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Pack the Pantry with The Omaha Advocates

Posted on April 11, 2024 - 10:06 am by

At The Advocates, one of our goals is to continually give back to the areas where we live and work. We make it a priority to partner with local organizations to help, recognize, and celebrate the individuals who make our communities great.

Because of this, we’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with KFAB/iHeartMedia and Raising Cane’s to host our second annual Pack the Pantry food donation event in Omaha. All donations will benefit Open Door Mission.

What Is Open Door Mission?

Open Door Mission serves as a shelter, food bank, and ministry to the Omaha community. Their mission is to break the cycle of homelessness and poverty.

The organization was started in 1954 and has been helping individuals experiencing homelessness and addiction ever since. For many years, Open Door Mission catered specifically to men. They opened the Lydia House—a center for women and families—in 1999, and a Veterans Housing program in 2009.

Today, the Open Door Mission’s campus offers more than 900 beds for people who need shelter. Each day, they serve nearly 5,000 meals, and provide those in need with diapers, hygiene kits, and medicine. They also offer preventive measures to help keep people in their homes.

In order to keep making such a positive impact, Open Door Mission is always in need of donations. By donating some of their most-needed items, you can help contribute to the critical work this organization provides. 

Pack the Pantry Donation Event

You can donate to Open Door Mission at any time. For your convenience and maximum impact on the organization, The Omaha Advocates have helped put together a food donation event. All donations will be delivered directly to Open Door Mission.

Advocate attorney Mandy Gruhlkey will be present at the event, so take this opportunity to drop off your donation and meet one of your local Advocates at the same time!

When

Friday, May 3rd, 2024

9:00 am-1:00 pm

Where

Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers

7060 Dodge St. 

Omaha, NE 68132

What items are needed?

We will accept all non-perishable food items. The items that the organization needs most include:

  • Canned soup and stew
  • Canned vegetables
  • Fruit cups and applesauce cups
  • Proteins like tuna, canned chicken, and peanut butter
  • Mac & cheese, pasta, and pasta sauce
  • Oatmeal packets, individual cereal boxes, and pancake mix
  • Maple syrup
  • Shelf-stable milk
  • Lunchbox snacks like fruit snacks, granola bars, juice boxes, and pudding cups
  • Graham crackers

What if I can’t make it to the event, but still want to donate?

If you prefer to contribute financially, you can donate via Venmo @AdvocatesDonations or scan the QR code below. Please mention that you are contributing to the Pack the Pantry food drive in the donation description. All contributions will go directly to Open Door.

Open Door Mission has three outreach centers with donation drop-off locations. The Omaha drop-off location is at 2107 E. Locust St. Omaha, NE 68110. In addition to food, they are in need of diapers, clothing, and toiletry items. Please note that the Omaha drop-off location is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

 

The Advocates Good Samaritan December 2023: Benjamin Brown

Posted on January 10, 2024 - 3:14 pm by

Each month, The Advocates team up with NonStop Local News to honor one individual or group that make Montana a great place to live. Our final honoree of the year is Benjamin Brown.

Benjamin, now a young teen, has been participating in the PeeWee Savers program at Montana Credit Union since he was eight or nine years old. As part of the program, children under 13 can bring in their money to deposit and, in return, they receive points. Once a child has accumulated enough points, they can exchange them for a prize. These prizes are typically toys, like dolls or cars.

Benjamin says he’s not much of a toy person, so when he started earning large numbers of points, he decided to donate his prizes to children in need.

He began donating his toys to organizations in the area, like Daisy’s Rainbow Cart, the Great Falls Rescue Mission, The Cameron Center, and Family Promise. These groups then distribute the toys throughout the community.

“To see such a young member of our community take that initiative to give, to realize the opportunity, and it shows an example that we can all give in our own individual ways,” says John Hageman, president and CEO of Montana Credit Union.

For Benjamin’s part, he says it just makes him feel good “to know that [the kids receiving his toys] are having a better day than they were.”

The Advocates are proud to recognize hard-working, generous, and caring Montanans like Benjamin.

If you know a person or organization that deserves to be recognized for their contributions to their community, nominate them to be our Good Samaritan here. Each month, the team at NonStop Local reviews the entries and picks one nominee to be honored. The winners are recognized with a news story on the last Monday of each month.

