Spread Change

The Terror of Kindness

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 29 Aug 2011 13:40:00 +0000

Check out this wonderful post: Terror of Kindness

It's some thoughtful speculation on why we hesitate to do more acts of kindness when they are so cheap and easy to do.

It's brilliant. Go see.

Couple Builds Bikes for Disabled Kids

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 20 Aug 2011 02:09:00 +0000

I saw this on the news tonight. What a wonderful story!

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/Family/therapy-couple-fashions-tricycles-children-disabilities/story?id=14282607

What About Now?

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 01 Jul 2011 12:45:00 +0000

Watch this video. If it doesn't make you want to do something today to make a difference in the world, nothing will. Thanks to Matt Shifley for posting about his mom on Facebook and inspiring this post. She must have really been something.

Go do something good in your world today. Do it for Matt's mom so she can live forever. Do it for yourself. Just go do it because it's the right thing. Before you go to sleep tonight ask yourself, "Did I change something for the better today?"

The Fifth Meal

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sat, 30 Apr 2011 19:58:00 +0000

We have a way of feeding people that doesn't involve taking food to the foodbank. We love donating to the foodbank and do it occasionally, but in this economy as self-employed people there is not a lot of excess grocery money to go around at our house.

So, here is what we do instead.

When we make our normal evening meal we try to make enough that we can create what's called "The Fifth Meal" (we're a family of four). We package it up in a cool food saver tray that has compartments and a lid and voila... a whole meal we can share with someone.

Typically we share these with seniors because they are lighter eaters. It might be 2-3 ounces of a meat main dish and a serving spoon full of veggies and another bit of side-dish. It's not a grand meal, but it's solid and great for people on a fixed income. We get to know people around us who are on a fixed income and find it's a real treat for them to have their lunch brought to them the next day or to have a big hunk sliced off the end of the banana bread or whatever.

Little things like that can help your neighbor feel cared for and break up their ordinary food routine.

Don't let your leftovers sit in the fridge and go bad -- create a Fifth Meal and share it with someone who could use something to eat.

Photo by: Stephen Depolo

Helen's Pajama Party

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 17 May 2010 20:40:00 +0000

I love this group! I just found out about them today, but already I am madly in love with their mission which is to provide women in domestic violence shelters with brand new comfy jammies.

Helen's Pajama Party is based out of Iowa and their mission is to provide all women's shelters in Iowa with brand new comfy PJs for the women who are sheltered there. The goal is to gather about 3000 sets of pajamas per year in various sizes.

Would you consider having a pajama drive or a pajama party? Wouldn't that be a fun thing to do with your girlfriends?

Check out the web site and see what you can do to help!

What I've Been Doing for Two Weeks

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 22 Feb 2010 00:15:00 +0000

Some months ago I wrote a blurb about CASA for this blog. I've always thought it was a great organization and had been trying to talk my mother into starting to volunteer for them now that she is retired. I know her particular skill set would be great for what one needs to accomplish.

Finally I got her to do it! And it turns out she loves it and is great at it. So, now my mom is a child advocate and my sister-in-law does their outreach and another sister-in-law used to volunteer and I have several friends who volunteer and just by a natural progression I decided I'd go ahead and get certified.

SO... I have been sitting in the certification class for a week and have another half of a week to go. I wonder about the sanity of the decision since I'm raising two kids (with my husband) and we're running our own business. But then I think about the kids that need a voice and I can't ignore that.

It's remarkable to think what can be done if we all band together to help stop the cycle of abuse and neglect. I sat in court for three hours last Wednesday and listened to various testimony of people -- child protective service workers who testified the parents aren't doing what they need to do to get their kids back, parents who say they are doing all they can, listening to drug test results, police reports, advocate reports, lawyers who try to turn their client's lemons into lemonade...

One of the days in class we discussed domestic violence. We listened to a 911 call from a little girl named Lisa. I have a fairly tough exterior and most of the time remain in great control of my emotional self, but this one really got to me. As I sat listening I wondered if I cried because it was just horrible or if it was because I still struggle with the repercussions of my niece being stabbed by her husband I could not separate the two and I'm not sure if the depth of my sorrow was for little Lisa (and all the other little Lisas in the world) or if it was for my own family and our loss.

