How do you give back - The Community Service Thread

[JustSkipIt]

The other night we went out to dinner at a place we go every week. Anyway, there tend to be a lot of homeless people there, I think because it's on the bus route. As I was waiting for my wife to get our son out of the car seat and daughter & I were standing near the door, a woman came out of the restaurant looking around. She asked me if I had any money because she said she was short of money to buy her daughter some food. I said how much did she need and she said $4 - $5. Usually I don't give people money (ok, usually I don't give much money). But I don't know... my instinct was to give her $5 from my pocket. I think I had $12. So I did. She said thanks and she and her daughter ate and she said thanks as she was leaving again. My wife was like, "did you just give her money? Why?" I shrugged. I have to admit that I had two little angels/devils on my shoulder. One said, don't give people money - just give food and we're broke right now so why did you give away $5? But the other said, you think you're broke. Don't you think she's broker? It's $5! That's all. I'm glad that voice won.

[Guest]

The angel will talk to you from the left ear Debra and evil from the right Thank you very much for helping this homeless woman.

Blessings be to all.

[JustSkipIt]

Vi - so true.

I'm on the machine donating my 14th double unit of blood platelets this year.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

It feels like forever since I last posted on this thread. In some ways I am taking a break and trying to get back in my groove. It has been hard.

Deb thank you again for all the love and support during my last mission. It was you who inspired my fast after all. All for you girl! ONE LOVE! I also have to say thank you and much love to all who supported me during this transition. I don't have to name you because you already know who you are. I'm still shaking my head that I didn't eat for 31 days. I mean that is insane! I am here 17 pounds lighter and yet I feel stronger then ever spiritually. We won't talk about me physically. My will is much stronger too. There were times that I almost gave up but I kept going. The reasons behind it was enough to remind me why I was doing this. I don't want to get into all the details, but I will say this was a forever changing experience. You can't gain what I learned through a text book, or through someone telling you what it's like. You must experience it! I don't recommend this to anyone of course. Like anything in this life when you experience something on you're own it's priceless. No one can ever take it away from you.

The Red Cross has been putting my phone on blast. They've also been emailing me like crazy wanting me to come in and donate. I feel so bad not being able to but I gotta take care of me now. I need some time off from that for a little bit. Besides I am in no condition to right now. Damn Deb! You have been amazing this year. Still going strong with the platelets I see. I am so happy to hear that. I couldn't help but smile reading all that you continue to do. You really got me when I read about what you did for that woman and her daughter. I was so touched! I am thankful that you guys crossed paths. Feeding a person who is hungry is always a good thing. Please know this has more meaning coming from me. I am more emotional now when I eat. I always have what I went through in the back of my mind.

I wish I had more to say at this moment about giving back. I know I will soon. So many random things occur to me at any moment. For now may all who live in this world find peace. If there is any way I can help bring that peace to you. If I may at least make you smile and remind you that not all is bad in this world I will find you. Who knows maybe you'll find me. To the woman in Sao Paulo, Brazil I know you feel emptiness is consuming you. I hope to change that. You will have a reason to smile and have something to look forward to. I'll be giving you that soon. I know in my heart I will.

Un abrazo fuerte,
Jen

[Guest]

@Jen: It has been an honour connecting with you on your personal journey of service to humanity. I feel that beyond the mirroring of internal experiences that took place, many sacred life lessons were learnt in the process. It was a humbling life event and my prayers go to you from now onwards so as to ensure that all of your next life missions - as generated by your life purpose's contract - are devoid of pain but filled with love and peace.

Sealed with blessings,

Vi'

[JustSkipIt]

Well September has started. I have an appointment to donate platelets again this Tuesday. I hope my Iron is high enough. I forgot to bring my extra Iron pills home for the long weekend.

