Community


Neighbors Helping Neighbors
April 30th, 2011 | Comments
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We’re thrilled to see how social media is helping victims of the latest disasters and want to share a post we wrote some months ago encouraging neighbors to use Facebook to organize their blocks. If you haven’t already, join us on Facebook to promote Neighbor to Neighbor Plan B.

 

All of us are looking for ways to make the world a better place. But how? You hear a lot about social good. Doing good. Social media doing good. And, it’s an abstract idea. Or you went on Jumo (the social network for doing good founded by the co-founder of Facebook) and you can’t figure out how it really impacts your life.

We have an idea.

Have you ever thought of yourself as a community organizing type?  Yeah. We know you’re not really interested in putting up placards, riling up passions, or running for President.

A fan wrote in today to tell us how in her neighborhood they have an online community board that connects neighbors in need.  It got us to thinking. Everyone we know is on Facebook. (It’s true, even our 88 year old aunt is a stalker.) What if you were to get together a few neighbors and set up a neighborhood group or page and called it,  ”The 800 Block on Orange Street in Jackson Township”.  Let your neighbors know that it exists (just tell the biggest busy body on the street — we’re sure the word will spread).

Then when the next big storm hits, or power fails, or heat wave strikes, those in need can post and those who are available can help.

Charity begins at home.






Give Wisely
December 20th, 2010 | Comments
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It’s that time of year when in addition to giving to friends and family we make contributions to those in need, so several recent news stories caught our attention:

-Outside of Boston a tractor trailer loaded with toys destined for needy kids was burglarized and $15,000 worth of gifts were stolen.

-The Massachusetts Attorney General reported that 43 percent of all funds raised by charities in the state go to the solicitors and not the organizations that hire them.

-In Oregon, the Attorney General released a list of the twenty ‘worst’ charities in America; among those listed were organizations to help Firefighters, Vietnam Vets, Missing Children.

Since our mission is editing what is worth your spending time and money on, and since we believe in giving back no matter what the state of your pocketbook, all of this has raised an alarm. We want to remind you to be careful and thoughtful in choosing the charities that are the recipient(s) of your hard earned dollars.

Ask these questions:

-Is this a non-profit charity or a for-profit business asking for your gift?

-Are you giving funds to a soliciting agent or the charity itself?

-How much of the money the charity receives gets spent on the cause and how much goes to funding the fundraising and/or the administration of the organization?

-Consult your state Attorney General’s office and online sites like Charity Watch and The Charity Navigator before giving.

Our point is not to stop giving. Our point is to be wise and watchful about who you give to.  We never give to any organization that solicits over the telephone. Period. Who hasn’t received the call -usually in the middle of dinner- from the Fireman’s or Police benevolent fund? The organization that promises to help the local youth something-or-other-league? The teacher/PTA/school educational fund? You know the aggressive solicitor who intentionally make you feel like a heartless bitch if you don’t contribute to the cause or who subtly imply that should there be an emergency perhaps no one will come to your aid.

Our response is always firm and the same: “We don’t give over the phone. Please send us materials in the mail and we will evaluate your cause.”  We have NEVER received any material in the mail. Think about that.

Look, this is tricky, charities need to spend money to get money and we’re not complaining about this. Just make sure you do some research into the charity you are supporting and not giving to a charity that spends 95% of monies raised on themselves and 5% on their cause.

The theft of the toys from the trailer is an obvious loss, the misuse of charitable dollars is a hidden one.






B’s Give Back: Teaching the Next Generation
June 12th, 2010 | Comments
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On Saturday we bring you examples of women who find creative, meaningful ways to give to others. This week we’re featuring Michele S. and her five year old son. Given events in the Gulf, we can’t think of a more timely message of giving back, not only to her community and her family, but to the future of our planet.

