A Plea for Soap and Shoeboxes

No, this is not another random post.


I'm actually serious about this.


In a past post, I've mentioned that LOML and I attend a Baptist church. Now, while I don't believe in organized religion, there are parts of it that please me and one thing about our church that I believe in whole heartedly is Operation Christmas Child.


If you don't know what Operation Christmas Child is, I'll let my little friend Wikipedia tell you:



Operation Christmas Child (OCC) was begun by Dave and Jill Cooke of Wrexham, Wales in 1990 to send gifts and supplies to children in Romanian orphanages. The program was adopted by Samaritan's Purse in 1993, when 28,000 shoe boxes were delivered to children in war-torn Bosnia. Since then, Samaritan's Purse has collected and distributed more than 68 million boxes to boys and girls in over 135 countries.


Though there are thousands of volunteers around the world who work year-round, this project generally begins in the month of September and finishes with a worldwide collection week near the middle of November. Groups, families, and individuals in 11 countries pack shoe boxes with gifts selected for a child of a specific age range and gender (for either a boy or a girl, and either in the 2-4, 5-9 or 10-14 age range). The most common items placed in the boxes are school supplies, small toys, and hygiene products. The boxes are then collected by Samaritan's Purse and shipped to developing countries, where they are distributed mostly by National Leadership Teams of local evangelical pastors and followers drawn from religious, government, and community organizations. With permission, and when culturally appropriate, a pamphlet about Christianity, written in the local language, is distributed alongside the boxes. In 2008, the program delivered 7.9 million boxes to children in 95 countries. Tens of thousands of volunteers process the boxes in Operation Christmas Child collection points and warehouses during the holiday season.



Now, I don't know about you, but if I was a kid, whether in a war torn or third world country, I'd be beside myself to get a box filled with all sorts of goodies.

The thought of the looks on those kids faces when they open up a Christmas wrapped shoe box fills me with happiness.


Yeah, I'm getting sappy. Shut it. I have my moments!


LOML and I put together 42 boxes last year. By ourselves. We donated half to our church and the other half to my aunt's church.


The good thing about this organization is that if you don't have the money for the shipping charges, they WILL find a way to get it so the boxes are delivered to the kids.


Since we did so well last year, we decided to up the ante so to speak and have made a personal goal of 60 boxes this year.


You heard that right. 60 boxes.


By ourselves.


A daunting task for sure.


But......we're up for the challenge.


However, we've run into a bit of a stumbling block.


We're lacking shoe boxes.


Apparently, no one wants to get rid of shoes boxes. Or they throw them away.


My one good dependable source has dried up and hasn't produced any boxes for a long time now.


I've talked to our local Payless and they rarely have any spare boxes. They did tell me they'd keep whatever they have on hold for me and while I appreciate that, the nearest Payless is 30 minutes away and we only go into town every two weeks or so. At some point, they may decide it's not worth it and get rid of them.


I've asked around but many people don't seem to be too interested in saving them OR they already donate them to one of the local churches that also participates.


The other stumbling block I've run into is soap.


I have run out of hotel sized soap to put in the boxes. I can get washcloths in bulk for a low price at Wal-Mart and Target, but affordable soap is something I haven't run across yet. In addition, hotel sized soaps are the PERFECT size for the stuffed shoes boxes that LOML and I send.


I collect all year long and have a good supply of toys, candy, pencils, notebooks, activity books, crayons, etc......


But hotel sized soap is one thing I'm lacking.


So, I'm asking all of you, if you are WILLING to part with your shoes boxes and/or hotel sized soaps, to please send them to me.


Now, with the exception of shipping costs, this costs you NOTHING. Nada, nil, zip, zilch, big fat goose egg.


I'm not asking you to go out and purchase soaps or buy shoes just for the sole purpose (no pun intended) of getting me a shoe box.......but, if you happen to have any spares on hand, I'll gladly take them from you.


