All About Giving

First person: How I Live Simply that Others May Simply Live

2012-01-09T23:03:00.001-05:00

A Month of Money Saving Penny-Pinching Tips One of the things I take pleasure in during the holidays is giving. No matter how cash-strapped we are, we still live by the "pay it forward" motto. We tip generously and share. I don't say this to brag. Not at all. I say this in thanks to God for allowing us the joy and privilege of giving. This year, I was able donate about $300 to those in need. It felt good. How do I do it? By living simply that others may simply live. Penny pinching and saving money has been likened to building a dam. The large holes are obvious. The small crevices are less noticeable, but if left to slowly leak, will eat up funds quickly. Saving money means I have more money to share with others. In these times when lawmakers are cutting more social safety networks and taking tax benefits form the working middle class, these tips are even more cogent. Here's a fortnight of budget repairs to prevent financial leaks. Read more...

Parents Benefit from Giving, Receiving Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes

2011-11-06T15:34:00.001-05:00

Parents Benefit from Giving, Receiving Operation Christmas Child Shoe Boxes For some parents, the holidays represent more poverty and struggle. For others, it's a time to reach out and share. Here's how Operation Christmas Child helps parents in need and those with resources to share. Read more...

Best Gifts to Fill Your Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child Box

2011-10-12T17:57:00.000-04:00

Best Gifts to Fill Your Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child Box Looking for a great Christmas giving opportunity? Operation Christmas Child is a charitable giving outreach ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Each year around Thanksgiving, thousands of boxes are shipped to domestic and foreign missions. Here's a list of items to put in your Operation Christmas Child holiday gift box. To participate in Operation Christmas Child, all you need to do is fill a large shoebox with items for a child. Indicate the gender and age of the child you've packed for on the shipping label. Read more.

'One Warm Coat' Drive Begins for 2011

2011-09-21T21:05:00.001-04:00

'One Warm Coat' Provides a Winter Necessity for Children, Adults For many families, winter poses especially serious financial problems. Added fuel costs, vehicle and home maintenance and other expenses drain a family's budget. Sometimes, the budget just won't stretch to cover winter clothing. Every winter, thousands suffer for want of a something that many take for granted: a warm winter coat. One Warm Coat is gearing up for the 2011-2012 winter season. Read more...

Free Hurricane Irene Mobile Tracking Apps and Printable Emergency Kit Guidelines

2011-09-06T13:41:00.001-04:00

Free Hurricane Irene Mobile Tracking Apps and Emergency Kit Guidelines Hurricane Irene is battering the Outer Bank in North Carolina and has New York and the entire eastern seaboard in her sights. The word of the day is emergency preparedness. Here are resources for making emergency kits and free cellphone hurricane tracker apps. Let's help each other and spread the word about hurricane safety. Read more.

Mental and Emotional Health Resources for Earthquake, Oil Spill Disaster Victims

2011-03-28T20:36:00.002-04:00

Mental and Emotional Health Resources for Disaster Victims
The first concern in any emergency or disaster is, of course, physical safety. But what about emotional and mental health? Here are free resources from the APA and FEMA for families in crisis and disaster victims. Read more...

Homelessness and What Taxpayers can do about it

2011-02-07T17:33:00.000-05:00

We use vague terms about "needy people," "the poor" and "homelessness." Are people poor and homeless by choice? Do our help efforts enable people to live outside society's boundaries or empower them to make change? Do poor, homeless people really want help? Read more...

Good News from Haiti Updates One Year Later

2011-01-14T18:20:00.000-05:00

Wednesday marked the one-year anniversary of the massive earthquake that rocked the island country of Haiti. Haiti was already the most impoverished nation in the western hemisphere when the devastating quake left 1.5 million people homeless. What progress has been made in clean up and relief efforts one year later? Read more...

7.1 Earthquake Hits Southern Chile

2011-01-04T17:53:00.000-05:00

January 2, 2011: The U.S. Geological Survey reports that an earthquake measuring 7.1- 7.2 on the Richter Scale hit Araucania in central Chile Sunday at 20:20:16 UTC (3:20 p.m. EST). Read on...

Easy, Inexpensive Holiday Gift Baskets

2010-12-21T21:52:00.000-05:00

You've seen the expensive holiday goodie baskets; they're lavish and lovely. But even if you choose the items to fill them with, they still seem mass-produced, impersonal...And you don't want that, not for your loved ones. Here are quick, easy, inexpensive gift basket ideas for anyone on your holiday shopping list. Read on...

Best Giving Tree and Toys for Tots Gifts

2010-12-10T12:44:00.000-05:00

One of my favorite parts of Christmas is choosing gifts for the Marines Toys for Tots drive and church missions Giving Tree childrens' gifts. Here are best gifts for domestic and overseas missions, giving tree and Toys for Tots. Read on...

Free Printable 'Stone Soup' Activities to Teach Children about Sharing

2010-11-30T15:25:00.000-05:00

The legend of "Stone Soup" is timeless. It's been retold many times, notably by Marcia Brown, Ann McGovern and Jon J. Muth. Stone Soup is sacred text in preschool and elementary classrooms. If you are teaching Stone Soup, here are free printable activities. Read on...

