Standing Against Hate in Charlottesville

“We are deeply saddened by the violence in Charlottesville and the ongoing events that continue to threaten our community. We stand against all forms of hatred, racism and bigotry.”

– Leslie Greene Bowman, President and CEO of the Thomas Jefferson Foundation at Monticello on the August 11 + 12 events in Charlottesville

Charlottesville

Author Sara Benincasa has collected a list of local non-profits for those wondering What to Do About Charlottesville and how they can help.

How can we fight ugliness and hate – except with love and beauty?

February 8, 2016

Upcycled Cards

I cut up a card from my mother-in-law.

It wasn’t anything against her – she writes the sweetest little notes. I just happened to see it when I was thinking about cards for the Love Letters project, and I decided the balloons on the front were just the right colors to be upcycled into Valentine’s hearts.

So the card got cut up to make more cards. I’m pretty sure my mother-in-law would approve.

Have you found any interesting things to repurpose lately?

PS If you wanted to participate in the Love Letters campaign, making cards for housebound seniors, you have until 2/10 to mail them in. Sign up at dosomething.org/loveletters for details.

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January 25, 2016February 8, 2016

Love Letters on Wheels

Did you make construction paper Valentines as a kid? Well, I just found out about a great reason to dust off the Fiskars and start cutting out paper hearts again.

Meals on Wheels will be delivering handmade Valentine’s Day cards to housebound seniors, as part of their Love Letters campaign on DoSomething.org. While the card-making part of the campaign is definitely targeted to kids/teens, I don’t see any reason we can’t all channel our inner child and join in too. (Someone who’s 90 probably sees the rest of us as kids anyway.)

Sign up at DoSomething.org/loveletters for guidelines and a list of participating locations with mailing addresses, and then make your card(s), ~~put them in envelopes (if you don’t have enough on hand, here’s how to fold your own envelope)~~, and mail them in by February 10.

A volunteer used to deliver Meals on Wheels to my grandpa and even bring treats along for the dog – making both of their days.

If you’re outside of the US and Canada, I bet there’s a nursing home or senior center in your area that you could deliver handmade cards to.

I think this is a beautiful way to spread some love.

[UPDATE: Cards don’t have to be in individual envelopes.]

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November 16, 2015November 16, 2015

Kindness

News of the attacks on Paris is heartbreaking. And the rumors about attackers having entered Europe as refugees, having been saved from a sinking ship, rocks my core and tests my belief that kindness changes people.

And yet, as individuals who are not world leaders or aid organizations, maybe the best we can do is still kindness – to give a stranger directions, be patient with someone who is struggling with your language, invite someone over who is far from their hometown.

Maybe kindness can’t prevent every violent act. But, in the long run, I think it’s our best hope.

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Images made with Stamen Design mapping utility. CCL. (Heart added with Skitch.)

September 28, 2015October 9, 2015

Wear Pajamas for Charity

Here’s a travel story for you [from my dad, Marty, during a day trip last fall. –S]:

We were cruising through Prescott, looking for a dinner place and found a family diner called SueAnn’s Apple Pan.

It usually closes at 2pm, but we just happened to hit PJs and Eggs night, which is a charity event supported by Hickman’s Family Farms. All the staff and most of the customers were dressed in jammies, and they were serving breakfast only.

We felt like we crashed a happy, boisterous family meal. Very cool. Might need to put this on calendar for next year!

– More Info –

Arizona’s PJs & Eggs pajama drives, formerly sponsored by Hickman’s Family Farms, coincide with World Egg Day.
This year, The Wickenburg Lions Club is hosting PJs & Eggs at Lydia’s La Canasta Restaurant in Wickenburg (2023 W. Wickenburg Way) 10/9 5-8pm. Drop off new children’s pajamas to be donated to Arizona Children’s Foundation Foster Care Program anytime between now and then. That night, you can wear your pajamas and order breakfast or dinner (full menu available).
There are also PJs and Eggs events in Ohio and other World Egg Day happenings worldwide.

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Photo credits: 1. Marty 2. The American Egg Board