Donate Duffle Bags to Foster Kids

Foster kids have to move their stuff from home to home...usually in a trash bag.  If you'd like to make their move a little "friendlier," why not donate that duffle bag stuffed in the back of your closet that hasn't been used or has been outgrown by your kids.

Go to bags4kids.com to find out how.

Maya Relief Foundation

Here's a great opportunity for your children to learn how to serve others:

Over 1/2 the world's population suffers dreadful illness and high mortality rates due to contaminated drinking water.

For only $35 you can provide a water filtration system for a family in Guatemala.  You can even  receive a photo of the family that gets your filtration system if you like - just ask.

The Maya Relief Foundation has started a women's group that will be collecting donations and distributing the systems.  If you would like to make a donation, go to their website:
women-2-women.org

One Warm Coat!

The Container Store is collecting coats for people in need. (They can also use sweaters, hats and gloves).  Last year they collected 10,000.  This year they hope to receive 15,000.  Just drop them off at any Container Store now until December 31st 2013.  See their website:
  www.onewarmcoat.org/

A penny saved is a penny...donated:

What do you do with all the change you get? I put mine in a Mason jar until it is full. I used to take it to the grocery store to one of their cash machines, but the machine takes a hefty chunk as a percentage of the transaction... So now I save it for charity drives. It is money I've gotten along without, so donating it is painless. Grocery stores usually have a collection going on;  McDonalds collects coins for their charity, Keep your eyes open. When possible, have your little ones put the coins in the collection pots. Not only will it get them excited about helping others, but this is a great way to donate without making a dent in your budget.

Here are some other very low cost ways of helping others:
$10 to malarianomore.org will buy one mosquito net to protect one child from malaria for 5 years.
$20 to charitywater.org can give one person drinking water for 20 years!
$35 to unicefusa.org buys a bike to get a health worker to remote areas.
$35 to scaw.org provides bedding, clothing, school supplies and other needed items for a needy child.
$50 to yellowribbonfund.com provides a rental car for a wounded soldier's familly while he or she is at a military hospital.

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Sit down with your family and decide which charity you'd like to help and have the whole family contribute something. Get a jar and have each person take money out of their allowance, or donate any coins they find around the house. For very small children, you can "find" a quarter and let them donate it to the jar. (of course you're not going to send the actual coins to the charities, you'll write a check or make an online donation - the point is, the whole family gets to share in the joy of giving).

1 out of 4 AMERICAN children go hungry every day

The Food Network is partnering with Share Our Strength to identify these children and get nutritious food on their table Their goal is to end childhood hunger in America by 2015.

Every donation helps those in need. For example:

• $25 will help feed a child three meals a day for more than a month.
• $50 can connect two children with nutritious meals for the entire summer when school is out.
• $100 will help provide 25 grocery bags of healthy foods for families at food banks.

If you would like to help, go to:      http://strength.org/ways_to_give/

Helping the Homeless

When I see the homeless on street corners, it tugs at my heartstrings. However, the one time I stopped and offered to give all the groceries I had just purchased to the homeless man, he said to me, "I don't want your food lady. I need cash." So now, every time I see a homeless person, I go home, stick some money in a jar and when it gets full, I donate it to our local homeless shelter.

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Another idea: carry gift certificates for meals at McDonalds in your wallet or glove compartment of your car and offer that. If he's really hungry, he'll take it.

If you know of a place where the homeless (or jobless) convene looking for handouts or work,  go through a drive-thru with a cheap dollar menu (like Taco Bell or Wendy's), and you can feed A LOT of people for twenty bucks!  Drop off the bag of goodies at lunch-time.

Service Projects for Kids

Here is a link to a GREAT website to help your children learn to serve: http://penniesoftime.com/category/service-projects-for-kids/

A Class Challenge ended up as a Great Solution...One Person CAN make a difference!

Look what one 23 year old was able to accomplish!

How YOU can help prevent polluting our oceans:

Trash that makes its way into the oceans decomposes very slowly, littering coastlines, polluting ground water, and harming marine creatures that mistake the trash for food.

Gather your family together and talk about what YOU can do to help this world-wide problem.

How YOU can help prevent pollution of our oceans:

1. Toxic products like paints, automobile oil, polishes, and cleaning products should be stored and disposed of properly. As a matter of fact, it is better to use non-toxic, products for the house as far as possible. Also, never dispose of such products by throwing them into your toilet or sink.
2. Dispose of your trash in a proper manner and try and incorporate the recycling habit as far as possible. (Non-degradable products like tampons, sanitary napkins, and diapers should not be flushed down the toilet, for these can end up damaging the process of sewage treatment, and usually end up as litter on beaches.)
3. Refrain from throwing litter into streams, lakes, rivers, or seas. If you do spot litter on beaches or in water systems, after ascertaining that it is safe, collect them and dispose of them in any nearby waste disposal system.
4. Try using environmentally friendly household products like toiletries, soap-based household cleaning material, and washing powder as far as possible.
5. Try using natural fertilizers and pesticides as far as possible, or if not, do not overuse them or over-water gardens and lawns. This will help in reducing the pollutants that get into water systems due to runoffs.
6. Automobile oil should be re-used as far as possible. Also, it is important to keep your automobile well maintained in order to prevent leakages of toxic fluids like antifreeze and oil.
7.  Actively conserve water by turning the tap off when you do not need running water, such as while brushing teeth. Apart from preventing water shortages, it lessens the amount of water that needs to be treated.
8. Do not use colored bathing bars. They are known to contribute more to water pollution.
9. Avoid buying packaged water as far as possible. The best policy to adopt is to carry a bottle of water when you step out of the house. You can carry one big bottle per person. This has two advantages: you eliminate your contribution to pollution related to plastic bottles, and you save money!
10.  Always screw the caps on bottles before discarding them (turtles, and fish mistake them for food and choke on them - usually causing death).