Not that it matters. My perspective has certainly changed since I've had children and crimes against children seem way worse now than they ever have because I put myself and my kids in the place of the people in the stories I hear. And I want to be a good example for the two boys I'm raising. I tell them they should make the world better than it was when they arrived to it and I ask myself constantly if I'm doing that myself.

How many lives must we make better to counteract those who are selfish or careless or violent? It would be nice if there was a formula, but there's not. So my plan is to just keep trucking and do the best I can do in my own small way, one person at a time. If you'll do it with me that will be two of us and if you bring a friend that's three times the good.

(If you have time to be an advocate for a child who is a victim of abuse and neglect, please check out CASA and see if it would be a good fit for you!)

Crafting for Haiti

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 02 Feb 2010 22:11:00 +0000

There are some pretty amazing things happening over at Craft Hope! Their Etsy shop has raised $27,000 for Doctors Without Borders in just a very short time. This is all from stuff that has been donated by artisans and crafters. What amazing work!

Please take a minute to check out Craft Hope's store. Get someone something cool for Valentine's Day and raise money for Haiti at the same time!

170,000 Yards of Yarn

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 18 Dec 2009 16:59:00 +0000

Lion Brand Yarns recently did a project with Partnership for the Homeless and provided hundreds and scarves and hats to those in need.

Go check out how awesome they are!

Here are some other craft philanthropy groups that I love:

Craft Hope
Afghans for Afghans
Newborns in Need

And for many others try: About.com Crafting for Charity

Send Love Today

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Wed, 14 Oct 2009 18:25:00 +0000

Send Love Today is a nonprofit organization that provides emotional support to brain tumor patients and their families in the form of cards and small gifts.

Do you have a little bit of time on your hands to commit to jotting a few notes to people who could use some encouragement and uplifting? Go to the site and read more about this great organization and see if you can do something to help.

And if you can't right now, do pass it on!

Dove Builds Self-Esteem

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:30:00 +0000

Did you know that 7 out of 10 girls believe they are not good enough in some way? And 75% of girls with low self-esteem participate in negative activities such as disordered eating, bullying, cutting, etc?

If 70% of our girls feel like this, how are they going to feel when they are grown up women?

As I was coupon surfing this morning I ran across Dove's web site and notice they are doing a "click to donate" program. Their campaign is all about building self-esteem in girls.

If you go to the site it asks for a UPC code from a Dove product, but it will also let you choose a product from a list so you don't have to enter your code. My selection donated $1 to the program and I was able to choose from three organizations to which to donate.

Awesome program. Go do your free donation!

And while you're at it, what can you do to help build up a lovely young lady's self-esteem? If you have a daughter or granddaughter, look further at the site and you will find some workbooks and other tools that you can use with that girl in your life to help build her self-esteem.

If you don't have a girl in your life, at least read the key findings in the self-esteem study and help educate others and influence them to make a difference, too!

Museum Day

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 25 Sep 2009 18:44:00 +0000

Saturday, September 26th is Museum Day, sponsored by The Smithsonian. Their web site has a place you can click to print yourself a free admission pass for two to any participating museum.

Tomorrow is a great opportunity to practice some budget philanthropy by taking a guest to a museum. Not only do museums rock (and are sometimes expensive!) but by going you can learn one new thing about history and culture that might expand your horizons. Knowledge gives us the opportunity and desire to show more compassion and tolerance for our fellow roomies on this planet we call our home.

Take the kids or borrow some kids if you don't have any of your own. Personally, my family are "treating" the grandparents to an outing. Tomorrow we're piling in a van and headed out to a discovery museum a couple hours from our home where we'll look at cool bugs and all sorts of other weird things.

Whose horizons can you broaden tomorrow?

Free Chocolate Friday!

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 11 Sep 2009 17:03:00 +0000

It's Free Chocolate Friday! Spread some happiness by signing yourself or a friend or loved one up for some TOTALLY FREE CHOCOLATE.

It's good. So good!

Hurry over to: Mars Real Chocolate Relief Act

Sharing Backyards

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:33:00 +0000

I live in a small town surrounded by rural countryside. Even here in town most folks have enough space around them to have a little garden, often a generous garden.

