Did you know that 40% of food in the United States is wasted? With so much waste it seems almost impossible to imagine that 1 in 6 individuals still lacks adequate access to food. What is even more surprising is that in Los Angeles approximately 1.4 million people live with food insecurity. Rick Nahmias has found a simple solution to this disparity by connecting surplus produce to those suffering from food insecurity in Southern California. He founded a non-profit organization called Food Forward to tackle this task.

In January of 2009, Food Forward was just a tiny seed of an idea in Rick Nahmias’ heart. As a local resident of Southern California, Rick saw much of the fruit on his own neighborhood trees go to waste every year. Along with some friends and volunteers, Rick harvested unwanted fruit from his neighbors’ fruit trees, then drove the produce directly to local food banks. Realizing the potential of wasted produce in all of Southern California, his efforts eventually blossomed into three harvest recovery programs.

In the last 8 years, Food Forward has rescued over 40 million pounds (over 140 million servings) of fresh local produce from backyards, farmer’s markets and the Wholesale Produce Market in Downtown Los Angeles. Working with hunger relief agencies across eight counties in Southern California, the recovered produce reaches 100,000 people every month. The hundreds of community volunteers who participate in 160 monthly events experience a tangible way to give back to the community while helping the environment.

Rick Nahmias and Food Forward have taken the well known saying, “When life gives you lemons, make lemonade” to a whole other level. By taking his “lemons” to those in need, he is making a difference in our community. This season as you see your backyard ripe with fruit, make a difference and pass them forward.

One of the most difficult and trying times in life is losing a loved one. When losing a parent the grieving process also often includes the horrendous task of sorting out and moving the cherished belongings from their home. I have experienced it and it is a roller coaster of emotions.

Not only is there the task of sorting through a home lived in for decades, there are the deep emotions that come from saying goodbye to a lifetime of belongings and a well-loved home full of treasured moments. It is not easy boxing up memories. The organizational and physical tasks associated with planning and implementing such an emotional move can be overwhelming for the entire family. That’s why it’s okay to ask for help. Sometimes, someone outside the family can be just the right figure to assist all of you through the transition.

Did you know there are actually professionals that can assist you? They guide families through the daunting process, showing you where to start, how to sort your parent’s belongings and then help you sell the valued items. After all, you shouldn’t go through it alone.

Here is some insight on these specialized experts, as well as helpful tips to get you through the process and find closure —

First up are the experts in keeping your little people pumpkins safe. They may have “boo” in their name, but there is nothing scary about Boo Boo Busters. As a leading professional childproofing service, they know a thing or two about keeping your kids safe. 

Next, are Halloween safety tips for your pets from Dr. Anthony George, doctor of veterinary medicine and certified veterinary acupuncturist. He has been taking care of all kinds of pets for over 20 years and his tips are sure to keep you furry friends from howling at the moon.

When Sloane Davidson decided to start a family, she chose to move back to her hometown of Pittsburgh so she would have the support system of family and friends. A support system is a luxury most of the 3 million refugees in the U.S. no longer have after being displaced from their homes and separated from their families and friends.

Although Sloane had almost two decades of nonprofit and international development experience, moving back to Pittsburgh allowed the new mother to explore how she could make a difference in the international community. In the midst of political turmoil after the 2016 election, Sloane’s new mission became clear when she volunteered to host a Syrian refugee family for Thanksgiving. She discovered just how little support these refugees had after they were settled by local resettlement agencies.

After sharing her Thanksgiving experience in a viral blog post over 1,200 people reached out to Slone wanting to know how to help. She decided to develop Hello Neighbor, an organization that matches post-resettlement refugee families with dedicated neighbors who help them acclimate to the American culture.

In the US, there are an estimated 14,000 pet rescue groups and shelters taking in approximately 7.6 million cats and dogs annually. Of that figure, 2.7 million cats and dogs end up euthanized each year. In late 2013, Yoko founded DOGzHAUS RESCUE, a non-profit dog rescue organization. DOGzHAUS not only rescues dogs from animal shelters – prioritizing those who are on the brink of being euthanized – but allows owners, who can no longer keep their dogs, to surrender their dogs to DOGzHAUS.The DOGzHAUS RESCUE team works to find permanent, loving homes for their rescued dogs with qualified owners. They also educate the public about the benefits of adopting dogs from shelters and rescue organizations, and help raise awareness about the importance of the spaying and neutering of dogs. Last but not least, they provide instruction on proper dog care and training – focusing on the particular aspects of each breed – to current and prospective dog owners.

So, it’s been a month since you moved into your new home. The empty boxes are stacked in corners like miniature Leaning Towers of Pisas and you are missing some key pieces of mail. The moving checklist guided you day by day, but now that the moving storm has subsided, how do you complete the settling in process?

Ready for the best news ever!? Unlike your two-month long moving-in check list, there is a short list of tasks that will not only ensure you don’t miss the next Cosmo, but will also help Mother Earth and others in need. Too good to be true? You can thank me later. Follow these five steps and you will forget you ever moved.

Is packing moving boxes a life size puzzle? It certainly can be if you don’t have the right type of boxes to protect your belongings. To avoid jigsaw driven headaches, get the right stuff for your stuff. The correct boxes and supplies will eliminate wasting time and assist you in retaining your sanity while you’re preparing to make your move. Plus, using the right boxes will properly protect all of your belongings.

How do you know what boxes you will need for your treasures? Luckily, there is no class attendance required, simply follow this guide. It’s a quick cheat sheet: learn what each type of box is called, and what it does. You will be able to say: “that’s a wrap” and “move” to the head of the class. Here’s the “Cliff’s Notes” all about moving boxes