random act of charity

[thunderstorm_19]

I don't quite know if y'all will like this one, since it kinda doesn't really involve mailing, but i'll post the idea anyway, and i guess it just won't get replies if it's not a popular idea.

What you do is: I will start by posting a small list of charitable things to do, the next person choses one of those and does it, posts a short list of their own charitable ideas (repeating ideas is fine, but if you come up with different ideas, that's great), and the next person choses one and does it, and so on.

this can include things like: if you collect pop can tabs for a charity like some people do, you can ask the next person to send you a bunch of them.
or, volunteering 2 hours of their time somewhere. or, doing yard work for a neighbour. or, have a garage sale and donate the proceeds. or, leave a random gift on a neighbour's doorstep (ie a potted plant or whatever). or, make a donation to charity (you can either specify one or more options of where to donate to, or let your responder choose)... and so on and so forth.


so, i'll start


- gather up some loose change (i tend to collect pennies throughout the year, and then do this when i have a couple dollars worth or more), and however much you find, go to the grocery store and buy basic goods with it, then donate these to the food bank (here, some stores have a donation box in them, other times you can drop donations off at the food bank itself).

or

- make a $5 donation to world wildlife fund, or your local humane society/spca - - you choose whether you do so in your own name, or in the name of any other nervous member you like

or

- donate some old clothes or other items to your local charity shop (goodwill or something like it)

[Sirius]

I will make a goodwill donation. I've been meaning to for a while now, so this will be my extra push to do so.


1. Take a collection of magazines you are done with to a local retirement home (I know you were saving those for a project right?)

2. So, if you don't want to give up your magazines volunteer your time, by going and hanging out at a retirement home, play chess, checkers, or scrabble.

3. One more retirement home thing, many of them open their doors on Halloween and have the residents hand out candy. If you have a trick-or-treater, take them there, or if you don't you can volunteer to hand out candy.

4. Become a Big Brother or Big Sister through the Big Brother Big sister program of your community.

5. Call your mom just to tell her you love her.

[wickedstormy]

~I gave a bunch of magazines to my local retirement home.~



Here's some things I've done that are fullfilling you can pick and choose from:


1. Volunteer at your local soup kitchen on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.

2. Go through your old coats and donate them to a shelter close by.

3. Try saying yes to your children all day long, within reason of course. ;)

4. Call an old friend with whom you've had a little fuss with, old or new, and tell them what quality you admire in them.

[Christine_0701]

I did option 4, and i feel alot better now :D

ok..your options:

1) Donate some money to your local children's hospital

2) Donate some toys to your local children's hospital

3) Go into your local children's hospital and spend some time with the children

4) Donate some beads to me (http://nervousness.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=3411&hl=beads)

5) Donate some money to a charity of your choice

**if you don't have a children's hospital, use the children's ward of your hospital

[acousticgroupie]

wow it's cool to see so many NICE people here! I just donated clothes to a thrift shop for visiting nurse assn. I wanted to give more to the pet shelter thrift shop…and yes, I wanna volunteer at the food bank - great idea - just what I need!!!

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

I just donated some money to a charity of my choice: the Maryland SPCA.

-1- Become a member of your local NPR affiliate (http://www.npr.org/stations/index.php). They are having pledge drives right now!

-2- Donate the eyeglasses you don't use anymore to the Eye Bank. (http://www.restoresight.org/eye_banks/eye_banks.htm)

-3- Send a postcard to a family member who would never expect it.

[Someone]

I'm sending a postcard to a family member - one who I've only ever met once, so she'd never expect a postcard from me.

Charity options:

- Donate a few hours to your local public library doing whatever they need help with (reading to kids, etc.)

- Donate $5 to a world environmental organization of your choice, such as World Wildlife Fund or Greenpeace.

- Spend a few hours picking up garbage from the side of the road (I've gotten together with a few friends and turned this sort of thing into a party).

[Kelly]

I just donated $5 MORE than what I usually do to the World Wildlife fund every year.

Here's my list:

+ Donate $5 to the David Suzuki Foundation (read about his foundation here (http://davidsuzuki.org), they do great work. He runs a weekly television show on CBC in Canada, but I'm not sure if it's broadcast in the states).

+ Sign up to volunteer at your local animal shelter. Even if it's just Walking a dog once every two weeks.

+ Leave a piece of your art somewhere (can be anything, from tag art to a canvas of your work, you decide) with an uplifting message on it.

[Christine_0701]

Originally posted by voodoolily@Oct 27 2003, 09:48 AM
+ Donate $5 to the David Suzuki Foundation (read about his foundation here (http://davidsuzuki.org), they do great work. He runs a weekly television show on CBC in Canada, but I'm not sure if it's broadcast in the states).

hee hee!! just thought I'd mention that his shows are the best!! my gr. 8 and 9 science teacher showed us tons of movies, and we'd beg him to show ust he suzu ones, b/c they're less boring! lol

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

Bump. I really like this thread and hope it will keep a-movin'.

