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Post by Merge on Nov 23, 2019 13:45:43 GMT
I got the idea from a Facebook post last night that we on the board could do a reverse Advent calendar thing, where December 1-24 we give a small amount to a different charity each day. In my head, I'm thinking that there is a post each day with a link to the donation page for a charity, and peas can donate a dollar or five dollars or whatever you can do. If lots of us donate, together we'll make a positive impact for that group. I'm happy to create/update the post each day, but I need charity ideas from the peas. I suggest the following criteria: 1. Nothing politically charged. No abortion rights groups, no traditional marriage promoting groups. Stuff that most everyone can agree on. 2. Has to have a secure online donation link and/or a way to donate through PayPal/Venmo. 3. No individual "Go Fund Me" type things. 4. I think a mix of local and national/global charities would be nice. If you are willing to participate by committing to donate a small amount to a charity each day, please post below. And if you have an idea for a charity we should help, please post the name of the charity, a donation link, and a short blurb about the charity's mission and/or your personal connection to that charity. For example: I suggest we donate to Mothers Against Drunk Drivers (MADD), an organization that works to prevent deaths from drunk and drugged driving through community education, lobbying for legislation and other means. This organization means a lot to me because my parents were killed by a drunk driver. Here's the donation link: www.madd.org/donate-now/
We need at least 24 different charitable groups in order to fulfill the idea of the reverse advent calendar, so please post your ideas below. If we get more than 24, I'll include a link to two or more charities in each day's post. What do you all think? Can we do this? Again, donations can be as small as a dollar or as large as your budget can manage. The impact comes from many people working together. |
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QueenoftheSloths
Drama Llama
Member Since January 2004, 2,698 forum posts PeaNut Number: 122614 PeaBoard Title: StuckOnPeas
Posts: 5,955 
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Post by QueenoftheSloths on Nov 23, 2019 13:53:36 GMT
This is a lovely idea, but here in Minnesota, we just had Give to the Max Day, and my chosen charities have received all the money I had earmarked for giving.
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AnotherPea
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,968
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Post by AnotherPea on Nov 23, 2019 13:58:20 GMT
I love the idea and would like to suggest that we exclude the middle-man “charities “ like United Way.
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Post by Merge on Nov 23, 2019 14:10:43 GMT
I love the idea and would like to suggest that we exclude the middle-man “charities “ like United Way. Cool with me! |
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Post by monklady123 on Nov 23, 2019 14:52:20 GMT
I love this idea! Even if people think their budget is tight (it is the holidays after all...) I think even $1.00 a day is pretty easy for most of us. Off the top of my head I would suggest: -- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance -- the disaster/relief agency of my denomination, Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). Most of their money goes to actual assistance, not staff. I'm PCUSA... that's my connection.  PDA-- UMCOR -- the United Methodist version of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance agency -- NAMI -- National Alliance on Mental Illness -- I have several close friends who have family members who struggle with serious mental illness NAMI-- cancer research -- I'd have to search to see the ratings of the various ones -- connection is that we all know someone who has had cancer I'll think of more, and find the donation links. I tried putting the links in as I went along but it didn't work for some reason.
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Deleted
Posts: 0
May 3, 2024 3:41:49 GMT
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Post by Deleted on Nov 23, 2019 15:20:04 GMT
My favorite charity is Service Dog Project. They raise and train dogs for mobility issues then give (not sell) the dogs to people in need. Their priority is combat wounded vets but they also have provided dogs to teens and others. 100% of your donation goes to the cost of care and training for the dogs. www.servicedogproject.org/ They have cameras online so anyone can watch the operation. The cameras are a donation from the Annenberg foundation. |
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Post by mom on Nov 23, 2019 16:23:42 GMT
I would participate. Team Luke: Hope for Minds - provides financial and emotional support to parents whose children have suffered traumatic brain injuries. CASA - several Peas are volunteers here - supports children in foster care Room to Read - Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Trevor Project - Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. PS Arts -P.S. ARTS is dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing arts education to underserved public schools and communities. P.S. ARTS is the only organization in Southern and Central California that provides high quality arts education in dance, music, theater, and visual arts to every child in a school during the regular school day and after-school. Without our programs, children in these underfunded school districts would not have access to the arts. (edited: I removed a local charity that I am involved in. Sometimes things go sideways and I dont want to risk them being involved). |
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Post by ~summer~ on Nov 23, 2019 16:45:50 GMT
I’m in - would be cool to pick a classroom through Donors Choose that we could maybe fully fund.
