tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88641029195166006472024-03-18T20:39:27.157-07:00A Year of Living Charitably365 days of charitable deeds for strangers, friends, neighbors, our community, our world.JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.comBlogger353125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-88842055758683836152013-10-04T03:02:00.000-07:002013-10-04T03:02:27.762-07:00It Only Takes a MinuteSee? Helping out doesn't have to take but a minute:<br />
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Source:<a href="http://www.liveleak.com/view?i=62e_1380820860"> LiveLeak </a></div>
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img border="0" src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img border="0" src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" height="16" width="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-9141802350987949802013-01-04T20:06:00.000-08:002019-03-12T16:38:23.636-07:00Saving a Megastore - One Honest Customer at a Time<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
A couple of days ago I stopped by my neighborhood (within 30 miles - barely) mega-hardware store to pick up a make-your-own shed kit. We've been putting off making the purchase while we work on other financial priorities, but after losing some hay to post-rain spoilage, we decided it was time to redirect some of the funds from my recent freelance writing frenzy. After two hours in the store hunting down various items NOT included in the package set (felt for the roof, tile for the roof, ridge tiles for the roof, and roofing nails - we'll pick up the paint later), I was out the door with two giant packages loaded by five strong men into our trailer.<br />
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<a href="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/82/46/06/824606dafdf4aab8082d405d1b41d384.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" data-original-height="800" data-original-width="597" height="320" src="https://i.pinimg.com/736x/82/46/06/824606dafdf4aab8082d405d1b41d384.jpg" width="238" /></a>Today, I unpacked the boxes. They weren't numbered, and there were no apparent instructions, so I was left to assume the instructions were inside the box and that it didn't matter WHICH one I opened first. After cutting through the shrinkwrap, the plastic straps and the cardboard, I finally unveiled the first block of goodies, which I unpacked and stacked for inventory, per the instructions found moments after opening. Then I opened box two. It wasn't until I found the second set of doors that I KNEW something was amiss. I finished unpacking anyway, thinking perhaps this was the multiple-door version and that fact merely didn't show on the package photo. Then I started inventory.<br />
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Once I realized I'd been gifted a second complete shed, I called the hardware store and sought out the employee. She knew she'd given me two boxes, but said she thought the shed required two boxes of materials. She checked around with other employees, discovered she'd given one complete shed away, then arranged to pick up the pile which will be repackaged, returned to inventory (which never missed it) and resold.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
It took about 20 minutes on the phone for the employee to sort out the error, discuss the matter with her manager and arrange for pickup. She and another employee did all the rest of the work of reloading.<br />
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I had spent an extra hour unpacking and inventorying and dividing up the materials.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
I confess I was temped to keep the shed. We could use more storage around here. It was already unpacked, already out of the store, and the store's a megagiant which probably really wouldn't miss it. (After all, their inventory showed 9 boxes of the roof tile ridges I needed, but they couldn't locate them. I had to drive 30 miles north to another branch to pick up the ridges, of which I need 10 but they sell only in boxes of 50.)<br />
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But I knew the right thing to do was to call the store, explain the situation and let them make a decision about their product.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
I had hoped they'd take into consideration several things: the two hours I spent waiting while they hunted down roof ridge tiles that don't exist in their store; the hour I spent driving to another store to pick up said ridges; the $54 for I had to spend for a whole box of ridge tiles even though I need 10 tiles (about $11 worth); the time and money they wasted on gas and staff time to get out to my place and back to pick up the stuff; the loss they'll take on the sale since they'll mark it down now that it's been opened and repackaged.<br />
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I hoped, all this considered, they'd mark it as an inventory loss, then just let us have it. You know. As a thanks for my honesty.<br />
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Clearly, they didn't, but I'm still glad I called. Had I kept it, I'd always feel a little guilty. Plus, given that this megagiant doesn't even give its employees discounts, I was afraid they'd take the loss out of this poor college student's paycheck once they figured out it was gone. That just wouldn't be right. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>
Share this post with:JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-28509631053741305332013-01-02T21:30:00.000-08:002013-01-03T06:37:32.969-08:00First Aid for a Child<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Provide first aid, warmth and comfort to a child.</span><br />
While at a park day with friends today, one of the 4 year olds ran, crying, toward us. Blood was running down his face from, it appeared, his eye. I grabbed my first aid kit from the car and we got him cleaned up. He and several of the other children had been creeping around in some small trees, and a branch reached out and smacked him in the face JUST missing his eye.<br />
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He was back to play in just a few minutes after being cleaned up and comforted. Hours later he emerged from the creek where the smaller boys had been playing. He was, again, crying and miserable. His shoes, socks and pants to the above the knees were soaked and muddy and what skin we could see through the mud on his hands was bright pink. This time: he was just plain freezing. I wrapped him in the jacket I was wearing and stuck my hands up the sleeves to warm his ice cube fingers before he crawled into my lap.<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
40 minutes<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
There's never any question when it comes to first aid. We carry a first aid kit wherever we go. And comforting and warming this fun, smart, beautiful little dude was heartwarming for me as well. My children are pretty self sufficient now. It's been a while since a little person climbed into my lap for cuddles and hand warming. <span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /></span><br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Absolutely.<br />
If you don't already have a first aid kit, run down to the pharmacy and gather supplies. Keep it in your car or pack. You never know when it might come in handy. <br />
