Saturday, November 26, 2011

Lend a Helping Hand - a charitable giveaway

This time of the year can be hard for a family in need and for those with little or no family. I do my best to help support programs to help those in need, especially this time of the year.

At work, I am the department coordinator for the Adopt a Family program that we participate in annually. Through the local Salvation Army, we adopt a family and are provided with their wish list. As a department, we take up a collection and then go shopping to get items from that wish list for both the kids and the family. It is a nice way to give back as part of a group and we have a good time spending a few hours together shopping and wrapping the gifts over lunch one day.

The other day, as I was talking about the Adopt a Family program, one of my friends mentioned that in addition to doing that, she wants to reach out and help near home too. Her plan is to take her family to a nursing home and "adopt a grandparent" - someone that doesn't have family - and visit with them. She has a young child and feels that not only will his presence be a treat for the residents, but it will help show him the importance of community outreach. I told her that I could remember when I was younger, that my Girl Scout Troop would do both - adopt a family that we would deliver food and presents too and would go caroling at the Nursing Home. I'm not sure what we brought, but I seem to remember bringing small gifts for the residents. The residents were always so excited to see us - even though I'm sure our singing wasn't the greatest. This act of kindness can have no cost other than your time, but can make a brighter day for someone.

The daycare that we use has a number of families that are in need and every year, the center does a Share a Christmas. They create tags with wish lists for the children and hang them on the tree to help those families out. I select a child or two from the tree each year and together with my children, go shopping to choose gifts for that child. I like to involve the kids because I think it is important for them to recognize that we can give back to the community and share holiday spirit with others.

How do you help out in your community? Continue reading for a chance to have Hormel make a donation to your local food bank, just in time for the holiday season.
Hormel Foods has a program called “On Our Way To Ending Hunger.” Through this program, Hormel Foods uses their food manufacturing experience to work with nonprofits, retailers, and the government on hunger relief efforts. The program is founded on three pillars:

Collaborate
Nourish
Motivate

Giveaway!




Giveaway will remain open until December 7th. Giveaway is open to residents of the US only. One winner will be selected through Rafflecopter. The winner will be contacted by e-mail (be sure to leave one!) and will have 48 hours to respond or a new winner will be selected.

Giving back to the local community works for me.

No compensation was received for this post. All opinions expressed are my own or those of my family. I wrote this post through my participation in the Hormel Foods Extended Family Blogger program. Hormel is providing the donation to a local food bank.

14 comments:

Tes283 said...

I do random acts of kindness. I offer my umbrella, forgive when someone cuts me off in traffic, smile and help others, share my blanket, and just be kind.

tes 1283 yahoo

kalea_kane said...

I pay it forward by being an example of generosity for my son. It is important for him to see me give so he can continue to give as he grows older. He is definitely a giver. He shares his lunch with other kids all the time.

kalea_kane(at)yahoo(dot)com

Rachel said...

around this time of year, we do operation christmas child and donate food through our church and outside of that, various food banks.

Lori Sifuentes said...

We donate toys to a local toy drive

Thanks
surveys4lori at rocketmail.com

Amy said...

We choose some names from the giving tree at church, I send some extra cards/ gifts through ChemoAngels, and we donate some things to the nursing home where I work.

I'm the Activity Coordinator at a nursing home, and let me assure you, those visits and kids are a HUGE deal for residents. Kids coming through and singing and maybe passing out homemade cards are a favorite this time of year! :)

Brittany Boardley said...

We donate all our daughter's small clothes.

Anonymous said...

We sponsor a Russian orphanage every month with 5% of our income.

Diane said...

At work we collect donations for a local food bank. And we always donate to toys for tots!

corey1971 said...

Even though I'm a single dad of three who can't work because of cancer, even we were able to "buy" honey bees for a family via Heifer International and bought the side dishes for Thanksgiving dinner for our local food bank. If we can, ANYONE can! (Corey Olomon)(olomon@hotmail.com)

Anonymous said...

I volunteer at the Orange County Rescue Mission's Disaster Preparedness department. I also do weekly projects at church. Kathy
kathy01_24@hotmail.com

Unknown said...

I have a few neighbors that need help with food... we are blessed to have food stamps ourselves but they are not so blessed & we help whatever we can whenver they ask. We've had to rely on foodbanks ourselves & know how it is.

ufg8trj said...

We donate food and clothes through our temple and we make sandwiches for the poor. We also select kids at holiday time to buy toys for.

Brenda Austin said...

My family gives to our local food bank each year and donate to the Red Cross to help victims of natural disasters.

Joey said...

Everything I can get for really cheap or free with my coupons I donate.