| How to Help Veterans Posted: 11 Nov 2019 12:00 AM PST It's important to support men and women who have sacrificed part of their lives to serve their country. When returning to normal life, veterans may face a number of emotional, physical, and financial difficulties. Luckily, there are a number of ways you can help our veterans. From providing them with the recognition they deserve by donating both your abilities and resources, you can help make their life better. [Edit]Recognizing Their Sacrifice and Service - Thank a veteran. When you meet with a veteran you know, or you meet a veteran for the first time, offer a heartfelt word of thanks. You'd be surprised how far a simple "thank you" can go. A number of veterans never hear it. A simple word of support shows them that they are noticed and appreciated.[1]
- Remember holidays that honor veterans. Show your appreciation for veterans on these days. Holidays like Veterans Day and Memorial Day are popular for honoring those who have served in the military, but there are other lesser-known dates--some that correspond to particular service positions--that you may not be aware of. Here are just a few:
- Vietnam Veterans Day honors those who served during the Vietnam War.
- Silver Star Service Banner Day honors wounded service personnel.
- Armed Forces Day honors those who served in the U.S. Armed Forces.
- POW/MIA Recognition Day honors those who were captured or imprisoned during their service.
- Gold Star Wives Day honors those who lost loved ones in the line of duty.[2]
- Pick up a veteran's tab. The next time you see a veteran waiting in line to pay for their drink or meal, offer to buy it for them, or do it anonymously. Anyone would appreciate the gift of having their coffee, dinner, gas, prescription, or even groceries paid for.
- Listen to and share their stories. Many veterans' stories will go unheard or untold. Lending an ear to a veteran in your neighborhood can be a good showing of community support.[3] Organizations like The Veterans History Project collect stories and archive them in the Library of Congress.[4] Offer to interview a veteran so that their story can reach a wider audience.
- Write a letter to a veteran. Writing a heartfelt letter to a veteran is a good way to show your appreciation and is one of the most cherished contributions.[5] This is an especially good option if you don't know any veterans in your immediate area.
- Organizations like Operation Gratitude will help put you in touch with those who could use your support. They will also allow you to put together and send care packages.[6]
[Edit]Lending a Helping Hand - Give a veteran a ride. Many veterans with disabilities incurred during their time in service can't drive and are in need of help getting from place to place. Ask them if they need a ride to the supermarket or to an appointment, for example.
- If you can offer a ride, but don't know a veteran, contact The Department of Veterans Affairs (DAV) Transportation Network and they will pair you with someone.[7]
- Foster or train a companion or service animal. Many veterans are in need of companion or service animals to cope with physical and mental disabilities. You can help foster or train service animals that will help reduce veterans' physical and mental stress.[8]
- Reach out to organizations like Pets for Vets to find out how you can help pair veterans with therapy animals.[9]
- Contact a group like Patriot PAWS to volunteer raising service dogs for disabled veterans.[10]
- You can also support military working dogs by purchasing pet food and treats from companies that donate money to assist the dogs after they retire.[11]
- Deliver meals or groceries to a veteran. Some veterans have trouble performing everyday activities like shopping for groceries or making meals. They may be unable to drive or navigate a store.[12] Help them out by volunteering to deliver food.
- If you can't schedule time to deliver food to veterans, you can point them to grocery or meal delivery services such as Meals on Wheels or the various transportation services provided by the Disabled Veterans National Foundation.[13]
[Edit]Volunteering Your Time and Skills - Join or start a community support organization for veterans. Government financial support can only go so far, so many veterans rely on help from community-based centers.[14] Check if there's one in your area; if not, consider starting one.
- Try raising funds through already established community organizations you are a part of, like your church, school, or civic/business group.
- Try expanding your reach by advertising your cause to local media outlets.
- Ask local businesses if they will donate to your cause or match contributions.[15]
- Volunteer at a hospital. Spend a few hours visiting wounded and recovering veterans. VA hospitals often welcome volunteers to help out with recreational activities, or just to provide companionship.[16]
- Volunteer to help build homes. Organizations like Building Homes for Heroes help build or modify homes for wounded veterans. The houses are given to veterans and their families at no cost.[17]
- You don't need to know how to build a house. They'll also need help with painting, carpentry, plumbing, wiring, and other services that complete a house.
