Clothing needed for Ohio family. Original Post by Loraine May at 3:59 AM EST on 02/24/2006 Byesville, OH - RNY (05/06/2005) - Dean J. Mikami, M.D. I have been so busy trying to get this Extreme makeover home invasion pulled together for my friend Patty that I am plum tuckered out. If anyone is interested in helping with some gently used items for this needy family it would certainly be appreciated. Patty is my neighbor *****cently lost her funding for home health care, and a home health aid. She is homebound and super morbidly obese and can no longer move around. She is responsible for caring for her adult mentally retarded brother and is having real difficulties doing so. I have been working with all my gastric bypass support groups to collect size 6 x women's clothing and size 55 jeans and 3 x shirts for her brother Leonard. They are in desperate need of gently used towels, wash clothes, dish clothes, and personal care items. Baby wipes and Gold bond powder. Toothpaste, shampoo and toothbrushes as well. Since becoming homebound Patty has gotten very depressed and suffers greatly from celulitis and chronic severe lymphadema . I have been helping as much as I can by doing her grocery shopping, cleaning, and laundry. When I was doing their laundry that is when I discovered that all of their clothes were stained badly and torn apart. Even at this size, these people deserve the dignity of having decent clothing on their bodies. They are unable to afford personal care items like shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste, Laundry soap, bath soap etc. They are both in need of undergarments and socks. Patty wears size 6 x and Leonard wears size 55 jeans and size 3 x crew neck T shirts. Since they are homebound any magazines, paperback books, Music CDs and used DVD's would be greatly appreciated. Next Saturday March the I have arranged for a group of volunteers to help deliver these items, and we will clean their home from top to bottom. I have a local beautician who will give them both haircuts, manicures and a day of beauty treatments while we are busy scrubbing and doing laundry etc. I am feeling so blessed by being able to do this for this wonderful dear lady. She is just my age and suffering so badly. I wish that I could convince her to look into gastric bypass surgery, but that has to be her choice. I guess what I am trying to do by "project Patty" is to show her the kindness of complete strangers and that people care about her.and that with the love and support that she can return to life outside of her living room again. I thank you all for listening and hope that you can help by sending any items that you can find around the house that they might be able to use. If you are interested in helping or just sending a card of encouragement please write and ask for my home address. Please pass this information along to anyone who might have gently used items to contribute to help make this project a huge success. If you are interested in being on the cleaning crew please contact me as soon as possible We need all the hands and strong able bodies we can get to help with some spring cleaning and delivering the clothing etc. We are also in need of someone who knows how to hook up a dvd/vcr player up to an older television set. Thank you all for your help. I knew I could count on you to help make this happen. Lots of Love and Hugs, Laura I thank you all for your help.

I just saw your post on the obesity career board, Yes it took about fifteen thousand of money I had saved to open my business, insurance and workmens comp is really expensive. Plus a computer ect... And i didnt pay myself for the first year. I did home care for seniors before I opened my business, before that I was a resterurant manager, so I knew how to manage people. A friend of mine just opened a caregiver/senior business, she didnt have any money to start. I am afraid she is gonna get herself into trouble! She has wrote checks for her personal bills out of her business account! A big no no for the IRS! Plus she doesnt have workmens comp for her employees! Its a law here! Then she also is not keeping her tax money in a sperate account, she has it in her expense account and she spends the tax money and when its due she don't understand why she doesnt have the money! I may not do everything perfect but I know that you need a different account to keep your payroll and tax money in and don't spend it on anything else! That would be like stealing money from your employees . My business is 4 yrs old now, last year I opened a hadi cap trasportation business, I could have never done this without first having a sucessful caregiving business. Because we take state clients to the Dr it takes 6 mths or longer for the business to get paid from the state! This is not fun! You could look into franchises and do lots of research, most of them will train you but thats also very expensive. My friend who opened her business does come to me for advice but she doesnt seem to be following my advice! i do not want her to fail! I also did read lots of books on opening a small business, I went to book stores that ya can sit there and read the books then put them back on the shelf! Like a boarders books, I bought a few. I did incorporate my business from day one cause then if my business is ever sued, no one can touch my house or my personal bank account. After 6 mths I hired an accountant, to jeep me on track and make sure I was doin things right for the IRS! She makes sure I deposit enough every 2 weeks into my payroll acct to cover taxes ect.. she also makes sure all taxes are paid on time ect.. She doesnt make my desposits or write out my bills. I want to keep control of these things! I keep track before she does payroll about how much it should be that way if she is way off I know and will be able to find the problem! good luck! Cyndi

Hey sista girl, I have not endeavored to open a daycare, but am a little familiar with the process. in N.Y there are child care councils, that help to train you, and give grants in the amount of $5,000 to help get you started. you should check to see if you have any program like that in your area? Also, if you have a business plan, maybe you can take it to a local bank, or better yet, a Small Business Administration to see if they could help you. Sometimes they actually provide you with a grant . I hope i've been a little helpful. God bless you, and good luck with your endeavors. Hazel