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<a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com/2013/01/first-aid-for-child.html" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img border="0" src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img border="0" src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com/2013/01/first-aid-for-child.html"><img alt="" border="0" height="16" src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" width="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-12887287166609296392013-01-01T20:37:00.001-08:002013-01-01T20:37:42.321-08:00Welcome to 2013 - Reviving the Year of Living CharitablyIn 2008, my little girls and I embarked upon a personal challenge: performing one good, charitable or otherwise helpful deed every single day for the year, and sharing those activities via the blogosphere. The point of sharing was not to brag, but to inspire, and in that year, we learned about new opportunities to serve, did for friends, family and strangers alike and perhaps grew a little more compassionate.<br />
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Since then, we've had a lot going on, but lessons learned that year have not been lost on us. We've continued contributing to our communities through volunteerism, though we haven't taken the time to write about our activities here.<br />
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After the horrific school shooting in Newton, Connecticut, one of my favorite columnists, Ann Curry, <a href="http://usnews.nbcnews.com/_news/2012/12/18/15999109-if-you-do-good-youll-feel-good-ann-curry-explains-origins-of-26acts-of-kindness?lite?">challenged the world </a>to perform 20 acts of kindness in honor of each of the people killed. She tweeted about it, and the idea took hold, expanded to 26 acts, even 27 or 28. Just imagine if every person in the nation, let alone every person in the world, committed 20 acts of kindness, or 26, or 27, or more.<br />
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Since then, I've been reading about loads of charitable acts spurred by Curry's "Are You In?" challenge. The twittersphere is abuzz with ideas, whether <a href="https://twitter.com/search/%2320Acts">20 Acts</a> or <a href="https://twitter.com/search?q=%2326Acts&src=typd">26 Acts</a>. Some are super simple, some perhaps questionable, and there have been some big acts as well.<br />
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But before mental illness took the life of its host victim and 26 others, people across the interwebs were posting about their efforts to give back to community. Here some posts that might provide us all some inspiration for another Year of Living Charitably.<br />
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Are You In?<br />
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<a href="http://www.weirdunsocializedhomeschoolers.com/2012/10/50-random-acts-of-kindness/">50 Random Acts</a> - Our fellow Weird Unsocialized Homeschooler, Kris, has begun her own random act mission. She's begun with a great list of ideas, inspired by various people in her world. She's a great example of finding acts that meet you where you are. Not everyone gets out every day. Not everyone has even the five bucks to buy someone a cup of expensive, froo-froo coffee. But everyone can perform a charitable deed within their own means. <br />
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<a href="http://kindnessgirl.com/guerrilla-goodness/">Guerrilla Goodness</a> - Scroll down for a list of "missions" this blogger completed.<br />
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<a href="http://intentionalactsofkindness.blogspot.com/">Intentional Acts of Kindness</a> - Final thoughts on a year of kind acts, plus his favorites detailed.<br />
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<a href="http://www.366randomacts.org/">366 Random Acts</a> - This blogger wraps up her year (2012) of random acts, including links to a few of her favorites.<br />
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<a href="http://makeadiff.wordpress.com/page/2/">Random Acts/Make A Difference</a> - Lots of folks share their stories on this blog.<br />
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<a href="http://blogs.brighthorizons.com/momtomom/2012/12/20/26-acts-of-kindness/">Mom to Mom: 26 Acts</a> - This blog post shares a Facebook story which may or may not be entirely true, but there's also a sample of a postcard that commemorates the fallen from Sandy Hook Elementary.<br />
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<a href="http://leapsofkindness.blogspot.com/2012/12/day-335-first-tiara-is-mailed.html">Leaps of Kindness</a> - There are lots of fun ideas on this blog. This links to one of my favorites: tiara care packages. Will they change the world, feed the hungry, clothe the naked, bring world peace? No, but lifting spirits can lead to positivity that continues to spread beyond the recipient.<br />
<br /><a href="http://www.actionforhappiness.org/">Action for Happiness</a> - This organization strives to inspire people to help each other and bring about happiness in everyone's lives.<br />
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<a href="http://honoringjohnryan.blogspot.com/2008_06_01_archive.html">In Memory of John: Full-Moon Memorial Acts</a> - John Pike's mother has been blogging about monthly acts of kindness performed in memory of her son who died at age 23. She's asked others to remember his kindness by sharing acts of their own on every full moon.<br />
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<a href="http://www.greatkindnesschallenge.org/event.html">The Great Kindness Challenge</a> - August 10, 2013 is challenge day this year. Are you in? The site includes a <a href="http://www.greatkindnesschallenge.org/checklist.html">list of ideas</a> that may provide inspiration.<br />
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And just in case those weren't enough, check out Raising Lifelong Learners' <a href="http://www.raisinglifelonglearners.com/2012/11/the-ultimate-guide-to-random-acts-of.html">Ultimate Guide to Random Acts of Kindness</a> with links to loads of others.JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-46982503050078585492012-11-02T08:14:00.002-07:002012-11-02T08:14:55.664-07:00Charity in times of disasterIt's too bad it takes a disaster for people to step up and help out. But I'm also thankful that these mega events, like this week's Hurricane Sandy and last year's Hurricane Irene, provide an opportunity for neighbors to meet each other, give each other a hand, pool resources. It's living old school when neighbors weren't afraid to borrow a cup of sugar or share homemade treats.<br />
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It doesn't have to cost a lot, or take much effort. Consider this shot from a home with power after Hurricane Sandy: <br />
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It's time to revive this project. 2011 was just too quiet deed-wise. Sure, we did a lot this year, but weren't as helpful to our community as we might have been. In 2012, I'd like to expand the Year of Living Charitably project to include other regular participants. Might you be interested? Adopt a day, adopt a week or commit to weekly posts. Your call...spread the love. If you're interested in being a guest blogger here, just drop me a note and we'll work it out.<br />
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</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span> <span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
All of 2012, but only a few minutes each day with some scattered larger projects.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><br />
