Help Today. Independence Tomorrow.
|
|
We were off to a very exciting year as we entered the first quarter of 2020. Nearly knee deep in our planning efforts for our festive Cinco de Mayo Run, Walk & Roll, we had to suddenly change course. That seemed to be the headlines for everyone in the early part of March. And while we were unable to continue with the Cinco, we are determined to see our Hot Hatch Chile Walk, Run & Roll succeed - either in person or virtually.
This event and our organization are important to us because of the impact it creates in our community. It is more important now than ever before that we make sure those with the greatest needs are taken care of. Spinal Cord injuries, disabilities, and diseases don't go away in times of crisis. We want to continue to be there to support those with needs. And that is just what we are doing.
We continue to raise funds and act in creative ways to connect with our clients and partners. Like many other organizations, we are using this time to connect with video chat and research the needs and opportunities in our community. We hope you will attend our Hot Hatch event in August and invite everyone you know. Together, we can continue serving those in need.
|
|
The Hot Hatch Chile Run, Walk & Roll is fun for the whole family and draw crowds of several hundreds! It's a great opportunity to spread the word about your organization, volunteer, or get out for a fun day. We hope to see you on race day!
|
|
Meet Jesse Castaneda from State Farm
|
|
We are thrilled to be partnering with Jesse Castaneda and his team at State Farm. If you are in need of an updated auto insurance quote, Jesse is your man. He and his team have a heart for helping your protect everything you hold dearest, and for the best rate available.
When you call Jesse and let him know you heard about him from the Neuro Assistance Foundation, he will donate $10 to our organization. Each of these dollars add up to provide for our clients. Just $10 could be a day of catheters for someone. So, call Jesse! You can reach him at 469-680-1992.
|
|
In February we gave you a sneak peek for our 2020 plans, but now we have a full list of events for you to plan on.
|
|
Pictured - Ameriprise Financial Team at the Hot Hatch Chile Run, Walk & Roll
- NAF Annual Hot Hatch Chile Run, Walk & Roll (Fort Worth) - August 8 or 15, 2020 (more to come...)
- NAF Annual Hot Hatch Chile Run, Walk & Roll (Southlake) - August 22, 2020
- TopGolf Charity Event - September 28, 2020
We hope you are able to join us at one of our fundraising events in the coming year. Come to play, network, support the cause, or volunteer! Everyone is welcome!
|
|
More Than Washing Your Hands
|
|
We have heard a lot in the news about the importance of washing your hands. It is one of the most effective methods of slowing the spread of germs. Kill them on the spot! As a brief reminders... this means use soap and water and massage and rub all the crevices of your hands together for 20 seconds and then rinse.
But what have we
not heard much about? What isn't on the top of everyone's minds? Washing your equipment! Many folks are able to take their shoes off at the door and that prevents the outside germs from travelling around the interior of your home. However, you can't leave your wheelchair at the door!
Take time to clean your equipment. This will help prevent the spread of germs from the surfaces outside to your home and your body. Here are a few quick tips:
- Wipe down your chair daily with a clean, damp, lint-free cloth
- Make sure the chair is thoroughly dried to prevent corrosion
- Avoid steel wool and petroleum-based cleaners
- For your cushion, consider using a vacuum hose with an upholstery attachment.
- A vinegar solution can help with odors on your cushion
Stay healthy out there!
|
|
Experimenting
in
Quarantine
|
|
Have you run out of fun ways to stay entertained and busy during your time at home? I certainly hope not! My husband and I use our spare time to do puzzles together, play games, catch up on the Marvel series (yes....we are way behind!) and listen to audio books. I strongly recommend Wuthering Heights... nothing like a good classic romantic tragedy.
We also tried baking something new. If you want to experiment to, this is a great recipe to play with. I hope you enjoy as much as we did!
|
|
Authentic Czech Kolaches - from "Dessert for Two"
|
|
Ingredients
- 2/3 cup milk (2% or higher is best)
- 2 teaspoons active dry yeast
- 2 tablespoons sugar
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
- 2 large egg yolk
- 1/4 + 1/8 teaspoon fine salt
For the filling:
- 6 prunes
- 1 tablespoon honey
- 4 scoops very thick apricot preserves
- 3 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature
- 1 tablespoons powdered sugar
Instructions
- First: make the 3 different fillings. If you want all of the kolaches to have the same flavor, triple one of the filling recipes.