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J u l e e
Drama Llama
Posts: 6,531
Location: Cincinnati
Jun 28, 2014 2:50:47 GMT
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Post by J u l e e on Nov 23, 2019 17:10:22 GMT
My heart just grew two sizes, @merge. I love this so much. We do dollar donations at church all the time and you’d be surprised how much can be raised just a dollar at a time for what moves your heart. I have been a member of this board for 15 years and I can’t count the times I’ve mentioned the animal shelter where Quinn and I have volunteered since she has been three years old. I could go on and on about this place and tell story after heartwarming story of the animals that have been saved here. But mostly how this tiny shelter and the people who give their lives there have impacted the life of my daughter. I also know that this is one of thousands of well deserving shelters across the United States, but if you would consider PAWS Adoption Center, I would be so grateful. PAWS Adoption Center |
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Post by nlwilkins on Nov 23, 2019 17:17:39 GMT
I'm in. Love this idea
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Post by sleepingbooty on Nov 23, 2019 18:00:05 GMT
I just donated to national organisations in France but for this USA-centric board, I want to suggest Modest Needs, a very, very important American organisation with amazing transparency. This is an organisation that helps people not go from having a roof over their head to being homeless, keep a running car to be able to continue to go to work instead of finding themselves unemployed due to a broken car, electricity bills paid during winter, etc. for people who are legitimately struggling but are just above the poverty line and don't qualify for government help. This is a matter of small donations directly impacting someone's life and avoiding slipping into poverty. Modest Needs heavily vets the applicants and pays the bills of the applicants directly (not a Go Fund Me type of thing). |
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,421
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Nov 23, 2019 18:10:17 GMT
This is a lovely idea! I’d like to submit Icing Smiles Canada - the US chapter raises tens of thousands each year but we struggle with funding. It costs us $5-10,000 per year with insurance and admin costs and our director ends up funding it herself and it isn’t right. We do have a PayPal link on the website - www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/icing-smiles-canada/ |
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Post by Crack-a-lackin on Nov 23, 2019 18:13:21 GMT
I love this idea. Thanks for putting it together. Even a dollar, or a few, will add up for these smaller charities. I will participate.
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Post by scrapbookwriter on Nov 23, 2019 18:26:40 GMT
What a wonderful idea! I'd like to recommend Days for Girls. Many girls in third world nations have no access to feminine hygiene supplies. They stay home from school one week a month. Days for Girls provides reusable hygiene kits, free of charge, along with instruction and education. So far they've distributed 1.5 million kits. They are changing lives. Days for GirlsThe organization also encourages groups across the country to donate fabric and sew the kits. Patterns and instruction are provided. It is an amazing program. |
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Post by flanz on Nov 23, 2019 19:04:43 GMT
I love this idea! Even if people think their budget is tight (it is the holidays after all...) I think even $1.00 a day is pretty easy for most of us. Off the top of my head I would suggest: -- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance -- the disaster/relief agency of my denomination, Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). Most of their money goes to actual assistance, not staff. I'm PCUSA... that's my connection.  -- UMCOR -- the United Methodist version of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance agency -- NAMI -- National Alliance on Mental Illness -- I have several close friends who have family members who struggle with serious mental illness -- cancer research -- I'd have to search to see the ratings of the various ones -- connection is that we all know someone who has had cancer I'll think of more, and find the donation links. I tried putting the links in as I went along but it didn't work for some reason.
