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Mermaids Make a Difference

Live Like a Local: Mermaids Make a Difference with Paws4Vets

2 Comments / Fun on Tybee, Live Like a Local, Mermaids Make a Difference /

Come out with Mermaid Cottages this Saturday, January 28th, 2012 and help us as we expand our Mermaids Make a Difference campaign! This coming Saturday, from 1 PM-3 PM, Mermaid Cottages and Paws4Vets will host a fund raiser at Seaside Sisters and kick off this newest addition to the Mermaids Make A Difference community service programs. Also featured at this special event will be Paws4Vets founders Kyria Henry and her veteran father, Terry Henry, other service dogs from Paws4People, and soldiers from Ft Stewart and the surrounding area with service dogs.

Through the Paws4Vets Assistance Dog Placement Program our Veterans and Active-Duty Service Members or their dependents with physical, neurological, psychiatric or emotional disabilities can receive Psychiatric Service Dogs, Mobility Service Dogs and Rehabilitative Assistance Dogs, free of charge. All Paws4Vets Assistance Dogs are trained by federal inmates within one of five federal prisons and/or the Paws4Vets Wounded Warrior PTSD Intervention and Assistance Dog Training Program.

“Mermaid Cottages has always sponsored puppies to be trained as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities and we are now expanding the programs to include dogs specifically trained to serve veterans. Proceeds from the sales of our Beach Bum Biscuits and our Tee Shirts will also go towards sponsoring dogs for our veterans. We are honored to be partnering with Kyria Henry, Terry Henry, and the Paws4Vets program. We invite everyone to come out and support our veterans and their families!” ~Head Mermaid, Diane Kaufman

So come on out to Seaside Sisters Saturday and meet Jimmy, an 8-week old Golden Retriever puppy (named after our beloved Jimmy Kelleher of Seaside Sweets). This fundraiser is being held to sponsor little Jimmy’s training as a service dog for Paws4People. Funds from the sale of Beach Bum Biscuits dog treats and t-shirts go towards the sponsorship of this new furry hero, so we encourage you to shop ’til you drop for a great cause!  This little puppy will be placed as an assistance dog with a veteran or his family in the Savannah area. How exciting is that! Come be a part of something grand, stock up on some yummy dog treats for your special pooch, and honor those that fight for our country, too. See you Saturday!

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Mermaids Make a Difference: We Love to be Green!

1 Comment / Mermaids Make a Difference /

Around here, “being green” is about more than a pretty color! It’s so very important to Mermaid Cottages that we do our very best to take care of our environment, and we do everything we can to bring on the green. Being green isn’t as difficult as it seems. It is really just a lot of little actions that add up to big benefits when they become habits. We do a lot of those little things to reap the green benefits around here!

There are literally loads of ways to be a better steward of our Earth. What does Mermaid Cottages do to stay green? Well install Compact Fluorescent light bulbs in all of our homes to save on electricity and use Lo-flow water-saving devices in all bathrooms and outdoor showers. We keep all our cleaning products eco-friendly, which is better for you and your for legged family, too. We even conduct energy audits for all our homes to see where we might be able to save more energy. Mermaid Cottages even takes pride in making our outdoor living spaces as green as possible by planting drought resistant and local plants to help conserve water!

We invite our guests to join our green efforts during their stay, and maybe even take the good habits home with them! Here are just a few ways you can make your stay with Mermaid Cottages a little greener:

It's easier than you think!

Save Electricity
– Slay “Vampire Power” by turning off all lights, TVs, DVDs & computers when not in use
– Use the outdoor clothesline to dry your clothes (they smell good too!)
– Open the windows turn on the ceiling fans and enjoy the ocean breezes!
– Use Cold water, not Hot, in the washing machine
– Draw your curtains/blinds during the heat of the day

Save Fuel and Drive Less
– Walk, ride bikes, rent scooters or electric cars!
– Save gas and have more fun – Tybee is better enjoyed moving SLOW!

Recycle
– Glass, plastic, cans, newspapers: use the home’s green recycling container

Reduce, Reuse
– Take reusable bags during your trip to the grocery store
– Use Dish Cloths and cloth napkins and less paper products

Conserve Water
– While brushing teeth, turn water off, and use a cup of water to cleanse mouth of
toothpaste
– Use dishwasher only when completely full with dirty dishes
– Take shorter showers with tepid water

Make being green part of your every day routine, Y'all!

And that’s just getting started! It’s not just Earth friendly to be green…it’s even fun! Once you start thinking of ways to conserve, reduce, reuse, and recycle, the ideas just start flowing. So we invite you to join Mermaid Cottages in our efforts to be a little greener. Maybe even take the habits home as a way of keeping your Tybee State-of-Mind!