[nymphette]

i will leave a piece of inspirational art somewhere... i am thinking the best place would be the bus station downtown regina... so i will do that saturdaywhen i go into the city!!!

here is my list of something nice to do:

1: make a contribution to the NUCDF- national urea cycle disorder foundation- for any amount- the link is this: http://www.nucdf.org/ you need to click on contributions on the menu on the left side....

2: donate any amount of money to NORD- the national organization for rare disorders... here is a link to do it online... http://www.rarediseases.org/helping/donate

3: spend time at a nursing home with alzheimer's residents and sing with them... or to them if they are level IV... it really reaches them, when they have lost their ability to communicate...

4: donate money to the david suzuki foundation.. he really is awesome!!! thanks for that idea vodoolily!!!

robyn

[xxsherunsawayxx]

I will volunteer to spend time with and sing with alzheimer's patients this weekend. That is very easy for me to do as I usually do anyway. I would donate but money is slightly tight because of rent. I will do that another time.

Now for my charitable ideas:

* Donate at least $5 to Susan G. Komen's Foundation (http://www.komen.org/donation/). I would it if you made a donation in honor of anyone who has survived or is fighting breast cancer. My mother is one such woman. She has fought the battle is winning. Her name is Wendy Kalbacher.

* Donate anything that you to me for the San Diego Wildfire Victims. You can read about it here (http://nervousness.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=6501).

* Volunteer some time for a teen support line. You can remain practially anonymous (just your first name is used) and you can help many kids.

--Lissi

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

I will send Lissi a small check made out to American Red Cross Southern California Wildfires and some toiletries for the fire victims.

-1- Offer to take the child[ren] of an overworked mom for a few hours, and insist that she use the time to do something for herself: relax, read, have lunch with friends, etc.

-2- Spend a couple of hours making art for your own mom and/or dad.

-3- Bake cupcakes or brownies for the soup kitchen in your area. When I have volunteered to work in soup kitchens, good desserts have always made the customers very, very happy.

[shelleym]

I will donate my old glasses to the Lions Eye Bank this weekend! (Thanks for reminding me...)

Some further ideas:

- Make a frozen casserole for a busy mom so she can relax.

- Donate kitty litter or old towels to your local Humane Society or animal shelter.

- Make someone's day by sending them a list of the things you like about them. (I have done this - it has amazing results!!)

[thunderstorm_19]

- Make someone's day by sending them a list of the things you like about them. (I have done this - it has amazing results!!)


I'll do this... once I pick who to do it for...


- start, or join/participate in a community garden in your area (if you don't know what I mean, then research and find out!)

- become a girl scout/guide/brownie/pathfinder (whatever) leader, or junior leader

- organise (with the help of your local conservation authority if necessary) - or participate in if one exists - a garbage cleanup outing in a local park or conservation area (try to get your neighbours involved too!)

[nymphette]

i will join a community garden this summer... i had done it a few years ago (PRE- children) but have been too busy since... this is the nudge i need!!!

i want someone to:

1: make a contribution to the NUCDF- national urea cycle disorder foundation- for any amount- the link is this: http://www.nucdf.org/ you need to click on contributions on the menu on the left side....

2: volunteer at a soup kitchen for a day or two...

3: put together a nice hamper of food for your local food bank... you don't know how much it is appreciated until you are on the OTHER side of that particular fence....

thanks!!!

robyn

[thunderstorm_19]

i will donate some non-perishables to the food bank. i do this anyway, so this is a great reminder and incentive. i'll go grocery shopping with my mum next week and look for the donation box they usually keep in the store.
let me know how the garden goes, nymphette, i'll be most interested! :)


1 - Donate one (or more) item(s) to a program like Toy Mountain (some of our department stores do this, they set up a tent-like thing where people drop off new, unwrapped toys/gifts for kids, and they then get distributed to children whose families can't afford to provide them with christmas gifts. I'm sure other areas have similar things.

2 - Make a real effort to buy locally grown, preferrably organic produce wherever possible. This has a real impact - helps create/keep jobs and stimulate your local economy, helps reduce pollution created by the transportation of foodstuffs (the further away they're grown, the further they have travelled...), and organics minimize your family's exposure to chemical pesticide residues (consider - though only tiny amounts may be found in any given food item, you eat 3 times a day all your life, and many pesticides bio-accumulate, which means they build up in the fatty tissues of the body, and can contribute to long term health effects).

3 - Make a donation to (amount your choice), or volunteer some time, at your local SPCA/humane society.

4 - contact a local women's shelter, and see if they'd be interested in recieving donated "gift baskets" of toiletries for their residents. we did this one year when I was in Girl Guides. how it was arranged i don't know b/c i didn't organise it, I just helped create the basket arrangements, I remember asking the shoppers drug mart and my dentist if they could spare some samples of shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss and such - my dentist wound up giving me a big bagfull of toothbrushes and toothpaste samples.

