Do you know that when you are shopping you can actually be doing good in your community? Target gives 5% of their income to support education, the arts, social services and volunteerism. That amounts to a total of more than $3 million a week going to help our communities. Another fast and easy way is to use the National Wildlife Federation MasterCard. Every purchase you make helps to fund programs to protect our wildlife and their habitat. If you like to surf the net and particularly use Facebook, you can help. All you have to do is vote for Feeding America on Facebook. Target has started a program to donate a maximum of $3 million, depending on the votes received. The more votes Feeding America receives, the more money they get. You can vote one time per day, every day. 
 

I read about another program that helps people save money on groceries by pooling their resources and working to help each other. This program is called SHARE. SHARE stands for the Self-Help and Resource Exchange. It is a national network of non-profit organizations dedicated to providing affordable nourishment, encouraging volunteerism, and working with community organizations. SHARE is a non-profit organization that offers a nutritious food package ($28 – 30 value) for $14.00 or 14.50. In order to qualify for this, all you have to do is be willing to give two hours of volunteer time in your community. SHARE is able to give their members food for less because they pool everyone’s contribution and buy the food in bulk. There is no restriction or qualifications necessary to be a part of this. To sign up for a package, you simply contact the SHARE location nearest you. I checked online, and only a few of the SHARE organizations are listed. However, according to the information I received, if there is a SHARE organization in your area, it should be listed in the phone book. If you want to contact World SHARE, you can reach them at 6950 Friars Road, San Diego CA 92108; or (619) 686-5818. It sounds like a really beneficial opportunity all around; you get groceries at reduced prices, you help your community, and you and your neighbors get to know each other. Yep, sounds good.
 

At church last weekend, our priest told us a rather thought-provoking story about a man who was deeply depressed and troubled. He felt so lost and miserable that he decided to commit suicide. He started walking toward a bridge, intending to throw himself off and end it all. After he went short distance, he began to have doubts. He told himself that if he encountered just one person who showed him love he would forget about suicide and make a commitment to start his life over. No one knows what happened to that man. The question is: if he had encountered you, what would have happened? Never doubt that you can make a difference. What you do matters more than you know. 

“That best portion of a good man’s life,

His little, nameless, unremembered acts of kindness and of love.” 

                                                                                    -William Wordsworth

Tags: feed the hungry, love one another, shopping with a purpose
Current Mood: hopeful