 

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New Puppy Love!

4 Comments / General, Service Dogs (Beach Bum Biscuits) /

Our new black lab puppy is coming soon and he needs a name!

Does the memory of someone inspire you to serve others?  We’d love to hear your story!  We’re asking for inspirations to help us name our new puppy.  Mermaid Cottages is honored to sponsor puppies to be trained in service as Guide Dogs and Service Dogs for persons with disabilities.

Share your story of inspiration and you could help us name our newest black lab puppy.  Tell us about your memories of a mentor, philanthropist, volunteer or someone who served in education, the miltary and the community that inspires you to serve others.

If you would like to help name our new puppy here’s how to submit your nomination:

Email your nomination to diane@mermaidcottages.com

Email Diane your name suggestion and tell us in whose memory you’re making your nomination.  Tell us about the person and why you would like to honor his/her memory (public/community service, mentoring, philanthropy, etc).

All nominations must be received by 5 PM, Sunday, November 27, 2011.

Diane will choose her top six names and post them on our Facebook page for everyone to vote.  The Facebook Poll will start on Monday, November 28 and votes will be collected through 6 PM, Wednesday, November 30, 2011.

This young lad will be in training to become a Guide Dog for a person with disabilities, so his name should be in honor of someone whose life was lived in service to others.

Mermaids Make A Difference.  Be Inspired.  You can make a difference, too!

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PurpleStride Walk is Coming!

Leave a Comment / Fun on Tybee, Live Like a Local, Mermaids Make a Difference /

Please come out to Tybee November 12th and join the Savannah Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network for The PurpleStride 2011 event! This is the perfect event to bring the whole family, meet others, and create memories. There are great incentives for fundraising and all proceeds benefit the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network. Stride with others who are just as passionate about finding a cure for pancreatic cancer. Come enjoy a 5K run/walk and PurpleLight vigil to honor and remember loved ones, music, kids’ activities, refreshments, and much more!

imagesource.com

     Registration for this event is ongoing online at the group’s website. Fees are $25 for adults (or $30 day of event) and $10 for ages 3 through 15 ($15 on the day of event). Survivors, volunteers, and ages 2 and under are FREE!
The fun will be centered at the Pier and Pavilion here on Tybee, and registration opens at 2:00 pm the day of the event. Come on down and get registered! The 1/4 mile Kiddie Run begins at 3:00 pm, followed by the Adult 5 K Walk/Run at 3:30 pm. There will be a Closing Ceremony at 5:30 pm, so make sure you don’t miss a minute!

     The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network, in their own words, “is the only national organization creating hope in a comprehensive way through research, patient support, community outreach, and advocacy for a cure.” You can read more about the group and their efforts at their website, just click the link above. You can also learn more about pancreatic cancer and how you can help there as well!
This is a fun way to raise money for a great cause…not to mention a wonderful excuse to come to the beach! We hope to see you there!

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Making a Difference, Mermaid Style!

Leave a Comment / Fun on Tybee, Mermaids Make a Difference, Sea Turtles, Service Dogs (Beach Bum Biscuits) /
Welcome to Tybee Island!

Mermaid Cottages has the coziest homes away from home in Tybee Island and Savannah, it’s true. But we’re more than vacation rentals; we’re part of a community. That’s why we are active with the local island community, including helping people and local organizations we believe in and love. That’s what our project, Mermaids Make a Difference, is all about! We invite you to jump right in and volunteer during your visit. Of course, we’d like for you to get involved if even just for the day as well!

Beach Sweep September 2011

We love giving back to our community and want to share every opportunity we know about with you! If you are looking for ways to be more involved, whether it’s during your vacation or just for the day, make sure to check out the Community tab on our website.  It’s a little thing we like to call Voluntourism on Tybee, and we’d love for you to join us in giving a little back! We have a list full of fabulous ways to get in there and give back. There are loads of upcoming events listed for you to choose from, like The Journey to Peace Walk to benefit the SAFE Shelter of Savannah on October 22nd, and The PurpleStride Savannah 5K to raise awareness and funds to fight Pancreatic Cancer November 12th, just to name a few. We also have Beach Sweeps planned on a regular basis, so there’s something for everyone to enjoy! You can even show off your Mermaid pride with a tee shirt from Seaside Sisters, where there are loads of other Mermaid Cottages goodies as well. Goodies that help you give back with each purchase!

Just by staying with Mermaid Cottages you are giving back! Your stay helps us support Tybee’s Sea Turtles and the guide dogs we sponsor each year!

Mermaid Cottages loves Tybee Island, and we know you do, too! We encourage you to take a little time during your visit to Tybee and join us in giving back to the community we hold so dear. We hope to see y’all real soon!

 

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