We call the time when we’re pairing our veterans and dogs “training”.  It’s so much more than that, though. It’s bonding, learning and loving all in one.  Yes, there’s training but it’s a 24/7 process.  It’s definitely a labor of love.

The organization itself goes through its own training periods.  We are not yet big enough to run 365 days a year on the same high paced schedule.  There is down time, recovery time and last year there was a few months off that we called our “Annual Training Time.”  It worked so well, we repeated it to some degree in 2013.

During our ATT in 2012, we revamped programs, straightened out our administrative paperwork and made important connections for the organization to grow.  The Home Depot grants and the contest we’re in right now is the product of taking the time to do things the right way during ATT.  So while we didn’t have dogs and veterans in training, we had the best interests of dogs and veterans in our hearts and our actions.

This is the kind of thing we have to do as a small organization.  We have to constantly look back, learn and move forward.  Recently, we’ve been hearing that a lot of people are frustrated with the voting process for the Home Depot Foundation’s Aprons in Action finale contest.  We hear you and have been delivering your concerns and problems to the Foundation each step of the way.  But please know, even if we don’t end up coming in first place, this contest and your support means so much to us.  Because of this time “in training” for us, we will grow and 2014 will be something beyond our wildest dreams.

We know it’s not always easy to vote.  That’s why we have daily reminders via email and Facebook.

We know there are voting issues.  That’s why we ask that you email us with them so we can take them to the foundation.

And we definitely know it’s daunting to look at the vote totals of other organizations and not be discouraged.  We fight that battle every day.  But please keep voting.  If each of our Facebook followers voted every day for the rest of the month, we would win the entire competition.  Do you know how huge that is?

We are the underdogs for sure.  Always have been.  Probably always will be.  But there’s something to be said about being the underdog…the win is that much better and the road is that much more worthwhile.

https://apronsinaction.homedepotfoundation.org/