Last week I was at chipotle and a woman asked if I could buy her some chips and guacamole. I didn't really hesitate to say yes because I had $7 in my pocket. As we were walking up there she asked if she could also have a soda and I said yes again. I said did she want some tacos or burrito and she said she'd rather have more chips and guac if it was ok. Vi's words really stuck with me making it easy to say yes. She said thanks, I paid the $6.60 and I went back to finish lunch.

I bought an Entertainment Book from my nephew for his middle school Latin club because I'll usually support any activity my nieces and nephews do and especially Latin Club (that was my minor). Also, I sponsored my grown cousin who works at a Jewish youth center and each year they all go spend 48 hours living as homeless people to see what it's like. And I donated $ to the food bank for my friend's September birthday. And sponsored Jen for her light the night walk. BTW: It's her birthday this month so I'm sure she's love a PM from anyone if you're wiling to sponsor her as well.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Let's see what have I done for the month of September so far...

Since last month I was raising money for Light The Night organization. They dedicate themselves to helping the Leukemia/Lymphoma Society. I wanted to say thank you to all the people who were kind enough to donate money. Believe me when I say you were apart of something special. I completed my mission with them on Sunday, September 19th. I had never attended an event like that so I didn't know what to expect. I knew I would get emotional. When I attended the remembrance ceremony it was heartwarming and heartbreaking at the same time. I thought about my friend who passed away from leukemia 3 years ago. To be honest I didn't get emotional just because I remembered losing a special friend. I was more emotional hearing the pain in other people's voices. That hurt! The people that spoke about losing their loved ones couldn't contain themselves. When their voices started cracking followed by tears I cried with them. I may have not known them but their pain was very real. My heart is with them and the many others who have lost their loved ones because of this horrible disease. May peace be with them always. On a brighter note it was heartwarming seeing so many people there for the same reason. Over 7,000 people showed up. I remember walking and turning around and being amazed at the sight of hundreds and hundreds of people behind me. It was very cool! I am glad I was apart of it.

Today I went to see my pals over at the Red Cross. I was so happy to be back in action. It felt good being there. I don't ever know how many units or what they take from me but whatever they needed they got. So I'll see them again 2 weeks from now.

Last but definitely not least. I went to see Amber Benson at one of her book signings for Among The Ghosts. I reached out to a Brazilian fan of hers who I don't know. I saw a post on Twitter from a woman named Noelle stating she wished that Amber's books were available in Brazil. So I did what I had to to get in touch with this woman and see if I could grant her wish. So she got something better. I bought the book and got Amber to personalize it for her. Very cool! Amber of course was a sweetie. I'm glad I was able to do this for a fan of hers.

That is it for now. Till next time. Same bat time. Same bat channel.

Jen

[JustSkipIt]

Jen - Awesome! Your generosity and love is always an inspiration. I went to the blood center Monday but my iron was 36. 36? Not even 37 and certainly not the required 38. I've already got an appointment scheduled to try again in 2 weeks. I've made a good # of financial donations this month but I feel like donating my own platelets is so personal.

Also, the blood drive I coordinate a work was scheduled to have 15 donors this past Wednesday. I don't know how many actually showed up/donated but they'll e-mail me this coming week. One of our employees had a C-section a few weeks and required a transfusion so our credits from the last 6 months of blood drives and my platelet donations should get her back $300 or $400 of that cost. I think that's a pretty good thing.

Peace and love.

[Guest]

I give back in the following ways:

- Sending of pink clouds of unconditional love.
- Wrapping people and places in soft bubbles of protection.
- Blessing.
- Healing and energy work.
- Hugging trees and letting Earth know I love her very much.
- Forgiving.
- Smiling at everybody.

It makes me happy to do that but I wanted to express special gratitude to all the lovely people on this thread who taught me something vital about the power of humanity. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you.

May you all be blessed with infinite prosperity And so it is.

Vi'

[JustSkipIt]

My iron was high enough so I'm on the machine donating a double unit of platelets. I thik it's my 15th this year.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Wow Deb!!! On the real I don't think I've ever done that many in one year and you're not even done. I am so excited for you. Keep moving on up girl.