Below are some pics of the supplies I have on hand:







These are all the stuffed animals I have. Now, before you start getting all impressed that this is what I spend my hard earned bucks on, don't. I actually paid no more than 25 cents for each stuffed animal. In some cases,I paid as little as a nickel. Most of those on the top are Easter bunnies. Wal-Mart was getting rid of their Easter items and had a massive sale on Sunday. I loaded up. I paid a total of $31 for over 40 bunnies PLUS some other items. With the exception of erasers, pencils and pencil sharpeners, I rarely pay full retail value for anything. I load up after Christmas, Valentine's and Easter.



I have ONE closet in my entire house. And half of it is dedicated to my supplies for the shoe boxes. HALF of my closet. Women, I know you're impressed that I selflessly gave up HALF my closet space for this charity. If that's not dedication, I don't know what is.

Here's the 8 completed boxes I have ready. By completed, I mean it's stuffed to the rim and wrapped in Christmas paper. I have about 12 more on stand by waiting to be wrapped.

So, if you are at all interested in helping, please drop me an e-mail at:

twodogsrunningsouth at yahoo dot com.

In addition, if you can find it in your heart to link up to this post, I'd appreciate it.

Thank you.

Later,

Mama Dawg

P.S. Here's a list of other items if you'd like to donate:

TOYS small cars, balls, dolls, stuffed animals, kazoos, harmonicas, yo-yos, jump ropes, small Etch A Sketch®, toys that light up or make noise (with extra batteries), Slinky®, etc.

SCHOOL SUPPLIES pens, pencils and sharpener, crayons or markers, stamps and ink pad sets, writing pads or paper, solar calculators, coloring and picture books, etc.

HYGIENE ITEMS toothbrush, toothpaste, mild bar soap (in a plastic bag), comb, washcloth, etc.

OTHER Hard candy and lollipops (please double bag all candy), mints, gum, T-shirts, socks, ball caps; sunglasses, hair clips, toy jewelry, watches, flashlights (with extra batteries)

DO NOT INCLUDE: Used or damaged items; war-related items such as toy guns, knives or military figures; chocolate or food; out-of-date candy; liquids or lotions; medications or vitamins; breakable items such as snowglobes or glass containers; aerosol cans

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.

My Weekend

Despite the vomit and late nights, I had a good weekend.

On Friday night, I went to our local Relay for Life walk-a-thon thingie.

Back in May, I went to a local Festival thingie where I tried to sell my photos and some sunglass cords. It sucked (in terms of sales) but I did manage to do a bit of networking.

Anyway, one of those networking opportunities came to fruition.

A lady was heading up a team for Relay for Life ...

(oh, for the love of Christ, must my iPod play Here Comes Santa Claus by the Chipmunks right now?).

...to continue...anyway, this lady asked me to volunteer to take photos at her booth to sell to raise money for this incredible organization. I agreed because it would give me some exposure and a chance to get my name out in the community.

Well, the relay was Friday night and I pretty much left work and got there right as it was starting. I took a few pics (about 12) and helped to raise about $70 which wasn't great but not too shabby.

Anyway, the big news is that one of the survivors was working this booth as well and she's a photographer/sales person for the local newspaper. She was admiring my work and offered to run some of my pics from time to time in the paper (provided that they were good) and give me credit (of course) but also would pay me for some photos and/or gigs.

How cool!!!!!!!!!!

That was one of the highlights of the weekend.

I also entered a silent auction for these horseshoe benches (one was tall and copper colored and the other was black) and didn't expect to win one of them much less than both, but I did! I'll take pics and post them sometime.

I got home that night about 12:30 or so.

I went on to bed and at some point, light of my life (who had fallen asleep on the couch), got up and joined me in my bed. Around 4 am, she woke me up informing me that she had just thrown up in my bed....great. Right after she informed me of that, she gagged and threw up 3 more times while I held back her hair. Oh, the memories of holding back one's hair while barfing....priceless.

Anyway, it's was typical kids barf. Hot dog bites, red stuff, etc........

