Food. Clothing. Shelter. Love.

That’s what our partner Orphan World Relief provides to hundreds of orphans across the world.

Most of us may not see firsthand what these children go through. (I know the closest I’ve gotten is seeing Slumdog Millionaire and commercials on TV.) But I also know that even though I may never make it across the world, there are other ways to help.

We’re trying to make it easier for people to get involved in whatever way they can. You can start with our new “Food. Clothing. Shelter. Love.” T-shirt. Not only do you send $5 to an organization that will use it to do good, but you raise awareness for orphan relief every time you wear your shirt.

Plus, check out Orphan World Relief’s other ways to get involved on their website!

P.S. We came across Orphan World Relief thanks to a co-worker who had family involved with this great cause. We’re always looking for other non-profits to serve with our cause apparel - email us your suggestions!

We are approaching the one-year anniversary of Greater Than Goods coming up in July 2009. This milestone has made us pause to think about our first cause. It was the Embrace Iowa fund, which inspired the “Greater Than Any Storm” shirt to raise money for disaster recovery and relief assistance to victims of the tornadoes and devastating flooding that took place throughout Iowa in the spring and early summer of 2008.

Our goal for Greater Than Goods has always been twofold: to raise funds for nonprofit organizations and provide a communication channel to help them spread the “good” and raise awareness. Visitors from 22 states ordered our “Storm” shirt, thereby spreading exposure for the Embrace Iowa cause from coast to coast.

As grateful as we are to everyone who bought the shirt, we need to continue on our mission. There is more that still needs to be – and can be – done to provide assistance to the people whose lives were changed. Just in the Cedar Rapids area alone, 7,198 land parcels were affected by the flood:

• 5,390 residential
• 1,049 commercial
• 84 industrial
• 51 agricultural
• 486 non-profit organizations
• 138 other

…and 72,428 tons of debris were collected and removed as of August 2008. Now the rebuilding process is underway and volunteers are needed! Cedar Valley Habitat for Humanity says they are extremely shorthanded, and a blitz build of 20 houses was to begin construction in June.

So think about it, what could be better than a summer vacation helping the good go around by creating fresh starts for flood victims in Iowa?  For information on how to volunteer, follow this link: http://corridorrecovery.org/Volunteer/habitat.asp.

If coming to Iowa to volunteer is a little out of the way, you can still help with a donation we’ll make from your purchase of a Greater Than Any Storm t-shirt too!

Thanks for all you have helped us accomplish in our first year. Let’s keep doing good together!

Did you know that black dogs are some of the least adopted dogs at animal shelters? There are a few ideas of why this may be…maybe they don’t photograph as well, some fear they are more aggressive, etc.  The Animal Rescue League of Iowa is working to change that.

The ARL has started a Black Dog Club and Greater Than Goods is partnering with them to help raise money for this important cause.  As a proud owner of an adopted black dog named Joey, I can say he is one of the most loving, cheerful dogs I have ever met!  He gets along great with our other dog (Henry) and the two are now best friends.  While they are A LOT of work, they are completely worth it, even though sometimes I feel like I am living the book/movie “Marley and Me.”  Actually, Joey ate that book up - literally!

A number of other shelters throughout the U.S. have started similar groups to promote black dog adoption.  Tell us about them!  And tell us about your black dog, or any of your pets for that matter - we love hearing about them!

Look for the Black Dog Club shirt coming to our site soon!