How the Gift of a Quarter Changed my Life [Charity]

A friend of mine, Create with Joy does a weekly meme. This week's theme is "Share Something Good".

Seeing as she is always supportive of my weekly BlogLovin Hop, I thought that I'd participate.

Except, I couldn't.

Well, I could but what would I have to write about?

• About how I spent two hours brushing Aries?
• About the clothes that I have packed to take to House of Lazarus?
• About that cup of coffee that I made Uncle Eric this week?

While they're good deeds, they aren't exactly world shaping events.

Then I thought, I should have a shower.

Not because I'm smelly but because, truth be told, I do some of my best thinking in the shower. But then I realized that I'd already showered this week.

And then, a thought came to me.

I almost didn't remember what it was because I was so excited that,

a) I had a thought outside the shower,
b) that I remembered it and,

c) speaking of remembering...

How Do You Eat an Elephant?

Aviva Community Fund - Win $1M for your Community [Charity]

This post brought to you by Aviva Community Fund. All opinions are 100% mine.

 

Every week we shop at our local thrift shop, every month we donate clothes and every year we give toys to kids in need. Charity is a big part of life at The Zoo and small gestures can make a big difference. 

 

What if you all you had to do was submit an idea. One idea and you could win a lot.

 

Say a share of $1,000,000?

You can with the Aviva Community Fund!

Help Food Banks this Summer by Donating Kid Friendly Foods from Walmart #cbias

Since the beginning, it's been my blogging mission to share stories of inspirational people, interesting products and worthy causes.

We have always stressed to The Kids the importance of acceptance, compassion and empathy through charity.

When I found out that I had the opportunity to purchase $40 in foodstuffs from Walmart and donate them to our local food bank "House of Lazarus" I was very proud.

Avery's Act of Kindness Fundraiser for an NICU Incubator {Cause}

Unfortunately, life doesn't always work out the way you planned it.

While I was 25 weeks pregnant with Triplets, Baby A, Alexanders' membranes ruptured (PROM).

While this can signal impending labour, for reasons unknown, I didn't end up going into premature labour until 30 weeks, 3 days.

Yes, the days matter.

Ronald McDonald House is Making a Difference in Your Community {Cause}

Every November, Nanna, The Kids and I load up toys and other needed items and donate them to those in need.

We do it in Alexander's Honour and also to teach the kids a sense of charity.

It's important to our family.

For the past two years, the Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario (CHEO) and The Ottawa General Hospital have been the recipients of our gifts.

This year was different.

After hearing a touching letter from a parent that had been supported by Ronald McDonald House (read by Cathy Loblaw at ShesConnected 2012), I knew that Ronald McDonald House Ottawa would be this year's recipient.

How you Can Help Raise Money for The Mexican Dogs.

Since 2005, we have been members of an animal humane society called "Tzi'te Animal Proteccion" in San Cristobal de las Casas, Chiapas, Mexico.

This past year, I've blogged about our issues with animal overpopulation and our plan to conquer it.

The last missing piece of the puzzle...

Funding.

While vet consulting fees, sterilization and general care does cost less in Mexico (relative to North America), it is still exceptionally high in comparison to the cost of living.

Until we joined the group, all the funding had come out of individual members pockets. If you found a dog and rehabilitated it, it was yours. At one time, we had five dogs in various stages of care.

Saving one dog or five wasn't a financial burden for us. The problem was saving one dog every.single.day.

The current system was not sustainable.

We came up with a plan that was a win-win-win.

Humbled by Those that Have Less but Give More.

Here in Mexico, it's not hard to have more than your neighbour, or anyone else for that matter.

There is a great divide of wealth amongst the classes.

We are considered upper class (except by the upper class) because we are "American".

Our neighbour Teresa the one that lets me climb onto her roof is amongst the upper lower class. She owns a home (gifted to her by her mother), has a part-time job in a Laundromat (her boss actually pays her) and her oldest of two sons works and helps her out. She is a very good and honest person, loves the kids dearly and is an invaluable wealth of knowledge (especially because we're foreigners and can easily get "taken"). We are fortunate to have her in our lives.

When she invited us over for Ulises 23rd birthday, we were honoured. It would be our first time dining at her place (we have her family over every year and her 8-year old son Alexander comes over almost daily to play with the kids and learn English). We know that she doesn't have much but you wouldn't know from her actions.

Kraft and You can Help Food Banks like House of Lazarus

Kraft Foods is supporting local food banks across Canada this holiday season. From November 3, 2011 to January 31, 2012, they are donating $1 (PER DAY, PER PERSON) to each person that enters their name.

One of the Food Banks on their support list is our local food bank the House of Lazarus.

This registered not-for-profit Canadian charity is a community outreach mission that offers food, clothing and pastoral care to those in need. Their Thrift Shop (for clothing) and Household Goods Shops are open to the public and The Zoo has been a weekly fixture for several years now.

We opened our doors in 1986 in Dundela to offer some relief to those experiencing poverty in the surrounding communities. In October 2000, we moved to our current location in Mountain, Ontario.

Our funding sources include; The United Church of Canada, Household Goods and Thrift Shop, Thoughtful Contributors, Caring Partners, Generous Donors and Recycling Programs (Electronics, Clothing, and Metal).​

Kraft has already given away $33,860 (out of $50,000) so enter your name, EVERY DAY and help my small town (population 32 horses, 53 sheep and 12 people) get some more of the pie.

Important Note. Once they reach the $50,000, DON'T stop voting. The food bank with the most votes receives an extra $10,000!

Tiz the season to give, especially when it costs you nothing. Thanks for your support.

Connect with the House of Lazarus via their Website or Facebook Page.

Have you Voted for the House of Lazarus?

Note that this campaign has ended and Kraft has removed the voting links on their website.

  Besos, The Zoo

More Then Just a Quarter to this Baby Loss Mother

Today is "Pregnancy and Infant Loss Remembrance Day".

Lots of people have lost a child, however, when you're going through the loss yourself, it seems like you're the only one in the entire world..

People don't talk about it very much.

I get it. No one wants to talk about dead babies.

This is my life.

The good news, I have been in contact with a lot of really great women who have been supporting me through this lifelong journey. Unfortunately, they can support me because they too have lost a child.

Today I want to share with you the story about a woman that gave me a quarter.

But not just any quarter.