5 - Similarly to #4 - offer to make tray favours - some kind of cute simple craft, for a hospital.

6 - if you're involved with a group like Girl Guides/Scouts, etc. arrange to go in and sing Christmas Carols for the residents of a retirement home.

7 - start a small change drive at your work - you choose the cause and deadline, then donate the amount collected to the charity you chose.

[thunderstorm_19]

bumpitybumpbump

[thunderstorm_19]

ok we badly need more action here... anyone?

[pastormissy]

I'll buy locally grown organic food--I usually do anyway and found the local Menonite run store a great place to find that stuff. (Baking bread right now with some soy flour from there.)

Okay here's my options:

1. Volunteer to read to kids--local libraries, schools, daycares, and churches are good places to contact about this one.

2. Make a donation to the local food pantry--either food or money. Or organize a food drive with whatever organizations you participate with (Girl Scouts, PTO's, churches, Women's Clubs, whatever)

3. Participate in a "Share the Warmth" kind of drive--either by donating a gently used coat, or blankets.

4. Take a child in your life out to dinner--McDonalds is fine. Spend some time with them, talk to them, show them that you care about them.

Go forth and do good!

faith, hope, and love,
Missy

[nymphette]

i will donate a couple of winter coats for the 'share the warmth' drive- they usually have big boxes at the malls, by the santa set-up, to drop them off...

i would like somebody to:

1: make a contribution to the NUCDF- national urea cycle disorder foundation- for any amount- the link is this: http://www.nucdf.org/ you need to click on contributions on the menu on the left side....

2: make a donation to the children's health foundation of saskatchewan- http://www.chf.sk.ca/

3: put together a nice hamper of food for your local food bank... you don't know how much it is appreciated until you are on the OTHER side of that particular fence....

4: spend part of your 'christmas holidays' at a soup kitchen, helping out... (i'm doing this one too!!!)

robyn

[thunderstorm_19]

bumpitybumpbump

[thunderstorm_19]

OK this thread doesn't get enough attention. :(

I'd like to change its format. I propose that

- anyone can offer suggestions of what random act of charity to perform.

- anyone can agree to do any of the things listed (with or without adding suggestions of their own).

- instead of it being formatted like the PIF thread where you only choose from the options given by the person who posted immediately previous to you, you can choose from any of the posted ideas, including those chosen by others.

- I'll add another post, listing everyone who has posted on the thread so far, and their suggestions, and put 'sign ups' under each idea, so as to have a clear idea of what is being done already. I think this might boost activity on the thread.

[thunderstorm_19]

So here it is, I've tried to remove duplicate suggestions by one person (ie. if i posted an idea more than once above, i've only posted it under my name once below), but I haven't made an effort to remove the same/similar suggestions made by other people. I can do that later, if desired, but won't bother if I'm not asked to. Try from this point on not to re-post the same suggestions (but like i said, you can DO these suggestions, and say that you're doing them, just don't re-post them as 'new' suggestions. new suggestions that we haven't had yet are welcome - as are new participants!!


THUNDERSTORM_19'S IDEAS

- gather up some loose change (i tend to collect pennies throughout the year, and then do this when i have a couple dollars worth or more), and however much you find, go to the grocery store and buy basic goods with it, then donate these to the food bank (here, some stores have a donation box in them, other times you can drop donations off at the food bank itself).

- make a $5 donation to world wildlife fund, or your local humane society/spca - - you choose whether you do so in your own name, or in the name of any other nervous member you like

- donate some old clothes or other items to your local charity shop (goodwill or something like it)
- Rustell

- start, or join/participate in a community garden in your area (if you don't know what I mean, then research and find out!)
- nymphette

- become a girl scout/guide/brownie/pathfinder (whatever) leader, or junior leader

- organise (with the help of your local conservation authority if necessary) - or participate in if one exists - a garbage cleanup outing in a local park or conservation area (try to get your neighbours involved too!)

- Donate one (or more) item(s) to a program like the Chum/City Christmas Wish, or Toy Mountain (some of our department stores do this, they set up a tent-like thing where people drop off new, unwrapped toys/gifts for kids, and they then get distributed to children whose families can't afford to provide them with christmas gifts. I'm sure other areas have similar things).
- thunderstorm_19

- Make a real effort to buy locally grown, preferrably organic produce wherever possible. This has a real impact - helps create/keep jobs and stimulate your local economy, helps reduce pollution created by the transportation of foodstuffs (the further away they're grown, the further they have travelled...), and organics minimize your family's exposure to chemical pesticide residues (consider - though only tiny amounts may be found in any given food item, you eat 3 times a day all your life, and many pesticides bio-accumulate, which means they build up in the fatty tissues of the body, and can contribute to long term health effects).
- pastormissy

- Make a donation to (amount your choice) at your local SPCA/humane society.