After she was sure she was done, I sent her to rinse her mouth out and then brush her teeth while I held my breath (so as not to breathe in the barf fumes as it would AUTOMATICALLY and IMMEDIATELY cause a chain reaction with me) and stripped the bed. Luckily she only got the fitted sheet and a bit on the pillow cover. After she brushed her teeth, I had to get her to grab a flashlight and hold it on the sheet while I went outside to wash the barf off my sheet with the water hose. Can't have hot dog chunks in the washer, you know!!! Picture a mama with crazy hair outside in her t-shirt with no pants on (panties only) with her 8 year old daughter holding a big ass flashlight, washing off a big yellow sheet with barf on it at 4 a.m. all the while constantly looking off in the woods with BIG eyes at all the country night noises coming from every direction. Between the scary country night noises and the water rushing from the water hose, I nearly peed in my pants, which would have caused yet ANOTHER load of laundry (can't wash Victoria's Secret Panties in hot water with the barfed upon sheets). After rinsing off the sheet, we went inside where I tossed the sheet and pillow cover in the washer and we went and slept on the couch for the rest of the night/morning.

She was feeling much better the next morning. Thank goodness. It was a weird thing. I think it was the Sonic she had for dinner instead of an illness cause she didn't have any other symptoms.

Saturday consisted of us getting up at like 10 am (the barfing and cleaning up wiped us out) and going to Wal-Mart to drop the Relay for Life pics on a c.d. and then coming home and ordering a pizza and watching Hairspray.

Sunday, we went to church and then spent most of the afternoon at the pool. That was so much fun.

I also saved 2 more turtles yesterday.

I so wish I had a video of the one I saved on the way to church Sunday morning. I had dropped light of my life off at Sunday school around 10 and came back to the house to shower and get ready for regular service that started at 11.

My hair was in desperate need of a trim, so I have to be particular about how I fix it until I can get it trimmed (which my mom did for me yesterday afternoon...boy what a difference that makes). I always run behind, so it was pretty much me running out the door with still damp hair that had a bit of gel in it.

I get almost to the turn off to the church (about 3/4 of a mile away) when I see a medium sized turtle in the road. I swerved to avoid hitting him and then realized that I had seen his head sticking out which meant that he was still alive. I pulled off the side of the road, put my car in park and RAN in my white heels (yes, I'm a tacky white trash southerner who wears white heels to church. If you saw these shoes, you'd wear them too, they're that cool) all the way back (about 50 feet) to the turtle and picked him up and put him in the grass on the side of the road (the direction he was heading).

Ungrateful little bastard didn't even say thank you after I humiliated myself running on the highway in white heels with my boobs bouncing up to my chin and my carefully coiffed hair flying all over the place.

On the way home from swimming yesterday afternoon, there was another turtle in the road. I did the same thing, except this time, I was in a bathing suit and a towel wrapped around my waist and wearing Speedo flip flops while running down the highway.

I better earn a good spot in Heaven for all this. If not, I'm just gonna leave 'em to die...kidding. I can't do that. I figure the reason I'm so stuck on saving the turtles is because I can't save the kitties, raccoons, armadillos and dogs that get run over all the time. The turtles are so slow, that I actually have a chance of rescuing them.

For those of you keeping score (you hear me, God), that's 3 that I've saved. And nary a thank you.

How was your weekend?

Later,

Mama Dawg

Free Rice

I read about this cool website in one of my trashy magazines and then read about it again on perezhilton.com.

I decided to check it out and it's so cool. For every vocabulary word that you get right, 20 grains of rice are donated through the UN World Food Program. It's to help end world hunger.

I'm not a charitable person. What I mean by that is that I don't have a lot of money to donate to charities. I try to donate in other ways. I give away toys, clothes, etc....to a nearby church that resells the items to raise money. I donate gently used towels, blankets, new food, new toys (from the dollar store) to animal shelters and I try to give money at Christmas to the Salvation Army. If I can find a way to help by doing nothing more than playing on a website at something I'm good at (that was my favorite thing in school....vocabulary), then I'm more than happy to play all day long. Well, not all day long since I do have to do some work.

Anyway, if you're a vocab geek like me or just want to try to help this program, check it out.

http://www.freerice.com/

Later,

Mama Dawg

P.S. As of this morning, I've donated 6000 grains of rice. Yay me!