The Advocates Good Samaritan October 2023: Great Falls Ghostbusters

Posted on November 17, 2023 - 11:54 am by
Helping hands at a soup kitchen for Thanksgiving.

Every month, The Montana Advocates team up with NonStop Local News to recognize an individual or organization in the area who is committed to bettering their community. This month, we are excited to honor the Great Falls Ghostbusters.

Who Are the Great Falls Ghostbusters?

You’re most likely to see the Ghostbusters around Halloween and Christmastime, when they appear at trunk-or-treats and Toys for Tots drives in the community. They do their best to help contribute to good causes throughout the year, however.

The Ghostbusters are Great Falls citizens who don the iconic jumpsuits from the Ghostbusters movie and help make the community’s day a little brighter.

“We’re just a bunch of super fans who
 help out however we can around the community,” said James Bamfield, lead founder of the group.

When they make appearances at trunk-or-treat events, they bring along a teal pumpkin, indicating that all children, including those who can’t have candy due to allergies or other reasons, will find a treat at the Ghostbusters van.

“It really meant a lot to me that we could also include that, because I know
 how hard it is to have that extra hurdle. So, it means a lot that we have the allergen friendly candy and then the nonfood options as well. So all the kids have a chance to just enjoy and celebrate and be kids,” said Jade Pray, a founding member of the group. 

They also help collect donations for the Toys for Tots campaign each year. Toys for Tots of Northcentral Montana aims to make sure that no child in Great Falls or the surrounding counties goes without Christmas.

“We love Ghostbusters and we love our community,” said Chris Filipowicz, another founder of the group. “It’s important to contribute. And if everybody does that, it makes the world a better place.”

Nominate a Good Samaritan

If you know a person or group who makes the Great Falls community a wonderful place to live, work, and play, nominate them as a Good Samaritan. Each month, we review the nominees and select one to be honored. The winner will be honored with a news story on the last Monday of the month.

The Advocates are grateful for the Great Falls Ghostbusters for their work in improving the lives of the people around them.

Feed the Troops this Thanksgiving with The Wyoming Advocates

Posted on November 10, 2023 - 3:00 pm by

During the holiday season, many of us are looking for opportunities to get in the spirit of giving and help those around us. The Advocates are proud to be sponsors of the Operation Feast of Gratitude food drive here in Cheyenne.

Put on by the Rise Foundation of Wyoming, the food drive’s goal is to provide Thanksgiving meal baskets to local military members and their families. The foundation is asking for help from the community to gather all the food items needed to meet their goal of feeding 250 families.

How Can I Contribute?

There are several ways you can contribute to the Thanksgiving dinner baskets:

Attend the food drive event:

On November 16th from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm, donations will be accepted in the Appaloosa Broadcasting parking lot. During the all-day event, the Graffiti Cuisine food truck will serve breakfast, lunch, and dinner until they run out. Anyone who donates food or money will get 10% off their order from the food truck.

A wish list of food items can be found below.

Donate non-perishable items at drop-off boxes:

If you can’t make it to the event, but would like to donated boxed or canned non-perishable food items, you can do so at The Advocates’ Cheyenne office through November 16th. The office address is 2614 Pioneer Ave, Cheyenne, WY 82001.

Make a monetary donation:

If you prefer to donate financially, the Rise Foundation will do the shopping for you. Donations of all sizes are appreciated. A donation of $75 sponsors one family.

Make an online donation here.

Food Drive Event Details

Date and time: November 16, 2023, from 7:00 am to 5:00 pm.

Location: Appaloosa Broadcasting parking lot 

1019 E. Lincolnway,

Cheyenne, WY 82001

See the image at right for the food item wish list.

Advocate Sam Hucke will be present at the event to help gather donations. Come say hello and help feed a military family!

Can the Cats Food Drive 2023

Posted on October 27, 2023 - 9:09 am by

This winter season, The Advocates are sponsoring the Can the Cats Food Drive in Missoula. We’d love to have the community at large participate in this friendly competition while helping collect food items for the local food bank. 

What Is Can the Cats?