Because I was, once again, inspired by my sister in law. And because I miss these projects and posts and hearing from others who are inspired to create their own charitable project efforts.<br />
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
You tell me. I really did enjoy my year of living charitably - so much so that I plan to extend the project, and share the fun. Will you find it worthwhile to take part?<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"><br />
</span><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span>Share this post with: <a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://www.kirtsy.com/badges/kirtsy_addicon.gif" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img border="0" src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"><img height="20" src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit"> <img border="0" src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img alt="" border="0" height="16" src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" width="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-63783657801044099002010-09-04T21:58:00.000-07:002010-09-04T22:13:41.485-07:00Mid-year inspirationIt's been awhile, but don't worry. We've been up to some good these past several months, including several repeated projects (trash collection, recycling, lending hands to friends, relatives and perfect strangers). But I confess I haven't made the daily effort I made last year. Sometimes I realize it's been days since I've done anything notable, but then Dad points out "charity includes the things you do for your own family."<br /><br />Today I came upon <a href="http://www.mainstreet.com/slideshow/smart-spending/12-amazing-acts-charity">this inspirational collection of stories</a> about a variety of people and organizations who have acted charitably on a number of levels. Slate also has <a href="http://www.slate.com/id/2240202?obref=obinsite">some ideas</a> for how to lend a helping hand. I hope these collections inspires you, too.<br /><br />What have you done for your community lately? Please share your stories here and inspire us all.<br /><br />Share this post with:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://www.kirtsy.com/badges/kirtsy_addicon.gif" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" border="0" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" alt="" border="0" width="16" height="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-47665186993667278872010-06-26T02:34:00.000-07:002010-06-26T02:38:51.160-07:00Now we need YOUR help<span style="font-weight: bold;">OK, now for something completely different....<br /></span><span>Last year, I shared daily what our family did for our community.<br />Today, I'm asking readers to do something for our family.</span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br />WEIRD....I know.<br /><br /></span><span>You can <a href="http://jenpb.blogspot.com/2010/06/want-pony-ride-little-girl.html">read all about it here</a>, or just cut to the chase and <a href="http://ineedavacation.hotels.com/forms/vote.aspx?id=5503">vote here</a>. Supporters are allowed one vote per e-mail address<span style="font-weight: bold;"> per day</span>! That means your vote counts <span style="font-weight: bold;">each and every day</span> 'til the contest ends Sept. 5!<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">PLEASE help our family <a href="http://ineedavacation.hotels.com/forms/vote.aspx?id=5503">turn our dreams into reality</a>!</span></span><span style="font-weight: bold;"><br /><br /></span>Share this post with:<a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://www.kirtsy.com/badges/kirtsy_addicon.gif" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" border="0" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" alt="" border="0" width="16" height="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-33096889139064755912010-03-02T00:06:00.000-08:002010-03-03T01:33:04.796-08:00(Almost) Never Pick Up StrangersWe try to protect our children, to teach them to be safe, to show them the way. But then...it rains.<br /><br />While heading across town to the girls' art class we experienced a torrential downpour. (Yes, Mom. I actually called it RAIN.) About two blocks from our house, we passed a cyclist, hood up, working her way up the hill. By "cyclist," I mean a woman on a bike. She wasn't a hard-core cyclist with her neon Spandex and matching helmet and shoes. No, she was a cyclist by chance, unprepared for the weather and certainly not enjoying it. She was soaked from her white, quilted-nylon coat with the <span class="blsp-spelling-error" id="SPELLING_ERROR_0">faux</span>-fur liner to her jeans and tennis shoes. The bag she carried over her shoulder wasn't helping her keep her balance, and I'm not sure she could really see at all through the downpour.<br /><br />I pulled up beside her, rolled down the window and...<br /><br />"Mom! Why are you rolling down the window?!"<br /><br />I didn't answer my daughter. Instead, I did what we tell our children not to do.<br /><br />"Do you want to put your bike in the back and I'll give you a ride," I hollered out the window.<br /><br />The cyclist gave pause. Clearly, <span style="font-style: italic;">she'd</span> been taught not to take rides from strangers. But we were both adults, she ever-more soaked with each passing moment, and I in a minivan emblazoned with my website address and carrying two children in the back seat.<br /><br />I suppose we both decided neither of us would be much of a threat.<br /><br />As we pulled into the driveway of her intended destination, the rain stopped.<br /><br />"Thank you. That was very Christian of you," she said.<br /><br />I didn't have the heart to tell her charitable deeds aren't limited by faith. I smiled, waved, and got back in the van.<br /><br />Share this post with:<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://www.kirtsy.com/badges/kirtsy_addicon.gif" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" border="0" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" alt="" border="0" width="16" height="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-59900548476827600622010-02-16T22:18:00.000-08:002010-02-16T22:44:20.427-08:00Helping Someone's Mother<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/3257126784_464fa8804f.jpg"><img style="float: right; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; cursor: pointer; width: 323px; height: 258px;" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3089/3257126784_464fa8804f.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a> The woman across the street from us retired decades ago. Her youngest grandchildren are headed for high school. She doesn't hear well. She often doesn't see us as we pass during her early morning rose pruning and leaf collecting sessions. She doesn't drive anymore, but relies entirely on public transit. As a Brit, she was raised using public transit, so that's all and good, but sometimes it's just nice to have a lift, and when we have a chance, we pick her up and drop her wherever she needs to be. (It's never very far.)<p>Today, we were almost at our final destination (farmers' market) when I spotted her in the bus stop. I knew she was headed only about 2 miles west, so I pulled up to the stop, rolled down the window and waved my hand ala<a href="http://www.google.com/search?hl=en&client=firefox-a&rls=org.mozilla:en-US:official&hs=RAJ&ei=xIp7S7rFMorDrAfc16yXBg&sa=X&oi=spell&resnum=0&ct=result&cd=1&ved=0CAgQBSgA&q=vanna+white&spell=1"> Vanna White </a>and said, "Your carriage awaits!"