Thanksgiving Lessons for Children in Sharing and Friendship from 'Stone Soup'

2010-11-14T19:56:00.000-05:00

'Stone Soup' is a wonderful old legend that has been retold most notably buy John J. Muth, Ann McGovern and Marcia Brown. You can make 'Stone Soup' with children in school or homeschool to teach them about sharing, giving and friendship. Perfect for holidays, especially Thanksgiving when we focus on the Puritan Pilgrims' relationship with the generous Native Americans. Free printable activities and recipes included.

Fair Trade Gifts from Sustainable, Renewable Resources

2010-11-09T10:06:00.000-05:00

Green, Sustainable, Fair Trade Holiday Gift-Giving Ideas
Whatever your religious views, if you participate in holiday gift-giving, why not consider giving green, eco-friendly, fair trade gifts this holiday season? Here gift-giving ideas from companies committed to using renewable, sustainable resources.
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Best Gifts to Fill Operation Christmas Child Boxes

2010-11-03T22:03:00.000-04:00

Best Gifts to Fill Your Samaritan's Purse Operation Christmas Child Box
Looking for a great Christmas giving opportunity? Operation Christmas Child is a charitable giving outreach ministry of Samaritan's Purse. Each year OCC ships thousands of boxes children around the world. Here's a list gift suggestions to fill your box.
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How to Help Your Children Stay Safe With Bullies

2010-11-01T18:53:00.001-04:00

How to Help Your Children Deal with Selfish Mean Kids
Every children's play group or social club has them. That one family that lets their children run wild. They behave as if their children can do no wrong. These children are hurtful. They don't play nice or fair. And mom is oblivious to them.
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How to Make a Day of the Dead Family Altar or Memorial Shrine

2010-10-25T10:02:00.000-04:00

How to Make a Day of the Dead Family Altar or Memorial Shrine
Day of the Dead or 'Dia de los Muertos' is the Latino variation of the Catholic holy day of All Saints Day. Hispanic families gather to honor deceased family members. They also create family altars. Here's how to make a Day of the Dead memorial shrine.
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Best Toys and Gifts for Toy Drives and Toys for Tots

2010-10-18T18:26:00.000-04:00

Best Toys to Donate for Toys for Tots and Giving Tree Childrens Christmas Gift Drive
One of my favorite parts of Christmas is choosing gifts for the Marines Toys for Tots drive and church missions Giving Tree childrens gifts. Sometimes it's difficult to know what kind of gift to choose. Here are some considerations to help.
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Royal Oak SOCH 'Spread the Laughs' Comedy Fundraiser with Mark Green

2010-10-09T20:45:00.000-04:00

SOCH 'Spread the Laughs V' Homeless Shelter Fundraiser with Mike Green
South Oakland Citizens for the Homeless (SOCH) presents 'Spread the Laughs V' at Mark Ridley's Comedy Castle in Royal Oak, MI. $30 ticket price includes buffet dinner and comedy of Mark Green, Las Vegas Comedy Festival's 2007 Best Male Entertainer.
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My Personal Bucket List: Supporting Fair Trade to Empower the Needy

2010-10-02T20:33:00.000-04:00

Top 10 Bucket List Ideas
"Bucket List" has become a word for "list of things to do before you die, or 'kick the bucket.'" Cancer patients Carter (Morgan Freeman) and Edward (Jack Nicholson ) coined the term in The Bucket List movie. Here are my top 10 bucket list ideas.
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Make a School Supplies Kit for Children in Need

2010-09-24T11:07:00.000-04:00

Back-to-School Shopping: Donate a School Supplies Kit for Those in Need
School supplies are pricey, but happily for most Americans, we live in a country where we can find great prices on back to school supplies. Not all nations enjoy free public education. How about making a back to school supplies kit for a child in need?
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Free Printable World Hunger and Poverty Lesson Plans: Climate Change

2010-09-15T21:54:00.000-04:00

Free Printable Social Studies and Science World Poverty Lesson Plans: Climate Change
Teachunicef.org is the lesson plan database of UNICEF. UNICEF has many lesson plans and educator resources for social studies, science and geography. Here is a free printable unit on Climate Change to explore world poverty and hunger.
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Highland Estates Coffee Traders Vending Machines Sell Responibly Grown Coffee

2010-09-06T16:08:00.000-04:00

Highland Estates Coffee Traders Vending Machines Sell Responsibly Grown Coffee
I don't like vending machines nor especially, vending machine coffee. In fact, rarely do I even like restaurant coffee. I was pleasantly surprised to discover that not only is Highland Estates Coffee Traders coffee delicious, it's also responsibly grown.
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Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF-You Still Can

2010-09-01T16:05:00.000-04:00

Remember Trick-or-Treat for UNICEF? Opportunities for Participate
Most of us have happy Halloween and trick-or-treat memories: cool costumes, candy, parties. My favorite part of trick-or-treat was getting to carry a little orange box to collect pennies for UNICEF. Do you remember 'trick-or-treat for UNICEF?
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Volunteer Ideas for College Majors and High School Volunteer Credit

2010-08-30T22:51:00.000-04:00

Volunteer Ideas for Education Majors
Volunteer opportunities abound but the following volunteer programs allow education majors to obtain hands-on teaching practice. Read more for some great volunteer ideas!
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