Kiva - Free donation!

I was debating what to get the relative that has everything for Christmas, after having already given Donor's Choose gift cards, and someone recommended Kiva.  This is an international micro-lending organization that since 2005 has given $271 million in loans!

If you haven't tried it out before, please go to this link ASAP: http://kiva.org/ladieshomejournal
and you will get to try a loan for free! 

There are so many projects to choose from, you could help a mom purchase a food cart in Ecuador, help a taxi driver in Uganda buy tires for his car, or help buy a refrigerator for a man who owns a small food store in Iraq, etc. etc.

This is free money - so please click on the link above it will only take a few minutes of your time and will really help someone in need.

Thanks! 

Operation Christmas Child

The organization Samaritan's Purse runs Operation Christmas Child every year.  This was the first year that I had heard of it, even though last year they delivered over 8 million shoe boxes filled with goodies to children around the world. 

I picked up decorated shoe boxes at Chick-fil-a (though you can use any box of a similar size) and went to target to buy some special gifts for a child who might not otherwise get a gift this Christmas.  I looked at information online before I went for suggestions on what to buy, so I thought you might like to see my completed boxes (for a 5-9 year old girl):

I was amazed with creative packing what I was able to fit into a shoebox!  The boxes contain almost exactly the same things:

A Barbie princess doll

Toiletries (toothbrush, toothpaste, lip gloss, and a plastic cup)

Candy!

Headband, barrettes, and socks

Coloring book, colored pencils, crayons, play doh, a puzzle, stickers, and a teddy bear! (The teddy bear, coloring book, pencils, and puzzle all came from the dollar spot at Target).

Now I just need to add a note for the girl. I printed off labels online and they are supposed to send me an email to let me know where my box is sent. 

If you are interested in participating there is still time - the National Collection Week is November 14-21 and you can search for the drop-off locations here.  They have great videos online of kids receiving a shoebox and I can just imagine how happy a little girl will be to receive these gifts.  I hope they make her feel special and loved!

Thanksgiving takeout from Georgia Browns!

I'm not a big fan of spending hours and hours in the kitchen and so over the years I've tried many different things for Thanksgiving. 

If you are staying in Washington D.C. and don't want to cook everything, I highly recommend takeout from Georgia Browns!  You can see the menu here: Georgia Brown's Thanksgiving Menu

Just place an order online and pick up Thanksgiving morning ready to be served immediately or reheated later in the day.  The best part is that unlike going to a restaurant there are yummy leftovers! 

Make the holidays brighter for a child in foster care...

The last couple years I have donated to this program and I highly recommend it if you are looking for something extra to do around the holidays. There are many options, such as providing food in a Thanksgiving basket or buying toys for a specific child.  And there are even opportunities to volunteer. 

If you are interested, please see the form below - deadline is this Tuesday (November 1st). 

CFSA Food Basket and Angel Tree Form

Just $5 feeds 15 people in need....

Posting this a little late, but did you "Skip lunch, feed a bunch" today?  If not, no reason that you can't do it tomorrow instead!

A great event, where you donate what you would have spent on lunch to the Capital Area food bank.  Just $5 will feed 15 people in need.

For more information: http://www.capitalareafoodbank.org/skip/