<br /><br />What a great smile she gave me as she put away her change and climbed in. I confirmed her final destination, and headed west. We were a couple of blocks away from farmers' market when she asked where WE were headed. I thought about making something up, but I wasn't that quick. I told her.<br /><br />"Oh! Well, thank you VERY much," she said.<br /><br />The unexpected lift gave her time to run an extra errand near her final destination.<br /><br />It took us an extra five minutes to give her a lift and return to our intended stop. As w e pulled in to farmers' market, I noted the bus still hadn't arrived.<br /><br />So, it seemed ultra appropriate today when this poem popped up on my radar. (Thanks, <a href="http://writersalmanac.publicradio.org/">Garrison Keillor!</a>)<br /> <h2 style="text-align: left;"><span style="font-size:100%;">Somebody's Mother</span></h2><div style="text-align: left;"> </div><p style="text-align: left;" class="author"><span style="font-size:100%;">by <a target="_blank" href="http://www.blackcatpoems.com/b/mary_dow_brine.html">Mary Dow Brine</a></span></p> <p><span style="font-size:100%;"> The woman was old and ragged and gray<br />And bent with the chill of the Winter's day.<br />The street was wet with a recent snow<br />And the woman's feet were aged and slow.<br />She stood at the crossing and waited long,<br />Alone, uncared for, amid the throng<br />Of human beings who passed her by<br />Nor heeded the glance of her anxious eye.<br />Down the street with laughter and shout,<br />Glad in the freedom of 'school let out,'<br />Came the boys like a flock of sheep,<br />Hailing the snow piled white and deep.<br />Past the woman so old and gray<br />Hastened the children on their way.<br />Nor offered a helping hand to her—<br />So meek, so timid, afraid to stir<br />Lest the carriage wheels or the horses' feet<br />Should crowd her down in the slippery street.<br />At last came one of the merry troop,<br />The gayest lad of all the group;<br />He paused beside her and whispered low,<br />"I'll help you cross, if you wish to go."<br />Her aged hand on his strong young arm<br />She placed, and so, without hurt or harm,<br />He guided the trembling feet along,<br />Proud that his own were firm and strong.<br />Then back again to his friends he went,<br />His young heart happy and well content.<br />"She's somebody's mother, boys, you know,<br />For all she's aged and poor and slow,<br />And I hope some fellow will lend a hand<br />To help my mother, you understand,<br />If ever she's poor and old and grey,<br />And her own dear boy is far away."<br />"Somebody's mother" bowed low her head<br />In her home that night, and the prayer she said<br />Was, "God be kind to the noble boy,<br />Who is somebody's son, and pride and joy!" </span></p> <span style="font-size:100%;"><br />Photo courtesy <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/nzbuu/">nzbuu</a> under <a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en">Creative Commons License</a>.</span><br /><br />Share this post with:<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://www.kirtsy.com/badges/kirtsy_addicon.gif" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" border="0" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" alt="" border="0" width="16" height="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-34710977957792644312010-02-14T19:56:00.000-08:002010-02-14T20:11:17.627-08:00Neighbor Kid CHOOSES to Pick Up Trash!<div style="text-align: center;"><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.panoramio.com/map/?user=7178#lt=34.863680&ln=-120.416079&z=3&k=1&a=1&tab=5"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 500px; height: 138px;" src="http://mw2.google.com/mw-panoramio/photos/medium/50667.jpg" alt="" border="0" /></a><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo by <a href="http://www.panoramio.com/user/7178?with_photo_id=50667">Maurice Lewton</a></span><br /><br /></div>Today I was driving home from the hardware store when I spotted a neighborhood teen on the other side of a county water district fence. At his feet, was one very large plastic bag he was stuffing with trash. On the sidewalk were two more bags, already filled.<br /><br />I stopped to find out what he'd done to earn the "honor" of cleaning up the trash so many seem to feel OK sending over the fence. As I pulled up, his mom crossed the street to talk to me. It seems the boy, a freshman at a local high school, chose the project as his own!<br /><br />"I've been trying to get my kids involved in community service, but there aren't a lot of opportunities for them. Then he asked if he could clean up this area," she said.<br /><br />Her daughter, like my youngest, loves animals, but our local shelter does not allow volunteers younger than 12, so her keen daughter, mine and other young potential volunteers aren't welcome. Both of my daughters, unusually knowledgeable about California mission history for their ages, signed up to serve as docents with La Purisima Mission in Lompoc, but we were just told volunteer docents must be 9 or older. The 7 year old would not be allowed to tag along, either. Since we travel in a pack, that means another volunteer effort shot down.<br /><br />(sigh)<br /><br />I was super glad to see someone else taking neighborhood cleanup seriously, though. Thanks, Neighborhood Teen, for making a difference!<br /><br /><br />Share this post with:<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://www.kirtsy.com/badges/kirtsy_addicon.gif" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" border="0" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" alt="" border="0" width="16" height="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-66372163955600779672010-02-08T02:02:00.001-08:002010-02-08T02:04:54.784-08:00Thought for the Day - spoons<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://shredsomething.wordpress.com/2010/01/22/spoons/"><img style="display: block; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 400px; height: 366px;" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiS-kXbYPfNXX70IeZ7DerlTHaF5tHoexGCgpgaiwGlqwD4CdYmE_utSt17_gjMVtHhqXbz8Nbqrs9cLmFjYDB0K0Gzg-JN_0adulVO0dpIgSkKHGggAUzRESFj709SuVI3J3ExhnCgm2Pv/s400/spoons.jpg" alt="" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5435811228370002290" border="0" /></a><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieFPjNbszTIjrT4kR-bZAfhYOQiT0eZHHd88VLl0yUqRTUPo-9QqO_4euk96PKwZ6afg1-x-b6fashpo_y29wO6d54KeYAnD2nsxlwPkGX7vkLZtACuh2BDFBwWYafv332slR-bNe5FcEC/s1600-h/spoons.jpg"><br /></a>Share this post with:<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"><img src="http://b.static.ak.fbcdn.net/images/share/facebook_share_icon.gif?8:26981" /></a><a href="http://www.kirtsy.com/submit.php?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://www.kirtsy.com/badges/kirtsy_addicon.gif" /></a><a href="http://technorati.com/faves?sub=addfavbtn&add=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"><img src="http://static.technorati.com/pix/fave/btn-fave2.png" /></a><a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/submit?url=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com"> <img src="http://cdn.stumble-upon.com/images/24x24_thumb.gif" border="0" /></a><a href="http://digg.com/"><img src="http://digg.com/img/badges/100x20-digg-button.gif" width="100" height="20" /></a><a href="http://www.reddit.com/submit" onclick="window.location = 'http://www.reddit.com/submit?url=' + encodeURIComponent(window.location); return false"> <img src="http://www.reddit.com/static/spreddit5.gif" border="0" /> </a><a href="http://www.newsvine.com/_tools/seed?popoff=0&u=INSERT-YOUR-URL-HERE"><img src="http://i.newsvine.com/_vine/images/identity/button_seednewsvine.gif" alt="" border="0" width="16" height="16" /></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-61445611634831047932009-12-31T20:54:00.000-08:002019-03-12T16:41:38.404-07:00Year-end Wrap Up - What I Learned<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Perform one charitable deed each and every day in 2009.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
