Season of Giving: Rainey Institute

12/21/2017 — Jen Deming

At PartnerShip, we are wrapping up our week of holiday visits with our five charitable organizations. Every organization helps to spread the theme of compassion and community not only during this season, but all year long. We've presented debra of America, Downs on the Farm, the Gathering Place, and Music on a Mission. Today, we visit the Rainey Institute on Cleveland, Ohio's east-side.

The Rainey Institute was founded on the belief that kids who participate in visual and performing arts are impacted on an interpersonal level by encouraging self-esteem and positive social interaction. By exploring dance, drama and theater, music, sewing and art, students of the Rainey Institute learn to be leaders and positive role models in both school performance and in daily life.

The organization was established in 1904 by Eleanor B. Rainey, which began by creating reading and lunchroom program for boys and young workmen in the local Eastern European community. These programs provided physical fitness, literacy studies, and industrial training in a wholesome recreational environment. In the 1960s, program focus shifted exclusively to the arts and a deeper curriculum was developed for the growing community in Cleveland, aligning with the Cleveland Music School Settlement. This cooperation extended to a modern program list that includes music theory, therapy, dance and private instrumental classes for students.

Currently, the organization has grown to include more than 2,500 children and young adults age 3 and up, where they attend Rainey after school, on Saturdays, and during summer camps. The program listing has become more sophisticated, but the essential message at Rainey remains the same: that regardless of background, socio economic levels, and skill set, a child who is influenced by the arts is a child who has an outlet for creativity and self expression. 

We are inspired by the Rainey Institute and the staff's efforts to help Cleveland's kids gain exposure to the arts and confidence in themselves. Get involved and support the Rainey Institute through fundraising, community events, and donations, and learn more about their various programs for kids.

Check out more pictures from all of our visits on our facebook and learn more about these amazing local organizations that have given so much and helped so many!

Season of Giving: Music on a Mission

12/20/2017 — Jen Deming

The holiday season is one of giving, and this year PartnerShip has once again chosen 5 charitable organizations to donate to and spread holiday cheer!  These organizations are about the people behind the scenes and the message they want to spread, and we want to spread the word on their amazing work!  We've touched on debra of America, Downs on the Farm, and the Gathering Place. Today, we would like to recognize Music on a Mission.

Music on a Mission believes in the power that music has to heal and enrich the lives of every individual. By providing access to everyone, including those with special needs through their wide variety of free programs, the organization helps develop physical and emotional health as well as create an environment that fosters positive social interaction and inspires self-confidence. Music on a Mission provides therapeutic programs for the young and elderly, veterans and nursing home residents. Through group sing-alongs, choir performances, dancing activities, and one on one sessions with artists and writers, music motivates these individuals through vocalization, socialization, and self-care.

Our PartnerShip team was invited to tour the facility in Avon Lake, Ohio, to check out the onsite music venue lovingly known as "Barnegie Hall". An exclusively volunteer team donated their time and energy over the course of 14 months to repurpose and renew an older barn standing on the property. Storing equipment and in disrepair, the building was renovated and equipped with sound equipment, band instruments, and full seating space for visiting artists and musicians. Proceeds of any performances support the programs of Music on a Mission.

Upon immediate entry, the warmth and care put into the place can be felt through the high windows, bright light streaming through. The large stage is ready and waiting for its next performance, and the seating area is surrounded with memorabilia and photos of important visitors and moments in The Barn's history. An outside deck with string lights hugs the tree-lined outdoor space and provides an additional place to gather. A good energy resides here, leftover from the hard work of kind people, dedicated to creating musical opportunities for individuals who need them most.

All Music on a Mission programs are offered free for individuals, and the organization is supported mostly by vital private donations. Encouraging mental and physical development, as well as essential self-confidence to individuals who may not otherwise have the support and opportunity to do so is essential, and rent and payroll expenses add up. Click here to learn more about the different ways you can support Music on Mission, from donations to booking live events at Barnegie Hall!

