Archive for the ‘do good’ Category
But What Can I Do?
One of my favorite things about the blog world is the way we can band together to support a cause, help a friend, and get the word out about a need. This year I wanted to help harness that power by sharing a different non-profit or simple way to make a difference in the world we live in each month.
Whether I’m talking about charity:water, Love 146 or the National Marrow Donor Program, I’m going to ask you to join me in doing one small thing to make the world better.
If you can, great. If you can’t, that’s okay too. But this month I want to ask each an every single eligible person to do this. Every last one.
While I’ve been fortunate enough to never have a loved one suffer from a disease that would require a marrow transplant, I know that almost 70% of people who are in need of one don’t have a family member that is a match. So this month, I’m highlighting the National Marrow Donor Program. Because you could be that match. But if you aren’t on the registry – they don’t know – they can’t find you – and they can’t perform a possible life saving transplant.
Do you know how easy it is to be on the list? I registered online. I spent less than ten minutes filling out a questionnaire. I got a kit so that I could swab my cheek and send in samples. It was free (though you can certainly donate – it costs about $100 to process a registration). Painless. And maybe someday I’ll be the 1 in 200 called upon to help someone. There is absolutely no excuse for not registering if you are able.
Peanut Butter is Awesome.
Peanut butter is my most favorite protein. Sure, a medium rare, dry aged tenderloin is pretty amazing but peanut butter is affordable, tasty, and most importantly versatile. In fact, let me list all the foods that I’ve paired with peanut butter with in the last few weeks which has resulted in amazing deliciousness:
chocolate
jelly & toast
pretzels
apples
celery
banana
saltines (this was my favorite college dinner)
It’s also a very popular item on food pantry shelves because as protein goes -it’s shelf stable and pretty economical. But did you know peanut butter (along with many other foods) are facing steep inflation? Because of a bad peanut crop, the cost of peanut butter has increased any where from 20-40%!!
My point? Because of the price increase, food pantries aren’t receiving it as often as they once were as people are opting to donate other (cheaper?) items. So, if you can find it in your heart (and budget), please pick up an extra jar on your next grocery shopping trip and drop it off at your local food pantry.
And tell me – what is your favorite food to pair with peanut butter?
A Reminder this Christmas
This time of year has always been difficult for me. I find myself saying, “I need” and “I want” so often. And yet my needs really are so few and far between.
The first time I saw this commercial I cried. What a simple thing – donating a toy for a child whose parents can’t afford to get them one. And yet, this simple little thing can MAKE a child’s Christmas brighter.
I pulled this off a friend’s Facebook page. Just today I was thinking of my own Christmas list: slippers, an iPhone, a new pair of earrings, a gift card to a local bookstore, a stand mixer. And yet somewhere there is a child standing in line hoping for enough food to fend off starvation.
I’m not saying that we shouldn’t enjoy the wonderful gifts we’ve been given. What I’m saying is we should treasure them. I’m saying that before I move on to the next thing on my list, I want to pause and be grateful. For the baubles and new technology, but also for all the things I take for granted on a daily basis – a warm home, food on my table, clothes on my back and in my closet, health care, clean water running from a tap.
I want to remember that not everyone can take these things for granted and I want to remember to do what I can with what I’ve been given. And I wanted to share it with you too.
Merry Christmas.
Tonight…
I learned so much and I was touched and moved and blessed and I will blog about that in the next few days. But above all else, I was humbled by the following clip.
Love146 Overview from LOVE146 on Vimeo.
I don’t have the words to tell you how much this video broke me. How I thought of V and her innocence and beauty and spirit. Please help me get the word out. Please donate. Please end slavery.
April 1st
It’s April 1st. We’ve got snow. Mother Nature isn’t funny.
And today, I start my six month goal of giving. Giving up and giving back.
This month the money that I would spend on superfluous drinks – coffee, soda, wine – is being tallied and that money will be donated. To provide water for people who need it. A necessary drink.
If you want to join in with me (and please consider joining me), click on the picture above to learn more.