The Open Door

A small one today.

Sometimes I catch a daytime talk show and the subject matter is a "what would you do" type of thing. Some of the prime time news magazines have done this sort of thing, too, but far more dramatically. What would you do if you witnessed a domestic violence situation in public? If you saw a child being bullied? A homeless person being teased?

Oprah has one into more day to day situations... how much are you willing to get involved?

I pulled into a parking lot of a busy grocery store today. The minivan in front of me had a wide open side door. And I noticed no one around or in the vehicle. I got out, went over- nothing. Car seats and toys. No people. I look around. Nobody is paying any attention.

Should I shut the door? Or was it left open on purpose? But who would leave a minivan door wide open in December with toys and bags and car seats and whatever else?

So... in what I hope was a good deed and not something that ended up causing problems, I shut the van door.

And nothing happened. No lightning. No camera crews. No interviews asking why I did what I did.

And I went on my way, knowing that I would want someone to have done the same for me.

Giving Goes for Co-Workers, too!

For a variety of reasons, things have been a little somber around the office lately.

Nothing helps brighten a day like donuts and bagels, right?

I brought in 18 donuts, a dozen bagels, and cream cheese this morning. I've also kept the coffee pots full (I'm never the one to make coffee).

Cost... under $20.

Bonus!

Bonus good deed opportunity today!!

I had bagged up last year's coats and jackets (from the kids) and, while cleaning out a bedroom, found an unopened pack of diapers. In addition, I manage our cell phones at work and we recently switched carriers so I had a handful of old phones and equipment that can no longer be used.

I am an active member of a local moms' online community and there is a mom on that site who is part of a domestic violence rescue program. She literally picks up women and children when they are escaping abusive situations.

I contacted her and she was more than happy for the items I had. So a good donation made to a very good cause!

Food Runner

If you know of anyone in San Francisco...

Food Runners is an organization in San Francisco that takes unwanted food and gets it to people who want and need it. I heard about it on NPR this morning.

From the website:

Food Runners picks up excess perishable and prepared food from businesses such as restaurants, caterers, bakeries, hospitals, event planners, corporate cafeterias, and hotels and delivers it directly to shelters and neighborhood programs that feed the hungry.

My first job was at a McDonald's. This was back when food sat in a heated bin until it was ordered. Massive amounts of product was tossed every hour. It always bothered me but I was 16 and didn't know what to do about it.

A friend shared a story with me about restaurants in Detroit that were so concerned about being sued by the homeless people who were dumpster diving for their tossed food that they began pouring bleach on the food before throwing it away.

Food Runners is brilliant!! Reduce waste and get food to hungry people. According to NPR, even people with leftovers at home participate and get hooked up with groups in their area who are signed up to receive.

So if you are in San Francisco, you can donate time by picking up from a business and delivering to a shelter or program. If you aren't in San Francisco, you can donate money to the program. You can donate $10 (this is what I did). If you donate $50 or more, you get a gift! A Food Runners apron or t-shirt. You can donate on their website or by check.

Another worthy cause that could be your good deed today!!

A True Effort

Rush hour traffic. Multiple accidents on any of my possible routes home- the expressway, the back roads.

So I make a commitment. I am going to be a nice driver.

I went out of my way to watch for people who needed to get into my lane. Who needed to pull out of a parking lot.

I helped out at least 4 cars.

Oddly, this was one of the hardest things I've done. Like everyone else, I am very eager to get home, get to my family, get away from all things work. I don't want to give up my spot in the line of traffic.

But it did feel good, although at times frustrating, to help someone else get an inch closer to home.

Kiva.org

Have you heard of Kiva?

I hadn't until I read about it on some blog- I honestly forget which one now.

Kiva works with groups in lower economic countries. Specifically, Kiva works with individuals who have their own business and who need some financial assistance to get things up and running or to make improvements.

I read the story of a Tanzanian woman who makes cereal and needs money to buy more raw materials. Since her country doesn't view her as an equal citizen, she can't get a loan. So she works with Kiva and a financial lending partner. People can log in and sponsor her by loaning $25 (or more).

