In January of this year, Ewing and Associates began utilizing a mobile platform to aid customers in their search for a home. This new application, “ewingsir” is compatible with smart-phones such as the iPhone, Blackberry, Android or Windows Phone. The application’s innovative software allows consumers to easily search for homes near them but also internationally. The sleek design makes navigation easy so even the least tech-savvy consumer won’t feel daunted by all of the app’s features.

Consumers aren’t the only ones benefiting from this. Real estate agents are also able to connect with their clients by giving them a custom code for the agent’s specific application. With this, agents will receive all of the leads from a client’s search regardless of who has the listing. This technology will relieve the burden of planning around busy schedules and instead clients will be able to search for a home at their leisure. Agents and clients alike can take comfort in the newfound ease that this app will bring to the home buying process.

Operation Gratitude Needs Your Help This Week Dec. 12-17

By: Mary Pane

This is it: The countdown to the 750,000th Care Package on December 17th!

To reach that milestone, Operation Gratitude has an enormous amount of work to do at the armory this week and need everyone’s help.

Rich is going to open the armory each day this week from 9 am to 5 pm (note the extra hours each day). Please come in and volunteer for any time you have available to help prepare for this very special event.

Also, in case you missed it, CBS Sunday Morning aired a great piece on Operation Gratitude this morning. You can view the video here: Operation Gratitude: Gifts for Heroes Far From Home.

Please share the video with your friends and family and encourage them to support your work and our mission.

Remember: We need your help all this week from 9-5.

How to volunteer with Operation Gratitude

By: Mary Pane

Many of my clients have often expressed a desire to to support our troops but don’t know where to start. In light of brave men and women who fearlessly serve our country, I wanted to provide a few basic ways to help our troops through Operation Gratitude. Currently, Operation Gratitude, who sends care packages to our troops abroad, is running a Patriotic Drive through June 30th. All you have to do is show up for one of the listed Prep or Assembly days below.

“Prep Day” work consists of sorting donated items, folding shirts, screening letters, and otherwise preparing the products and the Assembly Line for our Assembly Days. “Assembly Day” work includes production of the care packages, labeling, taping, custom forming, letter reading and writing, running packages, re-stocking the lines, breaking down cartons and many other tasks.

Hope to see you there!

WEEKDAYS
Monday and Friday 9am–4pm
Tues, Wed, Thurs. 12pm–4pm
***CLOSED:
Friday April 22-Good Friday
Monday May 30-Memorial Day

WEEKENDS
Prep Day Hours:  9am to 12 Noon Only**
Assembly Day Hours: 9am to 4pm daily
Sun. March 27: PREP
Sat. April 2:      PREP
(Sat. April 16 Prep CANCELED)
Sat. April 16:   
DOWN & DIRTY NIGHT RUN (7pm-10pm at Castaic Lake Recreation Park)
Sun. April 17: Down and Dirty Mud Run (7am-2pm at Castaic Lake Recreation Park)
Sat. April 30:    ASSEMBLY
Sat.  May 14:   ASSEMBLY (“Big Sunday” Weekend)
Sat.  May 21:   PREP (Armed Forces Day)
Sat. May 28:    ASSEMBLY (Memorial Weekend)
Sun. June 5:    ASSEMBLY in morning/PREP in afternoon
Sat.  June 18:  ASSEMBLY in morning/PREP in afternoon
Sat. June 25:   ASSEMBLY or Yard Sale only if needed: check emails and website

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Mary Pane

As we were gravely reminded with the Earthquake in Japan, natural disasters can happen all the time. Often, these emergencies can leave people without supplies for many days, forcing them to rely on their own instincts and personal stash of food and water.

Preparing for an emergency before it strikes is your surest path to survival. One key step is to assemble an Emergency Supplies Kit. By gathering emergency supplies in advance, your family will be much more prepared for an evacuation or extended stay at home.

Here are the steps to take when preparing your kit

1. Determine what type of container you’ll use to store your supplies. The container should be something that can be picked up or wheeled away in case of evacuation. Some examples include a large, covered trash container, a plastic storage container, or a backpack.

2. Determine where you’ll store your kit.

3. Store your kit in a convenient place known to all family members.

4. Keep a smaller version of Emergency Supplies Kit in the truck of your car.

The essential items of a kit include at least a three-day supply of food and water for each person, first aid supplies, clothing and bedding, tools, and emergency supplies and special items.

