On January 12, much of Haiti was destroyed, thousands and thousands of Haitians killed.
On that same day, by coincidence, we happened to write on our blog about bitches giving back—about the ways we can all be philanthropists, even when we’re on a budget. Many of you wrote in, describing the bold and creative and compassionate ways you care for others.
We’ve already profiled one of our fans and the ways that she gives back and we’ve decided to add this as a regular Saturday feature to our Bitches on a Budget blog.
We’re asking you to write in and tell us about what you do for others. Tell us about your acts of kindness and how helping others makes you feel. Do you spend time caring for aging parents or ill relatives? Do you volunteer in a soup kitchen, at a school, a nursing home or a pet shelter? Work in your community garden, at your local library, clearing litter from the side of the road?
Share your stories in the comment section at the top of this post. We’re excited to read them!
Next Saturday we’ll start to share your stories and pictures in this space.
Shortly before my third birthday, my father died, leaving myself and 6 month old sister and a bereaved wife. I spent the greater part of my adult life trying to make sense of the seemingly senseless loss of life, he was only 27 when he died. And then I became pregnant, and the circle of life completed for me (for the first of 5 times!). In that moment I grew to appreciate that it was not for me to understand, rather, to grow through my experience and help others with similar circumstances of love and loss to have faith that despite losing their loved ones, that Love never ends. Love is a currency we vie for as humans, in many of our relationships, and when we achieve it, we revel in it. When that person’s context, their body, changes – that is to say, that their energy leaves their body, the energy continues, energy is of this earth, and it becomes something else: sunshine kissing your cheeks on a humid july day, rain pitter pattering, the fragrance of pumpkin cookies baking or even a well-timed song that conjures up sacred memories. Remembering our loved ones is the active loving context after death. Our senses perceive so much more than our minds can when grieving. After publishing the children’s bereavement book, “That Place” I began working with bereavement camps, speaking at local schools, and for every copy sold I donate a copy in memory of a bereaved loved one to a local public library or a bereavement organization. I began the conversation of Love after my own loss, I share it with those who have lost, and they create it for themselves and their families. There is none greater than a dialogue of love and rememberance. Love Never Ends. Kd Larson
Through a reconnection via Facebook, a high school friend started working at Provisions, our local food pantry. She posted a list of items needed asking her friends to please donate, so I stopped by the pantry to make a donation the week before Thanksgiving, they were overwhelmed with clients, so I got trained in 10 minutes and given my first family to help them shop…now I’m there every Tuesday and love my new job!
My 16 year old daughter came with me over Christmas break, she was a huge help crating eggs, stocking shelves and is planning on joining me this summer. I am amazed how much our local farmers and private owned grocery store donates to keep our pantry going! I have been truly blessed to have been given the opportunity to spend my Tuesdays and my boss makes sure I’m off on Tuesdays to volunteer! This is the coolest thing I have ever done!
Personally, I try to donate a little bit here and there, to different friends who are raising money for different causes. I run with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s Team in Training every other year and fundraise for them. But what I really want to spotlight is the annual Clothes Swap that my friends and I have.
It started as a small idea to be shared among myself, my roommate at the time, and her sister. We had loads of extra clothes and decided to get together to swap them. The Clothes Swap has grown exponentially and is now held in my house. About 10-20 of us get together and bring all sorts of items to swap — clothes, home decor, linens, small appliances, DVDs, books, magazines, CDs, shoes, accessories, bath & body items, and, lately, children’s apparel & toys. It takes over the whole house. We have two hanging racks set up and even bedrooms become dressing rooms. At the end of the day, everybody leaves with at least a few items, sometimes three bags worth. Then over the next week, I go through the piles and put them in different charity categories — Dress for Success, the Fairy Godmother Project, homeless shelters, animal shelters, libraries, women’s shelters, and the Salvation Army or Goodwill. Finally, I take them to the respective places, and the cycle of setting aside giveaways starts again.
It’s a wonderful way for all of us to get together, to rid our house of items that we don’t need/use, and to help support organizations that we like.
I was a medical social worker for 17 years and loved helping others and making a difference in peoples lives. I stopped in 2001. Now, i spend 4-5 days a month volunteering for Damascus Help delivering food to people who are in need. I also work at a Soup Kitchen once every 5 weeks. It makes me feel so good to help others out who are not as fortunate as me. It also makes me very appreciative of everything I have and so grateful.
Two years ago, I took in a foster child. Needless to say, I fell in love with her immmediately. This gorgeous young lady will be 4 next weekend. We adopted eachother on May 18, 2009. It was the best thing that has ever happened to me. A lot of people want to say how lucky my daughter is, or how much of hero I am. I do not feel like a hero, as I am a woman who wanted a child. Also, I believe I am the lucky one. We make a glorious little family.
How these bitches give back: It is January, and we have already donated close to $300 to the adoption resource center in our area. Further, a deduction is taken from each of my paychecks to be donated to this center. We have also started donating our time to the center, participating in fundraisers and activities to benefit children in foster care who are awaiting a family. Finally, we are getting ourselves together so we can take in a foster child to expand our family.