The above steps may seem to insignificant to ever reducing water pollution. But just imagine: even if 10 families (four members each)committed to eliminating 1 plastic bottle a day, we will have 14,600 fewer plastic bottles a year contributing to pollution. That is quite a number, don't you think? If we all decide to share the responsibility, we can all come together and make a big difference!
Read more at Buzzle: http://www.buzzle.com/articles/ways-to-prevent-water-pollution.html

Who is Helping the victims in the Philippines after "Yolanda?"

I was pleased to see the outpouring of help for this devastated area. It restores my faith in mankind:

MANILA, Philippines (UPDATE) - More than a few countries have immediately pledged assistance upon news of the catastrophe from typhoon "Yolanda" in the Philippines.
While some nations are sending monetary donations, most are deploying medical teams and volunteers as well as significant amounts of relief goods and equipment for basic services.
• AUSTRALIA - US$10 million package
• BELGIUM - medical and search and rescue personnel
• CANADA - C$5 million
• DENMARK - KR 10 million
• EUROPEAN UNION - EUR 3 million
• GERMANY - 23 tons of relief goods
• HUNGARY - search and rescue personnel and rapid response team
• INDONESIA - in-kind donations
• ISRAEL- team of medical, trauma and relief professionals
• JAPAN - emergency relief medical team
• MALAYSIA - medical and search and rescue teams
• THE NETHERLANDS - undisclosed financial aid
• NEW ZEALAND - NZ $2.15 million
• NORWAY - KR 20 million
• RUSSIA - rapid response team
• SAUDI ARABIA through Prince Talal bin Abdulaziz Al Saud - US$100,000
• SINGAPORE - $50,000
• SPAIN - in-kind donations
• SWEDEN- emergency communications equipment
• TAIWAN - $200,000
• TURKEY - medics, rapid response team, search and rescue personnel
• UNITED ARAB EMIRATES - Dhs 36 million
• UNITED KINGDOM - £6 million and $9.6 million worth of emergency support package
• UNITED NATIONS Children's Fund - $1.3 million worth of supplies
• UNITED STATES - initial $100,000 for water and sanitation; Troops, emergency respondents, transportation and equipment
The Association of Southeast Asian Nations similarly offered support to the Philippine government on Monday, contacting Foreign Affairs Secretary Albert del Rosario

Even the very LITTLE things you do is serving others

For some ideas, view this video:

Arlington National Cemetery at Christmas

I just wanted to share this with our readers.  It is just one example of how creative people can be when service is on their minds. 


Readers may be interested to know that these wreaths -- some 5,000 -- are donated by the Worcester Wreath Co. of Harrington, Maine . The owner, Merrill Worcester, not only provides the wreaths, but covers the trucking expense as well. He's done this since 1992 (he had 4,000 wreaths left over and thought about what he could do with them - he remembered visiting the cemetery on a field trip when he was 12 years old and thought decorating the graves of the soldiers who had died for our freedom would be the best use of those wreaths - he has continued to provide wreaths every year since then).  A wonderful guy. Also, most years, groups of Maine school kids combine an educational trip to DC with this event to help out. Hundred of locals turn out each year to help.


(Our service doesn't have to be on a scale this large.  Just bringing a plate of cookies to a shut in in your neighborhood can make for a happier Christmas).

Letters to Santa = Donations to Make-A-Wish Foundation

Macy's has set up their Letter to Santa stations in their stores.  You can pick up post cards for your children to write their letter on, put a stamp on it, and return it to the store in the red mail box.  For every letter they receive, they will donate $1 to the Make-A-Wish Foundation (up to $1,000,000!).

Go to :  http://social.macys.com/believe/#/createyourletter  for more information  (and to create your letter on line)

If you are interested in finding out more about the Make-A-Wish Foundation.  Contact the chapter nearest you ( Go to:  http://www.wish.org/chapterlocate ) and ask how you can help.

This would make an excellent service project for primary, young women, church groups, whatever. Adults can write letters too (I mailed mine at the Henderson Macy's  on Sunset this morning).