This food drive is a friendly, off-field competition between the University of Montana Grizzlies and the Montana State University Bobcats, along with the communities of Missoula and Bozeman as a whole. The two cities work to collect food and funds for their local food banks. At the end of the drive, all the donations are weighed/counted. The city that donates the most wins!

Last year, the Grizzlies collected more than 428,000 pounds of food, but were beat out by the Bobcats, who gathered more than 600,000 pounds. Missoula hasn’t “canned” the Cats in three years—let’s make it happen in 2023. Our goal is 500,000 pounds or dollars donated.

Donations in Missoula will benefit the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center and the University of Montana Food Pantry.

How Can I Help?

There are several ways to contribute to the Can the Cats Food Drive. The first is to donate non-perishable food items, like canned and boxed pantry items. The most needed items are canned beans, peanut butter, bulk rice, oats, and flour.

You may also donate turkeys, potatoes, onions, and carrots to be used for holiday meals. These food items also count toward the total weight of donations.

If you are unable to contribute food items, you may make a financial donation to the food bank. Each dollar will be counted as one pound of food.

Donation details can be found below.

Food Drive Fast Facts

  • One in five people in Missoula County rely on emergency food services.
  • Can the Cats helps provide more than 2,500 holiday meals to local families and individuals.
  • This annual drive creates food diversity that the food pantries don’t often receive during other times of the year.
  • In 2022, the Missoula Food Bank and Community Center served more than 24,000 people—almost as many as fit in Washington-Grizzly Stadium.
  • If every person in Missoula donated $6, we would reach our goal in one day.
  • If every person in Washington-Grizzly Stadium donated $20, we would reach our goal in one football game.

Event Details

Dates: November 4-18. The Grizzly-Bobcat football game on November 18th is the last chance to donate.

Drop-off locations: The Advocates’ Missoula law office

910 Brooks St. Suite 103

Missoula, MT 59801

Other drop off locations throughout Missoula can be found here.

Financial donations: Donate to Can the Cats directly using this QR code:

 

The Advocates Good Samaritan September 2023: Students of C.M. Russell High School

Posted on October 20, 2023 - 10:15 am by

Each month, The Advocates Injury Attorneys team up with NonStop Local News to recognize an individual or group who go out of their way to better their community. This month, our honoree is the Peer Mentor Support Group at C.M. Russell High School in Great Falls.

Last year, this group of students began putting “basic needs hangers” in the girls bathrooms at their school. These hangers are stocked with tampons, pads, and travel-size shampoo and conditioner bottles. They also have resources and coupons for purchasing these items on their own.

“A lot of students at our school
 might not be able to afford [these products]. So we kind of wanted to make it easier on them,” said Rhea Pace, one student in the Peer Mentor Support Group.


Since implementing the basic needs hangers last year, they have received donations from outside the school. Some of these donations go toward stocking the hangers, while others are given out for students to take home with them.

Barb Bottomly, a therapist with Great Falls Public School District, said, “these guys are leaders and they really rock. And it’s so rewarding to the school community and should be to the community in general that these kids are leaders and can reach out and recognize needs in the community.”

The students in the Peer Mentor Support Group say it feels good to help the students at their school, even if they might not know the individuals who utilize the hangers.

“We’re always here for you guys and, like, no matter what, it’s okay to not feel okay,” said Pace.

Currently, the program’s most pressing need is tampons. If you’d like to make a donation to the hangers, you may drop off supplies at the front office of CMR.

The Advocates are proud to recognize the CMR students for their compassion, creativity, and drive to make a difference at their school. They are the Good Samaritans that make our community great.

The Advocates Good Samaritan August 2023: Brad Livingston

Posted on October 20, 2023 - 10:07 am by

Each month, The Advocates Injury Attorneys partner with NonStop Local News to recognize an individual or organization that makes Montana a wonderful place to live and work. For August 2023, we are honored to celebrate Brad Livingston, a resident of Great Falls.

Brad spent 41 years working in the military. After he retired, he felt the call to continue serving his community. He is currently involved with several local organizations, including United Way of Cascade County, the Montana Employer Support of the Guard and Reserve (ESGR), the Great Falls Fire Rescue Foundation, and Military Kids with the Great Falls Public School District.

