Day 31 - Tackled Hunger

Ryan and I were at Market Street today and noticed they were tackling hunger through the Souper Bowl of Caring movement. 

Folks either buy a bag full of groceries or make a donation at the register.  Every item or dollar donated during the Souper Bowl of Caring helps to nourish neighbors in need.

I let Ryan grab one of the little kid shopping carts, which she loves :), and we grabbed a bag to feed a local family in need!

They are running the program through Super Bowl Sunday (February 3rd).

Day 31 - Tackled hunger

Day 30 - Registered to Become a Tissue and Organ Donor *UPDATE

We are 30 days into this project and only 2 days from February!  Since February is National Heart Awareness Month I thought it would be a great opportunity to do something I thought I had done years ago...become an organ donor.

I have a friend who was born with a serious congenital heart disorder.  Now at age 32 she has been in and out of the hospital more times than she can count.  Her heart has been failing her but she continues to be one of the most positive and strong women I know.  Her faith keeps her going and gives her new hope everyday.  Today she will find out if she will be placed on the transplant waiting list for a new heart or if she will have to wait and continue to struggle with the ill effects of her failing heart.

I believe signing up to be an organ donor is one of the most generous things you can do — especially when you consider that a single donor can potentially save eight lives. That’s eight people who won’t have to spend agonizing months or years on the transplant waiting list, who will get a second chance, because you made the selfless decision to be a donor.

Today's random act took only a few moments of my time, and the impact it could have is immeasurable. So if you have a few spare minutes, please go to Donate Life and register to become and organ and tissue donor.

Prayers go out to my friend Kristie that she can be placed on the transplant list and quickly receive a new, healthy heart thanks to someone's selfless act of becoming a organ donor.

Day 30 - Registered to become a tissue and organ donor

UPDATE:  Shortly after writing this Kristie found out that she will need to start the transplant process immediately.  She is not covered for the transplant in her current state of Virginia so the doctors feel her best chance at a new heart is in Denver, Colorado.  She has been told she will need a new heart by the end of the year.  We are praying she gets out to Colorado quickly, gets on the transplant list and gets a new healthy heart.

Day 29 - Donated Wire Hangers

We don't make frequent trips to the dry cleaners but when we do Chris always comes home with a huge collection of wire hangers.  Occasionally, when we remember, we'll grab some out of the closet and bring them back to the dry cleaner when dropping off a new load of clothes.  It never really dawned on me, until reading another random acts of kindness blog, that we could also donate these to the local Salvation Army, Thrift Store or Goodwill.

So today, for our random act of kindness, we will be donating our collection of wire hangers to our local Goodwill and Frisco Resale.  Both of these organizations accept donations of hangers for the clothes that they sell in their retail stores.  So if you have an overabundance of wire hangers in your house like we do, it is an easy thing to send them over and help your local Goodwill, Salvation Army or Thrift Store so that they can spend their money on other, more important things.

Day 29 - Donated wire hangers

Day 28 - Read a Book to the Girls/Donate a Book to Children

There is nothing I enjoy more than spending time with my girls. I love talking to them, I love playing with them, and I love reading to them. They have a wonderful collection of books they have either received as gifts or that have been purchased for the childcare.  Having access to these books is something that I want them to really appreciate.

 A sad statistic I have learned about is that 1 in 3 children in the United States does not have a single book in their home, and thus has more of a struggle with learning to read. A friend recently told me about a website that helps to add books to children's home libraries both here and abroad. The We Give Books (http://www.wegivebooks.org/) campaign allowed me to read a book to the girls online. After completing the book, you are then given the option to donate a book FOR FREE to a child either here in the United States or abroad.  Kailey and Ryan both read a book and then donated on behalf of a friend.  What a great way to get kids involved in giving as well!

If you have a child, niece/nephew, or if you want to just buzz through a book to donate, please go to that site so that more and more children worldwide will experience the joy of reading.

Day 28 - Read a book to the girls and donate a book to children

Day 27 - Visited the SPCA

The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals of Texas (SPCA of Texas) is the leading animal welfare agency and serves as an active resource center providing an array of programs and services that bring people and animals together to enrich each others' lives.

Every time you support the SPCA of Texas—whether by coming out to their wonderful events, through a donation, by volunteering your time or by simply spreading the word about the great work they do— you support the dogs and cats (and rabbits, horses, guinea pigs, goats and more) and people they serve. They're the voice for the animals who cannot speak for themselves.

For today's random act of kindness we went to visit the local SPCA and bring a few stacks of newspaper (an item they typically need donations of).  The girls had a great time seeing all the animals and learning a bit about pet adoption.

 

Adoption is the loving option.

 

Day 27 - Visit to the SPCA

 

 

Day 26 - Made a Donation for Library Fundraiser

The girls' school (Imagine International Academy of North Texas) is having an online fundraiser for their school library.  Since it's the school's first year and many of their supplies are provided through donations and drives I thought this would be a great opportunity to support our wonderful school and amazing teachers.

So today's random act of kindness was a small donation to the school's library fundraiser.  Today was the last day to donate...nothing like waiting until the last minute :).

Day 26 - School library donation

Day 25 - Formed a Relay for Life Team to Fight Cancer

Just over the last few months I have been unable to avoid cancer's growing presence in those around me and it's unrelenting destructiveness. I have decided to do anything I can to join in the fight.

As some may remember from earlier posts Kailey and Ryan have a sweet little classmate Ileana (age 6) in the late stages of brain cancer and I have a wonderful friend Theresa who continues to battle melanoma.  Both Theresa and Ileana inspire me and are the driving forces in this random act.  Almost everyone has been touched by cancer in some way, so I've decided to make a difference by walking and raising money for the American Cancer Society.  Anything I can do to help inspire hope and encourage folks to continue to fight, I will do. 

After seeing a friend post on Facebook about a local Relay For Life event I knew what I was being called to do.  I reached out to other kindergarten parents who also know Ileana and asked if they would be interested in forming a team.  Many jumped at the opportunity to make a difference.

We created a team and continue to recruit team members to join in the fight against cancer and to raise much-needed funds and awareness to save lives from cancer.

Here is our team site.  If you are local and would like to join our team that would be awesome.  If you are not local and would like to donate for someone fighting this battle or dedicate a luminaria for a lost one that would be amazing too!

The Imagine Dragons Relay for Life Team Page

My inspiration...

My awesome friend Theresa.  A true rock star!!

Kailey and Ryan's sweet classmate Ileana (an absolute warrior)!

Day 25 - Formed a Relay for Life Team

Continued prayers for Theresa, Ileana, their families and all those battling cancer.  You are not alone.  Stay strong and keep fighting!