I went to the Red Cross on Friday but was rejected. :( My iron level was low. I wasn't surpirsed since I haven't been eating so well. I may take my iron pills but I know that isn't enough. *Note to self eat damn it! And eat right*

I may have failed in doing a platelet donation but I didn't stop there. Some friend's of mine are collecting money for a woman in Mexico. Sadly this woman has breast cancer and her family is doing whatever they can to support her means. They have sold anything worth of value including their vehicle. It saddens me that she is going through this, but even more that Mexico isn't like the USA. At least here there are more resources for people who may have cancer. The same can't be said for Mexico. So I donated some money for her. My friend's are also making tamales to sell for this cause. I went ahead and placed an order. I even got a friend of mine to place an order too. They'll be receiving more money that way. That's a good thing.

[JustSkipIt]

Jenny, Awesome.

So I was sitting around feeling pouty and PMSy and wanted to stop (a little). So I just registered to run the Austin 1/2 marathon next year with Team Livestrong. I have to raise $500 to stay on the team and in the run. If you are interested/willing to donate anything, PM me and I'll send you the link.

Thanks!

[Guest]

Ladies Jen & Deb, both of you are talented and brilliant with your unique ways of helping humanity My heart is touched by so much loving kindness and I again thank you on behalf of our planet.

~

This is a real life story that happened recently in my friend's life and I absolutely wanted to post over here because even though it doesn't cater for a human being's life, it takes into account the notion that all life on earth is equal and deserving of love and respect. Please enjoy.

~

My friend S. works as a Gardener in a beautifully exotic sandy forestry area found in the south of the island. The unique noni tree in the place there is his best friend. I will call her a She-Noni because when I hug her, she has a feminine vibration to her energy. He treats her very sweetly everyday by communicating to the plant spirit within her and meditating by her side. Most importantly he never picks any of her fruit unless she herself shakes a branch and throws one down. That has always created harmony and balance within their relationship since he never had to ask. She was always generous with the giving of her fruit.

One day, two of the ladies working with him came over and had a ladder roughly thrown against the tree whilst a man picked all of the noni fruits on the tree. Every single fruit was taken. That was it. By evening, the tree began to die.

And I think that's a really good representation of humanity's collective thought forms that mankind has dominion over Earth and other forms of life. It represents how we feel that Earth can be used and abused at will for fulfilling our personal needs and purposes, how nature can be raped, how access to her land is violated for the sole purpose of expansion of human comfort.

My friend S. was very upset that his beloved friend was dying and he wanted to save her at all costs. He had faith in their love and in the regenerative properties of that love. He hugged her tight and talked to her soothingly and asked her what the matter was and what he could do to help her grow again. He transferred some of his energy to her and sent her waves of love.

That was when he received a channelling from the light beings in the place. He was asked to immediately fill the tree's insides with all of his healing crystals. So promptly back to his hut he went and got every single crystal he had in his possession. The crystals were stuffed inside an opening within the tree's trunk.

He went to bed after that having full faith that his beloved friend would heal and survive ... and she did. Most miraculously as from the next day itself

Today our She-noni not only thrives well and strong, she is still also still very generous with the throwing of her fruits to people. Nobody is now allowed to climb up her trunk to pick any fruits though.

Thank you for reading.

Vi'

[JustSkipIt]

Vi - What a very beautiful story. Thank you for sharing it.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Pay it forward is alive and well. What I'm about to talk about is something simple compared to my other deeds. What I came to realize is no matter how much smaller this deed may have been; it holds just as much significance as the other things I've done.

Last night on my way home my best friend's car died on us. We had just gotten off the freeway when the car stopped running. We started pushing the car home. As we were pushing the vehicle a man came running to us out of nowhere and started helping us push the car. I was grateful to this man for helping us. I am still grateful to him. Many thanks to you kind sir.

