View photos of t-shirts, hats, and more products!

Sunday, January 29, 2017

Please donate to help homeless veterans. MCVET lost HUD funding.

MCVET needs more community support. Please read the information about their loss of HUD funding via
http://m.baltimoretimes-online.com/news/2017/jan/27/after-losing-hud-funding-mcvet-sticking-values-pur/

 I will do whatever I can to help them with basic necessities. Would you like to help? All donations are appreciated. Please visit
https://www.gofundme.com/uxs2hbcs to support MCVET'S important mission.

Thank you,

Tyler

Tuesday, January 24, 2017

My meeting with the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs

On January 12, 2017, I met with Robert McDonald at the VA in Washington, D.C. before his time ended there. He is now the former Secretary of Veterans Affairs. I had an opportunity to discuss my veteran project and plans to establish a nonprofit to help veterans in the community. A group of employees welcomed me and cheered me on as I walked upstairs to his office. They found out about Give Back to Veterans Day, and encouraged me to continue my advocacy work, and my special mission to support elderly and homeless veterans.
During the meeting, I also signed "Tyler Goes Around the World" to give to Mr. McDonald. I received a special coin for my service to veterans. 

If everyone works together, we can make a difference to help veterans and their families. Let's raise our voices to show veterans that we care. I want to raise awareness and remind everyone that many veterans still need support. With your help, perhaps we can make an impact and gain more attention from officials.I will post more photos from my trip soon.

Tyler

Tuesday, January 10, 2017

Please read my interview with founders of Black Streak Kitchen. Support a veteran-owned business!


Hello Friends,

Please enjoy my special interview with Black Streak Kitchen. Two brothers, Terry Raimey and Justin Raimey, teamed up to make cooking fun and nutritious! Read how you can change the way your family cooks and eats. Do not forget to download the app that is available via www.blackstreakkitchen.com and support a veteran-owned business.

Thank you,
Tyler

CEO of Kid Time Enterprises/ KTE
author of  Tyler Goes Around the World 
co-creator of Give Back to Veterans Day




KTE: Where are you from? Where is your business based?

Black Streak Kitchen: We are based in Youngstown, OH. Since our father was in the military, we moved around quite a bit as kids.

KTE: How did you get interested in doing a food business? Are you trained chefs or self-taught?

Terry: Growing up, our mom and dad cooked for our family everyday. Healthy eating was important in our home for as long as I can remember, so once I left my parents home I continued cooking for myself. My parents taught me how to cook as a kid. My best friend, who is a chef, has also taught me quite a bit about cooking. We bounce ideas off of each other for new dishes, we hit the grill together and blend different ingredients and flavors. It’s a lot of fun!

KTE: Where did the idea come from?

Terry:  I am a writer and Justin is the artist and graphic designer of everything Black Streak Entertainment (Black Streak Kitchen’s parent company). We wanted to do something new and unique with our stories and artwork, something no one else in the comics and animation industry had ever done.

One day, I saw an ad for one of those grocery/recipe delivery services and thought it would be really cool to apply our artwork to something like that, and gear it towards kids, teens and families. So, we created Black Streak Kitchen as a source to teach kids, teens and families that cooking healthy can be delicious, while teaching how the ingredients benefit their bodies and minds.

I love to cook and create new dishes by fusing unorthodox fresh ingredients and flavors. I love how eating healthy makes me feel and look; it’s very satisfying to me. I want everyone to experience that satisfaction.

KTE: What does Black Streak Kitchen mean?

Justin: Black Streak Kitchen is a branch of our company Black Streak Entertainment. The word “black streak” was chosen because it represents creativity. When one starts an art piece, it will start off with a simple black stroke that will evolve into a finished work of art. That black streak has the possibility of turning into anything the mind can think of, and we hope to inspire this thought into our readers through our stories, comics, and recipes.

KTE: What things will your business offer, and when will it launch?

Terry: The first issue of Black Streak Kitchen Comics will go on sale January 15th. Black Streak Kitchen Comics will release once a month, and feature 4 recipes taught by our Character Chefs. Think of it as a cooking show, except the recipes are taught by cartoon characters in the form of a comic book! Each monthly issue will also feature 2 recipes with meat and 2 vegetarian recipes.