Review your kit every six months. Replace food and water and add necessary items as your family’s needs change.

Water

	Store one gallon of water per person (or pet) per day.
	Store water in plastic containers, such as soft drink bottles. Avoid using containers that may break, such as glass bottles.

Food

Select foods that require no refrigeration, preparation or cooking and little or no water. Select food items that are compact and lightweight. Most importantly, select foods that you and your family like.

	Ready-to-eat canned meats, fruits, and vegetables
	Canned juices, milk, soup
	High energy foods, such as peanut butter, jelly, crackers, granola bars, trail mix
	Special food for infants, elderly persons, or persons on special diets
	Comfort food, such as cookies, candy, etc.

First Aid Kit

Assemble a first aid kit for your home and one for each car.

	Sterile adhesive bandages in assorted sizes		Needle
	2-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)		Moistened towelettes
	4-inch sterile gauze pads (4-6)		Antiseptic
	Hypoallergenic adhesive tape		Thermometer
	Triangular bandages (3)		Tongue depressor (2)
	2-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)		Cleaning agent/soap
	3-inch sterile roller bandages (3 rolls)		Latex gloves (2 pair)
	Scissors		Sunscreen
	Petroleum jelly or other lubricant		Tweezers
	Assorted sizes of safety pins

Non-prescription drugs

	Aspirin or non-aspirin pain reliever
	Anti-diarrhea medication
	Antiacid (for stomach upset)
	Syrup of ipecac (use to induce vomiting if advised by the Poison Control Center
	Laxative
	Activated charcoal (use if advised by the Poison Control Center)
	Prescription medications

Pet Supplies

	Food		Tags
	Water		Litter Box
	Medications		Vaccination information
	Leash

Water

	Include at least one complete change of clothing and a sturdy pair of shoes
	Blankets or sleeping bags

Special Items

	Formula		Contact lenses and supplies
	Diapers		Extra eye glasses
	Bottles		Entertainment – games, books

Important family documents

Keep these records in a waterproof, portable container

	Wills, insurance policies, contracts, deeds, stocks and bonds
	Passports, social security cards, immunizations records
	Bank account numbers
	Credit card account numbers and companies
	Inventory of valuable household goods, important telephone numbers
	Family records (birth, marriage, death certificates)

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Mary Pane

An estimated 30% to 35% of the 1.64 million U.S. troops deployed to Afghanistan and Iraq since October 2001 meet DSM-IV criteria for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Almost half of all veterans with PTSD have never sought help of any kind, and of those who do, half receive inadequate treatment. Care for all these veterans could cost society between $4.0 and $6.2 billion biannually.

The David Lynch Foundation’s Transcendental Meditation-based program, “Operation Warrior Wellness” offers an extensively researched, widely practiced program for the reduction of traumatic stress and stress-related disorders. We believe this program has great potential for treating PTSD by affecting the neurophysiology that underlies the disorder, thus eliminating rather than simply masking its debilitating symptoms.

You can help by making a donation here.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.

By: Mary Pane

Two months to the day since the catastrophic 7.0 magnitude earthquake devastated Haiti (3/12/2010) – Salvation Army volunteers from all parts of the Southland will gather in Bell, CA to participate in a two-day, 24-hour humanitarian mission for the earthquake-ravaged island nation of Haiti.

Through a partnership with Numana, Inc. – a nonprofit dedicated to relieving global hunger – this army of volunteers will roll up their sleeves and form a massive assembly line as they pack 1 million meals. In the first event of its kind in the West, these 1 million nutritious food packages will be assembled in 24 hours for shipment to Haiti. Donations of food and water have proved a lifeline to the 1.2 million displaced by the quake and The Salvation Army will continue to assist throughout this ongoing crisis.

Recruit a team of 12 people and register to serve. Be sure to indicate that you’re interested in the ‘Million Meals for Haiti’ project on the volunteer sign-up form, and let us know the names of the folks you’ve recruited to your team. We also need to know which shift you’d like to sign up for. If you want to speak to someone about signing up, please call 213-607-7314. And, if you are unable to recruit a team of 12, don’t panic … we’ll fit you in with another team or give you a job anyway! WE NEED YOUR HELP.

EwingSIR does not guarantee information contained in this blog, readers are encouraged not to rely solely on this information and to do their own independent research of facts contained herein. Blog information was obtained from independent sources that we do not endorse, and we do not investigate this information for accuracy.