Sometimes moments, sometimes hours or even days completing numerous deeds over the course of the year.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2467045823_bda0441a5a.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://farm3.static.flickr.com/2269/2467045823_bda0441a5a.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 263px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 351px;"></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
We live in a rough and tumble world where it seems people are becoming increasingly alienated from each other. Times have certainly changed from those in which tribal members depended upon each other, neighbors counted on each other in times of need, watched after each other, or at least knew each other on sight. Thanks to technology and a shift in cultural values, it seems we have too many "more important things" to do than to take the time to play active roles in building healthy communities. In most cases, there are two incomes to maintain in addition to the household and, for many, children. There are vehicles to maintain, the Internet to surf, cable shows with which we just MUST keep pace.<br />
<br />
Or so it seems.<br />
<br />
In fact, if we want to live in healthier, happier <a href="http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4219546653_3634c79aa4.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://farm5.static.flickr.com/4045/4219546653_3634c79aa4.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 174px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 201px;"></a>communities, we need to turn off the TV and the Internet now and again, to walk our neighborhoods, to step back from the self-imposed social obligations and take a breath, to do with a little less so we can afford this time together. In doing so, we can all see what needs to be done to make our communities safer, healthier places.<br />
<br />
As 2008 came to a close, I wondered what difference a family might make if it performed just one thing every single day to help build community, to help neighbors, family, friends and strangers. They didn't have to be big things; little gestures were welcome as well as grander projects. Would it make a difference at all? (<a href="http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com/2008/12/year-of-living-charitably.html">These</a> were my original thoughts.) I opted to blog about our family's experiences throughout the year in hopes of inspiring others to contribute to their communities, and to keep us on track.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Making the effort and sharing our actions through this blog were worth the time and energy, though I confess it was a sort of depressing project in the end. We started out with plenty of energy and performed some larger projects early in the year, but it didn't take long to see these efforts were less than a drop in the bucket. Trash picked up today didn't help an area become less trashy; there would be trash there again on our next visit. If anything, I learned my deeds alone, however small or grand, don't make enough of a difference. I need help. We all need each other's help to make this world a safer, healthier, happier place.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/86003530_c302919638.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://farm1.static.flickr.com/37/86003530_c302919638.jpg" style="float: right; height: 362px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 242px;"></a>The world has bigger problems than trash in the streets; problems homemade blankets and door opening can't even begin to resolve. There are bloody wars going on all over the world. Gang violence breeds a different sort of terrorism right here in our own country. People are starving while others grow fat, many on foods advertised as healthy but, in fact, deathly by design. Too many drink their bathwater, or no water at all, while others flush it down the drain in the name of attractive decor. Pop stars and politicians demonstrate a declining moral code, though I suspect this can be blamed on a media glut as much as a shift in basic character.<br />
<br />
It was that lack of character, I believe, which helped me become disenchanted with several programs as I came into contact with too many recipients who lack the character to understand these programs were put into place to help those truly in need, not to make life easier for slackers. Something is wrong when people too lazy to look for a job choose instead to pick up donations of free food from pantries or meal programs intended for those IN NEED. Something is wrong when toys intended for children with little or nothing are picked up by children who are happy to tell you about the new flat-screen TV their parents just installed, or the gifts awaiting them under the tree.<br />
<br />
It was also disappointing to learn that I couldn't even make a change close to home. I'm not sure there were any fewer litterbugs in my neighborhood after we started picking up trash. There still seemed to be as much trash as ever as incredibly inconsiderate people opted to toss their trash out car windows or into the gutters as they walked or rode their bikes rather than to continue carrying it to a trash can. Taking the trash cans in (or out) for neighbors, picking up their newspapers when they were out of town, didn't spark more neighborly assistance.<br />
<br />
It would be easy to give up, like too many others, withdraw into our little home and say, so be it, let someone else lend a hand, I'm too busy. It would be so easy to allow those freeloaders to put a damper on a donor's spirits, to take the wind out of the sails of a volunteer. But what purpose would that serve? Still there would be people in need of our help, whether or not we ever see them.<br />
<br />
If anything, I learned we all need to do more - MUCH more. If everyone would pick up after themselves, if everyone would lend a hand to a neighbor or a stranger, if everyone would turn off the media and start thinking for themselves, maybe then we could turn the tide. If we spent more money on protecting humanity than we do competing with each other regardless of the cost if we spent more time enjoying each other than fighting with each other, if we'd take the time to listen to each other and hear the needs, maybe then we could be the ones to make the difference. Until then, some of us will continue to lend a hand, rise to the occasion and try to make a difference one charitable deed at a time.<br />
<br />
What will YOU do to make a difference?<br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/4057733635_4cf68cd039.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://farm4.static.flickr.com/3477/4057733635_4cf68cd039.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 375px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;"></a><span style="font-style: italic;">Photos courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/teseum/" style="font-style: italic;">Teseum</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/livenature/" style="font-style: italic;">Franco Folini</a><span style="font-style: italic;">, <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/thomashawk/">Thomas Hawk</a> and </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/eforentropy/" style="font-style: italic;">Haldun Kececegil</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under</span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;"> Creative Commons license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span>Share this post with:<br />