Take a look at our facebook page to check out more amazing pictures from our visit and don't forget to check back tomorrow when we highlight another fantastic local non-profit that embodies strength of community and warmth of heart.

Season of Giving: the Gathering Place

12/19/2017 — Leah Palnik

At PartnerShip, we’re in the holiday spirit! Once again, we’ve selected five charitable organizations to donate to this season. They are all amazing organizations and we think they deserve all the recognition they can get. So far, we’ve showcased debra of America and Downs on the Farm. Today, we are talking about the Gathering Place.

The Gathering Place offers a wide variety of free programs and services addressing the emotional and physical needs of individuals and families currently coping with cancer. They help manage the stress associated with a cancer diagnosis and provide a number of enrichment programs. The work that the Gathering Place does provides people with a space where they can feel safe, connect with others, and find peace during a time of chaos.

A few of us were treated to a tour of their west side location in Westlake, Ohio. The atmosphere is very relaxing and it feels more like home than a care facility. They have a very impressive area for art therapy, a massage therapy room, and plenty of calming spaces for support groups. One of the most touching parts of our tour was seeing and learning about the Regina Brett Wig Salon, which provides a free wig to women with cancer-related hair loss. It’s very moving to see all the components of complete care that the Gathering Place offers.

The most incredible part is that all of the programs and services the Gathering Place offers are completely free. Dealing with a cancer diagnosis is not only stressful but is also a huge financial burden. To provide a place where those affected by cancer can go for premium care and not have to worry about expenses is very admirable. Click here to learn all of the different ways you can support the Gathering Place – from donations to fundraising and community events!

Check out more pictures from our visit on facebook and make sure to come back to the blog tomorrow when we featuring another amazing local non-profit that has touched our hearts!

Season of Giving: Downs on the Farm

12/18/2017 — Leah Palnik

To help spread holiday cheer, PartnerShip has once again selected five charitable organizations to donate to. On Friday we profiled debra of America, a non-profit that supports a cause very close to our hearts. Today, we’re going to tell you a little bit about Downs on the Farm of Amherst, Ohio.

Downs on the Farm provides animal therapy to children with special needs. They have combined two very meaningful causes into one very special non-profit organization by rescuing mistreated and neglected animals in need of finding loving forever homes and enriching the lives of special needs kids. Through animal assisted activities, kids have the opportunity to improve skills, increase their self-esteem, and reduce anxiety.

When we visited Downs on the Farm, the owners Shawna and David, gave us a warm welcome and were kind enough to give us a tour. Their property is incredible and we were quickly greeted by a number of their animals. Goats, alpacas, and horses oh my!

During our visit we learned about some of the awesome fundraisers Shawna and David have up their sleeves. Goat yoga is a popular event, and they just launched a new Escape Room that sounds like a blast. There certainly isn’t a shortage of fun activities around the farm, even in the winter months.

Along with individual programs for animal assisted therapy, kids can also enjoy a petting zoo, pony rides, and train rides. Downs on the Farm even has a big playground where kids and kids (the baby goat kind) can play together. It is a great experience for the whole family.

If you’re interested in supporting a worthy cause, there are several ways to get involved or you can choose to donate! To see more pictures from our visit, check out the album on our facebook page. Be sure to check back on the blog this week as we profile the remaining three organizations we picked this year!

Season of Giving: debra of America

12/15/2017 — Leah Palnik

In the spirit of the season, PartnerShip is donating to five charitable organizations that speak to our hearts and lift up our community. This tradition started several years ago and it’s our way of giving back and saying thank you to those who inspire us. The hardworking elves in the PartnerShip holiday planning committee have made their selections and we couldn’t be more excited to share them with you! We hope that by hearing their stories you’ll be as inspired as we were to hear about what they do.

First up is debra of America. This organization is dedicated to finding a cure for Epidermolysis Bullosa (EB), which affects 1 out of every 20,000 live births in the United States. EB is a rare genetic connective tissue disorder that is painful, often debilitating, and is in some cases lethal. There is no treatment or cure. Daily wound care, pain management, and protective bandaging are the only options available.

