We are the ones who make a brighter day...

[disneyworldluvr349]

I was just wondering how many of you donate to charities, or volunteer and give back to those around you. Be honest

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We do all of the above. We have lived a blessed life and feel "but for the grace of God, there go I"...

 

[teacups]

'349 we are thinking the same way today I started a "Do you matter" thread because I'd like to feel like I am making a difference, making something better than it was before me. I'm not feeling I'm doing that. I donate to our local womens shelter and to the homeless shelter and to the local youth ranch.... but the world is big and I know there is something out there that I could help with.

 

[JVL1018]

I volunteer often, but just at my kids' school-(room mom, PTA treasurer, chair of book fairs and holiday gift fairs, and I run a fundraiser that I do each week), so it's for my own children.

My husband is a volunteer firefighter which takes a lot of time(and our own money).

I give to charity, but honestly, it's not a large amount-just church offering every week and then a $25 or $50 donation to the American Cancer Society once or twice a year, and a couple more random things when they come up.

I donate clothes all the time.

 

[MomofKatie]

-I volunteer at DD's school, probably 3-5 hours per week.
-DH and DD walk in Childrens Cancer walks, and give $$.
-We donate unwanted items to the Salvation Army.
-DD raised $$ at her school carnival to help the polar bears- donated to NWF.
-We all give $$ to Heifer International.

 

[disneyworldluvr349]

'349 we are thinking the same way today I started a "Do you matter" thread because I'd like to feel like I am making a difference, making something better than it was before me. I'm not feeling I'm doing that. I donate to our local womens shelter and to the homeless shelter and to the local youth ranch.... but the world is big and I know there is something out there that I could help with.

Indeed we are teacups
I posted on your thread (which not to mention had some pretty opinionated comments... )

 

[Darcy03231]

We donate unused items and outgrown clothing to charities.

We also support local charities such as the Humane Society, Soup Kitchen, battered women's shelter. We don't support the huge national organizations as I believe in supporting things within my community.

This year we've taken two high school girls in so they can complete their senior year. Thier mom was laid off from her job and their dad had a job transfer to another state. We have the room and felt it was something we could do for them. This is where most of our 'donation' money is going this year.

 

[stsomewhere]

We donate time, money , and materials to Boy scoouts and girl scouts.

I volunteer at school. I was PTa pres, and on the board at preschool.
We donate unused ideas to salvation army.

Shovel our elderly neighbors driveway.

I am currently training a therapy dog who will work at a childrens hospital and nursing homes whem she is a year old.

 

[C.Ann]

I do - in many ways - but I don't feel the need to publish a "list"..

 

[NHdisneylover]

I do in many ways. I try to make a difference. Mostways are obvious to nayone as ways to help (giving money, volunteering time, hosting students, whatever). I will simply share one way that I feel we have given back that falls into the "other" category (this way no longer applies as we moved in January--but something else will come along).

My family was heavily invovled in community theatre in the small NH town we lived in. We happen to have a had a large house which was well set up for hosting a big party and hosted a cast party during the first show we were in. It was a big sucess. Our house was easy to get to, big, had a hot tub and an unfinished basment that we could put a disco ball in and play music in for those who wanted to dance. We were pleasantly surprised that the teens in the group (about 20 or so regulars) really enjoyed the party and asked if we would be hosting another one during the next show. This was a small town without much for teens to do and we were very happy to provide them a safe place to hang out and have fun. With the encouragement of the two local HS teachers who were a big part of the theatre we started hosting some typeof party/event about once a month. It meant a lot of cleaning, buying a lot of soda and pizza (but everyone generally brought something so the financial burden was not too bad) and keeping a close on on everyone, BUT it meant that a good group of kids had a place they felt safe and had fun and were well supervised (and most of the adults from the group came to most parties and helped keep an eye out as well). Some of those kids had great familes. Some did not. Some formed some good bonds with adults in the relaxed atmosphere of cast parties and found role models where they did not know they could. Some found they had an adult to talk to when they really needed one. And some just plain had fun.
It was the source of much joking that our house was the best teen hangout and our kids weren't even teens yet

I know a lot of people would not consider this "giving back" but I also know the adults who provided us with good palces to be when I was a teen really helped make those years good for me and I am still grateful to Sam's parents for making us carrot cake and pizza bread at 2 am!

 

[Jennasis]

I donate a lot of my time and money to the Special Olympics.