I'd love to see all religious groups excluded. There are so many secular ones to choose from. NAMI sounds great! |
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Post by flanz on Nov 23, 2019 19:06:02 GMT
I would participate. Team Luke: Hope for Minds - provides financial and emotional support to parents whose children have suffered traumatic brain injuries. CASA - several Peas are volunteers here - supports children in foster care Room to Read - Room to Read seeks to transform the lives of millions of children in low-income communities by focusing on literacy and gender equality in education. Trevor Project - Founded in 1998 by the creators of the Academy Award®-winning short film TREVOR, The Trevor Project is the leading national organization providing crisis intervention and suicide prevention services to lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer & questioning (LGBTQ) young people under 25. PS Arts -P.S. ARTS is dedicated to improving the lives of children by providing arts education to underserved public schools and communities. P.S. ARTS is the only organization in Southern and Central California that provides high quality arts education in dance, music, theater, and visual arts to every child in a school during the regular school day and after-school. Without our programs, children in these underfunded school districts would not have access to the arts. (edited: I removed a local charity that I am involved in. Sometimes things go sideways and I dont want to risk them being involved). I love this entire list! Thank you! |
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Post by flanz on Nov 23, 2019 19:07:59 GMT
This is a lovely idea! I’d like to submit Icing Smiles Canada - the US chapter raises tens of thousands each year but we struggle with funding. It costs us $5-10,000 per year with insurance and admin costs and our director ends up funding it herself and it isn’t right. We do have a PayPal link on the website - www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/icing-smiles-canada/Why are the costs so high if bakers like yourself are donating beautiful cakes to people who need a boost? |
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Post by flanz on Nov 23, 2019 19:11:25 GMT
What a wonderful idea! I'd like to recommend Days for Girls. Many girls in third world nations have no access to feminine hygiene supplies. They stay home from school one week a month. Days for Girls provides reusable hygiene kits, free of charge, along with instruction and education. So far they've distributed 1.5 million kits. They are changing lives. Days for GirlsThe organization also encourages groups across the country to donate fabric and sew the kits. Patterns and instruction are provided. It is an amazing program. @merge - loving your idea and I will def. participate! <3 Many thanks! I second Days for Girls, CASA and The Trevor Project, and would like to add Santa Barbara Wildlife Care Network which rescues and heals forest and marine animals found sick or injured. Our wildfires have a huge impact on the local animals, and this org. does very good work. |
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Post by jenjie on Nov 23, 2019 19:37:43 GMT
What a wonderful idea!! I’d love for OUR/Operation Underground Railroad to be considered. They work around the world freeing people from human trafficking and putting the perpetrators behind bars. ourrescue.org/“ O.U.R.'s Ops Team consists of former CIA, past and current law enforcement, and highly skilled operatives that lead coordinated identification and extraction efforts. These operations are always in conjunction with law enforcement throughout the world. Once victims are rescued, a comprehensive process involving justice for the perpetrators and recovery and rehabilitation for the survivors begins.” youtu.be/c_CgQcNkUlw |
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ComplicatedLady
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,037
Location: Valley of the Sun
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Post by ComplicatedLady on Nov 23, 2019 19:51:56 GMT
I’d love to participate. One group that I’ve been amazed with locally in Arizona and would like to suggest is Teen LifelineTeen Lifeline was developed as an innovative solution to address teen suicide. Our Mission: To prevent teen suicide in Arizona through enhancing resiliency in youth and fostering supportive communities. The mission has remained steadfast: to end teen suicide, to provide a connection of hope to teens in crisis, and to empower our youth to make healthy decisions. Teen Lifeline is committed to maintaining a community which recognizes and values the inherent worth and dignity of every person; fosters tolerance, sensitivity, understanding, and mutual respect. They have a secure donation page but I didn’t see a PayPal or Venmo link. |
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Post by monklady123 on Nov 23, 2019 20:30:32 GMT
I love this idea! Even if people think their budget is tight (it is the holidays after all...) I think even $1.00 a day is pretty easy for most of us. Off the top of my head I would suggest: -- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance -- the disaster/relief agency of my denomination, Presbyterian Church USA (PCUSA). Most of their money goes to actual assistance, not staff. I'm PCUSA... that's my connection. -- UMCOR -- the United Methodist version of the Presbyterian Disaster Assistance agency -- NAMI -- National Alliance on Mental Illness -- I have several close friends who have family members who struggle with serious mental illness -- cancer research -- I'd have to search to see the ratings of the various ones -- connection is that we all know someone who has had cancer I'll think of more, and find the donation links. I tried putting the links in as I went along but it didn't work for some reason.