The individual pays back the money. And the lender can then loan that money to someone else.

The lending partners that are in these communities not only pass the money on to the entrepreneur, they also provide education, support, business advice, etc.

So it is money, education, empowerment.

Check it out!

http://www.kiva.org

And you can read more about Kiva here.

I'm in the process of reading through the loan applicants and will be selecting someone. $25 is manageable in my holiday budget.

Slacking...

I've been a slacker. But only on blogging. I'm still good on my daily good deeds. It was hard over the holiday weekend... some days we hardly left the house.

Back on track today- back to posting daily updates of good deeds!!

I also need to focus more on daily gratitudes.

Moms In Need...

I think that helping fellow moms is the best.

I also think that children are wise beyond our understanding.

Yesterday, we were at Target. Husband was slightly cranky but coming out of his funk. We unload the cart, load the kids, he takes the cart back. Gets in the car and notices me staring out the window.

I'm watching 2 moms unload their carts. They are there together and each has a young child with them. They are each unloading into their respective vehicles.

I tell Husband that I am considering going over and offering to take their carts for them. I know that I would appreciate that sort of offer of help when I'm out with my kids.

He gives me some attitude. So I back off. They have each other, they will help each other out. Right? We banter back and forth- him telling me to go, me saying that they weren't done unloading, blah, blah, blah.

A voice comes from the backseat.

"Mommy. We are supposed to help people."

So I got out of the car...

Anonymous

Supplies:
$1
envelope
pen
tape
vending machine

I took my dollar, put it in the envelope, wrote a note about using the dollar for a cup of coffee, taped it to the vending machine in our breakroom at work. Didn't sign the note... just wrote "pay it forward."

Forgive my blurry pics- they are taken quickly and with a cell phone!!

Santa for Seniors

On our lunch hour today, a friend and I went to Walgreens, selected a Santa for Seniors tag from the tree, purchased items from the tag, bagged them up, attached the tag, dropped it off in the box by the door. Couldn't have been easier or more convenient!

I was buying for Evelyn. She is 76 and wanted lotion, books, and a blanket. My friend bought for Jerry who is 73. He wanted socks, a blanket, and Diet Coke.

Evelyn will be getting 2 large pump bottles of Walgreens lotion, a Christmas themed new release book (forget the title), and a cute lap blanket- cream and pink with fringe, woolly.

Jerry will be getting a jumbo pack of athletic type socks, a dark green chenille blanket, and a 12 pack of Diet Coke.

We each spent less than $20 and will be helping to light up Christmas for someone!

Be a Santa to a Senior!

Sunday, Nov 23

Good deed: Today, with no prompting, Teagan asked if we could go to the store and buy food for hungry people. Our church collects for the Fishers UMC Food Pantry and there was an announcement in the bulletin that they most needed spaghetti and sauce. When we did our weekly shopping today, that's what we picked up!! We will either get it to our church this week or will take it directly to Fishers UMC. 5 large boxes of spaghetti and 5 jars of sauce and we spent around $15.

Gratitude: Teagan decided, for the first time ever, that she wanted to go to Sunday School today. Our associate pastor, our pastor's wife, the teachers, and a teacher's daughter really went out of their way to make sure Teagan was comfortable and confident in what was going on and played a major role in her having a successful first time!! Huge amounts of gratitude for that!

Gratitude

I think that recognizing gratitude is just as important as doing good things for others.

I am grateful to:

My father in law for installing a new faucet in our bathroom.

The bagger at the grocery store for offering to carry my 2 bags to my car (I had one child with me).

My friend for inviting me out for an infrequent "girl's night out" for me.

The waitress for handling a situation remarkably well.

Good Deed, Goodwill

I'm always torn on this one. I know that Goodwill does a lot of good for folks who are struggling. I always donate my extra stuff, outgrown clothes, out of style clothes...

But they do me a favor by taking my stuff!

