By Christina DesMarais

I don't know about you, but this year for Mother's Day, I know what I'd appreciate more than anything is a little help.

These tools can deliver just that -- though you don't need to be a mom to use them.

VolunteerSpot

VolunteerSpot is a free online coordination tool used by busy moms, teachers, or anyone who needs to coordinate participation from others for activities like help in the classroom, parent-teacher conferences, service projects, donations for silent auctions, or staffing for sporting events or races.

BIRMINGHAM, AL (WBRC)- Back pockets and purses are
very popular places to put your cell phone, but often times you can make a call
you didn't intend to.

Birmingham Police Sergeant
Johnny Williams said dozens of those unintended or "butt dial" calls are made
directly to dispatch.

"We may average about
50 or so per day depending upon the day," said Williams. Williams said
that number can fluctuate depending on the day.

Birmingham isn't the only
area seeing a high volume of misdials. Shelby County's 9-1-1 center answered
more than 18,000 last year and Talladega County had about 35,000 unintended
calls. Large numbers but in the grand scheme of things people like Andrew Clark
don't think it's too bad.

"Compared to the
population it doesn't sound very high and with all the cell phones and
different phones and things like that so that doesn't sound terribly high for
the population," said Clark.

Birmingham Police have noticed an increase in car thefts and break-ins since temperatures have risen, in part because people may leave their car running in order to keep in cool while they run into a store.

To help combat these crimes they have offered some tips that can help protect your property, regardless of where you live.