- For the prune filling: combine the prunes in a small saucepan with the honey, and add enough water to barely cover the prunes. Boil, stirring occasionally, for about 10 minutes. Mash them with a fork as they cook. They're done when most of the water is evaporated and it's thicker than jam. Set aside to cool.
- For the apricot filling: no work necessary! Just have the apricot preserves ready in a small bowl.
- For the cream cheese filling: stir together the room temp cream cheese with the powdered sugar until smooth. Set aside.
- Next, make the kolaches: warm the milk in a microwave-safe bowl for about 30 seconds until lukewarm. The target temperature is 110 degrees. Once it's at precisely 110, add the yeast, sugar and 2/3 cup of the flour. Mix together well and let rise in a warm place until doubled in size.
- In another bowl, add the melted butter. Let cool briefly before stirring in the egg yolk. Add this to the yeast mixture and mix well. Add the remaining flour, salt, and mix very well well.
- Next, knead the dough for 10 minutes: The best way to knead is to smear the dough away from you with the heel of your hand, and then fold the dough back onto itself from the side with your other hand. Lightly flour the board and your hands as you go. At the end of 10 minutes, the dough will be soft, supple, and not sticky at all.
- Grease a bowl with cooking spray and add the dough. Cover and let it rise in a warm place until it doubles in size (you can do this in the oven using the 'proof' setting). (At the end of this rise, you could cover it and put it in the fridge to use the following day. It will deflate, but it's okay).
- Next, you want to evenly divide the dough into 12 equal portions. I do this by weighing the dough, and dividing it by 12. Roll each dough ball into a perfect circle (see photo).
- Line a 9" pie plate with parchment paper, and arrange the dough balls in it. At this point, I press gently on the dough to make a slightly oblong shape instead of a perfect circle (see photo).
- Let the dough rise until doubled (you can do this in the oven using the 'proof' setting).
- Preheat the oven to 375.
- Once the dough balls have doubled in size, use your fingers to make indentations for the fillings. Go deeper than the indentations seen in the photos (the dough continued to rise while I was taking photos, making the indentations fill in slightly).
|
|
NAF has helped over 1,300 families since our inception. We recently helped Ava, three years old, with the purchase of a special Tomato Soft-Touch chair requested by her doctor. Ava can't use regular seating systems because of her neurogenic scoliosis. We were proud to help sweet Ava!
|
|
Feeling so happy today! Meet Caoimhe - she's 8 years old. Caoimhe has a tethered spinal cord and is blind and deaf. Her doctor reached out to us to help them get an adaptive stroller with a 5-point harness as Caoimhe had outgrown her old stroller. We loved providing her with a Maclaren Major Elite Adaptive Stroller. Now she can go on lots of outings!
"It was such a surprise to come home from the hospital and have the stroller waiting for us. It's perfect! You have been an answer to our prayers for sure." ~ Caoimhe's mother
|
|
Look at this cutie! This is Christian and he's 4 years old. NAF just helped make his home accessible by building a large ramp on the front of his home and widening his doorway inside. Now Christian is able to get in and around his house by himself!
Welcome to the NAF family, Christian!
|
|
THANK YOU To Our Sponsors!
|
|
We Need Your Help
Donate ~ Sponsor ~ Volunteer
|
|
Your $25 donation will help provide clean catheters to a paralyzed child for one month when their insurance won't cover the expense.
Your $100 donation will help build a wheelchair ramp so we can get our clients out of rehab and through their front door at home.
Your $200 donation will help widen the doorways in their homes so their wheelchair can fit through the bathroom door. Insurance doesn't covers home modifications.
Your $500 donation will help provide life-changing medical equipment: wheelchairs and specialized shower chairs, etc. Most insurance only covers a small part of wheelchairs, if any, and no "bathing aids" are covered.
No donation is too small. Click
here
for more information!
|
|
Neuro Assistance Foundation
2320 Bridgewood Drive,
Keller, TX 76262
(817) 741 0444
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