- Organize or volunteer for a Stand Down event. Stand Down events are organized by volunteers who spend 2-3 days providing homeless veterans access to healthcare, hygiene services, food, and clothing, as well as housing, employment, and counseling referrals.[18]
- You can apply for grant funds with which to organize a Stand Down event in your city through the U.S. Department of Labor.
- The U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs provides a list of upcoming Stand Down events in areas across the U.S.[19]
[Edit]Donating to Local and National Causes - Support emergency shelters in your area. You can donate money, but shelters are also always in need of clothing, personal hygiene products, or non-perishable food items. Look for things that you no longer have a use for or have too many of and consider donating them to veterans in need.[20]
- Donate your old electronics. Some organizations, like Cell Phones for Soldiers or Veterans Advantage Recycle and Reward program, will refurbish your old, unused electronics to raise funds for veterans or provide them with better access to updated technology.[21]
- Give to a non-profit charitable organization. Charitable organizations can't support services for veterans in need without monetary donations. There are many organizations who will gladly accept your contribution. Here are some of the most well-known ones:
- Disabled American Veterans: This organization provides guides disabled veterans toward resources such as disability assistance, pensions, and job programs.
- Wounded Warrior Project: They provide wounded veterans with rehabilitation and career counseling.[22]
- U.S. Vets: This organization provides veterans with the mental and practical tools they need to reintegrate into society following their service.[23]
- Contact the Local Veteran Assistance Programs if you don't know where to start or how to find a veteran. They will put you in touch with who needs help.
- Many organizations that accept monetary donations are also in need of volunteers. Don't feel powerless if you don't have a big budget. Contact them and find out how you can help.
- If you see a veteran in immediate need and don't know how to help, contact the U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) and ask how they--or you--can help.
[Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Clean Your Room Posted: 10 Nov 2019 04:00 PM PST Cleaning your room can feel like an overwhelming task, but it is likely a quicker and easier process than you imagine! Play music, write a list, give yourself rewards, and make it into a game to keep yourself motivated. Tackle the big tasks first and then move onto deep-cleaning your room by dusting, wiping and vacuuming all of the surfaces. Before you know it, your room will be sparkling clean. [Edit]Keeping Motivated - Play upbeat music to keep your spirits high. Before you start, put on an album or playlist that makes you feel energetic. Music with a faster beat will help to get you motivated for your cleaning project. Stay away from more slow, dreary music, as this can make you feel tired and bored.[1]
- Create a reward for yourself to give you an incentive to get the job done. This extra motivation can help you to get the job done faster. Decide what you will do to treat yourself once you have finished cleaning. Maybe you will go hang out with your friends, watch a movie with your family, eat a big bowl of ice cream, or read your favorite book.[2]
- Make sure not to rush your cleaning in order to get your reward!
- Make cleaning your room into a game if you need extra motivation. If you're having trouble motivating yourself to clean your room, make the process interesting by playing a game. See how many things you can put away during 10 minutes and then try to beat your high score. Alternatively, pretend that you are a robot while you are cleaning and only make robot movements and noises. Another option is to set a timer and see how fast you can clean your room.[3]
- Be creative and create your own games!
- Create a checklist of all the different tasks to keep your cleaning on track. Checklists are a great way to give yourself a sense of achievement and progress when you are cleaning up a big mess. Decide what you want to organize and clean, and then prioritize them from the highest priority to the lowest priority. Try to be as detailed as you can so that nothing gets forgotten.[4]
- Tick off each task once you have done it so that you can easily keep track of what you still need to do.
- Schedule the tasks throughout the week to make it more manageable. This is a great option if there is a lot to clean. Write down when you will complete each task so that you can stay on track with your cleaning schedule. Try to be as disciplined as possible and stick to the schedule.[5]
[Edit]Tackling the Major Tasks - Move everything off your bed and make it. Making your bed helps to make your room look much cleaner and will give you a feeling of achievement to kickstart your cleaning. Move anything from on your bed into a pile in one section of your room. Pull up your sheets and blankets, tuck them in, straighten your comforter, and place your pillows at the top of your bed.[6]
- If you haven't changed your sheets recently, place them in the washing basket and put new ones on your bed. This will help your bed to feel and smell extra fresh.
