A Heart for Service

We may earn money or products from the companies mentioned in this post. This means if you click on the link and purchase the item, I will receive a small commission at no extra cost to you ... you're just helping re-supply our family's travel fund.

This post was sponsored by Hasbro’s Joy For All brand as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central. All opinions expressed in my post are my own.

Something that’s always been very near and dear to my heart is being of service to others through volunteering.

When I was in the Girl Scouts, I’d help raise money by selling poppies for the American Legion. I’d say, “Everybody has a mommy, why not a poppy, too?!” and made a killing for ’em.
As a child I spent all of my free time volunteering at the Multnomah County Animal Shelter – cleaning out kennels, giving animals baths, and I even was Santa Claus several years where for $10 they could have their pets take pictures with all proceeds going to the shelter (yep, female and elementary/middle-school aged! lol!).
I had such extensive volunteer experience, I even took first place in that category when I was a State Finalist for National American Miss Teen Iowa-USA.
In 2012, I helped raise $113,000 to put a roof on an orphanage in Belize. Pretty cool, huh? The kicker, though, is that this was done using ONE entire cheesecake in just a few days!
I was President of the Waverly JAYCEES (junior chamber) and chair person of the board for 2 years, helping spearhead many different projects
I was the coveted “Cookie Mom” for Girl Scouts
plus many more

I like to show my kids that being of service to others is some of the greatest works of life, which is why I’d love to start a foundation in the next two years helping women in developing countries with business and marketing skills. For now though, we spend our time volunteering around town.

One of our favorite places to volunteer is at the nursing home. We go caroling there, have tea parties, and make crafts together. Being able to help bridge the gap between young and old brings such warmth to my heart. Many of you don’t know, but prior to me taking the business route, I was pre-med. I wanted to be a plastic surgeon, working overseas – helping fix things like cleft palates, etc. I worked as a CNA and then later as a CMA from age 16 to about 20. Working with the elderly reminded me so much of caring for my dad.

Nursing Home Fun

Often times, I’d encounter a resident who had alzheimer’s, or some other ailment that made communication difficult. A lot of nursing homes will have real pets for the residents, but this can be an issue when a resident is allergic. HASBRO’S JOY FOR ALL™ Companion Pets is designed to be a companion pet for ages 5 to 105 (or maybe even older?!).

Hasbro has been helping create fun experiences for longer than I’ve been alive, but they’ve really stepped up their game with these companion pets. These actually move, make noise, and respond to motion and touch. And not in a bad-80’s-style-movie-kind-of-way…but in a life-like way! I captured this video for you at the nursing home earlier this evening:

HASBRO’S JOY FOR ALL™ Companion Pets from Kathy Haan on Vimeo.

For privacy reasons, I can’t show the residents with them, but we were all amazed at how…REAL these things were.

Here’s what you need to know:

Joy For All Companion Pets can be powered off and on
- Companion Pets can also be muted
Realistic, soft fur that looks and feels like a real cat/pup (the cat comes with a little black brush to use!)
Built in sensors that respond to motion and touch
Hasbro’s Joy For All Companion Pet Cats respond to petting, hugging and motion much like the cats you know and love. Purring technology further enhances the pet’s life-like qualities.
Hasbro’s Joy For All Companion Pet Pup responds to voices with adorable pup-like sounds thanks to built in BarkBack™ technology and will look toward you when you speak to it.
Batteries included: 4 x 1.5V C Alkaline Batteries