- volunteer some time at your local SPCA/humane society.

- contact a local women's shelter, and see if they'd be interested in recieving donated "gift baskets" of toiletries for their residents. we did this one year when I was in Girl Guides. how it was arranged i don't know b/c i didn't organise it, I just helped create the basket arrangements, I remember asking the shoppers drug mart and my dentist if they could spare some samples of shampoo, soap, toothpaste, toothbrushes, floss and such - my dentist wound up giving me a big bagfull of toothbrushes and toothpaste samples.

- Similarly to #4 - offer to make tray favours - some kind of cute simple craft, for a hospital.

- if you're involved with a group like Girl Guides/Scouts, etc. arrange to go in and sing Christmas Carols for the residents of a retirement home.

- start a small change drive at your work - you choose the cause and deadline, then donate the amount collected to the charity you chose.

- make a donation, amount your choice, to Easter Seals, an organization which provides assistance/services to people with disabilities. You can do so here: http://www.easter-seals.org/site/PageServer
or for us Canadians, you can donate through the Canadian site here: http://www.easterseals.org/youcanhelp/?load=donations

- sing Christmas carols around your neighbourhood (bring friends!), on one or more evenings this month. Either go door to door, or find a spot (ie a cul-de-sac) where u won't get run over, and sing there.

- invite your friends over for hot chocolate

- Donate your used postage stamps to the OSPCA. Go here: http://www.ospca.on.ca/ych_owth.html . They sell the stamps to collectors, and the money goes to support OSPCA programs.

- promise to yourself to get better at recycling, starting with recycling everything you can over the holidays, as much as possible of the wrap, cards, envies, and so on.

- start using a composter in your backyard.

- give handmade gifts, to make your gifts really personal.

- donate some or all of the money from your next garage sale to a charity of your choice.

- after your next garage sale, donate the items that don't sell to a charity thrift shop.

- pay attention to environmental issues in your area. write your politicians (depending on the issue, municipal, provincial/state, or federal may be appropriate, possibly local MPs, provincial premier, federal ministers of health, environment, energy, etc... even the prime minister...), and encourage them to take action to protect the environment, and human health in the process (your exact message will vary dependent on issue of choice).

- donate to WSPA, the World Society for the Protection of Animals. Go to http://www.wspa-international.org . You can link to a regional site from there.

SIRIUS'S IDEAS

- Take a collection of magazines you are done with to a local retirement home (I know you were saving those for a project right?)
- wickedstormy

- So, if you don't want to give up your magazines volunteer your time, by going and hanging out at a retirement home, play chess, checkers, or scrabble.

- One more retirement home thing, many of them open their doors on Halloween and have the residents hand out candy. If you have a trick-or-treater, take them there, or if you don't you can volunteer to hand out candy.

- Become a Big Brother or Big Sister through the Big Brother Big sister program of your community.

- Call your mom just to tell her you love her.

WICKEDSTORMY'S IDEAS

- Volunteer at your local soup kitchen on Thanksgiving and/or Christmas.

- Go through your old coats and donate them to a shelter close by.

- Try saying yes to your children all day long, within reason of course.

- Call an old friend with whom you've had a little fuss with, old or new, and tell them what quality you admire in them.
- christine_0701

CHRISTINE_0701'S IDEAS

- Donate some money to your local children's hospital

- Donate some toys to your local children's hospital

- Go into your local children's hospital and spend some time with the children

- Donate some beads to me

- Donate some money to a charity of your choice
- girl-who-loves-sharks

**if you don't have a children's hospital, use the children's ward of your hospital

GIRL-WHO-LOVES-SHARKS'S IDEAS

- Become a member of your local NPR affiliate. They are having pledge drives right now!

- Donate the eyeglasses you don't use anymore to the Eye Bank.
- shelleym

- Send a postcard to a family member who would never expect it.
- someone

- Offer to take the child[ren] of an overworked mom for a few hours, and insist that she use the time to do something for herself: relax, read, have lunch with friends, etc.

- Spend a couple of hours making art for your own mom and/or dad.

- Bake cupcakes or brownies for the soup kitchen in your area. When I have volunteered to work in soup kitchens, good desserts have always made the customers very, very happy.

SOMEONE'S IDEAS

- Donate a few hours to your local public library doing whatever they need help with (reading to kids, etc.)

- Donate $5 to a world environmental organization of your choice, such as World Wildlife Fund or Greenpeace.
- voodoolily

- Spend a few hours picking up garbage from the side of the road (I've gotten together with a few friends and turned this sort of thing into a party).

VOODOOLILY'S IDEAS:

+ Donate $5 to the David Suzuki Foundation (read about his foundation here, they do great work. He runs a weekly television show on CBC in Canada, but I'm not sure if it's broadcast in the states).

+ Sign up to volunteer at your local animal shelter. Even if it's just Walking a dog once every two weeks.