- Organize all of the clothes that are on your floor. Pick up each piece of clothing and decide whether it is dirty or not. If in doubt, treat it as if it is dirty! If the item is clean, fold it and place it in your dresser or hang it up in your wardrobe. If the item is dirty, place it in the washing basket.[7]
- Take any dirty dishes to the kitchen. This helps to prevent bad smells from forming and helps to stop ants and other pests from gathering in your room. Take all the cups, plates, cutlery, and mugs back to the kitchen. Also, throw away any takeout packages that are still in your room.[8]
- Check under your bed, on your dresser and desk, and in your bedside drawers for dirty dishes and takeout packages.
- Throw any rubbish into a garbage bag. This is a great way to clear space in your room and get rid of clutter. Sort through all the objects on the surfaces in your room and on your floor and decide if anything needs to be thrown away. Look out for food wrappers, apple cores, random bits of paper, and broken items.[9]
- Donate any quality items that you don't want anymore to a second-hand charity store.
- Put unwanted paper and cardboard into a separate bag for recycling.
[Edit]Organizing the Items in Your Room - Place objects back in their rightful places if they already have a home. Put everything that's on the floor away first. That way, you'll be able to move around your room without tripping over anything. Start with the bigger things, like books and pillows, then move onto smaller things, like pencils and other stationery. Find a home for all the items on your dresser, desk, floor, and bedside tables.[10]
- Try not to get distracted by the items you are putting away, as this can make your cleaning process take a lot longer.
- Store similar items that don't have a home in boxes. This is a simple way to organize your room and make it easier to find things. Place all your stationary in 1 box, your photos in another box, your beauty products in another box, craft supplies in another box, and so on. Make sure to label the boxes and store them in an accessible place so that they are easy to find and access.[11]
- Place the boxes on your shelves, under your bed, in your wardrobe, or on your desk.
- Display a few items that are special to you. This is a great way to personalize your room. If you find a pretty ornament or cool toy while you are cleaning, consider placing it on your desk, dresser, or bedside table as a feature. Try to only place a few items on each surface so that the space doesn't look cluttered.[12]
- Using your space as a display area will help you keep the room tidier, since objects that don't belong will look out of place and you'll be encouraged to put them away. Additionally, when surfaces have less clutter on them, they're easier to clean and dust.
- Give away any books, clothes, or toys that you don't want anymore. This is a great way to declutter your room and will give you more space for the items that you treasure. Look at each object and consider whether you have used it in the last year. If you haven't used it recently and it doesn't have sentimental value, think about giving it away to a second-hand charity shop.[13]
- Make sure to check with your parents first.
[Edit]Cleaning the Surfaces - Dust all of the surfaces in your room. Use a duster to remove all the dust from your desk, dresser, bookshelf, slatted blinds, fans, light fixtures, lamps, and any other surfaces you may have in your room. Always start high and work your way down, so that you don't knock dust and dirt onto surfaces you've already cleaned. Dust before you vacuum or sweep, because often dust will become displaced and then settle back on your floor.[14]
- If you don't have a duster, use a microfiber cloth to remove the dust.
- Make sure to dust objects on your desk, dresser, etc. Picture-frames, travel souvenirs, and trophies will look much nicer when they are dust-free.
- Ensure that your fan and lights are turned off before you dust them.
- Wipe the surfaces to remove marks, dust, and stickiness. Stickiness can attract ants and can damage your furniture. Spray a little surface cleaner onto the surfaces and wipe them with a cloth. Microfiber cloths are a great option, as they easily remove a variety of different marks. Wipe your desk, dresser, bedside table, window sills, baseboards, trims, and any other surfaces in your room at least once a week.[15]
- Disinfectant wipes also work well, as they help to kill any bacteria that may have grown on your room's surfaces.
- Vacuum the floor, especially under your bed and desk. These areas are often missed during quick cleans, so make sure to vacuum them thoroughly. If necessary, move furniture so that you can vacuum under it more easily. Push your vacuum back and forth over the entire floor until the carpet looks sparkling clean.[16]
- If the vacuum isn't sucking well, check if the vacuum bag or canister is full and change it if necessary.
- Vacuum your floor at least once a week. If you wear shoes inside, consider vacuuming more often.
