Friday, December 5, 2008

Helping Hands Project

Thistle over at Of Thistles and Maple Leaves is hosting a Helping Hands Project. This project challenges bloggers to help out in their community in some way. (this also counts towards my Friday Foto Finish Fiesta at Candid Carrie's since my foto is at the bottom!)


I thought this was a neat concept and I thought, initially, that I would need to start helping in my community but then I realized I already did.


I have this wonderful blog that makes the blogging community laugh.


'Nuff said. Done. Where's my badge?


No? That's not what she meant?


Ummmmm....ok, I don't fart in public.


There. Believe me, that is a SERVICE to our community. Not to mention the environment at large.


Still not what she meant?


Oh, OK. I'll toot my own horn.


I don't have a lot of money. That's obvious. It's obvious because I've said it like a gazillionity times here on this blog.


So, it's hard for me to contribute in a financial way. Or, at least, in a high profile kind of financial way.


My aunt, the one that lives with my grandmother, and her church is heavily involved with Samaritan's Purse and their Operation Christmas Child project.


I've known about this project for many years, but since I lived in New Orleans and didn't attend a church, I was out of the loop and never contributed.


Several years ago, I started buying things here and there for my aunt to include in the shoeboxes.


I made a decision before we moved up here, to start actively collecting items to include in shoeboxes. I had originally decided to donate all the items to my aunt's church to use but then realized that Light of My Life liked assembling the boxes (she liked to decided what items went in each box) and we decided to make it a family project.


I gathered up as many boxes as I could and we got to work. By the time the call came in to get them ready to ship off, we had assembled 20+ boxes. I donated them all to my aunt's church and we gave ourselves a pat on the back for a job well done.


We started collecting again after the first drive was done and over with.


And I'm proud to say, that this year, we assembled 46 boxes!


I make it a habit to pick up items each time we go to Wal-Mart or the dollar store. I can (barely) afford the extra dollar or two but it totally adds up by the time you're ready to assemble.


Also, due to Mardi Gras, I'm able to collect tons and tons of beads as well as new stuffed animals that they throw from the floats. I also collect other small toys they throw.


In addition to Operation Christmas Child, I also volunteer at the Methodist Rummage sale in the next town over.


I'm not Methodist.


Yet...I help. I go in the off hours and organize and decorate and straighten up and move boxes of clothes up and down the basement stairs. I had told my retired mom about this place and she started volunteering. She then asked me to come help her on my days off and I went.


I love organizing and gathering and decorating.


We also have fun spending time together.


Just yesterday, my day off, we went and worked on a Christmas display for this upcoming weekend.


I also adopted Max. Now, that might not have done much for the community, but it's done wonders for our family.


Do you volunteer? Do you help out your community in any way?


Later,


Mama Dawg


P.S. I got this from Pseudonymous High School Teacher.




P.S.S. This is a Wal-Mart sized bag of scissors that I got for FIFTY CENTS! They had a deal where you got whatever you could fill in the bag for FIFTY CENTS. If you'll notice the little orange sticker on the top pair, it shows FIFTY CENTS for ONE PAIR. I got the WHOLE BAG for FIFTY CENTS. It's over 200 pairs of scissors. These are the kinds of deals I find. Yeah, I'm THAT kind of shopper. I also can get my kids entire summer wardrobe for less than $100 by shopping in the off season at Old Navy for their clothes that are prices $1.99.

18 really cool people who give a rat's patootie:

Bijoux

I can't believe you made 46 boxes! We do Operation Christmas Child every year, but my kids each just make up one box. Our church collects them and one year, our dentist donated a large amount of toothpaste/toothbrushes/dental floss for the project.

Vodka Mom

get your ass over here and take me shopping.

Keys to the Magic Travel

That is so great that you made so many boxes. I don't know where I'd find that many boxes! Madalyn had to make a diorama in a shoe box for school...and I had to go begging to my friends for one :-)

And I volunteer. I don't know how I get roped into these things sometimes. But I am a bit over extended because I so want to help...

Jaden Paige

haha, I am a bargain shopper too! Those scissors were a steal :D

oh, and btw, I big puffy heart Old Navy's clothes. For both myself and my daughter. Good choice there!!

Have a great weekend!

Heather

And this is why I love you and want to make out with you. Because you're a giver. I can't believe you got that whole bag of scissors for 50 cents!! And I love Old Navy's clearance section. We also have a children's place outlet where they'll put last season's shirts on sale for 1.99. I. stock. up. That's cheaper than Goodwill!!

Pseudo

I'm with Vodka. I need to shop with you. And you are truely amazing in your generousity.

Dude, put up your badges. You should get both of them.

A New Yorker

WOW! Can you help me find cheap deals for super goods I need?

Outnumbered2to1

Just in awe. Nothing to add.

Sarah's Blogtastic Adventures

Wow I wanna be at Walmart on that day! I know what you mean by wanting to help but not having alot of money. Every year before Christmas I make the kids gather all the shit *ahem stuff they don't play with anymore and we make a donation to Goodwill. They don't need it and it makes room for the new stuff and it helps teach the kids about how alot of people have alot less than we do!

Captain Dumbass

You are pretty awesomesauce, gf. We never get those kind of deals up here, probably because we have like... 8 times less people than you. Sigh. It ain't easy bein' a pimp.

What?

Teri

Man, that is a lot of shoeboxes. Very cool! I love making those, also. Great work! (and really great deals, too)

Swirl Girl

You will make a school or preschool or shelter full of needy kids VERY happy!

Unknown

It's awesome that you do so much. I volunteer at the SPCA and The American Cancer Society. It's a good feeling.

P.S. There's an award for you at my site.

Trooper Thorn

Don't worry that you don't do enough.The people who are concerned that they don't volunteer or contribute as much as they should are the ones who give the most.

Rhea

I'm impressed with your boxes and the scissors purchase as well. I don't do enough regularly. I need to. I donate here and there a $1 or so to various charities when they ask me at the grocery store.

Lo

hells-to-the-yeah my sista!!!! i'm so totally fist-bumping you right now virtually.

i did it for the first time as you know.... and i only did 3, but i spent like 40 bucks doing 3 bc i decided to do this like two days before deadline. buti can afford the money and it felt so much more gratifying then just handing over 40 bucks.

i love you all the more for doing this. it is sooooooooo awesome and great and i help out w/religous affiliations and me? yeah. i was raised buddhist. figure THAT one out :)

LiteralDan

I love me a deal, my friend, and I've gotta admire you putting such skill toward such a good cause.

Actually, this one sounds more like a GREAT cause!

Anonymous

well done...40+ Christmas boxes is amazing. Thanks for participating in this and leaving your comment. And i would agree with the comment that it's the ones who don't think they're doing enough that are usually doing more than many others. I also don't have much in the way of extra cash to contribute (curse working for a non-profit society), which is why i choose to give my time...plus it's fun and a great way to meet new people. A win-win in my books.

Thanks again and hope you and yours have a great holiday season.

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