Day 36 - Sub for a Buck

 

It cost me 5 nonperishables and a dollar for a 6-inch sub at Planet Sub.  For 6 weeks, 13 participating Planet Subs in the Kansas City area have raised awareness for Harvesters with this promotion.  All donations will help in providing food assistance for the community.  Harvesters is creatively getting the word out that there is a growing problem of hunger in America.

Day 35 - Gifts on the Road

No easier way to make someone's day than to present them with a shopping bag filled with wrapped holiday gifts.  For senior adults with limited ability to get out and shop - or afford to shop - it was a joy to see them smile as they opened the door.  What a great feeling to do something as simple as delivering gifts to senior adults for JFS.

Day 34 - Land of Paws

It was a fun outing in the Land of Paws.  We looked at all the dogs as they played with scraps of paper in their temporary glass homes. There were many dogs whom had already been sold and others who were on hold for a permanent home. Looked like there were lots of lucky families expecting additions this season. Some of the dogs were let out to play, including the friskiest ones, the designer puppies.  Speaking of which, The Humane Society has a Sit Up and Beg Wish List for animals.  Alexandra thought it would be nice to buy a female dog a fluffy pink "Kate Spayed" purse to play with.  Zachary, being the more practical one, picked Pill Pockets, pouches for hiding pills for pets, making it easier for them to take their medications.

Day 33 - Star in Education

I was paying my Kansas City Star bill over the phone, when a recorded voice asked me if I would like to donate $1 to the KC Star in Education program. I learned that it supports literacy and provides resources for Kansas City area teachers.  I love how their writeup says that individual donors partner with the Kansas City Star and local businesses as sponsors, and, "we stand together to support the next generation of readers."  That's a dollar well spent.

Day 32 - Wrapping it Up

It was a chance to show creativity and create some friendly competition at the Chanukah Gift Wrap Party for JFS.  Three times a year, all-age volunteers wrap donated gifts for senior adults around holiday time.  There were kids wrapping with their parents, some of whom were doing it as a community service project.  Others were seasoned wrappers who curled ribbon, made creaseless corners, and had probably sneaked in their own double sided tape.  I learned the ropes pretty fast by pretending to borrow paper and ribbon from other tables' workers while spying on their packages for ideas. 



One of the finished boxes for a family

 

Day 31 - CPK, More or Less

Here's the dilemma.  When you're out to lunch at California Pizza Kitchen and you know that 20% of your bill will be donated to Safehome - a great partnership for lunch and dinner today - do you order more food than usual or not?  I could have/should have posed the question to the rabbi sitting a few tables away but he might have advised me to pick up his check. . .

 

Day 30 - Team Ra-Ras

Watch this and UnitedHealthCare will donate 10 cents to The Philadelphia Affiliates of Susan G. Komen for the Cure (of breast cancer). Thanks Arlene M. for sending the link!

http://www.youtube.com/user/KomenPhilly?feature=mhsn#p/a/u/0/cfRSDbV8Adw

Day 29 - Walmart Toy & Food Drive

That's my Ms. Potato Head the policeman is holding.  I donated her to the Toy & Food Drive at Walmart today.  I purchased it with a lucky little girl in mind who might like to change the potato's look with the potato's mood.  You can see that I raised daughters.

Day 28 - Briarcliff Homes Tour

We went over the river and thru the woods to see the 4 homes on the Briarcliff Holiday Homes Tour. Each home was unique in style, decor and size and the drive between them was spectacular on a warm autumn day.  The tour benefitted the Briarcliff Community Alliance to improve schools and neighborhoods.  Speaking of schools, we did learn one thing - that all 4 homes had no TV in the master bedroom. Precisely why Mark and I never go camping. . .

Day 27 - Girl Scout Cookies

It's my favorite time of year - Girl Scout Cookie time!  Just driving down the street and, lo and behold, there was a stand piled high with cookies. Four girl scouts were wildly waving and flagging down drivers.  Screeching to a halt, I bought 3 boxes from them.  One of the selections was a kind I'd never seen (nor eaten) before but I understand that it's been on the market for a couple of years.  It's called "Thanks-A-Lot" and the cookies say "Thank You" in either English, French, Chinese, Swahili or Spanish.  Zach, I'll save the Chinese ones for you and Auntie Shana.  Good job, girls, for raising money for the Girl Scout programs and Thanks-A-Lot for the cookies!

4 super businesswomen

Day 26 - Turkey Drive

The 2010 Turkey Drive for the Salvation Army took place from 6am to 6pm at the Hy-Vee grocery story at 91st & Metcalf. A fresh or frozen turkey purchased at Hy-Vee got collected, cooked, stuffed and served for free Thanksgiving dinners, hosted by Salvation Army.

Me and my turkey

Day 25 - Park Place Party

The first thing I saw at the outdoor party at Park Place was the Operation Breakthrough table. Those of us who brought canned goods received a 435 South Magazine gift bag with gift certificates and treats. It pays to give!  Park Place was hopping with face painted youngsters, moms and dads and others strolling (and others carolling) as they ate their way through the stores of the shopping street.  Kind of like Costco at lunchtime, only better.

Day 24 - Five Homes on Tour

Johnson County Young Matrons, for the 19th time, organized a holiday homes tour in Leawood, KS.  It was worth putting on and off the paper booties 10 times to see the big beautiful homes, especially the one with the home theatre housing 8 recliners and full granite buffet counter behind them.  I can't remember whether that was the home with the 12 burners in the first floor kitchen or not. The tour was a good learning experience for me in that I discovered that a gas fireplace can be installed with no chimney.  Imagine that.  You could actually have a fireplace burning in the middle of a room with no stack.  Monies raised on the tour go toward TLC for Children and Families, Headstart, Friends of the Shawnee Indian Mission Historial Site and more. . .

