How do you incorporate charity into your family life?

So, this week I was blessed to hang out with some friends and see some really reat kids doing their part for charity, and all because they thought it was FUN! The "Wrap and pack" was a beautiful idea by Big City Moms; it brought family and charity together without making it seem like a mundane task on the "to get into Heaven" list. And there were some amazing Santa's helpers in the crowd!

Recycled blessings...

"God doesn't comfort us to make us comfortable, HE comforts us to make us comforters"...
From my daily reading, let me think about this...
So, pretty much HE didn't put me in a beautiful home with a beautiful family and wonderful friends simply because, "I'm Becky"???? Annnnd I'm supposed to learn from the ordeals in my life so that I can one day help others with their own situations??? I get, so I can give back; and I cannot have more until I learn to give. How 2 fold is that? AMAZING!!!! Like recycling...LOL. GOD is green!
On a personal level, doesn't it ease some of the pain to know that one of the reasons we face obstacles is so that we can help others get through them as well?
It's easy to "reach the top" and forget how far you climbed to get there. It's even easier to become so consumed in your own battles that you don't share what you're going through, or how you dealt with it and lose the opportunity to help someone else...
I have been thinking of a new job search, but it occurred to me this week how this position has helped me, not only in my personal life, but also to give advice and insight to family and friends. I'm in a position to learn from what I do. Sometimes we end up in a place, not just for the current and obvious goal, but for a goal still unknown to us...

Social Media Fast and some little add-on events

So many times we become entangled with simple living tasks, and we lose sight of important things;we also tend to make decisions without asking for direction....I have come to a crossroad in my personal life that leads me to ask for direction. So in order to fully recieve instruction, I am fasting from any type of social media, save my phone, to communicate with others. I am hoping that in the absence of noise and confusion, I will find the path I am being led to follow. So, in the wake of what is my very first "fast" I hope everyone enjoys a wonderful week.
Before I leave you all I just want to mention some last minute events which we will be at...
Wrap and pack , hosted by Big City Moms on December 8th
Toys for Tots party hosted by the LARiders @ Holy Cross Church December 3rd

Please let me know if you are interested in attending!

A Grateful Attitude

Happy Thanksgiving!! I hope everyone is blessed in any way and at all times.
Every year, we ask ourselves, "What are we grateful for?" And the usual answers surface; family, friends, health, etc. This year, I dare you to try something different. I dare you to be grateful for something you were denied, or something you have not yet received.
With that dare being made, I am grateful this year for my family, not only the one I have today, but the one I am being prepared for, the one God is readying me to meet and become a part of.I am ever so grateful for the lessons he has taught me,in endurance and in self respect. Because with every lesson, I grew stronger.
Have a wonderful, wonderful Thanksgiving!

I'm a Hamburger Helper!!!

Yaaaaayyyyyy! I have reason to smile today, do you know why???? Because my laziness has finally paid off!!!! LOL!!!! What am I talking about????
 Anyone who knows me knows how allergic I am to the kitchen. I absolutely despise the chore of cooking. Even the thought of cooking makes my lips bend downward. And trust me; my world is better for it! I wouldn’t want to poison the people I love!!!! But, every now and then I have to do the dirty deed, and make a meal. Like actually stand over the stove, and prepare a meal. And that’s when Hamburger Helper comes in! I am known as the “Hamburger Helper Queen”! I actually keep the cabinets stocked and I love it!
 So imagine how happy I was to find out about the show your helping hand campaign!For every hamburger helper code I input onto the site, .17 cents goes to a complete meal at a food bank. So, now I’m not only feeding the 4 of us, but I am also feeding a 5th person off one box! And they say serving size is 4! LOL!
 If you’re interested in helping with hamburger helper, check out
www.showyourhelpinghand.com
If you have a similar story, share it here!

Are you doing any volunteering or donating on your own?

We are always looking for places to volunteer or donate, so if you know of any events coming up, are planning any events, or just have informationon where/how we can help a cause, please post it here! With so many opportunities out there, I would hate for anyone to miss a potential opportunity to be someone's blessing!

Bowling for MANNA was a SUCCESS!!!!

I just want to thank everyone for coming out and having a great time doing a wonderful thing! I hope to see more family and friends at future events!

Do YOU accept charity? donations? "hand me downs"?

Ok, so as my mind whirls about upcoming events, what I can do to realize this dream, and how I can entice others to do more, I am forced to look at myself as well.
Am I the type of person who accepts gifts? Help? Charity? Are my kids allowed to wear hand me down clothing? After speaking with a client recently, I was shocked at how open and honest somepeople are. My department had become the recipients of some slightly worn winter coats, and I immediately thought of my client, who I had last seen wearing nothing but a hooded sweatshirt. I first called her, thinking that that the last thing I would want to do is offend her pride, or her spouse's. Not only did my client cry, out of relief, but she further explained that she and her husband have one coat they share. When she has appointments, he misses work, and when he works, she stays home or bundles up beneathe her hooded sweatshirt.
My mouth dropped. I was in awe. This woman was so honest, so in touch with her present state, that she was nothing but thankful that I had thought of her. She didn't say, "let me speak to him first", she immediately began with thanks and appreciation. Would I have been so honest? So forthcoming? Is there anything really bad about accepting hand me downs?
We are often so quick to give, but how quick are we to receive? What was one incident when pride got in your way of receiving?

venue change saturday 11/13/10

I have decided to change our bowling venue to help alleviate economical and travel hardships.