But it is ok if good deeds benefit both parties, right?

Today, my 3 year old and I went through some drawers of toys and she chose toys to donate to Goodwill. We ended up with 2 paper grocery bags of toys- and she even carried one of the bags into the donation center when we made our delivery! And, as usual, I refused a receipt.

Addendum

What I really love are when good deeds end up being kind of selfish and benefit me, too. :)

Met my friend for lunch. Handed over the Bumbo. It's a pizza buffet place. We go up to pay before we start eating. I know it's tough to dig in your purse and all while holding a baby... so I offer to hold the 9 month old. Mom says fine but really doesn't think baby will come to me.

I was able to hold baby while mom paid, got her drink, sat stuff at the table, set up baby's food, and got her lunch from the buffet. As a mom myself, that is certainly something that I always appreciate!

And I got to tote around a sweet little baby and show her fake plants and windows and touch signs with her... we even rubbed cheeks a couple times.

Perhaps it isn't selfish... maybe that's just a smidgen of kharma?

A Friend In Need

Good deeds don't have to be huge. They just have to be genuine. That's my opinion anyway.

I have a friend/acquiantance that I know through a local message board. It's a very large board for area moms. She and I have met a few times, hung out at events. She had a baby 9 months ago and we talked a few times here and there about breastfeeding, whenever she needed advice or help.

She put out a call that there was s pecific piece of baby equipment they need. It's a Bumbo- a foam baby seat. I fell in love with ours when we had Teagan and she loved her Bumbo.

Zach never took to his. I had asked for one as a shower gift... but he never really liked it and it has hardly been used.

So this friend posted that she needs a Bumbo because the friend who gave her one is taking it back. Having had a child who loved her Bumbo... who sat in it in restaurants, at home, at church... I understand the panic feeling of being without.

So it isn't a huge gesture. And she isn't poor or destitute. And a Bumbo isn't a necessary baby product.

But good deeds don't have to be huge, don't have to cost money. I have something I'm not using, she has a need.

And bonus to the good deed- we are essentially recycling this product! Good for Mother Earth! Less packaging being thrown away, less chemicals being used to create this item.

Share a story with us! What have you taken from your own home, your personal inventory, and passed on to someone else?

FYI

I updated the web addy of this blog to:

http://gratitude-n-giving.blogspot.com/

There is a website called gooddeedaday.com and I just figured I should avoid any confusion...

Put It On MY Tab

I have a friend who buys the meals or movie tickets or whatever of military personnel whenever he can. If he is dining out by himself or with friends or with family and he sees a person in uniform, he will go out of his way to pay for their meal.

So today's good deed is inspired by that friend.

I was at a business lunch. 3 soldiers, in their Army gear, walk in.

I excused myself from our table and went to the hostess stand. Asked if I could buy a gift card to pay for part of their meal. I don't have the funds to pay for 3 meals at Bravo but I wanted to do what I could. $25 is in my budget.

However, if I buy a gift card, it isn't going to be usable until the next day. Some may have stopped with that road block. But I believe in the power of good deeds! So I talked to the hostess, we talked to a server, and he rang up $25 on their tab with my credit card.

My boss encouraged me to stop by their table and thank them. I had really hoped to remain anonymous. But it just wasn't in the cards.

The reason I didn't want to approach the table is because I knew I would get emotional. But I did go over before we left and thanked them for their service. And they asked if it was me... and I said yes. And they each shook my hand. And I said thank you again. And they understood.

I don't support the war but I do support the military who are sent over there to fight it. This is one way that I can show my support of the men and women who sacrifice so much, risk so much.

Your turn!!

Welcome!

The purpose of this blog space is to inspire others to pay it forward. To help spark creativity in giving. To give a thank you when we've received.

Check in regularly and if a good deed inspires you, pay it forward. If it reminds you of something you've done in the past, share it. If it is something that has been done for you, share that experience.

One good deed at a time. Small kindnesses. If we all do the little things that we can do, we can touch other lives.