+ Leave a piece of your art somewhere (can be anything, from tag art to a canvas of your work, you decide) with an uplifting message on it.
- nymphette

NYMPHETTE'S IDEAS

- donate any amount of money to NORD- the national organization for rare disorders... here is a link to do it online... http://www.rarediseases.org/helping/donate

- spend time at a nursing home with alzheimer's residents and sing with them... or to them if they are level IV... it really reaches them, when they have lost their ability to communicate...
- xxsherunsawayxx

- donate money to the david suzuki foundation.. he really is awesome!!!

- make a contribution to the NUCDF- national urea cycle disorder foundation- for any amount- the link is this: http://www.nucdf.org/ you need to click on contributions on the menu on the left side....

- volunteer at a soup kitchen for a day or two...

- put together a nice hamper of food for your local food bank... you don't know how much it is appreciated until you are on the OTHER side of that particular fence....
- thunderstorm_19

- make a donation to the children's health foundation of saskatchewan- http://www.chf.sk.ca/

- spend part of your 'christmas holidays' at a soup kitchen, helping out...
- nymphette

-donate a toy or two to santa's anonymous, or whatever it's called in your area- they usually have drop off bins by the santa set up in the malls....
mysundown15

-donate some time to your city's children's hospital- not specifically for just the kids, the parents there always need support- bring some magazines in, ask if you can get someone some coffee or a drink, give away a phone card (they come in TOO HANDY when you are depending on payphones to connect you to the outside world.....)

XXSHERUNSAWAYXX'S IDEAS

* Donate at least $5 to Susan G. Komen's Foundation. I would it if you made a donation in honor of anyone who has survived or is fighting breast cancer. My mother is one such woman. She has fought the battle is winning. Her name is Wendy Kalbacher.

* Donate anything that you to me for the San Diego Wildfire Victims. You can read about it here (http://nervousness.org/forums/index.php?showtopic=6501).
- girl-who-loves-sharks

* Volunteer some time for a teen support line. You can remain practially anonymous (just your first name is used) and you can help many kids.

SHELLEYM'S IDEAS

- Make a frozen casserole for a busy mom so she can relax.

- Donate kitty litter or old towels to your local Humane Society or animal shelter.

- Make someone's day by sending them a list of the things you like about them. (I have done this - it has amazing results!!)
- thunderstorm_19

PASTORMISSY'S IDEAS

- Volunteer to read to kids--local libraries, schools, daycares, and churches are good places to contact about this one.

- Make a donation to the local food pantry--either food or money. Or organize a food drive with whatever organizations you participate with (Girl Scouts, PTO's, churches, Women's Clubs, whatever)

- Participate in a "Share the Warmth" kind of drive--either by donating a gently used coat, or blankets.
- nymphette

- Take a child in your life out to dinner--McDonalds is fine. Spend some time with them, talk to them, show them that you care about them.

GWENDY'S IDEAS

+ donate $5 to AIDS: http://46664.com (benefit concert website)

+ brush the snow off of a stranger's car
- girl-who-loves-sharks

+ call your parents and tell them you love them

MEJAKA'S IDEAS

Leave a big tip. Better if the restaurant isn't the big-spender type.

Stop by one of those bell-ringers and sing for a few minutes. If you sing well you can do this on your own, but even if you don't sing very well you can get a couple of friends and it will sound fine. Take requests from the bell ringer or from people who donate.

Gather change before you go to run errands, and drop some in every bucket you come to. If you have a child, let them do the dropping. If you see a child, ask their parent if it's okay if you give them some change to drop in the bucket. (Parents sometimes are rushed, but if the child gets the chance to do it, it's almost guaranteed that a good learning conversation will follow in the car).
thunderstorm_19

This one isn't simple, but I've done it and it's so much fun. Buy a Barbie-type doll(usually I'm against her, but in this case I make an exception for two reasons: First, she's ubiquitous and easy to find accessories for, and second, if a child is very sick its unlikely that even Barbie will warp her value system much). Grab your camera. Shoot Barbie doing anything you can think of. I have Rubbermaid shoeboxes-with-handles my Barbies travel in, and I have shot them building snowmen, riding mountain bikes, with rodeo queens and a rodeo clown (who was a VERY good sport about it), with soldiers at a military ball, with a karate sensei, fishing, camping--always appropriately dressed. I've even sent them on vacation (either mailed them to friends for a visit, or sent them on vacation with friends who were going). Scrapbook the pictures with notes about the experiences written by Barbie herself ("This is me at the rodeo. This clown is so brave! He runs AT the bulls so the cowboys can run AWAY!"..."This is me and Stacy Dragila. She's a famous pole-vaulter!" "This is me on Halloween, dressed as Pippi Longstocking from my favorite book.") On the last page, put "This is me and my best friend," and leave a space for a photograph. Donate the Barbie, her accumulated wardrobe, and the book to a hospital children's ward to be GIVEN to a child at the discretion of the nurses.