Spend a Little, Give a Lot

I don’t know about you, but I always get a tug at my heartstrings to help people in need – especially during the holiday season.  This year the need is more urgent than ever. Sit down with your family and decide as a family what you would like to do. Here is a list published by Oprah of her suggested ways to give:

For as little as:

$  5         you can pay for the shipping of 10 books to a classroom in
               Africa.       booksforafrica.org

$10         you can help a wounded veteran adapt his home at no cost
               to him.       homesforourtroops.org

$10       you can help get music back in low-income schools

              ($2 buys drum sticks, $50 buys a guitar)

               littlekidsrock.org

$14         you can provide for two meals to be delivered by meals
               on wheels to a housebound senior citizen.

                mowaa.org

$25         you can send 8 high-risk children on a field trip to a museum
               or concert.    createnow.org

$25         you can feed an American child in need three meals a day
               for more than a month.       strength.org/ways_to_give

$35         you can help feed the poor in areas of the world that need
               it most.          foodforthepoor.org

$100       you can provide 25 grocery bags of healthy foods for
               families at food banks.    strength.org/ways_to_give

Or browse this site for other ideas.

Holiday Service Opportunities

Make November and December special months for remembering the aged who are disabled, impoverished or aching with loneliness. Redefine Thanksgiving and Christmas as seasons for preparing to bring hope and peace  to needy older neighbors. Share dinner with a new neighbor or one who is alone. You could also take dinner to a shut-in. A neighborhood potluck supper could help those who live around you feel a spirit of friendship and acceptance. (Be sure to include the needs of elderly members of your own family in your holiday preparations).

Have children craft greeting cards, assemble food baskets or make supervised home or hospital visits.

Why not surprise them with a Christmas stocking.

Items for "Senior Stockings" such as note cards, stamps, personal care, ornaments, new dish towels and napkins, gift boxes of dried fruit or candy, gum, mugs, knit gloves and slippers, candles, photo frames, stationery, and gift certificates.

Have your children go with you to deliver it. What a nice way to brighten their day.

Halloween Candy Buyback! (Candy goes to the TROOPS!)

Participating dentists will buy back your Halloween candy for $1 a pound. then send it to the troops overseas! What a great way to brighten the day of an American soldier.

How does the program work?

• Participating dentists buy back kids' Halloween candy at a scheduled event
• Dentists send the candy to Operation Gratitude or other Military support groups
• Operation Gratitude sends the candy  to U.S. Military deployed in harm's way

You'll enjoy peace of mind knowing you’re making Service Members smile!

You'll set a great example for the next generation to give back!

Go to    http://www.halloweencandybuyback.com/    and enter your zip code to find a participating dentist near you.   Call the dentist to find out when and how he/she is collecting.

Treats for Troops

Ttreats for the Troops provides care packages year round for our troops.  You can send items to them to ship, or send money for them to purchase what is needed.  Check out their website: 
http://treatsforthetroops.us/

Support the Troops: Holiday Stockings

It is never too early to start thinking about supporting our troops at Christmas.

Operation Holiday Stockings is a nonprofit founded by family members of the United States Armed Forces. Last year they sent 1,560  Christmas stockings to our brave troops overseas. This year they are hoping to send even more. Their website was created to inform other patriotic Americans about their cause and provide a means for you to help. You can either visit the Stockings page and make your own stockings to send overseas, or you can donate money towards the shipping costs, or donate items to fill the stockings with.  Here are some suggestions:

• Hard Candy
• Beef Jerky
• Decks of Cards
• Puzzle Books
• Small Toiletries
• Shaving Cream
• Toothpaste
• Tooth Brushes
• Tic-Tacs®
• Drink Powders
• Gatorade®
• Kool-Aid® (sugar added)
• Crystal Clear®
• Mixed Nuts
• Candy Canes
• Anything that will last for a while because they will probably be getting more than one care package.

You can also send them a store purchased stocking. So, even if you can't knit a stocking for the troops, you can still contribute to their Christmas celebration. 
Go to their website or email Sue at:
ramsddj@aol.com 

You can send items to

Operation Holiday Stockings

P.O. Box 3186

Sequim, WA 98382

IMPORTANT UPDATE:  as of 10/29/2011  they only have 850 stockings to send to the troops.  They are committed to sending 1600.  This would be an excellent service project for a church group, scout troop, etc.
It is also a great way to involve your own children and let them experience the satisfaction that comes from serving others.

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Give Without Spending a Cent:

Give Without Spending a Cent:

You can donate without spending a cent, by clicking on sites where advertisers make a donation in return. Click on the links below, then click daily to help the cause:

• To Help Children
• To Fund Breast Cancer Research
• The Hunger Site
• To Help Animals
• To Protect the Environment 

between Jan and June of 2011:
421,095 children have been helped
2,349 free mammograms have been given
30.6 million cups of food have been given to the hungry
40.8 million bowls of food have been given to rescued animals*
291.1  million square feet of rain forest has been protected

 between Jan and June of 2010:
365,038 children have been helped
1,035 free mammograms have been given
29.5 million cups of food have been given to the hungry
39.9 million bowls of food have been given to rescued animals*
246 million square feet of rain forest has been protected



Keep up the good work!!!  It doesn't cost you a cent!  Click every day!
*Do people really care more about feeding animals than humans?  Apparently so.