<a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-37758480142799457192009-12-30T22:38:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:13:47.526-08:00Donate Diapers<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/321434800_fd28cc1944.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/134/321434800_fd28cc1944.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; display: block; height: 333px; margin: 0px auto 10px; text-align: center; width: 500px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Donate diapers to a local family.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
15 minutes to deliver<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
My girls have grown out of the diaper stage [(sniff!) and (thank heavens!)], but we had a little stockpile going here. Today I donated them to another family who's still in the thick of the process, and short on cash.<br />
<br />
While I understand disposables wreak havoc on our landfills (and we used cloth for the most part), there are times when disposables are the only reasonable solution. (Ever try a long road trip in cloth diapers? OH! The agony of it!)<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes - they were thankful; I reclaimed the closet space.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/seandreilinger/" style="font-style: italic;">Sean Dreilinger</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Commons license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
<br /><a href="http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com" onclick="return fbs_click()" target="_blank"></a>JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-71394219192004322632009-12-28T21:30:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:14:13.704-08:00Scooping Manure & Walking Horses<a href="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2901461271_b02719f4ca.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3119/2901461271_b02719f4ca.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 500px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 375px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Back to scoopin' manure today. (So glad to see the horses have been moved back to their regular stalls, now that we've nearly finished the TOUGH work at the temporary stalls!) And walking two injured horses that needed a little stretch before the close of day.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
90 minutes<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
The poop needed scoopin' and the horses (one with a severely torn muscle, the other with a bowed tendon) needed to get out for short walks.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes - what ever it takes to earn an opportunity to interact with horses.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/30074436@N05/" style="font-style: italic;">VetMoves</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Commons license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-12816484801256987962009-12-27T20:45:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:14:27.504-08:00Contribute to the Game<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Replace wet logbooks, provide writing implements and otherwise contribute to the maintenance of "game pieces" in <a href="http://geocaching.com/">a worldwide game</a>.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3987392441_a4d230bfd0.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2631/3987392441_a4d230bfd0.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 315px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 352px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
A few minutes here and there throughout the course of our cache-hunting time.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
No game can continue without someone maintaining the board, the pieces. <a href="http://geocaching.com/">Geocaching</a> is no different. In fact, it's probably more difficult to maintain, with <b>965,889</b> pieces hidden all over the world. I've enjoyed this game, an often mindless, though sometimes puzzling, pastime. Helping to maintain the caches I visit helps keep it going.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes, though I confess to occasionally feeling like this is a silly pastime. Then again, what entirely diverting hobbies aren't?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/mycachemania/" style="font-style: italic;">Cachemania</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Commons License</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-44955374381431829532009-12-26T00:15:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:14:37.745-08:00Recycling Plastic Bags - Last Drop of 2009<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Gather up the plethora of plastic that made it into our home this holiday season and deliver it to the plastic bag recycling drop spot.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
A few minutes to gather, less than a minute to stuff them into the box at our drop spot - the local grocery store.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
Ideally, we wouldn't be using plastic and tossing it aside to end up in landfills for decades to come, flying through our deserts or forests, floating across our oceans. The least we can do is recycle it. It's easy. It's free. And it helps provide a source for other products while preserving valuable natural resources.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Absolutely!<br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-27975598458374652132009-12-24T21:09:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:14:46.660-08:00Christmas Eve Prep at Church<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/322818678_e0c894b9cb.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/131/322818678_e0c894b9cb.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 500px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 333px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Fold bulletins, set up luminarias, help set out treats for candlelight service on this Christmas Eve.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
We arrived an hour early to help out. It probably took half that time, but I got lost in conversation somewhere along the line as we worked away and lost track of time.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
It used to be that churches were abuzz with helping hands. With volunteerism dropping across the board, churches are hurting. It doesn't take a lot to lend a hand.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes. The candlelight service is my favorite of the year, though the people here are friendly year-round.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/azadam/" style="font-style: italic;">AZAdam</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under</span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;"> Creative Commons license.</a></span><br />
<br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-34193157435196575182009-12-23T23:03:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:14:55.737-08:00Baking for Sixteen - Apple Bread, Anyone?<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/3968587613_a33f77e99e.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2623/3968587613_a33f77e99e.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 375px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 500px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Bake loaves of Apple Walnut Bread for friends and neighbors.<br />