There’s a reason it’s often referred to as the “worst disease you’ve never heard of.” Children living with EB are affectionately referred to as “Butterfly Children” because their skin is as fragile as a butterfly’s wing. They live with painful blisters that cause them to endure constant pain and suffering.

debra of America is committed to funding research toward a cure, while also providing direct services and support to patients and their families. debra of America works to improve the quality of life for people with EB, their families, and caregivers. They have several different programs that include services like educating nurses, distributing wound care supplies, and providing care packages to families with newborns with EB.

We admire everything that debra of America does to help those affected by EB. If you’re interested, here’s how you can get involved or donate. 

Next week, we'll feature the remaining four organizations, so make sure to check back!

2018: The Year of the Truck Driver

12/06/2017 — Jen Deming

Ringing in the New Year means starting fresh and anticipating big changes for future, and truck drivers may be looking forward to 2018 more than anyone. The ELD mandate, driver shortages, fuel costs, and e-commerce boom are all components that leverage trucking companies' ability to determine cost and coverage.

As we covered in our previous blog post, truckload rates are going up due to a number of different factors. That means that drivers and trucking companies are going to be behind the wheel when it comes to determining how much shipping lanes will be going for. Having this leverage pushes the shipper to the passenger seat, with the potential for less bargaining power and high shipping costs heading into the new year.

A significant factor contributing to the higher truckload rates is due to an overall shortage of willing and capable truck drivers. Trucking analyst John Larkin suggests that the slow but steady economic increase will result in stronger demand with tighter supply. "The primary driver of the supply/demand tightness is the economy-wide shortage of skilled, blue collar labor," he says. "While driver pay scales began to rise in the 2nd half of 2017, the starting point for wages was so low, that it may take multiple wage hikes before we see any alleviation of this chronic challenge." The ELD mandate, which will be fully implemented on Dec 18, 2017, may add increased tension to an already volatile scenario. Many drivers view the mandate as an invasion of privacy, and may push an already limited number of qualified and experienced drivers from the pool of available carriers.

The amount of freight being hauled by trucks is expected to increase more than 3% annually over the next five years, as reported by the American Trucking Association. The industry has already seen a 2.8% increase over the past year, and the ATA estimates it could accelerate as much as 3.4% before slowing down again slightly. A notable increase in shipping economy means that though the available trucker pool has dwindled, those who are qualified are more in demand than ever. In addition, because those drivers may have to travel outside their normal area of operations, they can charge a premium. The ATA also reports that trucking will continue to be the dominant freight mode, and in 2017 "approximately 15.18 billion tons of freight will be moved by all transportation modes." The growing economy will further push demand and stretch the pool of available carriers. The ATA estimates that the current 50,000 driver-deficit could expand to 174,000 by 2026.

With that economic push, and labor shortage, truck drivers will demand higher wages and shippers will have to pay. The third-quarter hurricanes are also said to have played a factor, with drivers understandably asking more for lanes they had run at lower rates previously. Additionally, Florida and Texas, the two states hit the hardest by the storms, are typically some of the most reliable recruiting markets for new drivers. Until the economy recovers in these states, the pool of new drivers will be limited, with many potential recruits choosing the recent wave of construction positions over trucking. A jump in driver pay may keep them interested. According to Bob Costello, the American Trucking Association's economist, observes, "We've already seen fleets raising pay and offering other incentives to attract drivers." The driver pay structure is also evolving. Where once most carriers were being paid by load, many are now moving to an hourly pay model, specifically as the ELD mandate takes effect. Either way, with the anticipated changes for the new year, it's safe to say truck drivers and carriers are going to have a huge influence on shipping rates for the near future.

So, now that truck drivers have extra leverage, what can shippers do to help keep down their shipping costs in 2018? Working with a freight broker like PartnerShip can help add value and flexibility to your current shipping options. We shop rates and put in the legwork for you, negotiating on your behalf with carriers for both your LTL and your Truckload moves. If you have questions on how PartnerShip can help manage your shipping costs, call us at 800-599-2902 or get a free quote today!