Day 341

I woke up to three missed calls and numerous texts this morning!
And it just reaffirms that my friends are PROCRASTINATORS... Well, not all of them... YOU KNOW who your are though!

So to balance all of that out, and to avoid having to STOP everything that I'm doing tonight to update the blog and potentially ruin the vibe for the Christmas party tonight... I am going to START blogging now!

Phillip and Dacia Bray, Santana, Tracie, and the REST of us ELVES have been slaving away in our little workshops to Make Christmas wishes come true for Kids at Safehouse outreach.

We've reached far and wide into our social networks, and have come out with some amazingly wonderful and giving people that committed to making each child on our lists' Christmas PHENOMENAL!

I want to take a few moments to THANK our friends and family members that sponsored a child, offered solutions, helped with donations, asked their friends to get involved, and just supported in any way - shape - or form!

You guys are simply AWESOME!
And I can't wait to see you tonight at Tavern 99!

I'll be sure to update the blog and let you know how the party went!

Day 340

After a weekend full of wedding festivities and packing, Kenny and I crashed Project Open Hands this afternoon! Of course, one of the coordinator remembered us from the beginning of the year, and made sure he introduced us as the group that volunteered the entire year - 365 days of giving. We ended up helping them decorate a giving tree during the time we were there. Large groups that came in were encouraged to donate to Project Open Hands and purchase an ornament to offset the cost of food that went up by 34% this year. With three women decorating the tree with different ideas, it was refreshing to have Kenny there to "Just DO IT." We had a blast, and we're thankful that Project Open Hands accommodated us! We certainly hope they meet their goals for this season! Happy Holidays Everyone!

Day 339

I am on the road this week which means there will definitely be some virtual volunteering..starting today :)

I visited care2.com and went through the click to donate tabs. I took today's daily action - For every person who completes the Fair Farm quiz, a generous donor will give $1 to Food & Water Watch to help protect our food. And I signed a few petitions: to save the Spirit Bear; aid for Pakistan flood victims; to stop sexual harassment in schools; to protect the coral sea; and to bring democracy to Burma.

While picking up my rental car this afternoon I heard of an amazing act of giving: an elderly gentleman was stuck on I75 after his car broke down, another gentleman stopped for him (total strangers), gave him a ride to the car rental place, helped him get a rental, waited with the elderly gentleman till he got his car! There's always an opportunity to give back, we just have to be willing to give :)

Day 338

I had a nice evening at SafeHouse today, really laid back, weather was a little warmer than most of this week, and the conversations were all fun!

I met someone new today, another gentleman from New York - he just got here Friday night! He has been staying at the shelter and is hoping to apply for a few jobs this week. We compared the weather here to that in New York; he told me some about his family; a little about the friends he came down here with; and about the friends he's made in the past two days.

I also got to catch up with a few people I had not seen in weeks! We caught up on what books to read, volunteering at the food bank, football games, fantasy football, and old friends from my early days at SafeHouse.

I also caught up with the gentleman who used to be interested in the stock market. We talked about jumping out of planes and all the reasons not to, jobs (he has worked in a mental health setting before as well), and how he plans on having a merry Christmas this year!

On the road starting tomorrow, hoping to make it to SafeHouse for a bit before I head out...

Day 337

I volunteered at Books for Africa first thing this morning and made it through 2 very cold hours in the warehouse!

There were a lot of volunteers there today, most of them high school kids, so we sorted and packed A LOT of books. The box I was going through was mostly elementary school leisure reading books and some middle school books. I remembered some of the titles from way back when - some things are meant to stay the same :)

Day 336

After a somewhat stressful day I made it to SafeHouse and was greeted by the young boy who comes there often. He was playing tic-tac-toe and learning to write his name with one of the volunteers. It was a quieter night today since most people get their cheques around this time but there were still some fun conversations.

I caught up with one gentleman who shared that he was going to the SEC parade tomorrow; joked around with someone else about basketball, spades, and the skills I have in both those activities and how I could probably win against him (he has been teaching me both); talked to another gentleman about women (specifically two of us) taking over the world and how much stress that may cause him; and before leaving for the night hung out with the wonderful volunteers for a bit!

A night at SafeHouse always gets rid of the stress!

Day 335

I stayed in today and chose to give back through freerice.com

I stuck to English vocabulary and donated 4000 grains of rice. Hoping to make it to SafeHouse tomorrow evening :)