With United Way of Cascade County, Livingston takes part in “Stuff the Bus,” an event that collects school supplies for kids in need. He says he remembers needing government support as a child because his family couldn’t afford health insurance or school lunch.

“I’ve been blessed. And so now I think it’s my turn to return back to the next generation who are facing the same situations I did,” he says.

As State Chair of the ESGR, Brad has the chance to help show appreciation to employers that hire Guardsmen. The ESGR “strives to develop and promote a culture in which Montana employers support and value the military service of their employees.”

“I want this to thrive. I want Great Falls to be what I call the center of the universe. And by helping out in a small way, I’m trying to do my part in that,” Brad says.

“The cool thing about Brad is he’s a hero helping heroes, whether [they’re] teachers, kids at schools, military, firemen; he’s all over the place helping those who have needs,” said Montana Advocate Doug Day.

At the The Advocates, we are very grateful that we are surrounded by Good Samaritans like Brad Livingston. If you know a person or organization who deserves to be recognized, fill out the form on NonStop Local’s website. Each month, we will select a deserving nominee and honor them with a news story.

The Advocates Injury Attorneys Good Samaritan June 2023: Chance Carl

Posted on September 6, 2023 - 12:01 pm by

Each month, The Advocates partner with NonStopLocal News to recognize an individual or organization who makes a difference in their community. In June 2023, our Good Samaritan is Chance Carl.

Chance Carl is a flight engineer in the United States Air Force. He also coaches both basketball and track and field for Special Olympics Montana.

Chance grew up playing sports and is happy to spend his time coaching athletes with disabilities in his community. He says “it’s a lot about having fun and being part of a team,” but that he also enjoys fostering a love of the game within his athletes. 

It’s not just the love of sports that draws him to coaching for the Special Olympics, however. “It’s also about letting loose and being part of a group that just wants to see each other once a week and have a laugh and a good time,” Chance says.

Chance encourages anyone else who may be interested in coaching to get involved. He says that there are many people interested in playing sports, but who don’t have someone to lead them. “You can definitely make a change in people’s lives,” Chance says.

Those interested in becoming coaches with Special Olympics Montana can fill out an interest form on the organization’s website. There, you can also find certification requirements, education courses, and other relevant information.

The Advocates are honored to recognize Chance Carl and thank him for serving both his country and his community. People like Chance make our world a better place.

How Can I Nominate a Good Samaritan?

If you know an individual or organization making a positive impact in their Montana community, let us know using NonStopLocal’s nomination form. If your nominee is selected, they’ll be recognized with a story on the NonStopLocal news at 5:00 pm on the last Monday of the month.

 

The Advocates Good Samaritan July 2023: Serve Day

Posted on September 6, 2023 - 10:14 am by

The Advocates are committed to recognizing the people and organizations that make our Montana communities great. Each month, we partner with NonStop Local News to celebrate an individual or group who makes a difference in the lives of the people around them. 

For July, that group consists of more than 700 people. They are the members of several churches around Great Falls that all participate in Serve Day.

What Is Serve Day?

Serve Day is an annual event when churches around the world close their doors and go out to serve their communities. On Serve Day Sunday, church members don their work clothes, call organizations around the city to see how they can help, and then they go out and serve.

This July, four different congregations participated in Serve Day. Members of New City Church, Antioch Church, Harvest Springs Community Church, and Victory Church participated in a number of service projects, including raising headstones at Highlands Cemetery.

They also make an effort to serve local aid organizations, like the Rescue Mission and Alliance for Youth. By performing work for these organizations free of charge, Serve Day participants allow these groups to put more of their budgets toward their missions.

If you are interested in getting your congregation involved in Serve Day, speak with your church leader. They can fill out a registration form online. They will then get access to the Serve Day platform, with the resources needed to participate in next year’s event.

The Advocates would like to extend our thanks to the 730 Great Falls church members who participated in Serve Day—you help make Montana a wonderful place to live and work. Thank you for being Good Samaritans in your community!

How Can I Nominate a Good Samaritan?

If you know a person or organization who makes their community a better place by helping others, we want to hear about them! Nominate a Good Samaritan on NonStop Local’s website. If they are chosen, they will be honored with a news story at 5:00 pm on the last Monday of the month.

