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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.

 

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.

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?

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.

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.

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?

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.

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 Dingman’s Collision Center to host a 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!

Additionally, from 7:00-9:00 AM, Hoss Michaels with KAT 103.7 will be broadcasting the event live. From 9:00-11:00 AM, Jim Rose with KFAB will be live broadcasting. Both stations will take 4 live callers during their broadcast.

When

Thursday, May 4th

7:00 am-11:00 am

Where

Dingman’s Collision Center–Omaha Southwest Location

3510 S 144th St 

Omaha, NE 68144

What items are needed?

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

• Cereal
• Boxed meals (such as Hamburger Helper)
• Canned fruit
• Canned soup
• Pasta and pasta sauce

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

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, new men’s underwear, and toiletry items. Please note that the Omaha drop-off location is closed on Sundays and Mondays.

If you prefer to contribute financially, monetary donations are accepted on their website. They also accept PayPal.

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.