Giving Thanks for Giving #CookingPlanit

Know someone that makes a difference in others lives simply for the joy that it gives them? Cooking Planit invites you to share a personal story about someone you know who gives their time, energy and/or love in the spirit of helping others without thinking of themselves and both you and your hidden hero could win up to $250 in cash + one grand prize winner will get to choose a local charity to which Cooking Planit will donate $1000.

You can find the full terms and share your story on the Cooking Planit Blog or on their Facebook page.

Prizes
• 5 winners will be selected from all eligible entries. $100 Visa Gift card will be awarded to the story author & $250 to their Hidden Hero (story subject). (10 prizes awarded in total; 5 story author + 5 hidden hero)
• The 1st place winner will also get the opportunity to select a local charity to which Cooking Planit will donate $1000.

Story Guidelines
When writing your story, consider the following guidelines:
• In 300 words or less, recognize an individual who is making the difference in the lives of others in your community; whether it be by donating their time, energy or love with a focus on helping others without necessarily thinking of themselves
• Provide details on how/what they are doing to improve or impact the lives of others

• We reserve the right not to post your story if it contains any of the following types of content:
• Obscenities, discriminatory language, or other language not suitable for a public forum
• Advertisements, “spam” content, or references to other products, offers, or websites
• Email addresses, URLs, phone numbers, physical addresses, or other forms of contact information
• Critical or spiteful comments on other stories posted on the page or their authors
• In addition, if you wish to share feedback with us about Cooking Planit or other customer service issues, do not submit this feedback through the Cooking Planit Stories platform. Instead, contact us directly.
• Enjoy writing your story!

Judging Criteria
• Most inspirational and empowering story submitted

No compensation was received for this post. The information about the event was provided through Cooking Planit. All opinions expressed are my own or that of my family.

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.

Help the Littlest Heroes and get Sushi for $1

If you are a NorthEast Ohio reader, check out this post over at Saving in Akron to learn how you can help the Littlest Heroes and get Sushi for $1 at Sushi on the Roll.

Lose-A-Palooza

On Tuesday, September 15th, Weight Watchers is hosting Losa-A-Palooza, a social media action day to help raise money for its two charity partners - Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger.

On September 15th, for every accepted mention of Lose for Good on Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, blogs and online news sites, Weight Watchers will donate an additional $1 to Share Our Strength and Action Against Hunger, up to $25,000.

Here's a link to the Lose-A-Palooza campaign . From the campaign site, donating $1 to two hunger-fighting charities is as easy as two clicks and there are links to donate via your favorite social media site -- Twitter, Facebook or MySpace.

Stamp Out Hunger

Just a reminder that today is the day for the Stamp Out Hunger Food Drive.

Simply place your non-perishable food items in a bag next to your mailbox. The postal carrier will collect it and the food is delivered to local food banks.

Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop Deal

Today only! Ben & Jerry's eCONEomic relief!

Visit your participating Ben & Jerry's Scoop Shop on Tuesday, March 24th and when you bring along a donation of a non-perishable food item, you can get a single scoop of ice cream for only $1. For more information and to find a location near you, check out Ben & Jerry's website.

All donations will be supplied to your community's local food pantry.

What a great deal and cause!

National Pancake Day - Free Shortstack at IHOP

Tomorrow is National Pancake Day.

According to IHOP's site, the tradition of National Pancake Day is rooted in the English celebration of Fat Tuesday. During Lent, the consumption of dairy products was prohibited, so on the Tuesday before the start of Lent , the English made pancakes to use up the eggs, milk, butter and such.

You can celebrate at IHOP on Tuesday, February 24th from 7 am to 10 pm with a free short stack (three) of buttermilk pancakes. They simply suggest that you make a donation to the Children's Miracle Network, or other local charity. IHOP has been celebrating National Pancake Day since 2006. Last year they raised $875,000 for Children's Miracle Network and have set the goal this year at $1,000,000.

To learn more about the celebration and to find a location near you, head over to IHOP's National Pancake Day website.

Purina - $1 Donation to Breast Cancer

Right now, Purina Cat Chow is donating $1 to the Susan G Komen foundation in your name or that of a loved one. All you have to do is take their 5 question quiz about breast cancer (don't worry, you can't get it wrong. They just prompt you to try again). After taking the survey, you can enter your name or that of a loved one.

Go to www.catchow.com/pink/ to participate.

Please share this with others. Together we can make a difference.