 

The Road Home Apple Tree Campaign

Posted on June 28, 2023 - 11:47 am by
Father fastens bicycle helmet on his son

It’s that time of year again–The Advocates are thrilled to partner with The Road Home resource centers to bring back The Apple Tree Campaign for its third annual donation drive. We are honored to do our part to help children in need in Salt Lake City and its surrounding areas.

What is The Road Home?

The Road Home is a nonprofit social services agency that helps individuals and families experiencing homelessness in Salt Lake City and along the Wasatch Front. Their mission is to “help people step out of homelessness and back into our community.” 

The Road Home operates three separate shelters in the Salt Lake Valley– the Men’s Resource Center, the Gail Miller Resource Center, and the Midvale Family Resource Center. These shelters provide services such as beds, showers, meals, laundry, and donated clothing. They also help provide individuals with connections to services in the community, such as job training, substance use treatment, mental health treatment, childcare services, and more. 

In the last year alone, The Road Home assisted thousands of Utahns with housing and employment. They partner with The U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs to provide assistance to local veterans experiencing homelessness. They also operate several apartment buildings to help those experiencing long-term or chronic homelessness.

What is the Apple Tree Campaign?

The Apple Tree Campaign is an annual donation drive to help children experiencing homelessness receive the items they need to return to school this fall. The goal of the campaign is to help the children staying at The Road Home return to school with confidence. Each year, the Apple Tree Campaign provides hundreds of school-aged children with the school supplies, clothing, and hygiene items they need to start the year.

Cardboard trees have been set up at The Advocates offices in three Utah cities. Each tree has 100 apples that each list the age, size, and clothing/supply needs of one child in the community. Anyone can drop by and pick an apple, purchase the listed supplies, and drop them off at our office. All donations will go directly to that child via The Road Home.

The campaign aims to provide each child with the following clothing items:

  • 1 backpack (durable and good quality)
  • 2 pairs of pants (jeans or joggers; no shorts please)
  • 2 shirts
  • 1 hoodie
  • Multi-pack of socks
  • Multi-pack of underwear
  • 1 pair of sturdy shoes 

Additionally, children in grades 6 and up will be provided with a hygiene kit. The kits, put together in gallon-size resealable plastic bags, include the following:

  • Cloth masks
  • Toothbrush
  • Toothpaste (travel or small size)
  • Dental floss
  • Deodorant
  • Comb, brush or foldable brush with mirror on back
  • Unbreakable mirror
  • Lip balm
  • Individual packs of Kleenex
  • Small lotions
  • Breath mints
  • Hair scrunchies or elastic bands

The 2023 Apple Tree Campaign begins on July 3rd and runs through July 31st.

Campaign Details

Where

Trees have been set up at three of our Utah offices.

Ogden: 533 26th St, Ogden, UT 84401

Murray: 737 E Winchester St, Salt Lake City, UT 84107

American Fork: 388 W Main St, American Fork, UT 84003

When

July 3-31, 2023

How to help

Drop by an office and pick an apple off the tree in the lobby. Purchase the supplies listed on the apple and return the items to The Advocates office. We’ll get your donations to The Road Home.

If you are unable to pick an apple from the tree, you may make a monetary donation at The Road Home’s website. Volunteers with The Road Home will do the shopping for you based on the children’s back-to-school needs. 100% of donations go to the kids at The Road Home. You may also make purchases from the campaign’s Amazon wishlist.

2nd Annual AMFAM Monte Cristo Poker Run Motorcycle Ride

Posted on June 22, 2023 - 8:18 am by
Motorcycle on the side of a country road in Montana

If you’re a biker in the Mountain West, pull out your calendars–we have an event you won’t want to miss. The Advocates are thrilled to partner with American Family Insurance and Young Automotive Group to put on the 2nd annual Monte Cristo AmFam Charity Motorcycle Poker Ride.

What Is the Poker Run?Motorcycle on the side of a country road in Montana

On August 26, 2023, participants will meet at Young Powersports in Pleasant View. The ride will begin with a staggered start at 8:00 am. It will follow the breathtaking Monte Cristo loop, ending back at Young Powersports.

Along the way, participants will enjoy scenic stops. At each stop, they will receive a playing card. The rider with the best poker hand at the end of the event will win the grand prize: a brand new Kawasaki FX50.