I feel the need to follow that with another simple idea. :^ ) Go to the fire station with some cards or other games, and spend an hour or two playing. You can do this in the name of the Roach family, whose daughter Ashleigh died in the CA fires.

MYSUNDOWN15'S IDEAS

- donate to PAWS

- give a coupon to the person on line behind you at a store. say that you had an extra, didn't buy enough to use it, etc.
nymphette

- buy someone a drink at a bar/restaurant/club anonymously (tell the waiter/waitress not to tell them that you sent it)

- put your artwork in public places for people to take (ala Found Art)
nymphette

- put books in public places for people to take (ala BookCrossing)
nymphette

- give street performers more than you normally do

FAEGIRL'S IDEAS

~ Donate winter clothing if you live in a cold area
faegirl (donating to a mitten tree)

~ Donate your hair! 10+ inches to Locks of Love (http://www.locksoflove.org/) if you check the webpage, many places offer free hair cuts and styling to donators
nymphette, her niece
faegirl
jomama

~ Have some older towels that aren't nasty, but don't want them anymore? Donate them to your local animal shelter. They are used as blankets, toys, and to wash the animals

~ If you go through a toll booth, pay for the next car behind you

~ Don't forget your postal workers this season! Send them a little extra love for carrying all of our projects here

JOMAMA'S IDEAS

~ donate to one more extremely worthy charity: www.aidchild.org
They are home for children with aids, most of them aids orphans as well. It is an extremely effective, well thought out organization making a big difference in the quality of these children's lives.

[gwendy]

i will join to my local spca.


suggestions:

+ donate $5 to AIDS: http://46664.com (benefit concert website)

+ brush the snow off of a stranger's car

+ call your parents and tell them you love them

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

brush the snow off of a stranger's car

That is so sweet.

Once, my friend Andy got day-old roses from the flower shop dumpster and covered the car of a neighbor he had a crush on. But come to think of it, that was a little creepy.

When it snows here, I will have to secretly clean off someone's car, Gwendy!

[thunderstorm_19]

Thanks for checking out the thread again!

I've added new ideas under my list. If anyone wants to add to theirs or start one, lmk!

[Sirius]

1. I just called my dad, and told him I loved him.

2. My mom is at Universal Studios on vacation. I called anyway. Told her I loved her.

3. No snow anywhere around here. Maybe brush some dust off.

[thunderstorm_19]

I'm adding another option to my list. Send in your used postage stamps to the OSPCA. details on my list of options.

[mejaka]

I'm just noting this thread. I particularly love the ideas that are immediate and direct, like saying yes to your children all day (I'll do that one!), brushing snow off a car, making a casserole for an overworked Mom, or calling parents.

I'll also be singing at a residence home next week, but it doesn't count because I am a Cubmaster and we already had it planned...but the owner of the home (which is her actual home) has cancer and I'll be going by this week to visit for a few minutes and drop off a Christmas card.

Ideas:

Leave a big tip. Better if the restaurant isn't the big-spender type.

Stop by one of those bell-ringers and sing for a few minutes. If you sing well you can do this on your own, but even if you don't sing very well you can get a couple of friends and it will sound fine. Take requests from the bell ringer or from people who donate.

Gather change before you go to run errands, and drop some in every bucket you come to. If you have a child, let them do the dropping. If you see a child, ask their parent if it's okay if you give them some change to drop in the bucket. (Parents sometimes are rushed, but if the child gets the chance to do it, it's almost guaranteed that a good learning conversation will follow in the car).

This one isn't simple, but I've done it and it's so much fun. Buy a Barbie-type doll(usually I'm against her, but in this case I make an exception for two reasons: First, she's ubiquitous and easy to find accessories for, and second, if a child is very sick its unlikely that even Barbie will warp her value system much). Grab your camera. Shoot Barbie doing anything you can think of. I have Rubbermaid shoeboxes-with-handles my Barbies travel in, and I have shot them building snowmen, riding mountain bikes, with rodeo queens and a rodeo clown (who was a VERY good sport about it), with soldiers at a military ball, with a karate sensei, fishing, camping--always appropriately dressed. I've even sent them on vacation (either mailed them to friends for a visit, or sent them on vacation with friends who were going). Scrapbook the pictures with notes about the experiences written by Barbie herself ("This is me at the rodeo. This clown is so brave! He runs AT the bulls so the cowboys can run AWAY!"..."This is me and Stacy Dragila. She's a famous pole-vaulter!" "This is me on Halloween, dressed as Pippi Longstocking from my favorite book.") On the last page, put "This is me and my best friend," and leave a space for a photograph. Donate the Barbie, her accumulated wardrobe, and the book to a hospital children's ward to be GIVEN to a child at the discretion of the nurses.