- Sweep and mop the floors if applicable. Use the broom to push all the dirt and dust into 1 pile and then use a dustpan and brush to scoop it up. After this, dip your mop into a bucket of soapy water and wipe it over the floors to remove any marks and dust. Rinse the mop every few minutes to ensure that it doesn't spread dirt around the floors.[17]
- This will leave your floors feeling and looking nice and clean.
- Sweep and mop your floors at least once a week.
- Use glass cleaner to wipe the mirrors and windows. Liberally spray the glass cleaner over all your mirrors and windows and then use a cloth to wipe them clean. Continue to rub until there are no marks or streaks left on the glass. This will leave your windows and mirrors looking sparkly clean.[18]
- Clean your windows and mirrors each time that they get marked to make the job as quick and easy as possible.
- Microfiber cloths work well for cleaning glass.
- Don't forget to clean the window tracks as well. Vacuum up loose debris in the tracks with a crevice attachment or a handheld vacuum cleaner. You can use an old toothbrush and some all-purpose cleaning solution to scrub away caked-on dirt and dust.
- Wipe the light switches and door handles with a disinfectant spray. These points are some of the most touched spots in your room. This means that over time they collect a lot of bacteria. Spray the switches and handles with a household disinfectant spray and then use a cloth or paper towel to wipe it off.[19]
- Disinfect your handles and switches once a week to keep them fresh and clean.
- Wipe off any outlet covers, too. Since they're not as frequently touched, they don't build up grime as fast as light switches, but keeping them clean and bright can help the overall look of the room.
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
| How to Make Vanilla Cupcakes Posted: 10 Nov 2019 08:00 AM PST Vanilla cupcakes might seem like a simple treat, but homemade vanilla cupcakes are actually a versatile dessert. Mix up an easy vanilla cake batter and divide it between a muffin tin. Bake the perfect cupcakes and cool them completely before you frost them with your favorite buttercream, icing, or mousse. Decide if you'd like to decorate your moist cupcakes with sprinkles, candy, or berries. Your vanilla cupcakes will be a welcome addition to any holiday or event table. [Edit]Ingredients [Edit]Vanilla Cupcakes - 1/2 cup (113 g) of butter, at room temperature
- 2/3 cup (130 g) of granulated white sugar
- 3 large eggs, at room temperature
- of vanilla extract
- Zest of 1 large lemon
- 1 1/2 cups (195 g) of all-purpose flour
- 1 1/2 teaspoons (6 g) of baking powder
- 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) of salt
- of milk, divided
[Edit]Vanilla Buttercream - 1 cup (227 g) of butter, at room temperature
- 2½ cups (283 g) of powdered sugar
- of vanilla extract
Makes 1 dozen cupcakes [Edit]Mixing the Batter - Preheat the oven to and line a muffin tin. Get out a 12-hole muffin tin and put paper liners in each of the spaces. The liners will make it easy to remove and serve the cupcakes. Set the tin aside while you make the batter.[1]
- If you don't have paper liners, spray the inside of the muffin tin with a nonstick cooking spray.
- Whisk the flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon zest. Put 1 1/2 cups (195 g) of all-purpose flour into a bowl and add 1 1/2 teaspoons (6 g) of baking powder, 1/4 teaspoon (1.5 g) of salt, and the zest of 1 large lemon. Whisk the dry ingredients until they're combined. Set the bowl aside.[2]
- Avoid using self-rising flour since this recipe already includes baking powder and salt.
- The lemon zest won't make the cupcakes taste like citrus. Instead, the zest will intensify the vanilla flavor of the cupcakes.
- Beat the butter for 1 minute at medium speed. Put 1/2 cup (113 g) of butter that's at room temperature into the bowl of a stand mixer. Turn the mixer on to medium speed and beat the butter until it's creamy and smooth.[3]
- If you don't have a stand mixer, use a regular mixing bowl and beat the butter with a hand mixer or wooden spoon.
- Cream the butter with the sugar for 2 minutes on medium speed. Add 2/3 cup (130 g) of granulated white sugar and continue to beat the butter. The butter and sugar mixture should become pale, light, and fluffy once you've creamed it long enough.[4]
- Stop the mixer occasionally so you can scrape down the sides of the bowl.