KTE: Do the comics teach kids how to cook healthy food? What ages can learn from what you do?

Terry: We definitely make sure our recipes are healthy and use fresh ingredients like lean meats, spices, fruits and vegetables. Our comics are made for kids and families, so we suggest parents cook with their kids. It’s the safest way to cook and it’s also a great way for parents to spend time with their kids and bond with them. Family togetherness is important!

KTE: Please tell me about your app?

Terry: Our free mobile app, Black Streak Kitchen App, is available now for Android and iPhone. Through it, we share content from our website like recipe comics and our animated Spice of the Week videos, where our Character Chefs break down nutrition facts about cooking spices. We use the app to keep our audience up-to-date on everything Black Streak Kitchen has to offer!


KTE: Who is a veteran and what branch did serve in?

Terry: That would be me! I served in the U.S. Air Force, enlisted.

KTE: Are you accepting pre-orders? If so, what for? What will be free and what will you sell?

Terry: We are accepting pre-orders for Black Streak Kitchen Comics #1. You can preview and pre-order the digital comic at blackstreakkitchen.com/pricing. Our monthly recipe comic issues cost $5.99, but the Black Streak Kitchen App, our animated videos, and select comic recipes are free for anyone to check out!

KTE: What is your website address and social media information?

Facebook: Black Streak Kitchen (@blackstreakkitchen)
Pinterest: blackstreakkit
Instagram: blackstreakkitchen
Twitter: @BStreakKitchen


Saturday, January 7, 2017

My story made the front page of The Baltimore Times newspaper!

Hello Friends,

I appreciate another terrific article that was written about my mission to help veterans in Baltimore. Please read it and leave a comment at the bottom of the article if you can. It really helps others to get more coverage of good news.
Click this link to read the story:
http://baltimoretimes-online.com/news/2017/jan/06/five-year-old-rescues-baltimore-veterans/

Thank you,

Tyler

Cheverly boy gives back to homeless veterans, families during holidays (newspaper story)

Hello Friends,

Please read this great story about me that was written by Johnathon Clinkscales and published in the The Enquirer-Gazette in Southern Maryland. I was excited to have two newspaper articles published about my giving holiday for veterans.

Thanks,

Tyler

Cheverly boy gives back to homeless veterans, families during holidays

By JOHNATHON CLINKSCALES
jclinkscales@somdnews.com


World War II, the Korean War, the Cold War, the Vietnam War, Grenada, Panama, Lebanon, Operation Enduring Freedom (Afghanistan), Operation Iraqi Freedom, Operation New Dawn — those are just some of the conflicts that a vast majority of veterans have served in, many of whom are homeless due to poverty, lack of support networks and dismal living conditions in overcrowded or substandard housing.

A large number of displaced and at-risk veterans live with lingering effects of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) and substance abuse, which are compounded by a lack of family and social support networks. Veterans need a coordinated effort that provides secure housing, nutritional meals, basic physical health care, substance abuse care and aftercare, mental health counseling, personal development and empowerment, according to the National Coalition for Homeless Veterans.

Five-year-old Tyler Stallings, honorary CEO of Kid Time Enterprises LLC, wanted to create a way to give back to those veterans in need after seeing a YouTube video about homeless vets. The Cheverly boy, with the help of his mom, launched his own campaign called “Give Back to Veterans Day” — via www.gofundme.com/uxs2hbcs — to help elderly and homeless veterans during Christmas.

“When my son was 4 years old, he saw a video on YouTube about homeless veterans,” said Stalling’s mother, Andrea Blackstone. “I was giving him a lesson about that and the sacrifices that they have made for the country. The first thing he said to me was, ‘Mom, why are they homeless? That’s not right.’ And he immediately wanted to do something to help them.”

In addition to raising money through his campaign and making requests in-person at local shopping centers, Stallings also donated some of the proceeds from his book, “Tyler Goes Around the World,” to help raise more than $1,000 and deliver 15 boxes of goods — including a new computer, hats, gloves, scarves, soap, shirts, undergarments, toothpaste/toothbrushes, deodorant, backpacks and thermals — on Dec. 19 to the Maryland Center for Veterans Education and Training Inc. (MCVET) in Baltimore.