I feel the need to follow that with another simple idea. :^ ) Go to the fire station with some cards or other games, and spend an hour or two playing. You can do this in the name of the Roach family, whose daughter Ashleigh died in the CA fires. The station was between her school and home, and she used to come home from school, do her homework, then head back down to the station with Monopoly under her arm. A really good game is one that goes by various names--farkle, chicago, and others--and takes six dice and a pad of paper. There are instructions for a decent variation here (http://www.thegamesforum.com/DiceGames.html) under "Farkle."

[mysundown15]

OK, mine isn't listed, but I felt like doing it anyway.

I donated to PAWS, which is this organization that cares for the animals of people diagnosed with AIDS and other illnesses. The infected person might not be able to care for the animals on their own, and having a pet really helps cheer the person up. PAWS provides the animals with veterinary care, walking, food, grooming, and so on. If the person has to go into the hospital, the animals also get put into a "foster home" until the person is well enough to come home. It really helps the person, as well as the animal, as neither wants to lose each other. Their website is here (http://www.pawssf.org), you can donate money, as well as donating food or volunteering if you live in the San Francisco area. I'd definately volunteer, but alas, I live in NY.

So, here are my ideas.

1) Donate to PAWS (http://www.pawssf.org/donate.htm)
2) give a coupon to the person on line behind you at a store. say that you had an extra, didn't buy enough to use it, etc.
3) buy someone a drink at a bar/restaurant/club anonymously (tell the waiter/waitress not to tell them that you sent it)
4) put your artwork in public places for people to take (ala Found Art (http://found-art.com))
5) put books in public places for people to take (ala BookCrossing (http://bookcrossing.com))
6) give street performers more than you normally do

[nymphette]

ooohhh james.... too many good ideas!!!

i am going into the city tonight so i will take my books for bookcrossing (have a bunch to register before i set them free, better get on that this morning!!) and a piece of art or two i will drop off at the mall, probably in the food court, and i also have too many huggies coupons to use before they expire at then end of the month, so i will stand around in the baby section of walmart and hand them out..!!! (i have 6 and harrison will only need one more pack of diapers before they expire!!!) i think i have another coupon for free baby formula too, i should take that and give it away.... ohhh.... i'm going to be a buys mary christmas today!!! :)

and someone can:

1: donate a toy or two to santa's anonymous, or whatever it's called in your area- they usually have drop off bins by the santa set up in the malls....

2: donate some time to your city's children's hospital- not specifically for just the kids, the parents there always need support- bring some magazines in, ask if you can get someone some coffee or a drink, give away a phone card (they come in TOO HANDY when you are depending on payphones to connect you to the outside world.....)

that's all i can think of to add right now.... but now i have something to do tonight while i am stuck at the mall (DURING CHRISTMAS SEASON??? AM I NUTS?????) while chris gets harrison's ammonia level and bloodwork done....

[mysundown15]

Wowsa Robyn!!! You're really going to town on my ideas! :D

I'll donate some toys, I just have to find some unopened ones. I'm sure I have some packed away that I never touched.

[faegirl]

I'm going to be making some mittons and scarves to donate to a mitton tree this week...maybe some fleece socks too.

I'll also be sending in almost 18 inches of hair to Locks of Love (http://www.locksoflove.org/) to be made into a wig for a child with cancer.

My suggestions:

~ Donate winter clothing if you live in a cold area (We have over 30 inches of snow in places right now, silly Nor'Easter)

~ Donate your hair! 10+ inches to Locks of Love (http://www.locksoflove.org/) if you check the webpage, many places offer free hair cuts and styling to donators

~ Have some older towels that aren't nasty, but don't want them anymore? Donate them to your local animal shelter. They are used as blankets, toys, and to wash the animals

~ If you go through a toll booth, pay for the next car behind you

~ Don't forget your postal workers this season! Send them a little extra love for carrying all of our projects here :)

Jocelyn

[nymphette]

i'll donate ten inches of hair now (from my neice- i convinced her if she gets her hair chopped off to save it and donate it, so she saved it.. she's a good kid!!!) and when mine is a few mor inches that's what i am going to do too... it's the longest it's been in 18 years or so- and i hate it!!! i want to cut it all off but i am forcing myself to wait till it's long enough to donate!!! i am SO not a long hair person anymore, but the past year haven't gotten it cut (too much to do and not enough time, so...) and it's pretty long now.... it's on my list!!!!!

see above, i can't add anything now i gotta get those kids ready to go into the city and can't think.. becuase i've chain gamed the afternoon away!!! (well 1 1/2 hours of it anyhow... :)

robyn

[nymphette]

i wont' be able to help out at the soul's harbour for christmas, i just don't have time... i can, however, take them a big roaster full of cabbage rolls for their christmas dinner....