Our new venue is:
Bowlerland
2417 Hollers Ave
Bronx
718-994-8700
Event time is the same
Thank you for understanding!

Also, if this charity touches your heart, but you cannot make it, please mail in your donation! Simply attach a note explaining where you how you heard of them. I'm sure it will be appreciated!

December's Event...a special tree lighting!

Imagine a tree where little angels rest when they tire from soaring. Where they are never forgotten. A place we could find them; a place they call home.
In December, we are meeting up at the “Tree of Angels” event, in dedication of friends and family we have lost this year. Milagros Guzman began the tradition after losing her own daughter, Jessica Guzman, at 11 years old.
During the, “Tree of Angels” lighting, families from all over are invited to hang their own angel ornament to represent the angel they loss. “A Date with Charity” will be meeting at this event to show support to the families who are suffering the death of a lost one. THIS IS NOT A MONETARY DONATION; BUT A SUPPORT AND TIME DONATION. Please come with nothing but well wishes, words of encouragement, and thoughts of support. Please note also that if you have an "Angel" to honor and would like to hang an ornament, you may. Angel ornaments are provided by the individual families.

Venue Info:
12/11/10 @ 4PM
4101 White Plains rd.
Bronx, NY 10466

Did you invite anyone?

With approximately 2 weeks left, I am cloaked with excitement and anxiety! As if I was standing on the cliff of something big almost. But rationally, it is little more than spending time with close friends and doing something great for someone else. Can it get any better than that?

So, I invited you, did you invite anyone else? When you are thinking of doing something nice, like charity or volunteer work, do you make it a group effort? Or do you stick you yourself? Why dop you think many people shy away from sharing such efforts? Is charity an "uncool" thing?

How do you give back?

Ok, so when I first thought of this, I knew the idea would atttract some but not all. I was prepared for that. The idea behind "A date with charity" was to make charity attractive and fun, because that works for me. Just like I know that everyone has their own way of giving back, and paying forward. So, what's your way?
Do you give to the man on the corner? Or do you only donate to organized charities? Maybe its all about time for you? Do you donate time?
Donating can be in any form...time, money, thoughts...How do you do it?

Bowl for Charity!!

Our first "date"! Bowling for charity; a "bring your kids" event! I think it's important to teach them to give back, and to be appreciative as well. And what better month than November, the time of Thanksgiving! Let's give thanks as we give back...
Our first hilighted charity is: Manna of Life Ministries", a faith based organization who provides soup kitchens, pantries, life skills, and community outreach. The reason I chose Manna to begin this journey with is because I have actually heard from people and speakers about the good of this organization, and the gifts they have helped others receive. I think about soup kitchens and pantries, and how many referrals I have made to such places, and how many sites have closed due to lack of funds, and I think anything we can offer will fill a stomach, help a family, and prove that there are people who care.
Check out their link and decide if this is the type of organization who can use your donation.
* I just want to reassure you that, though I have nothing but positive and consistent compliments about this organization, I have never had any direct contact with them, nor is anyone asking me to do this. This was a whisper put directly into my heart.

VENUE: Bowling @ New Roc City
DATE: November 13th
TIME: 11:30 a.m.
DONATION REQUIREMENT: WHATEVER YOU FEEL!
There is no requirement because nothing is too little, or too big! Please bring a stamped envelope where you will secure your own donation privately. The address for the donations, as listed on their website is the following:
Manna of Life Ministries
P.O. Box 610032
Pilgrim Station
Bronx, N.Y. 10461

RSVP directly to this post if you wish to attend...
I really hope to see you there!

Your Suggestions...

Please share your charity sites here...I cannot promise that we will get to all of them, but we will try as long as we can keep this growing...Please include a site where I can read more about them and their missions, and the donation information...

A cracked pot...

There is a tale about a cracked pot which continues to follow me...A cracked pot whose leaking water creates beautiful flowers along it's path; but whose fault causes it much distress, until it sees how it's imperfections lead to beauty. It has taken me some time, but finally I am realizing how this is my story; I am a cracked pot, just now realizing how much beauty I can create with my own will.
"A Date with Charity" is a flower growing from my faults, my "leak". After a life of endless spending, and useless purchases, I finally have my head on straight and my heart is coming through. What I once did in an unconscious fashion, I am now celebrating with my friends, the act of giving. The feeling of knowing you did something nice and paid forward. Nothing is too small, and nothing too big.
I hope this blog finds you in the best of spirits and in the season of giving, all year round. Because that is what I hope to do; gather other like minded friends and individuals and honor the choice to give. How will we do it? By LEARNING and HAVING FUN of course!!!!
Here's how it will work (I hope!):
The blog will be "home" where we can chat and keep in touch, different organizations will be hilighted, either by me or through interviews, and once monthly a meetup where we can have fun with one another and receive the information where money can be donated directly. Of course, if anyone has a suggestion as to where donations will be appreciated, this is the perfect forum for it...
Stick with me land let's grow as givers as we make a "Date with Charity".