Afterward, participants and their families are invited to enjoy a “block party” style celebration at Young Powersports. At the event will be food trucks, vendors, and a freestyle motocross stunt demonstration by The Outlaw.

The best part? All registration funds benefit the Young Automotive Group’s Caring for Our Young Foundation.

What Is the Caring for Our Young Foundation?

Caring for Our Young is a non-profit organization founded in 2007 by Spencer and Sherry Young. They donate to education funds and other non-profits that directly benefit youth in Utah and Idaho.

In the organization’s 16 years of operation, they have donated food, clothing, school supplies, and millions of dollars to the children in their communities.

Event Details

When: August 26th, 2023. Staggered start at 8:00 am. Freestyle motocross show at 3:00 pm.

Where: Route starts and ends at Young Powersports in Pleasant View. 

2529 N. Highway 89

Ogden, Utah 84404

How to register: Click here to pay the $30 registration fee. All proceeds go directly to the Young Caring for Our Young foundation.

After paying the fee, enter your registration information into the form below.

The Montana Advocates Good Samaritan: Great Falls VIPS

Posted on May 24, 2023 - 11:56 am by
Higgins Avenue in downtown Missoula, Montana, USA

At The Advocates, we consider ourselves lucky to be part of Montana communities who prioritize working together and helping each other. That’s why we’re proud to partner with Nonstop Local to recognize Good Samaritans in our communities every month. For April 2023, our Good Samaritan is the Great Falls VIPS program.

What Is the VIPS Program?

VIPS stands for Volunteers in Policing Service. The VIPS assist the Great Falls Police Department in a number of ways, from enforcing abandoned vehicle ordinances to helping at community events. They may serve as bike patrol, help with evidence lockers, and even aid in criminal investigations.

The purpose of the program is to lighten the load for local law enforcement officers, so they can devote more time and energy to some of the more serious aspects of their work.

The Great Falls VIPS program started in 2013. At any given time, there are around 30 VIPS. In 2021, those volunteers worked more than 3,000 hours. Many of the volunteers with the program are retirees who are looking for ways to contribute to their community.

The Advocates Injury Attorneys and Nonstop Local are grateful to the volunteers with the VIPS program and are thrilled to recognize them for the work they do. 

How Can I Get Involved?

To serve in the VIPS program, you must be at least 18 years or older and be able to pass a background check. Interested individuals should fill out an application.

If you are unable to work with the VIPS but would still like the opportunity to serve the Great Falls community, there are many other volunteer positions throughout the city. You can volunteer with the animal shelter, public library, Parks and Recreation Department, and more.

How Can I Nominate a Good Samaritan?

If you know an individual or organization who deserves to be recognized for their service to their community, you can nominate them on Nonstop Local’s website. We celebrate good works all across the state of Montana.

Good Samaritan winners are recognized with a news story at 5:00 pm on the last Monday of each month.

The Advocates Injury Attorneys Are Here for You

If you’ve been injured in an accident in Montana, The Advocates can help. We have decades of experience representing victims of car accidents, dog bites, slip-and-fall injuries, product liability cases, and more.

We will be by your side throughout the entirety of your case. We will listen to your story, answer your questions, and help you understand the next steps in your claim. From accessing the medical care you need to communicating with your employer regarding your accident, The Advocates have your back.

Consultations are always free. Contact us today to get started on the road to recovery. You deserve a Good Samaritan after your accident. You deserve an Advocate.

Bike or Bust Event with The Advocates

Posted on April 18, 2023 - 1:10 pm by
Bicyclist rides on the road near the shoulder

Here at The Advocates, we love biking. Many of our attorneys and staff bike for leisure, competition, or to commute. We feel so fortunate to live and work in a beautiful area with so many opportunities for outdoor recreation.

What we love even more than bicycling, however, is our community. We understand that we would be nothing without the people around us. We strive to give back to the people and organizations that help make Utah great.

To further this mission, The Advocates are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Bicycle Collective and Rock 106.7/iHeartMedia to host the Bike or Bust event at our Murray office. Join us to help provide bicycles to those in need.

What is the Bicycle Collective?