Michele wrote to us about how she donates clothing to shelters, teaches art to underserved children and serves as a role model to teach her son about reusing and recycling clothing, materials and plants. We were intrigued so we asked her to share more about how she and her son reuse what is around them.   (more…)






A Tennessee Volunteer
May 7th, 2010 | 2 Comments
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B’s Give Back

We write in our book about volunteering: “If this time has taught you nothing else, it should teach you that life spins and turns on a dime; we are separated by only an accident of time and space, and the person on the receiving end of your help could just as easily be you.”

While Saturday is the day we feature a member of our community and how she gives back, we just received this story and decided to not wait until tomorrow. There is so much in our world that demands and commands our attention–a baby crying, a husband whining, oil spilling in the Gulf, Greece defaulting, bombs in Times Square, — that the devastation from flooding in Tennessee seems to have gotten lost.

“Hi!

I keep your book on my bed-side table. I love it! I’ve been thinking about budgeting, limited resources, etc. quite a bit this week. I was extremely fortunate to come out of this weekend’s flood with absolutely no damage at all, but there are those in Middle Tennessee and parts of West Tennessee who lost nearly everything. (Do a you-tube search for Nashville Flood and you’ll see what I mean). I volunteered at a disaster assistance center for the first time today, and it made my heart hurt to hear how much people had lost. It’s only going to get worse as the water recedes and we see exactly how much damage was done.

Could you give us TN people a mention on your site?

People’s true character comes out when disaster strikes, and I have to say that the people of Nashville are freaking awesome! Hands-On Nashville has been coordinating volunteer efforts and from what I can tell, the response has been overwhelming. Other volunteer efforts are underway as well. In spite of all that, Tennessee could use some help. If you see fit to mention it on your site, there are many ways people can help. Hands-On Nashville (www.hon.org) has volunteer opportunities. Nashville Red Cross is accepting donations, as is the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee . Second Harvest Food Bank is in need of more food donations as well. These are just the few I know about. I’m sure there are others.

Thank you for your time. Again, I love the book!

Jennifer”

Thank you, Jennifer.

Remember Saturday (usually) is B’s Give Back. Please tell us about urgent needs, or simple ones, in your community (or the world), and how you give back.






B’s Give Back: A Lifelong Giver
April 17th, 2010 | Comments
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A modern woman knows what she needs and knows how to get it. She also knows that other people need things, too–that we’ve got to look out for one another. Every weekend we bring you examples of women who find creative, meaningful ways to give to others, even when money and time are tight.

When Kim wrote in to tell us of being a busy graduate student, part time clerk and volunteer extraordinaire we wanted to know more about her. We were even more impressed when she shared with us that she began volunteering at age 11. Her long list of volunteer experience is impressive, and we were totally hooked when she told us about the wide range of organizations she has volunteered for: breast cancer research, animal shelters, literacy programs, book drives, digitizing library archives, serving holiday meals, Alzheimer’s research… and more.

In her words:

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B’s Give Back: Saturday Morning Potluck
March 27th, 2010 | 4 Comments
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A modern B knows what she needs and knows how to get it. She also knows that other people need things, too–that we’ve got to look out for one another. Every weekend we bring you examples of women who find creative, meaningful ways to give to others, even when money and time are tight. To tell us how you help, click “Comments” above– you might be featured here next week.

It seems only fitting that it’s Saturday morning and we’ve spent the entire week obsessing about food on these pages, because today’s Queen B’ Yvette gives up her Saturday morning to help cook vast quantities of piping hot fresh meals to feed the homeless. In her words this is how she gives back:

“I spend my Saturday mornings as a volunteer feeding the homeless and let me tell you, these are no sack lunches (which we do as well) but on Saturdays our community churches and individuals come together for a potluck but the twist is, the food goes to feed hundreds to thousands of homeless people in our area. This treats them to hot, delicious meals from fried chicken to lasagna to shrimp scampi, whatever the spirit moves people to bring to share and bless them with.

Working together in an assembly and serving line, the group of 20-50 volunteers can serve the masses within a couple of hours.”