Thanks to the support of organizations like Burgundy Wear in Laurel, Stallings also received and was able to donate hoodies and shirts for the veterans and their families.

“They [MCVET] work with homeless veterans and veterans who need assistance. Some live there, some drop in — they’re both women and men,” Blackstone said. “We thought that was a terrific place in terms of what they do and how much they help veterans from all around the United States, not just Baltimore. That is where he donated the majority of his items.”

Blackstone said raising money online was hard to do and the call to help collect items went unanswered. Lots of people ignored her son when he tried to talk to them about helping veterans. Others promised to help but never showed up, even after meetings were scheduled, she said.

But luckily for Stallings, Blackstone is teaching him how to deal with tough situations and unkind people at an early age. She said he is learning many lessons, especially how one small act of kindness can go a long way.

“[Tyler] also raised money on his own, from the book sales, to finance the purchase of a new laptop computer,” she said. “That was his goal. … To do something not just to give back to the veterans in need, but to give them a tool to help them to achieve a goal. So that’s why he, after speaking with me, selected a laptop — because that’s a tool that can be used in a job program to help a veteran secure employment and [conduct] job searches.”

For Blackstone, everyone has a purpose but may be called to do different things as not every journey will unfold the same. There is enough room for anyone who wants to participate in doing good deeds to take action and do it, she said.

“In addition to [donating items to MCVET], he decided to also give some special community awards to recognize veterans,” Blackstone said. “There was one particular person who we know and their dad is a retired veteran. They needed something personal and important. Tyler financed glasses for that individual. … He just wanted to say ‘thank you’ even if they weren’t homeless veterans, but maybe there was something that they needed or their families could benefit from.”

Both of Blackstone’s parents were active volunteers in different capacities when she was growing up. The values that she learned back then are what she is trying to pass on to her son now, she noted.

“He’s been taught not to forget elderly veterans, either, so that is another reason why he tries to do something,” Blackstone said. “Giving back is huge for us. Number one, because that’s what my parents instilled in me to do. It’s in me and I’ve passed it on to him. I think he just instinctively puts it out without me preaching about it. The fact that he is a child of a veteran, I’m a child of a veteran, he’s the grandson of a veteran, my grandfather was a veteran, his uncle was a veteran — so many people in my family are veterans. I thought it was a prime opportunity to show him that you don’t have to wait until you’re a certain age, if you believe in something, to take a stand and try to make a difference however you can do it.”

“It teaches [Tyler] good values, it gives him something to learn and hopefully inspires other people to get behind their children and help them pursue what their goal is,” Blackstone continued. “Sometimes little kids can have ideas, too.”

As for Stallings, he believes it is his job to spread as much goodness as he can. The Give Back to Veterans Day project not only taught him how important it is to help people in need, but also that kids can give back, too, he said.

“It feels good,” according to a statement received from Stallings in an email Friday. “It’s good to treat people nice. I’m supposed to give back and I just shouldn’t think of myself.”
Blackstone said the next steps for her son is to help him grow his business and continue to change the world one idea at a time.

“Just giving him more support and exposure and to help him continue his dreams, as a 5-year-old boy, to show other people that it is possible to make an impact,” said Blackstone. “We’ve started to discuss next steps for Give Back to Veterans Day because now it’s becoming not just a campaign, but a movement.”

Twitter: @JClink_EnqGaz

A Hero for Heroes: 5-year-old Philanthropist wins $1,000 Grant: "Give Back to Veterans Day"

Hello Friends,

I am happy to announce that I was selected by Daisy Button Believes to receive a $1,000 grant to help improve Give Back to Veterans Day! How will I use the money? Please read the story by scrolling to the bottom of this page: http://daisybuttonbelieves.com/grantwinners/. I look forward to taking the next critical step that is needed to help more veterans in a new way.

If you know a child who can benefit from taking their philanthropic ideas to the next level, please visit www.daisybuttonbelieves.com and www.startasnowball.com. Both organizations have helped me to pursue my goals.

Best wishes,

Tyler