amitymamaThe Attachment Parenting Community

~Meeshi~ · 11-28-2005, 07:50 AM

I am feeling the need to invest my time into new and different activities that will make a positive difference in the world. We do a lot of things in the name of helping out people or beings less fortunate that ourselves, but I feel like I have enough time and energy to do more.

I am looking for more ideas of things we can do to help out on a local and global level.

One new thing we are adding this year, seeing as we do not celebrate Christmas, we are going to be helping out at the local nursing home on the 25th, to help with dinner and spread some cheer.

We have also recently gotten involved in the local clothing and food drives for families in the area.

We will continue our work in helping raise awarerness to the cruelty suffered by animals in the factory farms.

There are lots of other small things we do, but I would be happy to hear other suggestions. Sometimes, even the littlest things can make a big difference.

What do you do to help make the world a better place? Where do you volunteer your time and effort??

amyorama · 11-28-2005, 07:55 AM

Donating clothes and toys to charities often...
Donating money on a regular basis to my church...
Sponsoring children for Christmas presents through churches/charities...
DH volunteers for Red Cross and a local national park that we hike at...
Thinking positive thoughts and refrain from saying anything unkind or unhelpful

My HS group is trying to set up some volunteering at a nursing home or soup kitchen. This sounds lame, but with three little boys I am always put in the nursery to help and I don't want to do that. I am limited in my volunteering at this time, unless a friend comes along and helps me with my wee ones. I used to volunteer at a soap kitchen for about a year and I loved it. I wouldn't mind making a (non-paying) career out of it when the kids are older. I also love volunteering at nursery homes, I did that for two years. Wonderful experience.

~Meeshi~ · 11-28-2005, 08:00 AM

We are donating to and helping with a toy drive this year as well. The girls are picking out a few things that don't get used very much and we go down to the distribution center and wrap them up and everything.

Ironically, this is the same Santa's Helper program that helped us out a few years ago. It feels good to be able to turn around and help out now.

Nico to *see* ya again, Mama!

jessica_momof7 · 11-28-2005, 08:02 AM

nursing homes always needs things for the residents-especialy during the holidays. I worked at one and I was so surprised at how many people did not have family visit them. It was just heartbreaking.
I always wanted to get a group together of kids/adults to just come weekly and visit with the residents. Give them someone to talk to.
We accepted donations for socks/scarves/lotions/blankets for them during christmas because they get so cold..and it is nice for them to recieve some gifts.

and donating stuff to shelters...that is always a good one.

texasmama · 11-28-2005, 08:10 AM

Before we visited the nursing home, we hit the thrift store and bought sweats of all sizes that were still in great shape... they love to wear those.. and packages of new socks. Mostly they just want company though..so if you don't have the extra money to spend, they'll just be happy to see your children.

nymom2-4 · 11-28-2005, 08:11 AM

Please consider signing up to do respite care for families with disabled children. It can be paid but there is also those out there that don't get respite hours. Many people don't want to watch these children. ( believe me when I say this is more common then most think)

Even as a part time job this isn't bad. NY requires a background check and fingerprinting.

What a blessing it would be to some family to just get 2 hrs to either attend to other children or just do holiday shopping.

There are a few programs out there with drop off care, where a group of volunteers watch many children together.

Mina687 · 11-28-2005, 08:28 AM

I don't know what the weather is like in your area, but clean up of local parks is something we do almost every week end. This time of year things get neglected becuase of the weather. We bake goodies every year for our Local homeless shelter. They always get food donations but not many special treats, just something to brighten their day. We also make up as many hot plates of food as we can and hand them out to people on the streets. Our shelters here get full fast so alot of people have no where to go. A warm meal and a hot drink is very helpful. Just some idea's. Bless you for giving back to your community

nymom2-4 · 11-28-2005, 08:32 AM

I love the baked goods to shelter idea. I'm going to do that this year. The homeless shelter up here gets a lot of bad press, so I'd love to just do something.

_Gentle_Spirit_ · 11-28-2005, 08:39 AM

Clean house for the elderly, who are sick or just not able to keep house like they used too. I also shop for them.

I spend time at our local food pantry, bagging food. I also deliver the food to shut ins.

Suzie · 11-28-2005, 09:12 AM

WOW, you mamas are an inspiration.

I wish we did more volunteering.

This year, dh and I will have the boys each pick a child from the local toy drive. We will let them both pick out gifts for them.

I want to plan a trip to a nursing home for my ds1's scout troop. To visit, carol and spread some good cheer.

Erica · 11-28-2005, 09:28 AM

Good thread Meeshi!

I/we donate anytime I can to mamas in need on the web
We donate clothes
We donate money alot to various orgs & people who are in need from recent disasters.
We sponsor a child in Tanzania through Compassion Int'l

and that's about it. I am joining the outreach program at dd's school. This is something I've been wanting to do for a while!

