I've spent the last couple of afternoons working at The Food Bank of the Rockies in what is known as the Reclamation Area. This is the main area that donated food gets processed and sorted. I have learned a lot these past few days and wanted to pass it on in hopes that what I have seen helps you as you prepare to donate food to food bank. On the 1st day we processed foods that were donated from area stores that had been pulled from their shelves for one reason or another. This food had been stored for some time and it all needed to be wiped down with bleach and sorted into 40 lb boxes by its type. I was shocked when I got there and was handed an apron and gloves to protect myself from the bleach. I couldn't fathom why on earth we were wiping food with a chemical. Then I opened my first box. The bottom was full of rodent poop. OK, I can see why now. Cans, bags & boxes were all given a bleach wipe before heading to the sorting area. Lesson 1: Don't Donate Dented Cans OR Overly Expired Food I literally, personally had to throw away over 3 huge trash cans, each weighing more than 350 lbs, of dented and expired cans. What broke my heart more was all of the expired baby food. ...
Simple Ways to Be of Service
Thanks to Walgreens for sponsoring my writing. Help Walgreens help others! Visit their Facebook page here to learn about their charitable partners and decide which cause Walgreens will donate to with a quick vote. I try to live a service oriented life and in the past I have done that by being on the Boards of several charities, starting my own charity, and playing President of the PTA. But as the kids, AND I, got older and Carter, AND I, have had more and more health issues, I find that I don't have the time or energy to do such big projects. But being of service is important to me still and I have had to find a way to be happy with doing smaller things with smaller impacts. And you know what I have found? Those simple small acts can be just as rewarding. If you are looking for ways to give back maybe some of these small things I have done can help you get started. Special Needs Parents: Tell your specialists nurse that it is OK to pass your number onto new parents every now and then. Jumping on the phone with a new mom of a special needs kids is one of the most valuable things you will do. Round up all those extra medical supplies you have and find a place to donate ...
Who Inspires You?
When my friends over at TravelingMom.com asked me to participate in a campaign sponsored by Sony about being Fearless and Inspiring I was in. This weeks theme was inspired by the show, the big C. Which truly is absolutely one of my favorites. If you haven't watched it on Showtime yet, you NEED to catch up on the first season. And when you get to the very end and her son finds the garage.....call me, and we shall cry together over a bottle of wine. It's that good. Promise! As with all campaigns, Traveling Mom provided me with some ideas for this post. One of those ideas was writing about a woman who inspires me. But when I came down to really ponder that question, I couldn't pick just one. I choose to surround myself with so many inspirational women that it is mind boggling. So, here are a few in no particular order. And I apologize in advance if I leave someone awesome off my 'list'. I hate 'lists' cause I always forget someone. But, like I said, I have too many people that inspire me to focus on just one. Above all, Mother Earth. I know, corny, but at this beautiful time of year how can one not be amazed and inspired by all this beauty? Katie Quinn-my great grandmother. ...
On Being Brave
Being brave doesn't mean you aren't scared. Being brave means doing something even though you are scared. This line from Franklin Goes to the Hospital has stayed with me for years. I believe some of the greatest wisdom can be found in children's books. Probably why I believe that Theodor Geisel was one of the wisest men of our times. That quote has served our family well through the years. It has become something of a mantra as we head into rough times. Each one in our family knows its meaning well. When I sat with my dad as he passed away I would silently say it to myself. As Carter wheels into the operating room he repeats it to himself. and I want to pass it on to you. Because I have so many brave friends, doing things even though they are scared. Bravery shows itself in women in awe inspiring ways. From the 82 year old mother who leaves her long time home to spend the later part of her life near family, giving up all that is familiar and comfortable. To the mother who is both fighting an incurable illness yet still bravely planning for the day it will probably win. Shining examples of bravery surround us. We recognize its tell-tale signs when we see it in ...
It’s All About Happy
Good Morning Everyone! The sun is shining, the birds are singing and today happens to be my birthday. Happy Birthday to me! It also happens to be the first day of my starting Gretchen Rubin's, The Happiness Project. Last night some of the amazing women from Mom It Forward got together for a virtual book club chat led by Angie Lee and inspired me to read it. I am just a few pages in and have already found so many things resonating with me. The words of the writer Colette had haunted me for years: "What a wonderful life I have had! I only wish I'd realized it sooner." I didn't want to look back, at the end of my life or after some great catastrophe, and think, "How happy I used to be then, if only I'd realized it." Kristen does a great roundup on her blog each week of her Happiness Project progress and has inspired me to do the same here. I haven't picked a day in each week that I will post about it, but I will, I promise. I am going to start now. Happiness Project #1 Started on my 39th birthday! One of the things I can tell you makes me happy is how much travel and spa writing I am getting the chance to do. Last night I found an invitation in my inbox to attend a fun ...