January is National Blood Donation Month so why don't you tell us 5 things that you donate for the help of others. Now this doesn't have to be something huge...if you are a grandparent and you babysit for your grandchildren while their parents work...in these hard economic times that is a HUGE help for parents trying to make ends meet! A friend of mine is doing a Pay-it-forward for her New Years resolution...so it just got me thinking...what can I do this year to help more people. Give us your giving ways and lets all start this year out with our hearts! If you are someone who has new ideas for this coming year, tell us your 5 resolutions to give in the New Year...or if you are someone who (as I had been in the past while raising 3 kids) maybe this 5 can allow you to stop and think of ways you can start this year as a giving year...just let us know your thoughts!"
Here's my 5.
1. I'll start with the easiest donation and probably the best, my prayers. Prayer is also the perfect donation for when you don't have anything else to give or when you feel helpless. It can be done on the spot, where ever you are, and can take just a few moments of heartfelt thought.
2. Goodwill - This donation really is doing me a favor. I feel so much better after purging away clutter. I also appreciate how the Goodwill organization near me is trying to train people for jobs, something in our area that is very difficult to come by.
3. I'm a Bell Ringer for the Salvation Army. I do this in memory of my immigrant grandparents who were helped out by this organization when they first came to this country and when they struggled through the depression. Its also fun and helps get me in the Christmas spirit of giving being witness to so many people dropping money into the buckets.
4. I help both "light the tree" and "light the night" in an effort to stop cancer. Unfortunately, next Christmas I'll have more white lights on our community's memory tree, having lost more friends and family to this evil disease.
5. I feed the neighborhood posse and provide a safe place for them to hang out, away from drugs and alcohol. All through the years, we've opened up our home to the boys' friends, letting them know they are always welcome. Our Game Cave is a neighborhood favorite, plus I benefit from getting to know the friends of my children.
And here are 5 more I want to start in 2011!
1. Meals on Wheels
2. Our local Care Closet - its both a second hand goods store and a food pantry for our village
3. Child abuse prevention
4. Restoring our parks and creating walking paths
5. My neighbors - I know my neighbor across the street, having just lost his wife, will need more TLC visits and I'd love to bake up a little more friendship for all of my neighbors.
10 comments:
Very nice!
Awesome, Dawn. What a great idea and a worthy pursuit for the year!
Excellent! Both the help you've been giving and the help you plan to give this year. :-D
I'm delighted at Item #5. That's probably the most valuable of all your generosity.
I am so thankful for #1 and you are so right, it is way more important than anything else we can do!
But your list is fantastic! I use to do #5 until my kids left high school...and you are right, it allows you to know just who they are friends with. It has also allowed us to give sancutary to children in times of need such as divorce or violence...and wonderful talks against teen sex. Great list for this year as well!
Wonderful list. Number is awesome. That needs to be done in many places.
Great post!
Awesome list Dawn, I know your community is very thankful for all you do along with the kids that get hang out at your house
Dawn. I wasn't aware that your neighbor died. Is this the one with the cancer? When did this happen?
Yes, my friend from across the street, my gardening guru mentor, passed away early Friday morning at 3:45am. Her husband and children were by her side, and I was told she wasn't in pain. She had been diagnosed with 4th stage lung cancer in October of 2009. She fought bravely, never giving up, because she did not want to leave her family.
Post a Comment