Daniel's Mama · 11-28-2005, 09:45 AM

I volunteer for the local blood bank, helping organize blood drives, hanging posters, working at the drives socializing with the people, etc. it's a lot of fun, I get to meet people in our community and the blood drives help our local hospitals. I wish Daniel (age 6) was old enough to help me but hopefully I'll be doing this for a long time and he will eventually get to help!

We adopted a little girl (through our church) in Guatemala, her name is Caterina. she's 8 and she's so pretty - and very poor. we share with Daniel about her life and point out the differences between the way she and her family live and the way we are living.

We donated toys and clothes to the recent drive at church, too. Daniel got to pick out some of his "baby toys" that he's outgrown...even when there's no drive at church, there is a local community outreach program that accepts toys and clothing, so we donate to them a couple of times a year.

Our church ladies group does a lot of community things, some for our church and some for the entire community...it's fun to be a part of them. soon we will take pointsettias, cookies and presents to the nursing homes. Daniel came with me last year and had fun.

I think it's so important for ds to learn to give to his community.

KimberMama · 11-28-2005, 10:58 AM

A lot of that we do isn't exactly "active" volunteering.

Eating a near vegan diet. We only eat fish when we are out and there aren't other choices. That may end soon.

Eating organically grown foods, preferably grown locally.

Reduce-reuse-recycle: we're aiming for the first two and are trying to reduce our output of recycling and garbage.

Use it up, make it do, wear it out, or do without. This applies a lot to my clothing. I am wearing pajamas I have had for nearly 10 years. I wear my socks until the threadbare spots become big holes. I wear my Birks instead of slippers because they are just as easy. My underwear won't win a beauty contest. I make do with 3 bras, 1 of which is barely hanging on, 1 is well worn, and 1 is a cheapie sports bra.

In the reuse vein we give away used clothing to other children and to the Goodwill. I just went through my bathroom and gathered a lot of toiletries that I don't use anymore and have them for my sister, along with a couple of sweaters and a dress.

Don't buy products made with petrochemicals. We actually try to avoid all synthetic chemicals and only use cleaning and body care products that are natural.

We drive a Prius. DH walks or bikes to work. Many days we walk to the library, amphitheater, post office, drug store, cafe, etc.

We donate to the Red Cross several times a year. I also give to the March of Dimes and The American Lung Association.

DH gives blood regularly.

We've adopted 2 children from the Home Again program this year (homeless families in our area). We've participated with this program for several years.

We've been saving the "sharing" portion of the boys' allowances this year. They are going to pick out something from Heifer International to give.

We give to several food drives throughout the year.

Once we have a good homeschooling rhythm in place next year and DS#2 is able to use a booster with a seat belt we are going to volunteer to drive for Meals on Wheels.

Kimberly

jma924 · 11-28-2005, 01:58 PM

We donate money regularly to our church and their various missions.
~Dh gives blood on a regular basis to the Red Cross. (I can't donate since I had cancer.)
~We give gifts from Heifer International to a number of family members for Christmas.
~We donate clothes/toys/household goods to a local thrift shop which is a nonprofit for Alzheimer's Research.
~We are very, very involved with the American Cancer Society's Relay for Life and have been for the past 8 years. We give monetarily and also of our time.
~I helped cook for approx. 500 on Thanksgiving Day.....over 300 meals were delivered to elderly, sick and low-income families. Another 150-200 meals were served at the church to local homeless families. It was really inspiring.
~I am planning to start serving one Saturday a month thru a mission team at our church called "Main Street Kitchen" which provides a large meal to local homeless, elderly and low-income families.
~We recycle, reuse and compost to minimize our impact on the Earth. We try to support local farmers, buy some organic products and avoid chemicals.
~Our children will choose a local child in need and pick out Christmas presents and clothes for them.
~In the past, we have gone Christmas carolling to a nursing home, delivered food to the food bank and warm articles of clothing to a homeless shelter thru my dd's girl scout troop.

That's all I can think of offhand, although I'm sure I'm forgetting something! I think this is a great thread and plan to get some new ideas from it!

dreamseeds · 11-28-2005, 02:07 PM

I donate 25 % from fall and winter faire sales through Dreamseeds to our local food pantry. A lady in our church started it when she discovered the elderly here had to choose between food and medicines. There are many elderly here and that really hurt me.

But since its opening last year, there are many, many families that have been coming and it has really grown.

I donate food items they need as well. They have a dry erase board and when they begin to run low on items she writes the need on the board. We see it when going to services and are able to make a mental note for the next time we go grocery shopping.
I also pick up extra deals at our local food co op and bag them into small portions. Such as 25 pounds of dried beans can support my family as well as several 1 # bags to those families in need.

We donate to a local thrift store that helps the needy and also try to shop there when we have our own needs.

My family also supports Mercy corps and Northwest Medical Teams for their efforts with the years tragedies all over this planet.

My dd has adopted a south american girl with her youth group. They gather money to send every month for her care.