Tonight I was cruising along when I spotted a few men pushing their van. I immediately parked my car and asked if I could assist them. I started pushing their vehicle along beside them. Who would have thought that I would have been given the opportunity to pay it forward so quickly? Thank you universe for presenting this moment to me. I can't stress enough that this moment holds just as high significance as all the others.

[JustSkipIt]

Jenny - How awesome that you had the immediate opportunity to pay it forward/back. Cool.

[Guest]

Yups Paying it forward is always awesom-O.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

Today was a fun day. I took my best friend shopping with me for kids toys. A contractor I know is having a toy drive next weekend. Any toys and money donated that day is going to Children's Hospital Los Angeles. I had to drag myself out of the toy section coz I wanted to buy everything. I also discriminate against girls. I bought mostly boys toys. I am sooo not into Barbie but I bought one anyways. I had to remind myself these toys weren't for me. LOL. It's all about the kids so I'm excited to be apart of this.

[Guest]

Grateful for your kind actions Jenny Ti Poteler

Here is another inspiring story I just read and which brought tears to my eyes. It's a lovely real life christmas story.

~

White Envelopes



It's just a small, white envelope stuck among the branches of our Christmas tree. No name, no identification, no inscription. It has peeked through the branches of our tree for the past 10 years or so.



It all began because my husband Mike hated Christmas. Oh, not the true meaning of Christmas, but the commercial aspects of it, overspending , the frantic running around at the last minute to get a tie for Uncle Harry and the dusting powder for Grandma, the gifts given in desperation because you couldn't think of anything else.



Knowing he felt this way, I decided one year to bypass the usual shirts, sweaters, ties and so forth. I reached for something special just for Mike. The inspiration came in an unusual way. Our son, Kevin, who was 12 that year was wrestling at the junior level at the school he attended, and shortly before Christmas, there was a non-league match against a team sponsored by an inner-city church.



These youngsters, dressed in sneakers so ragged that shoestrings seemed to be the only thing holding them together, presented a sharp contrast to our boys in the spiffy blue and gold uniforms and sparkling new wrestling shoes. As the match began I was alarmed to see that the other team was wrestling without headgear, a kind of light helmet designed to protect a wrestler's ears. It was a luxury the ragtag team obviously could not afford. Well, we ended up walloping them. We took every weight class. And as each of their boys got up from the mat, he swaggered around in his tatters with false bravado, a kind of street pride that couldn't acknowledge defeat. Mike, seated beside me, shook his head sadly, "I wish one of them could have won," he said. "They have a lot of potential, but losing like this could take the heart right out of them." Mike loved kids, all kids, and he knew them, having coached little league football, baseball and lacrosse.



That's when the idea of his present came. That afternoon, I went to a local sporting good s store and bought an assortment of wrestling headgear and shoes and sent them anonymously to the inner-city church. On Christmas Eve, I placed the envelope on the tree, the note inside telling Mike what I had done and that this was his gift from me. His smile was the brightest thing about Christmas that year and in succeeding years. For each Christmas, I followed the tradition, one year sending a group of mentally handicapped youngsters to a hockey game, another year a check to a pair of elderly brothers whose home had burned to the ground the week before Christmas, and on and on. The envelope became the highlight of our Christmas. It was always the last thing opened on Christmas morning and our children, ignoring their new toys, would stand with wide-eyed anticipation as their dad lifted the envelope from the tree to reveal its contents. As the children grew, the toys gave way to more practical presents, but the envelope never lost its allure. The story doesn't end there.



You see we lost Mike last year due to dreaded cancer. When Christmas rolled around, I was still so wrapped in grief that I barely got the tree up. But Christmas Eve found me placing an envelope on the tree, and in the morning, it was joined by three more.

Each of our children, unbeknownst to the others, had placed an envelope on the tree for their dad. The tradition has grown and someday will expand even further with our grandchildren standing around the tree with wide-eyed anticipation watching as their fathers take down the envelope. Mike's spirit, like the Christmas spirit, will always be with us.



