Friday, August 12, 2016
I know I've posted this before. Since we saw an announcement on the local Bend, OR TV station which told about the shortage of donated food for one of the organizations that help feed the hungry. I thought it would be a good idea to remind everyone that the poor and homeless have to eat in the warm summer months, too.
With school out for the summer and families taking vacations feeding the hungry is not a high priority.
The Bend homeless shelter, which also packs lunches to pass out to people living on the streets, was just a days away from running out of food and bottled water.
After the news story there was an outpouring of donations to the food bank, and all the other local shelters. Yay, for that!!!
Around holidays people think more about donating to charity, food banks in particular. Haven't you been in the grocery around Thanksgiving and Christmas and there are donations set up for $10 per bag of food? Why don't these stores have food drives in the summertime?
Have you checked with the local organizations where you live if they are short on supplies? Usually if they have a website you can look on it to find out what they need.
Helping charities with donations of money or time is a wonderful thing. I believe that when one gives freely to help others, it will come back ten-fold. Karma, you know? And I always feel gratitude for all the things I have to be grateful for.
What I don’t like and don’t contribute to are the enormous amount of mailed solicitations for donations. It irks me to no end the mailers I receive for donations. Sometimes, I receive the same charity mailer two or three times in the same month!! Those charities should use the money spent on paper, printing and postage to help their charity. Or send one instead of several.
One letter requesting donations should do it. Either the person receiving it will donate, or they won’t. Why waste money sending the same ad over and over to the same person?
I believe that charity begins at home. By home I mean, the country, the town, the community, and the neighborhood I live in. There are so many homeless families in America. In every city and town and county. I am grateful my family members all are together in their own homes, with food on the table and jobs to support them.
This year I donated to the Bethlehem House in Bend, OR. Bethlehem House is a place for homeless families and single adults to transition back into a home of their own. The children attend school and there is counseling to help the jobless find jobs and get back on their feet.
And Bethlehem House was the organization the Bend news story was about.
And Bethlehem House was the organization the Bend news story was about.
We are all caretakers of the world we live in. Let’s begin at home, wherever in the world that may be, and make a difference. One small act can ripple through the world further than you ever dreamed.
Make this the summer of giving back!
Make this the summer of giving back!
Do you have a favorite charity, and how does giving shape your out look on life?
Thanks Diana for this great blog. Being new to Bend I hadn't found a place to donate and I heard their requests on the news. This is a good reminder to get them some food! And I love that they are helping people get back on their feet not just handing out money. I donate to the Jimmy Carter Center and their motto is a helping hand not a hand out. I love that. Thanks again for the reminder.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, Diana! Donating to charity makes me feel a part of something bigger than myself. It reminds me that we are all connected, we all matter, and everyone can make a positive difference in the world.
ReplyDeleteGreat reminder, Diana. Summer is the MOST critical time for many food banks. Low income children often get at least one meal in school, and sometimes two during the school year. This helps families to stretch their dollars and perhaps not need as much from food banks during that time. However, holidays and the summer can be really tough on food banks. Our church has a monthly drive for food banks. It is always a reminder to keep the hungry in mind. I hope your local news does some regular reminding too.
ReplyDeleteGood post, Diana. I give a monthly donation to my local food bank to help them through the lean times in the off season.
ReplyDeleteTotally agree about giving locally, Diana. I always buy at least one bag of groceries each time the story has the promotion which is more than just at the winter holidays. I'll have to remember to do a bit more now that I don't have any kids in school - they always had at least one food drive a year also.
ReplyDeleteThanks everyone for stopping by! and it is great to hear your perspectives on this subject!
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