to do a bit of networking.
The best place to network is with real estate agents who specialize in selling real estate owned properties. They aren’t too difficult to locate. Simply call up local realtor offices and ask for the agents in charge of selling foreclosures. It might take some selling to get listed their cleaning vendor list, but if you have a competitive price and flexible schedule, there is no reason you can’t make in-roads.
While realtors are your best bet, you can also advertise on websites that have cleaning service directories. Also, it can be useful to contact local banks directly and reach out to real estate law firms. All this doesn’t guarantee that you’ll get cleaning jobs, but banks won’t know how to reach you if you don’t advertise.
However, with payment of $500 per house, you won’t need many jobs to earn a little extra money.
Good luck Penny Hoarders!

Get some experience cleaning professionally. While cleaning is not difficult and most people comprehend how to vacuum and mop, it's important to get some detail cleaning experience. With this experience, you'll learn how to clean quickly and do a great job. This means more work and more money. It's also important to have experience dealing with people and possibly some sales experience so you can line up jobs.

 

Determine what services to offer. While cleaning sounds self-explanatory, it's important to know exactly what you will offer your clients. Will you simply vacuum or will you shampoo the carpet? Do you clean outside windows or will they have to hire someone else to do that? Sit down and create a list of the things you will do and the things you will not do. This way, you'll be prepared when you speak to a potential employer.

 

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• Purchase cleaning supplies. Purchase the supplies you will need to completely clean the homes: a vacuum cleaner and bags, a good mop and broom, bucket, sponges, dust rags, kitchen and tile cleaner, furniture polish, bathroom cleaner, cleaning solution, window cleaner and deodorizer. Don't forget cleaning wipes, paper towels, and disposable brushes. Being prepared is important in getting a job, and most clients will not provide supplies for you.

• 4
  Advertise your services. Get the word out that you're available for cleaning foreclosures. One great way to do this is to contact realty companies in your area, which you can find in the phone book. Tell them what you do, and leave your name and number. Ask if they're hiring anyone to clean foreclosures. By leaving your contact information with the company, you create a contact and plant the seed for a future job.
  Create business cards and business fliers to let individuals know what you do. Leave your card and fliers at realty businesses, local HUD offices and anywhere your target market may find them. This will help get your name out there.
  Creating a website is a great idea as well. This gives you a platform to sell yourself and advertise your business at the same time.
  By using the tips above, you can get a job cleaning foreclosures and make great money in a small amount of time.

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Read more: How to Get a Job Cleaning Foreclosed Houses | eHow.com http://www.ehow.com/how_5030259_job-cleaning-foreclosed-houses.html#ixzz2CXafsZsD