Day 23 - Cheese of All Kinds

My one hour of volunteering today began with a cheese tasting, without the wine.  The Harvesters expert on all things dairy, cut up 4 different cheeses - fresh mozzarella, manchego, goat, and a parmesan-like one.  The after school activity kids had to smell, taste, describe, and try and name them.  As the aide, I helped them make individual cheesecakes with a graham cracker crumb/butter/sugar base in a plastic cup and a cream cheese, lemon zest, cool whip, sugar, and vanilla topping.  No baking, just whipping (the filling did hit the wall and the instructor) but it was oh, so good.  I rushed to clean up, um, lick up the filling bowl. So great to see kids eating something new and enjoying it.

Day 22 - World's Finest Chocolate

As if the leftover Halloween candy wasn't enough, I now have 2 of the World's Finest Chocolate candy bars in my house.  Thank you, Nubia, for suggesting that I support your daughter's school, Our Lady of Guadalupe's fundraiser.  Actually, there's only one chocolate bar left now and I'm healthier as a result.

Notice that I chose the dark almond chocolate instead of the milk chocolate or caramel.

Day 21 - Dine to Donate

Ate bbq at Dickey's, 15% of the bill went to NCJW, and then learned that we could have saved half the price if we'd known that seniors could buy-one-get-one-free from 4-6pm.  Oh well, more $ for NCJW to spend.

Day 20 - Hen House Coupon Books

NCJW is a volunteer organization that advocates for individual rights and freedoms.  They sponsor so many projects, including selling Hen House grocery store coupon books.  Drop $50 on groceries and you've paid for the $5 book with the first coupon!

Day 19 - Give & Get at the Gap

The Gap was having a 4 day shopping event Give & Get at the Gap when 5% of what you spend is given to a charity.  I chose (from their list of charities) The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.  Lucy got lucky with a cupcake onesie and jeggings connected to a tutu!



Day 18 - Gave up a seat

I was sitting comfortably on a crowded NY subway when a mother and young daughter got on.  The mother told the little girl to sit down next to me and I gave up my seat so they could sit together.  It felt good to hold the railing on the way to Brooklyn.

Day 17 - Memphis in New York

Saw a great Broadway show, Memphis, while visiting New York city.  At the end of many of the shows, full costumed actors come out to the lobby and collect $ for fighting AIDS thru Broadway Cares.  Who needs backstage passes anyway?

Day 16 - Kids and Confetti Coleslaw

Thru Harvesters, back to Bethel Neighborhood Center for this week's theme, fruits and vegetables from farmers' markets.  First, carved fruits and vegetables were dipped in paint to create shapes and pictures.  Then, everyone learned to cut a red pepper, first in strips and then diced pieces.  The rest of the ingredients were prepared for a colorful and delicious confetti coleslaw.  Few of the kids had tasted a dish like this before but most were game to try it, washed down with orange juice.  The staff could barely wait for the leftovers.

Day 15 - A Clean Safe Home

A clean and sanitary home awaits those who check into Safe Home, a safe haven for victims of domestic violence.  Check out their wish list before you head to your neighborhood discount store or pharmacy.

Day 14 - Bye Bye Books

Mark loves to read - can you tell?  Next time we'll donate my stash.  What's a library without books, especially the fresh-off-the-press-hardcover mystery novels in perfect condition? Friends of the Johnson County Library loves his taste in books.

Day 13 - New gloves for CASA

Bring some mittens or gloves to the Jewish Community Center this season and you'll be helping CASA, Court Appointed Special Advocates for abused and neglected children.  If you bring in 2 pairs of mittens or gloves you'll get $3 off each ticket to one of the shows!  Chicago, the musical was a great production even though our friend Scott didn't make the cut . . .

These are my donated gloves on top.

Day 12 - Check-Out Hunger

I love Harvesters! The community food network, as they're called, makes it so easy to give a buck or more while you're at the check-out counter reading the trash mags.  Tear off a coupon, have it scanned, and help Harvesters reach their $375,000 goal for the year. 

Day 11 - Cans in the Bin

Harvesters has their bins in grocery stores around town this time of year, collecting foods for their pantry.  Buy canned goods - vegetables, fruits, meats/tuna, soup, or peanut butter, or cereal and lop them over the top of the bin.  It's easier than shlepping the extra load to your car.

Day 10 - Great American Dine Out

What could be better than eating a burger at BRGR, knowing that the restaurant participates in Share our Strength's Great American Dine Out? Share is helping to end childhood hunger in America.

Day 9 - Kids in the Kitchen

In the Harvesters, (our local food pantry's) newsletter, there was a blurb about volunteering an hour a week for 4 weeks at one of the neighborhood centers in town.  I went to the Bethel Neighborhood Center and helped kids make gingerbread french toast.  I understand that we used the famous Harvesters recipe.  The kids stirred and dipped, cooked and flipped, and then topped the whole wheat toast with powdered sugar and berries.  They learned about farmers' markets, eating healthy foods and grains, and did an art project - all between 3:30 and 4:30.  So much fun for everyone, especially me.

Day 8 - The Top Drawer

Donated clothes to the The Top Drawer in Ranchmart. All proceeds support Kansas City Hospice/  I felt so good about cleaning out my closet that I treated myself at Foos a couple doors away!

Day 7 - $3 for 3 pointers

Alissa's favorite florist Winston Flowers in Boston, sponsors Charity in Bloom.  Their November project, High Hopes Fund Challenge, makes donations to the Joslin Diabetes Center, affiliated with Harvard Medical School.  Ray Allen, Boston Celtic's champion and whose son has diabetes, asks for a $3 pledge for every 3 pointer he shoots.  One can sponsor him per shot, a set amount, per game, or per season.  Go Ray!