<br />
I usually do this over the course of weeks, but because we've been out of town so much this holiday season, today was The Day to get it done. Mission accomplished.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
Several hours.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
Every winter holiday season I bake something for friends and neighbors. It started with fudge, then evolved to a great toffee recipe I received from a friend's mom, and in more recent years various desert-style breads have been involved. This year I let the sweets go in favor of the marginally more healthy bread.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes - no one's ever complained about receiving this bread. Then again, who complains when she receives gifts of food?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/diekatrin/" style="font-style: italic;">Katrin Morenz</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Commons license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-64910278821115692532009-12-22T23:48:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:15:49.380-08:00Donate Clothes, Toys and Household Goods<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Donate outgrown clothes in good condition, unbroken outgrown toys and household goods in decent repair to the local shelter thrift store.<br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/107545081_02329541fc.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/45/107545081_02329541fc.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 173px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 231px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
An hour to clean out, collect, drive and deliver.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
We do this pretty often. I don't see throwing these usable items away, and we don't have anyone nearby who can use our hand-me-downs, so we take them to the shelter store. Local shelter residents receive vouchers to "spend" at this decent "department store" style shop for anything they need, from clothing to goods needed to reestablish a home.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
YES! Sometimes I think about yard-saling it, but we come up with a couple of bags of stuff every month. That doesn't make for a great yard sale, and we don't have the room to save up stuff to make for a worthwhile sale. Someday, maybe we'll have another garage sale/yard sale. Meanwhile, I hope thrift store shoppers, be they shelter residents or others whose proceeds help benefit the shelters, enjoy.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/brent_nashville/" style="font-style: italic;">Brent Moore and MariLynn</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Commons license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-66424160521770051042009-12-21T21:40:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:16:01.507-08:00Back to Scoopin' Poop - Manure Patrol<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Scoop lots of poop.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
90 minutes<br />
<br />
<a href="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/4235009327_e97ba6a056.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2737/4235009327_e97ba6a056.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 334px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 500px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
This is an ongoing project (horses don't take a holiday from poopin') that you can read about <a href="http://charitabledeeds.blogspot.com/2009/12/shoveled-more-manure-than-you-can-shake.html">here</a>, and then some. But today's project involved another major cleanout of a neighboring area.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes. The workout was great - sweat everywhere; the end result was rewarding; and the simple thanks from the horse owner was heart warming.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/36275436@N06/" style="font-style: italic;">Kathy Sierra</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Commons license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-70835673526046850032009-12-20T22:32:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:16:17.300-08:00Talked Up Local Band<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Help spread the word about<a href="http://www.jillknight.com/flash/index.html"> local musician Jill Knight</a> playing a free gig in an area shopping center.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
A few minutes here and there.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
I've loved this band since my days sitting by the creek during my lunch breaks and enjoying their tunes. They're fine on covers, but have wonderful original stuff. While there was no admission to attend the performance, the band was selling <a href="http://www.cdbaby.com/Artist/JillKnight">CDs</a>, their lifeblood.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes - plus, one of my daughters and I enjoyed an afternoon at the shopping center browsing, then ultimately settling down with treats and enjoying the music.<br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-51611841959470269702009-12-19T22:13:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:16:26.744-08:00Donate Underwear to Shelter<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/328807403_c65999f286.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/144/328807403_c65999f286.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 275px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 413px;" /></a><span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Donate new, unopened packages of women's underwear to local shelter.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
A few minutes to buy, a few minutes to drop.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
It may sound odd. I mean, of ALL things, right? But in the early 1970s, one of my moms was the victim of a devastating house fire. While away from the home taking care of an emergency involving one of her children, the house burned to the ground, taking everything with it. Out of that devastation came a lifelong friendship - with a woman who donated, yes, underwear. Turns out that when you lose EVERYTHING in a fire or another emergency that doesn't allow packing time, underwear are in pretty high demand.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Absolutely.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/gtmcknight/" style="font-style: italic;">Taylor McKnight</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-sa/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Common license</a><span style="font-style: italic;">.</span></span><br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-47291596600077105322009-12-17T20:16:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:16:39.076-08:00Donate to Salvation Army<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Donate collected coins to <a href="http://www.salvationarmyusa.org/usn/www_usn_2.nsf/vw-text-dynamic-arrays/4A2D2520606517C4802573F5005661DB?openDocument">Salvation Army Red Kettle</a>.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
Moments.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
While the bell-ringers can grow annoying to some, they bring warm memories to me. One of my grandmothers (through marriage) wrote about HER mother, Amelia Kunkle, who originated that blessed bell ringing practice. From "Amelia's Story," by Martha Devine Powers (copyright 2005):<br />