i have this problem of cooking for an army.... i am having christmas at my house and made up my cabbage rolls to freeze last night.... well, 3 roasters full... and my mom, my sister's hubby, me and julian are the only ones who eat them!!! so i kind of went overboard, but they'll get eaten, that's the one thing i know... and i am planning on giving my aunt a casserole dish of them for christmas (she always tells me that i make them better then my grandma used to... :wub: best compliment i can receive, even if *I* dont' believe it!!!!) so! i will drop off a pan of them sometime in the next week or two, instead of actually helping with the suppers.... i just dont have the time and if we get kicked out of our house because of them doing the floor (though i have tried to put the brakes on having it done pre christmas!!!) then it will be worse!!!

it will be done.... :)

robyn

[thunderstorm_19]

I gave little bits of spare change to drop boxes yesterday and this morning - world vision, salvation army and tim hortons (i think that one goes to send under privileged kids to camp?)... It didn't amount to much mind you!

[jomama]

I must add my ditto to Locks of Love. After I saw the photos on the web site, I cut off about 18" of my hair and sent it in.

Also, FYI: LOL helps kids with cancer, but the beautiful custom-fitted wigs made from human hair are usually received by children with genetic disorders that prevent them from growing hair, ever. Children with short term hair loss are given synthetic wigs.

Also one more extremely worthy charity:

www.aidchild.org

They are home for children with aids, most of them aids orphans as well. It is an extremely effective, well thought out organization making a big difference in the quality of these children's lives.

Jomama

[thunderstorm_19]

another:

promise to yourself to get better at recycling, starting with recycling everything you can over the holidays, as much as possible of the wrap, cards, envies, and so on.

and:

start using a composter in your backyard.

[thunderstorm_19]

another:

give handmade gifts, to make your gifts really personal.

[thunderstorm_19]

adding another note:

I've been using the suggestions posted here for a project I'm working on for Zeitgeist. I plan on crediting those who have posted RAK ideas, by saying something like " RAOK ideas submitted by" and listing member (screen) names. If you'd prefer not to be mentioned, or would prefer I use your real name, LMK otherwise I will use only screen names.

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

Originally posted by thunderstorm_19@Dec 18 2003, 09:15 AM
If you'd prefer not to be mentioned, or would prefer I use your real name, LMK otherwise I will use only screen names.
I would like to be called "Princess Girl-who-loves-sharks."
Just kidding. Girl-who-loves-sharks is just fine. ;)

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

http://www.anysoldier.us/

Go here if you would like to send a package to a U.S. soldier in Iraq.
I don't agree with the war/government, but I don't hold it against the troops.

[thunderstorm_19]

that's a great one...

more:

shovel someone else's driveway (if it snows where you are)

[thunderstorm_19]

here's more:

Sponsor a child through World Vision or other similar organization.

If you can't afford to sponsor a child, make a one time donation to one of those organizations.

Donate to Amnesty International.

If you have a pet, and an elderly neighbour who loves but doesn't own any animals, drop by with your pet for a visit.

Leave a suprise Christmas present on a neighbour's doorstep (don't ring the bell and give it to them).

Organise a food drive with whatever group you're involved in (class, church, guides/scouts, work, etc etc).

Grow some vegetables in your own garden. Sometimes this results in more of one thing than you will eat. Share with your neighbours.

Learn about the wildlife in your area, and what you can do to prevent "wildlife problems", like dumpster-diving critters.

Teach the children in your life about a simple local environmental issue (something they'll understand). If they show a desire, encourage and help them to do something about it (like writing to politicians, participating in garbage cleanups, and so on).

[thunderstorm_19]

anyone got more ideas? other charities that haven't been mentioned?

[thunderstorm_19]

Donate to the Heart and Stroke Foundation.

Donate to the Lung Association.

Donate to the Cancer Society.

Donate to the United Way.

Get the word out about a cause you believe in. Write letters, tell your friends, etc etc...

[girl-who-loves-sharks]

If you are politically progressive and a registered voter in the United States, http://www.progressivesecretary.org may be right for you. Go check it out. They do important work and can always use donations.

[thunderstorm_19]

In the spring when you can start gardening again, replace the foreign species in your garden with species native to your area. (Or, at least, do this in an area of your garden). You will possibly have to do some advance research as to what native species are in your area, where you can actually buy them, their growing conditions and so on.

[thunderstorm_19]

Participate, or sponsor a participant, in World Vision's 30 Hour Famine.

[thunderstorm_19]

Here's another charitable idea:

Make a donation to Nervousness!

[thunderstorm_19]

Write to your local paper(s) or news shows, etc, and ask them to do a story/article about an environmental issue in your area.

[thunderstorm_19]

for the zeitgeist project stemming from this thread, i've collected and incorporated 108 of these suggestions! I had to leave out some of the long ones though...

[thunderstorm_19]

Originally posted by thunderstorm_19@Jan 6 2004, 03:09 PM
Write to your local paper(s) or news shows, etc, and ask them to do a story/article about an environmental issue in your area.
also, if you see an article you disagree with, write the editor and comment!