That's The Way To Travel!

I can't wait until my kids are old enough to travel like this: 

http://travel.nytimes.com/2012/08/12/travel/volunteer-trips-is-your-family-ready.html?pagewanted=all

Simple Ways to Show Appreciation

Have you thought of leaving a note for your mail carrier?  I'll bet it would really brighten his/her day if a note appeared from a child saying 'Thank you!"

Have you thought of donating old books to your local public library or doctor's office?

Have you thought of planting flowers at your local park?  (get permission first, but many parks would welcome new flowers and little 'workers' to help plant them!)


Happy Giving!

Who Stole The Cookies From the Cookie Jar?

I love making everyday items look special.  This is an adorable idea that would also be easy for a child to help with - measuring cookie ingredients and filling mason jars with the ingredients.  Attach the recipe to the jar and voila!  An instant gift.  These could be donated to a senior center or sold as part of a charity drive.

Happy Giving!

Eat Your Heart Out!

From March 23rd to April 1st when you dine out at more than 1,000 restaurants, bars, and clubs in NYC, The Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective gets up to 6% of your purchase. The Brooklyn Young Mothers' Collective provides disadvantaged young mothers with a comprehensive set of services focused on their educational attainment and social development to help them to become self-sufficient adults.  For more information, please visit www.bymcinc.org  To participate, register here:  https://www.goodsearch.com/gooddining  (As a side note, Good Dining offers many different organizations to sponsor for this discount, or you can work on adding your own!). Happy giving (and eating!)

Socks 'N Undies

"Where Do You Give?" just mentioned us on their blog and we would like to say thank you!  


http://wheredoyougive.org/blog/post/little-givers


We also love the idea of donating socks - what an easy and fun way to give back:  

As parent Jennifer Maulsby explains, “It can be hard for kids to understand what it means to go hungry, but they get what could happen if they didn’t have socks to keep their little toes warm.”* Maulsby runs the New York operation of SocksnUndies, which distributes new socks, undergarments and toiletries to homeless shelters. Their website (socksnundies.org) offers a step-by-step guide for families or classes to organize a sock collection and examine the how’s and why’s of giving. It explains, for example, that issues of warmth and comfort may initially resonate with children, but these conversations may also lead children to understand that we take action in order to help others uphold personal dignity. 


Happy Giving!

C Is For Cookies!

Who doesn't love cookies?  Especially as a surprise thank you.  

Here's a fun family activity:  make and decorate cookies and deliver them to your local firehouse or police station to show your appreciation.  Not only is it an easy and fun project for children, it teaches them to remember to say 'thank you' to those who give of themselves every day to keep us safe.

Happy Giving (and baking)!

Want To Donate Your Children's Drawings?

Kyle’s Wish – www.kyleswish.org - is a charity that takes a colorful approach to helping kids with cancer.  Little ones can donate their own artistic creations to be distributed to children undergoing treatment in hospitals.  Or they can donate $25, which will provide up to three kids with art supplies.

Happy Giving!