<br />
<blockquote style="font-family: trebuchet ms;">
(In 1900), Cadet Amelia Kunkle found herself standing by a kettle placed near <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21qw4vkBwTZ-BEuNGpVvHv9LRjyeRm6uI5kyoIAlCwhvn9c8oiwbnVPK4BC1TG_OMJIYu14TRo_id2hvSFzEenYiIFoaZO41dKg2U5izGhbY7o7rjlTVxjmtSLbCa2aHqzzZRCMHFnxXw/s1600-h/AmeliaCover.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh21qw4vkBwTZ-BEuNGpVvHv9LRjyeRm6uI5kyoIAlCwhvn9c8oiwbnVPK4BC1TG_OMJIYu14TRo_id2hvSFzEenYiIFoaZO41dKg2U5izGhbY7o7rjlTVxjmtSLbCa2aHqzzZRCMHFnxXw/s400/AmeliaCover.jpg" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5437667419357474210" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 225px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 138px;" /></a>one of the busiest areas in New York City. The wide stairways from the elevated came down to street level at this point. Every hour hundreds of people passed by the place where Amelia patiently waited. Standing by her kettle dressed in her navy blue Salvation Army uniform and bonnet trimmed with a touch of red ribbon, skirts scraping the sidewalk, Amelia, age 16, patiently waited for the passing throng to drop money in her kettle. She tells her own story <br />
"When I first stood by the kettle to' keep the pot a-boiling', it was a cold day…a miserable bleak, damp day. It wasn't raining, but it was cold, very cold. We girl cadets wore our regular shoes and long stockings of black cotton, and over the shoes we wore rubbers over our shoes. Our rubbers looked like slippers, but they were not lined with wool, nor were they high-topped like galoshes or boots that people wear now. However, we found that standing on newspapers helped insulate us from the dampness and penetrating cold. Our usual stint of standing by the kettle was four hours…either all morning or all afternoon…never all day. <br />
"I remember that I was located in New York City in what was known as "The Battery" very near Wall Street. The exact street location escapes me at the moment. I do remember though, that being so near the waterfront accounted for some of the damp, cold weather. Our kettle was strategically located at the entrance, or exit, as the case may be, to the "El" which brought<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYlMNMcuWglyX4VlcsKauPkGl1QA91Hv4MLcCjh2YqcrPmfbDyYtLMQjKmHykz7x0l93p5yUaRuiAYQYwEfK3lRtmtjNJFRbu-zTFYivpokhFpS19dbP-1YtBZ7NrK2d2i50EK6tMo6gc/s1600-h/1909CaptWEB.gif" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjCYlMNMcuWglyX4VlcsKauPkGl1QA91Hv4MLcCjh2YqcrPmfbDyYtLMQjKmHykz7x0l93p5yUaRuiAYQYwEfK3lRtmtjNJFRbu-zTFYivpokhFpS19dbP-1YtBZ7NrK2d2i50EK6tMo6gc/s200/1909CaptWEB.gif" id="BLOGGER_PHOTO_ID_5422065110822051634" style="cursor: pointer; float: left; height: 200px; margin: 0pt 10px 10px 0pt; width: 131px;" /></a> the businessmen to their jobs in the financial district of New York. With every arrival of the "El" droves of commuters would come surging by, some, of course, dropping their contributions in the Salvation Army kettle. <br />
"The size of the average contribution in those days was a nickel, a dime, or sometimes a quarter. There were not always lots of quarters. Occasionally there might be a dollar, but not as a rule. One afternoon, I gathered coins amounting to about eighteen dollars all told in the kettle, which was very good for only four hours. On other days not much happened and I was always disappointed, if that were the case." <br />
On one cold, winter day as the minutes passed slowly, Amelia became restless. People were not paying attention to her, or her kettle, as they hurried by. Only a few isolated coins lay in the bottom of her kettle. Amelia, being Amelia, could not let this situation continue the way it was going. One of her administrators from the Training Home, Major Chadwell, came by to see how she was getting along. Amelia complained to him, <br />
"No one is paying attention to me, Major Chadwell. I'm not getting very much money today. What in the world can I do to make the people notice me?" <br />
"Well," he said, "Why don't you find a stick and bang on the kettle? That will draw attention to you and your kettle, Cadet Kunkle." <br />
"Oh, that's not very nice," Amelia replied with a frown on her young face, "I don't think that would be a good idea at all." <br />
Amelia was not shy about giving her opinion at the Major's suggestion, but the Major replied, "Well, then, Cadet Kunkle, you will certainly <br />
be able to solve that problem all by yourself before long!" <br />
Amelia did not give up. She mulled the problem over in her mind all that day as she stood by her kettle. By the next afternoon, before her kettle duty began, she had her answer. <br />
She went to the nearby Woolworth`s ten-cent store. As she walked up and down the aisles perusing the various items with her idea in mind, she found just what she wanted…a small bell with a short, dark wooden handle, not more than six inches in length over all. As she picked it up, the little bell gave a slight tinkle. <br />
"What a fine tinkling sound it has," she thought. "This is just the thing! Not too loud, but not too soft." <br />
The little bell cost just ten cents. <br />
The next day Amelia went to her kettle duty with a light heart and happily began ringing her new little bell. Yes, of course, people stopped and dropped coins into her kettle instead of passing her by. She answered each contribution with a triumphant and cheery "God Bless You and Merry Christmas." <br />
The idea of ringing the little bell to draw attention to her kettle proved to be an excellent one. Amelia's idea spread like wildfire. Very soon all the cadets had bells to ring as they stood by their kettles collecting money for the Christmas dinner.</blockquote>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes. In addition to sharing the story with my girls as they dropped in all the change we'd collected on our trip, perhaps our little contribution, combined with others, helped provide meals or housing for someone in need this cold, wet, winter day.<br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8864102919516600647.post-13984474342381214162009-12-16T11:01:00.000-08:002013-12-12T22:16:43.802-08:00Bolinas Run, Again<a href="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/71648573_74ada0c440.jpg" onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}"><img alt="" border="0" src="http://farm1.static.flickr.com/35/71648573_74ada0c440.jpg" style="cursor: pointer; float: right; height: 318px; margin: 0pt 0pt 10px 10px; width: 211px;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">The project:</span><br />
Make a quick run to a neighboring town to drop/pick up supplies for an aunt while she was busy at work.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Time:</span><br />
30 minutes<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Why bother?</span><br />
She asked.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Worth it?</span><br />
Yes. A beautiful, short drive, an easy way to help, plus my cousin came along, so we had some extra time to visit.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: 78%;"><span style="font-style: italic;">Photo courtesy </span><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/polis/" style="font-style: italic;">Lisa Chamberlain</a><span style="font-style: italic;"> under </span><a href="http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/deed.en" style="font-style: italic;">Creative Commons License.</a></span><br />
<br />
JenPBhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/10706445916591332075noreply@blogger.com0