In the cities people aren't so lucky. They are surrounded by pavement or have little tiny postage stamp sized yards. Sometimes in the city you can get creative and have a rooftop garden or use your flowerbeds for vegetables. Some cities offer neighborhood parks and community gardens.

But there's another way... how about sharing a backyard? The Sharing Backyards web site has a database where you can enter a request for a backyard to share or offer your unused space to a local gardener. You post what you have or what you want and you can contact each other online and work out a deal.

I had a great time browsing the site to see what people were looking for in other cities. If you've got a grand backyard to share, why not see if someone in your area is looking? And if not, please pass the word and maybe you will make a gardener happy somewhere!

Collecting Little Things

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 07 Sep 2009 13:40:00 +0000

Recently a friend of mine sent me a link to a young woman, Katie Davis, who has amazing energy, compassion and a zest for life. She works with kids in Uganda and has a web site where she documents her work at Amazima Ministries International.

While I was there reading about Katie, I noticed that on her blog she has a list on her sidebar of things that they happen to need at the moment, just little things like gummie vitamins, deflated soccer balls and packets of dry soup. They live a life that is simply in survival mode. They are not asking for better Internet connection, more TV channel choices, MP3 downloads, chicken parmesan, a car with better gas mileage or the latest designer sneakers. No, they're asking for packets of dry soup and some underwear.

So why not get some friends together and see if you can make a care package for Amazima? Go check out the list she has on her blog and see if you can pull some of that stuff together to send. Want to do it cheaper? Print out this article and take it to several stores around town and see if they will donate some products to you. Also, if you do need to buy some of the items, be sure to check online and see if you can find coupons for some of the products. Frequently, stores who have their own brand names (like Kroger, Walgreens, etc) offer 2-for-1 sales on vitamins. And if a store won't donate, see if you can negotiate a deal where you can purchase items at cost or near-cost since it's for a worthy cause.

The little things make a big difference!

(By the way, I'm guest posting over at A Year of Living Charitably while Jen is on vacation. Go over and show some love!)

Goody Bags

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 28 Aug 2009 18:02:00 +0000

Tabitha over at afiveoh4uplifting.org is spreading goody bag madness. Would you like to join her?

The basic idea of her group designed to spread kindness is to make or collect a lot of little "goodies" that are donated to different hospitals or wherever. She gives a lot of hints on what types of things to give, where and how to give them, etc. She's full of life and enthusiasm and is very inspiring.

Please go check it out. Who can you make a goody bag for today? Or can you do a drive to collect goodies that can be handed out to those who need them? What have you done to promote kindness today?

Helping Others

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 01:52:00 +0000

I was reading over at The Prudent Homemaker and ran across a page of hers that talks about how to help others when you're having your own difficulty.

She has a ton of great budget philanthropy ideas, some really creative ways to help others. The key point is to look deep within yourself -- at your strengths and your talents -- and find ways to use these to benefit others.

What are your strengths and talents? Check out Prudent Homemakers Helping Others page to see if any of yours are listed there.

Craft Hope

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 21 Aug 2009 02:21:00 +0000

I am thrilled to have recently learned about a web site called Craft Hope.

It's a faith-based program in which people from all over join up to hand-craft items for a certain cause, such as making sock monkeys for kids at a burn camp, dolls for needy children, blankets and pillowcases, etc.

The response to the projects is fabulous and so touching. If you are crafty or know someone who is, I hope you will spread the word about this site. It's really wonderful.

I wish I knew how to sew! I'm waiting for a new project to come up that hopefully involves crocheting so I can participate. (A couple of years ago our local children's hospital had a crochet and knitted hat project that I joined -- so much fun and really gratifying. I highly recommend it!)

3/50 Project

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 16 Aug 2009 17:14:00 +0000

I read about this project over at Thinking Out Loud.

The 3/50 Project is about saving your local economy. It's frequently tempting to shop online because it's easy to check for the absolute best prices and see a greater variety than a local store might have. But only shopping online has a significant impact on your local economy, the number of jobs available in your community and spreads out like ripples in the water.

The project is very simple... it proposes that you pick your three favorite stores that you want to support and be sure you spend a small amount of money each month in those stores. The site shows some statistics on how just a small amount spent with consistent effort can have an impact.