I'd love to see all religious groups excluded. There are so many secular ones to choose from. NAMI sounds great! Well...the thing about groups such as PDA or UMCOR, they provide disaster assistance to organizations in the target area, organizations that do not necessarily have religious affiliation. They do not tie their money to a particular denomination. |
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theshyone
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 3,402
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Post by theshyone on Nov 23, 2019 21:16:22 GMT
SADS Sudden Arrhythmia Death Syndrome helps save lives. My family lives with one of these conditions called Long QT syndrome. There are chapters around the world donations can be made to, Canada, Australia, uk, Germany, Hong Kong and of course USA which is the one I’m linking. Mission To save the lives and support the families of children and adults who are genetically predisposed to sudden death due to heart rhythm abnormalities. The SADS Foundation is dedicated to informing the general public, families, and medical professionals about the effects of untreated/undiagnosed cardiac arrhythmias and the methods by which death can be prevented. Initiatives include sponsoring public awareness meetings in local communities, providing educational videos on LQTS, and establishing media relationships to promote publicity about these "silent killers," through magazine and newspaper articles as well as TV and radio shows. The Foundation also sponsors the International SADS Awareness Week (Month) each year (formerly the Long QT Syndrome Awareness Week), where volunteers and the foundation participate in awareness activities, support groups and other awareness events. Through comprehensive awareness programs, the SADS Foundations hopes to prevent additional tragedies that can be avoided through early detection and proper treatment. USA: www.sads.org/Donate#.XdmhGRoTGf0SADS International links: www.sads.org/International-Partners#.XeP5gRoTGf0 |
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cakediva
Drama Llama
Making the world a sweeter place one cake at a time!
Posts: 7,421
Location: Fergus, Ontario
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Post by cakediva on Nov 23, 2019 21:36:06 GMT
This is a lovely idea! I’d like to submit Icing Smiles Canada - the US chapter raises tens of thousands each year but we struggle with funding. It costs us $5-10,000 per year with insurance and admin costs and our director ends up funding it herself and it isn’t right. We do have a PayPal link on the website - www.canadahelps.org/en/charities/icing-smiles-canada/Why are the costs so high if bakers like yourself are donating beautiful cakes to people who need a boost? Insurance is about $5000 for the year, we carry liability insurance just in case anything ever happened. Postage and thank you pins - we send a post card and Icing Smiles pin to a baker when they do a cake. It is just little bit bakers love to get them. Legal fees. Website fees. And printing advertising material isn’t cheap either - like cards to send to hospitals so more people are aware of the program and what we offer. All our admin personnel are 100% volunteer, as are our bakers. The US has a few paid full time people. Someday our director would like to start a scholarship program for survivors who have aged out of the program (they can receive one cake a year until 18) and go on to post secondary education. But until we have a steady stream covering the administrative costs we can’t move forward with that idea. 😊 |
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Post by flanz on Nov 23, 2019 22:39:49 GMT
Why are the costs so high if bakers like yourself are donating beautiful cakes to people who need a boost? Insurance is about $5000 for the year, we carry liability insurance just in case anything ever happened. Postage and thank you pins - we send a post card and Icing Smiles pin to a baker when they do a cake. It is just little bit bakers love to get them. Legal fees. Website fees. And printing advertising material isn’t cheap either - like cards to send to hospitals so more people are aware of the program and what we offer. All our admin personnel are 100% volunteer, as are our bakers. The US has a few paid full time people. Someday our director would like to start a scholarship program for survivors who have aged out of the program (they can receive one cake a year until 18) and go on to post secondary education. But until we have a steady stream covering the administrative costs we can’t move forward with that idea. 😊 Thanks for the explanation! |
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abbyg7
Shy Member
Posts: 15
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Post by abbyg7 on Nov 23, 2019 23:37:50 GMT
I love this idea. I'd like to suggest www.mrmoproject.com/destination-senior-dog-rescue/. This organization was founded and is run by Chris and Mariesa Hughes. They rescue senior dogs, find them new permanent or foster homes and cover their vet bills for the rest of the dogs life. Their goal is to give them "the best for the rest". |
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cherivall
Junior Member
Posts: 82
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Post by cherivall on Nov 23, 2019 23:38:06 GMT
I would like to nominate Kaitlyn Vallery Foundation (aka Kaitlyn's Promise)
We established Kaitlyn’s Promise to help more adults and teens understand the dangers of inhalant abuse and the consequences of making bad choices when Kaitlyn died due to accidental drowning because of inhalant abuse
As of 2014, we are now the Kaitlyn Vallery Foundation, a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. Our mission is to bring awareness of the dangers of drug use and the long reaching effects of your choices.
