Me? Be a do-gooder? Why?
This will probably seem shocking, but I don't come by helping other people naturally. Family, friends, neighbors -- sure, no problem. But growing up, I didn't understand the reason behind all the do-good projects that school groups wanted to do. Help someone I don't even know? Why?
Fortunately, I've overcome the bad example set by my parents (heh). Helping people in need is the right thing to do. If there's some way I can share with others, I should do that simply as a fellow human. And any time I have felt down, doing something for someone else -- no matter how small a kindness -- has made me feel better.
Last year, I raised money for breast cancer. I took my son to help stuff bags full of toiletries for victims of the hurricanes in the Caribbean. I delivered meals to moms I know (and some I don't) after they gave birth. My husband and I donated to causes like the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Heart Association. I wrapped boxes of Christmas gifts being sent to children in Third World countries and also gave gifts to a local organization. I donated my unwanted items to a local homeless shelter. My family bought food for Thanksgiving for some local needy families, and then I helped put food donations into boxes for delivery.
This year, I know there will be new and additional chances to help people. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to do with an infant (I'm 17 weeks along now!), but I'll do what I and my family can handle.
Maybe I'll look for easy ways to help, like those "click here every day, and you can feed a shelter animal / send clean water to poor countries / clothe an orphan" Web sites.
Or the easy way The Quaker Oats Company is donating oatmeal to those in need. From Jan. 12 through Feb. 28, for every UPC from a Quaker Oatmeal hot cereal product you enter at www.startwithsubstance.com, Quaker will donate one bowl of oatmeal to Share Our Strength, a childhood hunger organization. You need to be a Facebook member to participate.
Too bad Facebook sucks and that's why I don't have an account and won't be participating in this one, myself.
But I'll find other ways to help people. You can call it the Golden Rule or good karma or whatever.
This post was written for Parent Bloggers Network as part of a sweepstakes sponsored by The Quaker Oats Company.Fortunately, I've overcome the bad example set by my parents (heh). Helping people in need is the right thing to do. If there's some way I can share with others, I should do that simply as a fellow human. And any time I have felt down, doing something for someone else -- no matter how small a kindness -- has made me feel better.
Last year, I raised money for breast cancer. I took my son to help stuff bags full of toiletries for victims of the hurricanes in the Caribbean. I delivered meals to moms I know (and some I don't) after they gave birth. My husband and I donated to causes like the Multiple Sclerosis Society and the American Heart Association. I wrapped boxes of Christmas gifts being sent to children in Third World countries and also gave gifts to a local organization. I donated my unwanted items to a local homeless shelter. My family bought food for Thanksgiving for some local needy families, and then I helped put food donations into boxes for delivery.
This year, I know there will be new and additional chances to help people. I'm not sure how much I'll be able to do with an infant (I'm 17 weeks along now!), but I'll do what I and my family can handle.
Maybe I'll look for easy ways to help, like those "click here every day, and you can feed a shelter animal / send clean water to poor countries / clothe an orphan" Web sites.
Or the easy way The Quaker Oats Company is donating oatmeal to those in need. From Jan. 12 through Feb. 28, for every UPC from a Quaker Oatmeal hot cereal product you enter at www.startwithsubstance.com, Quaker will donate one bowl of oatmeal to Share Our Strength, a childhood hunger organization. You need to be a Facebook member to participate.
Too bad Facebook sucks and that's why I don't have an account and won't be participating in this one, myself.
But I'll find other ways to help people. You can call it the Golden Rule or good karma or whatever.
Labels: Food and eating, good causes
posted by Holly at Tropic of Mom at 7:50 AM
For Local Blog
5 Comments:
Good Karma on you, Holly. 17? Almost half way there. Cool.
wow. most days I do good just to get my own family fed, let alone feeding others. Kudos to you for all your good works.
I had no idea. I'm actually picking up some Oatmeal this weekend (we go through it quick). I'll have to check it out!
You are kinder than I. I am so focused on getting us to a comfortable spot that helping others is not even on my list. We did give some presents to children that were to spend Christmas in the hospital, but that is about it.
Don't forget these ways you help others that you're soooo good at - being a great caring friend, role model, event planner for the unimaginative (me), and listener :)
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