- Beat in 3 eggs one at a time. Keep the mixer running on medium and add 1 room temperature egg. Beat the mixture for about 30 seconds after adding the egg so it's incorporated. Add the remaining 2 eggs, beating the mixture well after each one.[5]
- You may need to stop and scrape the sides of the bowl.
- Mix in the vanilla extract. Pour of vanilla extract into the batter and beat it in for about 30 seconds. The vanilla will flavor the cupcakes, so it's important to use pure vanilla extract.[6]
- The batter will look very thin or runny because of the eggs and vanilla. Don't worry if it looks curdled because the batter will come together once you add the dry ingredients.
- Beat in 1/3 of the dry mix and then of the milk. Turn the mixer to low speed and slowly beat in 1/3 of the dry mixture. Once it's absorbed, pour in the milk.[7]
- Scrape the sides of the bowl down occasionally so the batter is uniform. It should be completely smooth with no lumps of flour visible.
- Beat in the remaining dry mix and milk. Mix in another 1/3 of the dry mixture and then beat in the remaining of milk. Finish making the batter by mixing in the last 1/3 of the dry ingredients.[8]
- Avoid beating the batter for too long or the cupcakes will become tough. Stop beating as soon as the flour and milk are combined.
[Edit]Baking the Cupcakes - Divide the batter between the paper-lined muffin cavities. Set your lined muffin tin on your work surface and use a cookie scoop to fill each cavity about half full with batter. Ensure that each cavity has roughly the same amount of batter so the cupcakes bake evenly.[9]
- If you don't have a cookie scoop, use 1 or 2 spoons to scoop the batter into the tin.
- To make mini-cupcakes, spray a mini-cupcake tin and divide the batter between 24 mini-cavities.
- Bake the vanilla cupcakes for 17 to 20 minutes. Put the muffin tin into the preheated oven and bake the cupcakes until they spring back when you gently touch them in the center.[10]
- You can also test to see if the cupcakes are done by inserting a toothpick into the center of a cupcake. If the toothpick comes out clean, the cupcakes are done.
- Cool the cupcakes on a wire rack. Remove the baked vanilla cupcakes from the oven and turn them out onto a wire rack. Leave them to cool completely before you frost them.[11]
- Avoid frosting the cupcakes while they're still warm or the frosting will slide off of the cupcakes.
[Edit]Making the Buttercream - Whip the butter on medium-high speed for 5 minutes. Put 1 cup (227 g) of room temperature butter into the bowl of a stand mixer. Turn the mixer to medium-high and beat the butter until it becomes light and fluffy.[12]
- Stop the mixer and scrape the sides of the bowl once or twice.
- If you don't have a stand mixer, use a mixing bowl and beat the butter with a hand mixer or wooden spoon.
- Beat in the powdered sugar on low speed. Turn the mixer speed down to low and slowly add 2½ cups (283 g) of powdered sugar to the creamed butter. It will take up to 1 minute for the powdered sugar to combine with the butter.[13]
- If you add the powdered sugar while the mixer is still on medium-high speed, it will fly out of the sides of the bowl.
- Mix in the vanilla extract and beat the frosting for 2 minutes. Turn the mixer speed up to medium-high and pour in of vanilla extract. Beat the vanilla buttercream until it's pale and fluffy.[14]
- Stop and scrape down the bowl as needed.
- Frost the cooled cupcakes. Once the cupcakes have cooled completely, use an offset spatula to spread some of the vanilla buttercream over each of them. Then top the cupcakes with garnishes if you like and serve them.[15]
- For a decorative look, pipe the frosting onto the cupcakes.
- Garnishes include sprinkles, edible flowers, cocoa powder, small candies, and fresh berries.
- To store the cupcakes, keep them in an airtight container at room temperature for up to 4 days or in the refrigerator for up to 3 days.
- For a filled cupcake, hollow out the centers of the cupcakes and spoon caramel, filling, or frosting. Then cover the cupcakes with your frosting.
- Use any flavor of frosting or buttercream you want. For example, cover the cupcakes with a chocolate ganache or strawberry whipped cream.
[Edit]Things You'll Need - Measuring cups and spoons
- Muffin tin
- Paper liners
- Bowl
- Whisk
- Rubber spatula
- Stand or hand mixer with beater attachment
[Edit]Related wikiHows [Edit]References [Edit]Quick Summary |
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