We provide the following resources to young people and their families:
- • Kaitlyn’s family helps educate others by sharing her story with young people through presentations at schools in Houston and the surrounding area.
• We provide free drug screenings to parents who suspect their children may be using illegal drugs but are unable to afford the cost.
• We also offer three $1000 scholarships to local high school students who successfully rose above poor choices – theirs or others – and changed their lives for the better. Previous recipients overcame their own or their parents’ drug use, survived serious illnesses, and are on their own as a result of their parents’ actions.
If her promise can get just one kid to STOP doing this then Kaitlyn’s death will not have been in vain.
Full disclosure .. I am Kaitlyn's mom and a long time pea (though I mostly lurk.. some of you may remember the night we lost her .. we received so much love and support from the Peas, my family still talks about it)
To date we have given over $40,000 in scholarships, spoken to thousands of students and continue to share Kaitlyn's life in the hopes that we prevent another family from going through what we have gone through
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FurryP
Drama Llama
To pea or not to pea...
Posts: 6,963
Site Supporter
Jun 26, 2014 19:58:26 GMT
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Post by FurryP on Nov 23, 2019 23:42:37 GMT
To be honest, we are solicited sooooo much at work throughout the year, that I have given all I am going to give to other people's favorite charities this year. The rest of my charitable funds are for the charities that are most importatnt to me. I'd like to throw out a senior dog rescue if animals are important to anyone else: Muttville - Senior Dog Rescue
I learned of this place from a pea, whose sister worked there. Senior dogs are most often overlooked for adoption. Muttville's mission: Muttville’s mission is to give senior dogs a second chance at life. We rescue them, give them the care they need, find them loving homes, and spread the word about how WONDERFUL they are! |
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Post by paperaddictedpea on Nov 24, 2019 0:37:36 GMT
This is a great idea! I'd like to suggest Feeding America. "Feeding America is the nationwide network of 200 food banks that leads the fight against hunger in the United States. Together, we provide food to more than 46 million people through 60,000 food pantries and meal programs in communities across America. Feeding America also supports programs that improve food security among the people we serve; educates the public about the problem of hunger; and advocates for legislation that protects people from going hungry. Individuals, charities, businesses and government all have a role in ending hunger. Donate. Volunteer. Advocate. Educate. Together we can solve hunger." You can donate at the national level, or you can search on their website for a participating food bank in your area and donate locally. |
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scrappinwithoutpeas
Pearl Clutcher
Posts: 2,899
Location: Northern Virginia
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Post by scrappinwithoutpeas on Nov 24, 2019 0:46:17 GMT
I love this idea, @merge! A lot of great organizations have already been mentioned, and I'll throw out one more: No Kid Hungry. They provide meals and advocacy for children with no reliable access to food. Kids can't focus on schoolwork when they're hungry! From their website (on the What We Do tab): We have plenty of food in the United States. And we have child nutrition programs that work. The problem is that not enough kids are able to access them.
That’s a problem we know how to solve. Here are some of the ways how. (school breakfast, summer meals, afterschool meals, food skills education, research & policy, advocacy) |
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Anita
Drama Llama
Posts: 5,643
Location: Kansas City -ish
Member is Online
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Post by Anita on Nov 24, 2019 2:42:41 GMT
My favorite charity is the Fisher House organization, a network of comfort homes where military and veterans’ families can stay at no cost while a loved one is receiving treatment. |
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