Last week I posted a few sponsored posts. They're low on comments but I'm okay with that. I do what I need to do to get me through my commitments, and I hope the businesses, etc. I've worked with are pleased with my efforts.
It's interesting to have to do all of that (and yes, there will be some more) in the wake of the hurricane. The aftermath or Sandy, of Sandy, *typo* is affecting so many. I'm spending loads of time online looking for places I can support and send things to. Blankets, coats, whatever it is that I can dig up and get my hands on I want to pass along to those in need.
And yet, it's an interesting concept, as there are people in need everywhere every.single.day.
Aren't there?
Like today we took a cooler of sandwiches and two bags of clothes and baggies filled with snacks and my kid's Halloween candy to an organization that sets up at a local park every Sunday morning to provide homeless with food and full bellies.
So what would have me think that isn't always out there? When I know it is.
It's so easy to close our eyes and stay behind our doors, curtains, blinds, shades pulled tight. Heat on, soup cooking, coffee brewing and we sit here and think, well, I"m just one person, what could I possibly do?
I'll tell you.
As one person I bought 3 loaves of bread, one GIGANTIC jar of PB and a jar of jelly and pulled together 35 sandwiches. That's 35 bellies that won't go completely hungry because of the random $12 or so I spent. That's 2-3 visits to Starbucks or Dunkin Donuts or Caribou.
A few meals off the dollar menu at McDonald's or Burger King or Wendy's.
What could have fed me three times over fed 35+ people. For real.
How hard is that to do? Not hard at all. The difficulty is in reminding ourselves that we need to take the time to do SOMETHING. Not just when people are in drastic need, publicized need, but need. Plain and simple. Need is need is need.
Take a few minutes today to offer help to someone in need. You'll feel like a million bucks for doing so, so it's not entirely selfless. I promise.
Thanks. And xo to you all. Especially those of you impacted. I know you need help, too. And I'm doing what I can to contribute and get the word out. I just don't want everyone else to be forgotten in the midst of it all. Some of us can't ship blankets and coats across the country. But there is always a place near home that will take what we can no longer use. And at that I've gone over my five minutes. But I think Jana will forgive me. And so will you.
Love the one you broke it down to how PB & J make a difference. What we do to help is not insignificant and it matters!
ReplyDeleteI love this (and you) so much! It's as easy as a PB&J.
ReplyDeleteThis is so right on. I almost got into an argument the other day when I was telling a colleague that I don't want kids donating all their money to help Sandy when they could be helping others in their area all the time (they are in St. Louis, MO).
ReplyDeleteWhat a generous use of you time and money. I often feel that people think because they contribute monetarily to something (a lot of them for tax write offs anyway) that they have helped. And they DO. But there is always more that can be done in our everyday lives.
ReplyDeleteThanks for the reminder. Coming from SOCS.
Kiran
Wandering by from SOCS ...
ReplyDeleteYou've made such an important point, something that's it is so easy to overlook - it doesn't take a million dollars to make a difference.
I love all of this goodness and giving and mindfulness.
ReplyDelete{Life is much better when we live this way, yes?}
Every little thing helps and like you said-it doesn't take much.
ReplyDeleteBetter late than never- I am sincere about that one.
ReplyDeleteEvery step (even small) to help someone in need means a lot to that person.
ReplyDelete