Nancy W. Gavin

[JustSkipIt]

Wow. That made me cry. Thanks for posting.

[Nue]

A few cities here in Brazil are devasted due the floods.. and it´s still raining there... so me and my neighboor are gathering fresh water and food for people who used to live there... I´m asking in my work if people can help, and next tuesday we´re going to take everything we could gather to them ^^

[Guest]

Nue, I hadn't read this last post but I find it pretty admirable

I have been giving back in the simplest and most potent way these last few weeks: relentless donation of all that had mattered to me. It was a precious release and it opened the hearts of many people at the same time.

[JustSkipIt]

A friend posted The Tire Iron and the Tamale on her facebook profile and it made me cry. Very beautiful story.

[Guest]

By honouring my unique skills.

Through energy work.

[JustSkipIt]

If you go to living social, they will match a $5 donation to the red cross for the disaster in Japan. I just did. I will make a larger donation this weekend.

[JustSkipIt]

I tried to donate platelets today but my iron was low.

[BeneathMyWillowTree]

It feels like forever since I've posted here. It's kinda funny because what I'm about to share isn't something small. Anyone who knows me knows I don't want a funeral. I never had a desire for one. Okay so maybe at one point I did, but I spent part of my "funeral fund money" last year when I had the Cat's Claw book giveaway. I thought all this time since then to just be cremated and not have any kind of service. My best friend would keep my ashes, but more importantly contact everyone who was in my life. This was the plan until I heard about Anatomy Gifts. Anatomy Gifts is a non profit organization that uses human tissue from whole body donations for use in Medical Science and Education. So yes I am donating my body to science so to speak. What inspired this was knowing donors bodies are used to facilitate the replacement of animals in medical training and experimentation. I figured since I'm an animal activist now while I'm alive, why not help them out when I'm deceased. I know my body alone won't stop animal testing(although I hope it will end one day), but if I can help countless animals from vivisection that would be super cool. Once AGR receives all they need and want from me they'll cremate my remains. I have placed my best friend as my next of kin, so he'll receive my ashes. I feel really happy about my decision. I feel that I'll do everything I can for mankind from beginning to end.

[Finey_McFine]

Yesterday I gave my time to photograph the Susan B. Komen (for the cure) Greens for Pink golf tournament in Conroe, TX. The Komen Foundation is the most widely known, largest and best-funded breast cancer organization in the US.

My friend ('J') was in charge of the event and asked me to bid on the job last year. My bid was $0. There was no way in good conscious that I could charge a penny for such a worthy cause. I would rather they take the money they make and put it back in for the fight against breast cancer.

Breast cancer has literally consumed my friend J's life. The women in her family have tested positive for the BRCA gene and it has taken its toll. Her mother fought and won her fight, but two of her older sisters were not as lucky. Then the cruelest blow coming 3 years ago when J's daughter (little J) was diagnosed at the age of 25 with stage 4 breast cancer. Little J fought hard for over a year; undergoing a radical double mastectomy and months of grueling chemo. Unfortunately, it was not enough and little J lost her fight at just 26 years old.

If you are looking for a worthy cause to donate to or get involved with, I highly suggest the Komen Foundation. Here is the link if you are interested in more information.

Susan G. Komen Foundation

[JustSkipIt]

Shel - What a wonderful act of service. I love that what you do to make your living is also so valuable as a charitable act. Your friend J sounds quite wonderful and it's people like her who in spite of her pain and loss will bring us a cure and better treatment for this terrible disease.

Thanks for posting.

[JustSkipIt]

I've mentioned before that I carry granola bars in my car and give them to homeless people. Yesterday I had to work half-day. On my way I encountered one hungry person and on the way home another. As I gave each of them their bars I asked if they were Veterans. Both said yes very proudly and I said thank you for your service to our country and shook their hands.

I don't know... there should something more to say. Some rant. Some concern about the injustice but I can't figure out the way to put it together. So I guess it just makes me think.