Homeless
Day 364: Every Day Heroes Inspire Great Change
Oct 14th
With just 2 posts left to complete my 365 days of giving I took sometime to reflect on all the people I have met over the course of 365 days via social media.
The stories that pulled at my heart strings the most are of the “Every Day Heroes” that are doing remarkable things to change the world. They are giving in ways that I could not even imagine. They are fearless and motivated by passion and love for other human beings, living creatures and the planet.
One person stands out in particular and today’s GIVE will be a donation in her honour the shelter she has started in Africa. Her courage and love for the lost children of Lira, Uganda makes her and her partner Morris two of the most remarkable people I have ever met.
Day 364: Give 364
The world is a small place. 365give has introduced me to a world of wonder, meaningful connections and love for humanity that I never knew existed beyond my own life. There are people that are so touched but what they see and experience as they travel the world that they have to do something – they have to do what so many do not have the courage to do. Change what they know is wrong in our world.
Chelsea Peters is one of those people.
“ A trip with friends brought me to Lira and after meeting the street children, spending time with them and hearing their stories I made a promise to do everything in my power to give them two things missing in their lives; hope and love.” quote by Chelsea Peters
With no fundraising experience, no not-for-profit experience and no money she came back to Vancouver and for 8 months did every thing she could to raise the initial funds needed to fund Atin Africa Foundation (Child of Africa). I watched in amazement as her passion along with her partner Morris who was back in Africa making the arrangements to open a shelter for the street youth in Lira, worked tirelessly to make it all happen.
I have dedicated a number of daily gives to Chelsea and Morris following and contributing to their journey to help make their dream come true. On Day 226 I interviewed Chelsea as she was having her first fundraising event for the shelter. The title was appropriate. Do You Have to be Oprah to Start an Orphanage in Africa?
On Day 269 I posted the story Morris (co-founder) wrote about the first day he went and gathered some of the children off the street in Lira and brought them
home to the shelter. It is a remarkably moving story that brought me to tears as these children got to sleep in a bed, have a bath and brush their teeth for the first time in years for some of them.
I have become passionate about their mission. I believe in what they are doing and how they will impact these children on the other side of the world. My give today is a donation that will go on long past my final 365give to Atin Africa. I am committing to a monthly donation for the next year. Every dollar is appreciated no matter how big or small and will be used with great care. I am honoured to now be sitting as a Board of Director for Atin Afrika and plan to help Chelsea and Morris realize their full dream for years to come.
Do you have a dream to change the world? It can be done! Read the Atkin Africa story and be inspired to realize your own dream.
Time Commitment: 5 minutes
Cost: $10.00 a month for a year
Day 360: $1.00 a Day Makes Giving Every Day Possible
Oct 11th
I am a brand new Mom of a baby boy. I also have a 4 year old, 2 dogs and a husband. When I started 365give I thought giving and blogging everyday would be easy. Even if the opportunity to adopt of second child over the course my 365 day giving challenge presented itself I would have still have time to blog, tweet, FB but most importantly GIVE. It has become very apparent that it`s not possible to blog every day but giving is my passion and I believe if you are truly committed you can find a way every day.
With just 5 days left of 365 days of giving, and over 365 ways I have given back to the world Philanthroper has become one of my favourite ways to give. It is fast, easy and effective and my donation is part of a group contribution that is creating great change all over the world.
Day 360: Give 360
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UyHQHSBhtf8&feature
Winter is almost here. The days are getting shorter and colder. What if you didn`t have a pair of dry clean socks to wear on your feet to get your through the cold days? We all know if your feet are cold your hole body is cold.
Today`s Philanthroper deal was to make a $1.00 donation (or more if you choose) to Hannah`s Socks. This organization was inspired by a child that was willing to give up her own socks for someone that basically didn`t have a pair. That inspiration has now turned into a donation of over 355.000 pairs of socks to those in need. Sometimes we think that giving has to be complicated or you have to have a lot of money. Hannah`s Socks started by one little girl offering to give up her own socks to a man that needed them more than she did. They didn`t do it alone but with helping hands and donations from so many they are able to support people with the simple `give` of a pair of socks. Nothing complicated about a pair of socks.
Philanthroper gave me the opportunity to give today. For just a $1.00 I was part of a contribution that was $427 (an still growing) because we all donated what we could.
Everyday Philanthroper offers you a new way to give for just a $1.00 donation. Sign up, get the daily giving deal sent to your mailbox and every day you have the opportunity to give. Fast, easy and effective. No excuses not to give.
Time Commitment: 10 seconds
Cost: $1.00
Day 339: Volunteering Turns Your Passion into Commitment
Sep 16th
Do you have a passion for a specific cause?
Maybe it’s hunger, homlessness, child abuse, animal rescue, disaster relief or our planet. If you want to really turn your passion into a lifetime commitment- volunteer.
httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Xk4qcpncfeo
Day 339: Give 339
I recently volunteered at Mission Possible which I posted about on Day 308: Passion to Purpose. I have been a long time advocate and supporter of the homeless for many years. I volunteered for over a decade in Toronto before moving to Vancouver. Since becoming a Mother (just 4 years now) I have found it challenging to find the time to volunteer. Buy spending just one morning at Mission Possible it made my passion for helping the homeless and marginalized turn back to a commitment to make a difference.
With the fall weather on us it is time to clean out the closets and prepare for the cool days. My husband and I normally drop our cloths down at the local Thrift Store as a donation but this time I wanted our gently used clothing to go directly to the people that need it most. No purchasing required. At Mission Possible every Tuesday morning volunteers assist people to choose cloths from their “boutique” that they may not otherwise be able to afford. They can use reuse anything from cloths, shoes, accessories, bags, boots, and blankets.
My volunteer time with them may have been short and sweet but I was reminded I must do what I can to help. My cloths get given directly to people that need them and they are reused (good for the planet) by someone that will appreciate them.
If you have a passion for a cause go spend some time with what ever organization will make you a life long supporter. It’s easy to write a cheque ( a little old school mind you) or make an online donation but to go and see how hard all the charity organizations work to help so many makes your4 time and money seem so much more real.
Who have you volunteered for lately? Did it change your commitment to a cause?
Time Commitment: 1/2 to drive and drop the cloths
Cost: 0
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