Dad and daughter ride bicycle by a field.

The Bicycle Collective is a group of nonprofit bicycle shops. Their mission is to help put much-needed bicycles in the hands of children, those experiencing homelessness, newly resettled refugees and immigrants, and low-to-moderate income households.

The Bicycle Collective accepts donations of bicycles and bicycle parts, then refurbishes the bikes to give them to those who need them. In 2022, the organization gave away more than 1,500 bikes, including more than 900 children’s bikes. This helped keep 77 tons of metal and rubber out of landfills.

In addition to giving bicycles away, the Bicycle Collective sells low-cost bicycles at their Charity Shop. Last year, they sold 1,455 bicycles at an average cost of just over $280.

The Advocates are honored to help further the Bicycle Collective’s mission. We believe access to bicycles can help contribute to the education, employment, and physical well-being of members of our community.

How to Participate in the Bike or Bust Event

Drop by our Murray office during the event to donate. Hooker and DB with the Rock 106.7 morning show will be broadcasting live from the east side of our parking lot. 

When donating, enter through the east side of the lot and pull through, exiting on the west side after your donations have been unloaded.

When

Friday, May 19th, 2023

6:00 AM-12:00 PM

Where

The Advocates–Murray Location

737 E Winchester St. 

Salt Lake City, UT 84107

What can I donate?

We will accept bicycles, tricycles, and scooters in any condition. Whether they’re gently used or just a pile of parts, the Bicycle Collective will take them and use them for refurbished bicycles.

Please note: We cannot accept damaged tires, helmets that are broken or more than 5 years old, or bike-related chemicals, such as solvents and old lubes.

I Can’t Make it to the Event; How Do I Help?

Donate onsite

The Bicycle Collective operates four locations throughout Utah, in Salt Lake City, Ogden, Provo, and St. George. They each accept walk-in donations, though hours of operation differ from location to location. Check your location’s website or call ahead before arriving.

Contribute financially

You can make a one-time donation or become a member to provide ongoing support to the Bicycle Collective’s mission. 

Volunteer your time

The Bicycle Collective is powered by volunteers. In many cases, you can volunteer your time and energy without needing prior mechanical experience. 

Each location’s needs and requirements differ. Check out their volunteer page for information on how to apply.

The Advocates and American Red Cross Community Blood Drive

Posted on February 16, 2023 - 5:35 pm by

Since our first day in business, The Advocates’ mission has been to improve our communities by helping those around us, both in and out of the courtroom. We strive to stay involved and look for opportunities to serve. However, we understand that our efforts wouldn’t be half as meaningful or effective without the contributions of our community members.

This March, we’re excited to announce that we’ve partnered with the American Red Cross to host our 2nd annual community blood drive in Utah. Blood donations are one of the most impactful things an ordinary person can do to help those around them.

To show appreciation to those who donate, every donor will receive a $10 gift from Amazon and will be entered in a drawing to win a trip to Florida. CLICK HERE to schedule your blood donation appointment.

American Red Cross Blood Donation Facts

Did you know:

  • Every 2 seconds, someone in the United States needs a blood and/or plasma transfusion
  • Blood donations are most commonly used to help accident victims, surgery patients, people with sickle cell disease, and people undergoing chemotherapy
  • A single car accident victim can require up to 100 units of blood
  • Type O-negative blood is known as the universal donor, because it is the only type of blood that is safe to use in all patients, regardless of the recipient’s blood type
  • Only 3% of eligible blood donors actually donate blood each year
  • Red Cross blood donors provide about 40% of the nation’s blood supply annually
  • Hospitals and other medical care providers rely on blood donations because blood and platelets cannot be artificially manufactured

The Advocates are honored to be part of such a critical component of many Americans’ lives, but we need your help too. If you are physically able and eligible to donate, we would be thrilled to have you join us at our blood drive this March. See eligibility requirements here.

The Advocates Community Blood Drive Information

When: Monday, March 6th, 2023; 1:00pm- 7:00pm

Where: Wasatch Rooms; 6616 S. 900 E. Salt Lake City, UT 84121

Appointments Required. CLICK HERE to schedule your donation appointment.

Thank you for committing to provide a lifesaving donation to people in our community. We can’t wait to see you there.