If you love your city and your neighborhood, check out the 3/50 Project and pass the word!

Kellogg Feeds America

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 03 Aug 2009 04:20:00 +0000

I ran across a site where you can donate $5 for free. Sort of.

At the Kellogg web site if you donate $5 for the Feeding America program, Kellogg will give you back $5 in coupons. Effectively, that means you've made your donation for free!

So, go check it out and help Kellogg feed America!

Share the Comfort

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 26 Jul 2009 00:24:00 +0000

Click to donate 10 boxes of Kraft macaroni. Totally free. Help them meet their goal of one million boxes!

www.sharealittlecomfort.com

The Kindness of Children

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Fri, 24 Jul 2009 17:59:00 +0000

Not long ago I saw a really touching story about the kindness of children. CBS News has been doing a series about "children of the recession", how the economy is affecting children.

This particular segment had a reporter going around seeing what ideas children had to help with the recession. During the segment it came up that several of the children had money they had been saving and they'd given it to their parents to purchase groceries or other needed items for the family.

What a testimony to the spirit and consideration of these children. Heartwarming and heartbreaking all at the same time.

If you'd like to see the news segment, check it out at the CBS site.

Budget philanthropy idea for the day: Do you have anything extra in your pantry or cabinets? Consider filling up a grocery sack with a few items and taking it in to the food bank or a halfway house or shelter.

Givoogle

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Mon, 20 Jul 2009 11:27:00 +0000

I've mentioned charity search engines before, like Good Search. The upside is you can specify your charity. The downside is that I love the Google search engine and that's not the one it uses.

I recently found one that donates money to charity AND uses the Google search engine, so it's the best of everything. The search engine is called Givoogle. (Unfortunately, you cannot specify which charity you want the money to go to.)

Here's a hint: If you set the web page as your homepage it will earn $74 dollars per year proceeds that go toward charity!

Restore Your Faith

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Thu, 16 Jul 2009 11:15:00 +0000

Do you find it hard to be upbeat some days? While I consider myself generally optimistic, I still have days where I fall prey to doubt and discouragment and during those moments it's easy to fall into the "wow, the world really sucks" mentality.

If you have one of those days, I have a prescription for you! The site is called Gives Me Hope and it has blurb after blurb of people telling about beautiful moments in life they have experienced. Many of them are simple and sweet, but even those are deeply profound.

There is no possible way that you can go to this site and read a page of these "moments" and NOT leave in a better mood and ready to go out and do something for your fellow human.

Why not record some of your own moments while you're there? And spread the word!

Frugal Philanthropy Gifts

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Sun, 12 Jul 2009 15:34:00 +0000

There are days I wish I were loaded with dough just so I can give it away or buy lots of cool stuff for people -- things they need or just plain old luxuries they don't give themselves permission to buy.

But on the other hand, after watching The Story of Stuff I feel really weird about buying STUFF that may or may not be useful or that might just end up in a landfill one day.

So, today's post is a triple whammy... it's a craft project, it's a "green" recycling project AND if you give it to someone when you're done with it it can also be a good deed!

Go check out this great homemade chalkboard. All you need is an old picture frame, some chalkboard paint and some spray paint. And if you don't want to use the traditional color of chalkboard paint, you can see a recipe for custom colored paint from Martha Stewart's web site.

Let's get out and exercise our generosity muscles!

Operation Beautiful

noreply@blogger.com (Wendy) — Tue, 07 Jul 2009 15:13:00 +0000

This is one of my FAVORITE projects on the Internet. Caitlin's crusade is to end toxic "Fat Talk". Operation Beautiful is a movement of posting anonymous messages in public -- messages of positive and upbeat messages of encouragement such as a simple "you are beautiful" to the more specific messages on a scale that says "This number doesn't matter. You are gorgeous right now..." or on a dressing room mirror, "Beauty has nothing to do with the size of your clothes."

This is a totally free way to spread change! All you need is a pen and a piece of paper and a public place to put a note. Are you ready to inspire total strangers? Get out there and get to writing, get to inspiring!

Oh and by the way, you're beautiful today. Everyday, really. I'm serious.