A little sneak peak at my new crown design...
I needle-felted the flower in a beautiful bright pink roving that made Nola twirl around the house.
And the strap is made of the most luxurious mossy green velvet ribbon that I could find.
I am auctioning it off and all the proceeds will benefit the families in Newtown, CT. More details next week...
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Hi Friends,
How are your holiday plans coming along? This weekend we cleaned out our hallway closet and got our spare bedroom - previously known as 'the dumping ground' - ready for my sister's Christmas visit.
I was so very proud of Nola and Kira who generously donated many old and beloved toys to those less fortunate. Speaking of new traditions, donating old toys has become part of our holiday routine. The girls are in charge of their toys - they choose what to donate and we never try to push them into donating something they are not ready to part with. I am constantly amazed, moved, and so very inspired by these girls willingness to give.
A super-quick craft:
To make a colorful toy box for donated toys, lace pretty ribbon through the holes of a plastic tote.
I look forward to a fun week of holiday making with you... this week I'll be highlighting crafts of Christmas past. See you tomorrow!
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Food drives, big and small, are a great way to involve many people in the effort to alleviate hunger in the United States. As September is Hunger Action Month, now is the perfect time to host a food drive.
The food collected from food drives, and delivered to food banks and pantries, is sorted and given out directly to emergency food box recipients. Typically, an emergency food box holds a 3-day supply of food for each household member.
1. Organize
Choose the location and duration of your food drive. Neighborhoods, schools, offices, civic groups, and houses of worship are just some of the many organizations that are happy to help sponsor a food drive. Consider registering the food drive with your local food bank. Most food banks will provide you with flyers, containers, and additional tips for running a successful food drive.
2. Advertise
Either use a flyer provided by your local food bank, or make your own. All flyers should include information about where to drop off the food, how long the food drive is running, and the most needed food items.
MOST NEEDED FOOD ITEMS:
Peanut Butter
Canned Meat
Canned Fruit
Canned Vegetables
Cereal
Pasta
3. Collect
Either use containers provided by your local food bank, or use cardboard boxes and plastic tubs to collect all the donated food. Label the containers and put them in a highly visible area.
4. Deliver
Collect all the donated food and take it to your local food bank or pantry. If your food drive has generated a lot of donated food (over 500 food items), then most food banks will pick the food up.
Remember to thank all the participants!
HOW TO HELP YOUR CHILDREN HOST A FOOD DRIVE
Over a meal time discuss the issue of hunger with your children. Talk gently about kids that might not have any breakfast that morning. Perhaps lunch at school was their only hot meal of the day.
What should we do?
I asked this question to my girls. They thought for a minute and together decided to ask their neighbors and friends to donate food.
Here are the beginnings of my girls' food drive...
KIDS HELPING KIDS {food drive}
Joyce at Childhood Beckons found a way to encourage her son to read and support their local food bank. Her son asked sponsors to donate one nonperishable food item per book he reads in a week's time. At the end of the week, they will collect the food he's raised and deliver it to their local food bank.
For more inspiration...
Jennifer at The Good Long Road organized a food drive at her farmer's market.
Megan at Coffee Cup and Crayons hosted a Hunger Heros food drive play date.
The possibilities are endless.
Stacy, the driving force behind Mom's Fighting Hunger, and Jennifer, an indie filmmaker, put together this fun yet touching movie showing how kids can get involved... Every Can Counts.
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GO ORANGE
September is Hunger Action Month and orange is the symbolic color of hunger. Across the country individuals, organizations, food suppliers, and food banks are coming together to create change. To feed those in need, to motivate those with plenty, and teach those who will listen.
Hunger in America exists for over 50 million people. That is 1 in 6 of the U.S. population – including more than 1 in 5 children. Source: Feeding America
Several years ago, for a hunger study organized by Feeding America, I interviewed people picking up Emergency Food Boxes. The people I met were genuine, courageous and scared.
One man I will never forget...
I asked him if he ever skipped meal to feed his children. With a tear in his eye, this man said that he always let his children eat first and then he ate anything that was left over. He worked a full-time job and a part-time job, but he couldn't make enough money to cover rent, electricity and feed his family. He often went without meals so his children could eat.
It is a sacrifice that we would all make for our children. But, it is a sacrifice that we shouldn't have to make.
YOU CAN HELP
As parents there are many things we can do to help alleviate hunger in the United States. We can work together as families, neighbors and communities to raise awarness and funds for people who face hunger on a daily basis.
We can nurture our children's empathy to care about others and let our children find ways to help.
1. Hold a food drive. Collect canned goods from family, friends and neighbors and donate the food to your local food bank.
2. Give encouragement to families in need - see project here
3. Hold a lemonade stand and donate the proceedes to your local food bank
I am honored to be part of a group of Moms Fighting Hunger. We will be working together this month to bring you information and inspiration to help feed those in need.
Throughout the month I'll be posting, tweeting, and pinning ways for you to get involved.
WIll you join me?
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Every day some families have to make a very difficult decision - a decision that would break my heart. They quietly sacrifice their own health for their children and skip meals so their children can eat.
During the winter, bank accounts are emptied by higher heating bills, and unforseen medical bills, but growing bodies always need nutritious food.
Emergency food boxes are available throughout the US, and many other countries, to help alleviate the problem. These emergency boxes rely on donated food to fill the gap. During the holidays, food banks often see a rise in donated foods. But as the winter months continue, donations fall and the food banks' supplies becomes alarmingly low.
How can we help?
As a family we talk about how lucky we are. Those who have so much can help those who have so little. My girls are ready to help...
We chose food from our cupboards, attached pictures of support to the cans, and donated them to the food bank. We donated a big box full of love and we will donate again next week.
I hope this project gives encouragement to young families in need, teaches children the love of giving, and most importantly, nourishes growing bodies.
A few tips to get you started:
More ideas to help give back:
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Although we live on different lands, speak different languages, and experience different lives, I know we all feel the same love for your children.
I have read that you are industrious, protective, caring, and very brave. I offer you my admiration, optimism, and hope for you and your children.
Helen (mother of two girls aged 5)
This is my message to the courageous women of the Masai tribe.
Michelle, creator Molly Moo, is traveling to Northern Kenya this March and is taking messages of support from mums all over the world to the Masai women. So simple, yet I know it will mean a lot to these remarkable women. Will you take part?
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